(HTTYD) To Protect Its Own

Winter Feast

Astrid POV

"Welcome to the Winter Feast!" It was so loud. I was pushed around by many people going to god-knows-where. The festival was bustling with so much activity, dragons and humans alike. I glanced at a little girl holding a Terrible Terror by its neck and running away with it.  There are many stalls, merchants trying to sell whatever they have.

"Try this new meat! Straight from the source!" Mutton was pushed into my face stubbornly by a merchant. His grin was wide and eager. I politely refused but to no avail when something else was offered to me again.

"This mead is something to boast about in all the archipelago!"

"Another festival, another peaceful year!" An old man walks by, arm in arm with another comrade, their cups clinking together.

"Rowdy, isn't it?" I asked absentmindedly. I was alone with Heather as she offered to lead me around. Everyone has already separated, most likely having fun in their own way. Heather nodded with a smile.

"The festival is a day where everyone just has fun and lets go of all their worries."

"Stop running Kirei!"  I felt a push from behind and turned around to see a little girl looking up at me. She was holding a doll of a dragon in her arms, raggedy beyond repair. She grinned up at me.

"Kirei!" A boy a few years older, maybe seven, chased after the little girl. His eyes widened when he saw that Kirei was near me and quickly pulled her into his arms. I can tell he was cautious of me.

"Hello there." At first, they both didn't say anything. It was silent for a few moments.

"Hi." The girl greeted shyly. The boy was nervous, only gripping his sister tighter by the hand.  He didn't say anything, only opting to lead his sister away from me.

"Don't worry." I was disappointed, the conversation cutting short by the little boys' sharp, distrustful eyes. Heather put her hand on my shoulder, smiling softly in reassurance. She pointed to droves of people going into a large room, resembling a stadium. "Look."

"It's almost time for Hiccup's performance."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"EVERYONE ARE YOU GUYS READY?!" A boisterous man was in the center of the stage, a spotlight shining on him. He was wearing traditional Viking clothing, engraved in dragon designs. The crowd cheered loudly in response. The stadium easily occupied thousands of people, eagerly expectant.

"IT'S TIME FOR THE PERFORMANCE SIGNALING THE START OF A NEW WINTER!" He shouted enthusiastically.

"I INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PROTECTOR OF THIS NEST, HICCUP!"

The hall dimmed down and went dark, making it a pitch-black night. I waited and hear a rustling of wings. Before I knew it,  the roof opened from the top and out came a Monstrous Nightmare, crawling around the roof, his scales lighting up in a fiery haze. He roared and fell down to the center of the stage, the dust settling around him. He roared once again and changewings appeared, their skins initially camouflaged as the stage, now a deep red or black. They rearranged themselves as the symbol on Toothless's fin. The Nightmare roared once again, jumping up and flying into a hole in the wall. The changewings' skin changed once again, growing black and the stage was dark once again. Nothing happened.

Until now.

Something broke apart from the changelings, jumping into the front of the stage. Everyone around me cheered loudly and I squinted my eyes for a better look. It was Hiccup and Toothless. They were decked out in new clothes, a traditional outfit of some sort. Hiccup was wearing a two-piece leather suit, this time black as Toothless's scales. There are red paint markings inscribed on the suit, resembling imprints of dragons. A thick fur-lined cape was on his back, covered by a metallic scales, shining as beautiful as pure silver. Toothless was much more modest, his prosthetic tail replaced with a dark shade of green and I soon realized that it was meant to match Hiccup's eyes.  The same imprint was on the new tail, its meaning the same. A boy and dragon, fated to be friends.

Hiccup was smiling and waving at everyone, his cape trailing on the ground. Toothless was beside him, regal, and gave a roar, fit for kings. Hiccup put one finger to his lip, requesting silence, and the crowd noise dispersed immediately. Toothless was beside him, his glowing eyes following his master's next direction. Hiccup took off his cloak, throwing it to the side of the stage. He turned to us once again and started.

And a beautiful start it was.

Hiccup and Toothless's dance was a story. It started with Toothless crouching over Hiccup with a seemingly threatening expression. Hiccup's expression was silent, his hand reaching to the Night Fury. When the boy's hand touched him, their expressions changed. The scene changed to one of friendship, the boy dancing over lines Toothless drew with a staff. Hiccup's dance was mesmerizing, as he stepped over the lines, not daring to touch. The dance soon ended with Hiccup and Toothless flying out of sight, leaving the crowd in loud applause.

I saw his departing figure, flying into the sky. I realized, my eyes widening. The dance was his story. Hiccup was the boy and Toothless was that dragon. I felt a pang of jealousy for Toothless. He saw Hiccup's potential and I--everyone only realizes this now. But then now is better than never.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UPDATE: I know this is so late! But I finished. It gets harder every time I write and I don't know if I even liked this update, but hey I tried. The next update will be much more interesting, I promised, so stay tuned.

THANKS FOR ALL THE VOTES AND COMMENTS SO FAR!