Heart of a Berserker: Hope (School of Dragons)

Chapter 1

A/N: Welcome back, everyone! This is part two of my School of Dragons fanfic. If you have not done so already, please first read Heart of a Berserker: Trust. This second part will contain game expansions Return to Dragon Island, Secret of the Leviathan, and Rise of Stormheart along with seasons five and six of the series Race to the Edge. I hope you enjoy!

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"Never thought it'd be so hard to let you go
(I just want you to know)

Tell me how I'm gonna make it, you're the one I can't forget
It's like I'm running in slow motion in a nightmare that never ends
When I try to face it, when I wake up, I hate the way reality sets in
God, I wish you could hold me through the seven days of lonely" 

- "Seven Days of Lonely" by I-Nine

Chapter 1

Bolt zipped through the air at lightning speed. I held on tightly as he made quick turns and dodged our opponent's blasts. Finally, we dipped down low before crossing the finish line and coming to a complete stop. Seconds later, Eret and Skullcrusher skidded to a halt beside me.

"I win again!" I declared. I hopped off Bolt and rubbed his head. "Great job, buddy."

"You are really good at this," Eret said. He appeared out of breath despite the fact that it had been his dragon doing the racing and not him.

I beamed at him. "Thanks! We've had a lot of practice. You and Skullcrusher are starting to work really well together."

"All thanks to your excellent training! But let's take a break, shall we?"

I nodded. "Sounds like a plan to me."

We exited the training grounds with our dragons by our sides. We often came here together to practice. I was pleased with Eret's progress and glad that I could help him out. A noise overhead caught my attention. I paused and watched as a flock of Terrible Terrors flew by. My eyes instinctively scanned for one in particular, but all of these are green.

"So... are you ever going to explain your Terrible Terror obsession?" Eret said.

I snapped my attention to him. "I do not have an obsession."

"Then why you have to stop and look every time you see one?"

I frowned. "I'm just-"

"-looking for the purple one you saw on Snoggletog?"

I found no way to deny it, so I nodded. "Yeah..."

Eret raised his eyebrows in question. "And you still won't tell me that story?"

I shook my head. "I'm not ready. Sorry." I did not know if I would ever be ready to tell him about Harald. He already knew about him, of course. He had asked about the wanted posters that were still up, so Hiccup and Astrid told him the story, leaving out the parts about me. Eret had come to the correct conclusion that Harald was dangerous, and I did not need to complicate matters for him.

"I understand, mate. If you ever do want to talk, I'm willing to listen."

I gave him a small smile. "Thanks, Eret. I appreciate it. I really do."

By then, we had reached the main part of the school. I caught sight of the headmaster jogging towards us. He stopped right in front of me and exclaimed: "Mulch and Bucket may be in trouble, Brennda!"

"What?!" I said in alarm.

"They took their boat out with the other morning fishing boats, but no one has heard from them since. It's even more troubling that their Hideous Zippleback, Whip and Lash, looks worried sick! Will you take their dragon and look for them on their fishing route?"