The Shadow's Bane

The T Word

Hiccup's POV:

"So that's what you didn't want me to know? That Jim is your brother?" Astrid asked me as we waited for Claire and Toby to come back.

As for me, I never once left Toothless's side. "I'm sorry," I said. "I just thought that it didn't matter after I came back and since then, I haven't had to worry about it either."

"Hey. It's okay. He's your brother. And if I didn't know any better it looks like he's taken too," she said.

I smiled. "What do you mean?" I asked.

"That girl, Claire? She's a keeper that's for sure. Jim is lucky to have her."

"And I'm lucky to have you," I said which was the truth. I've loved Astrid ever since I first laid my eyes on her.

She smiled back and for a moment, just one moment, I forgot that Toothless was in trouble. All until a black mass opened up behind us and Toby and Claire jumped out of it.

"Okay, we've got everything," Claire said while next to him Toby held what looked like a cauldron in his hand with a large leather bound book in the other.

"There's only one thing still missing," Toby added. "And that is-"

"The tears of one untouched by love's first kiss," Jim finished. His voice unusually deep.

Like clockwork, we all turned to Snotlout at that. He looked startled when we did. "What?" He asked. "I've been kissed. Many times."

"So that's what I also said," Toby said which I could only wonder what that meant.

"Your dreams don't count, Snotlout," Astrid said.

Behind me Tuffnut suddenly burst out crying. Oh no, not this again... was all I thought as I slapped a hand onto my face.

"Do you vikings not have any remorse?" Ruffnut suddenly asked, instantly leaping to her brother's aid as he began to curl up onto the floor from getting all emotional over the T word. "I mean just look at him. I told you. He's a baby. If you say that word one more time..."

"Maybe it was best then that you didn't kiss all those girls, Snotlout?" I teased.

"Pfft. In your dreams," Astrid said.

"Oh, shut it Hiccstrid. Considering Tuffnut's state now, maybe I don't have to cry after all," Snotlout complained which only made Tuffnut cry more.

"Oh come on. I didn't even say the T word," Snotlout said. "We all know that I'm not the only one here who hasn't had their first true love's kiss. It's not that girls don't like me. It's just that I haven't found the right girl yet."

"Yeah, sure you can say that again," Gobber grumbled next to Toby and Claire who had now prepared the cauldron and put the rest of the ingredients in.

"Okay fine," Tuffnut said, hiccuping and choking in between his sobs. "Hey Hiccup. Haven't you ever wondered what it would be like-" hiccup. "-to say, Hiccup hiccuped everyone?"

I must admit. Tuff's pun wasn't bad. "Ha ha, Tuff. But now for your-"

"No!" Ruffnut warned. "Why do you have to be so cruel? Here just take his you know what then? Come on, bro." Then cautiously, she took Tuffnut over to the cauldron where he lifted up his finger and placed it to his eye just as a tear drop fell down onto it before flicking into the cauldron.

Because Jim was not as good at languages as Claire was, she spoke the incantation once all the other ingredients were in. Then once done, a puff of smoke erupted out of the cauldron, enveloping Toothless in its puffy grey blanket that slowly evaporated into nothingness.

I wasn't surprised to see Toothless still frozen in stone once it had disappeared. In fact, if anything, it only made me want to cry more and turn away from him which I did. If he stayed like this forever... there was only so much that I could handle.

It felt like forever standing there in the darkness that now separated me from everyone else. If it hadn't been for everyone's gasp a few seconds later though then I probably wouldn't have turned around until something big and black shrouded over me.

Then came that familiar snort that I would know anywhere. I immediately turned around, never before been so delighted in my life to see my best friend alive and well again grinning friendly at me.

I couldn't help the tears that came next. The tears of happiness and joy. "TOOTHLESS!" I cried, not hesitating to wrap my arms around his big body which he then used against me by dropping down onto me and then licking my face. I laughed. "You know that doesn't wash out!" I teased. Then, "I'm glad to see you too, bud. And I'm sorry I couldn't save you."

He got off me so I could get back up. "You're always there for me. Now it's my turn to be there for you."

He accepted my hug when I wrapped my arms around his head, nuzzling into me.

"Whoohoo!" Snotlout suddenly called. "Snotlout. Snotlout. Oi! Oi! Oi!"

We all laughed. Which was when I remembered Jim. "Thank you Jim. For everything," I said. "Donmar is defeated. That red blur is finally gone. Toothless is back. I guess it's up to you what you want to do now."

He smiled at me. No a doubt just as happy as I was. "Um... ahh..." he said. "I'm not sure I know myself, to be completely honest."

"Maybe it's time we go back, Jim. Let Blinky and AAARRRGGHH!!! know if it worked or not," Claire suggested.

"Yeah. And now that we know where you live, we can always come back and visit," Toby added.

Jim sighed. His troll form making him slightly larger and taller in appearance to me.

"I guess," he said.

"Then come with me," I said. "Before you go, there is something I need to show you. You can fly with me, Jim. Toby you can go with Snotlout and Claire with Astrid. Come on, gang. The ride is not over yet."