How To Train Your Dragon- From One World To Another, And Yet I'm Home  

Disclaimer:

The Film 'How To Train Your Dragon', is Copyrighted by DreamWorks Animation and Distributed by Paramount Pictures. Directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois and released on March 26, 2010

The DreamWorks 'Dragons' were directed by Dean Deblois and Chris Sanders and released in 2013- 2018. I only claim Copyright to my characters and some of the elements of the story that are of my own creation.

Author Warning, Notes:

This symbol (*) and a number mean that there's something written about this particular paragraph in the Ending Author's Notes. The Chapter Title (below) is old Norse. Its meaning is 'cut asunder'

*D*** means Diary Text and *ED*** means End of Diary

*BOF*** means the Beginning of Flashback

*EOF*** means the End of Flashback

***

Chapter 3 Taka í sunder 

I was laying on the pillow that was under my chest. My entire torso was exposed, well, more like my upper back and left arm. My breasts were still hidden underneath the linen chemise and squeezed against the pillow. So they were 'not exposed to the wind' as they say. I hissed through clenched teeth as Gothi, the village healer, carefully cleansed the deep scar and the burns that started from the shoulder and slithered down the entire length of my arm and across my hand.

'' Those thrice-cursed muttonheads! I just can't believe that it would be Fishlegs who would have had the gall to do something like that.'' I thought, my expression strifeful as I blinked back the stinging tears. I then shivered at the new pain that lanced across my scar and burns as Gothi carefully rubbed the rag across every crevice of the damaged skin.

'' And WHY would Snotlout, Astrid, Fishlegs and the Twins do something like that? Why, after I'd come to trust them?! This is like a repeat of the offence my former friends back in Finland committed on that day I was brought to this world months ago.''

*D**

Hello Diary,

It's been a few weeks since I decided Sonja and I needed to figure out where we stood in terms of being separate people, and I've come to a realization that I don't need Sonja to help me create games for us to play!

In fact, I don't really need her all that much these days. It's actually rather fun to be just myself without another, that looks like me, always present.

I can make up games on my own, too, like the game I created just yesterday of a female Viking living in a Viking Village called Berk. A Viking female who defends her Village from pillaging dragons attempting to get their claws on our livestock.

Or the game where I'm a Viking teenager learning to fight Dragons in the Kill- Ring before, at last, I'll face the Monstrous Nightmare and run it through with my sword.

*ED***BOF***

Elsa, a girl with short brunette hair, and the long, blond-haired Annukka were sitting on the bottom bunk laughing darkly as they read through a part of the text I'd written in my diary.

I stopped just inside the guest- bedroom, mouth hung open in complete shock before I suddenly slammed the door shut behind me. It made the two girls jump violently and turn to the source of the sound. '' Give me that!'' I hissed, holding my hand out towards my diary. But Elsa and Annukka only sneered back at me, refusing to hand back the book.

'' Is this what you truly thought of your sister?'' Elsa jeered as she whirled the diary around in her palm as she got up to stand in front of me. Her eyes were dancing with mirth, but it wasn't of the good kind at all. I stared up at her, she was taller than me, feeling both mortification and outrage flooding my veins.

'' What's this rubbish you wrote about Vikings and dragons? Your more childish than I thought you were, Ronja. There have never been any dragons on Earth in the history of science, their just myths,'' Annukka chuckled out darkly.

I just stared at the both of them, not knowing what to say. Thank the gods I hadn't written anything in old Norse, or anything secretive about my mother's past in that particular diary. That diary which stored my mother's past life was at home, in my room, locked up safely in my mother's old wooden trunk that I had been using to store some of the most prized artefacts given to Sonja and I last Snoggletog.

'' It was just a play, Annukka, don't you get it?! Who's the brat, now?'' I hissed, my voice growing soft but cold. My chartreuse eyes were fixed upon my friends as Elsa turned another page in the diary.

*D** 

Hello Diary,

I've noticed that lately, Sonja has become more violent in our weapon sparring against mom. It's like she can't handle her emotions in any other way.

It's rather ironic that I, who usually am the louder and the more outgoing of us twins, is the one sitting around reading or writing to get a handle on my emotions while Sonja becomes the violent type.

Well, I couldn't care less what she does lately. I don't need our constant Twinship anymore.

And she was the one to tell me that I should focus on my schoolwork. And now when I'm not constantly running to her for advice she finds herself lost?!

Hah! She may despair the fact that I disappear somewhere she can't find me, but it just proves that she is the one who is being too clingy! Well, that's her problem and she should be the one to grow up!

*ED***BOF** 

'' Who is the one being clingy now, Ronja? You've been doing that a lot this year, you know. You were constantly asking if we wanna hang out with you after school last trimester,'' Annukka chuckled out as she and Elsa stared right back at me as I clenched my hands into fists as I trembled ever so slightly.

''(*1) I was completely happy about not calling you this summer. And I wasn't going to call either of you!'' I counteracted, my expression growing impassive even as my eyes hardened further. 

'' (*2) But then grandma asked me when you guys were coming over here like you do every summer- vacation. I told her we were taking time off from being friends until the start of school because we had been seeing too much of each other. But grandma couldn't believe the'no' in my answer and called your families on the phone. So here we stand, almost at the end of the summer vacation!''

Tears appeared in the corner of my eyes, but I wouldn't allow them to fall as I looked from Elsa to Annukka. ''(*3) If you two really didn't want to be my friends anymore, then why did you even COME here?'' I snapped, starting to turn back toward the door. I just wanted to get out and away from them.

But Annukka lunged forward to stand in front of the door to prevent me from leaving. She pushed me hard against the chest and I stumbled backwards, my expression wooden.'' We're not even gonna answer that! ''Elsa exclaimed fervidly.

'' Agreed, and what were YOU thinking writing something like this? Why would you write this about your own sister?'' Annukka asked me incredulously staying in front of the door.

'' I refuse to be answerable to someone who goes behind my back to read something that is my private property!'' I hissed out between clenched teeth before I abruptly turned and lunged towards Elsa, using speed and agility to my advantage. A lasting effect gained during the spars with mother. I used both my hands to grab hold of Elsa's arms, pinning them to her side as I looked into her startled eyes.

'' I knew you guys were mourning Sonja's death, too. She was your friend. And I admit she was a better friend than I ever was. The reason I was clingy this past school year was that I needed some normalcy in my life. I was still handling the loss of two of my family. I know I was quiet and reclusive when I spent time with you guys, but I tried to be there for both your sakes because I knew I wasn't the only one grieving,'' I rasped out.

I finally allowed the tears I'd been holding back to slide down my cheeks and drip onto the floor as I stood there, almost doubled over as I kept Elsa's arms trapped to her sides. I could hear Elsa's and Annuka's startled, hitched breathing but I pushed on relentlessly.

''Do you think I don't regret everything I did to hurt my own sister?! I know that I was horrible to her for a long time! I was a bully to her! And I regret it to the end of my days!''A cracked sob escaped my lips as I pushed away from Elsa.

'' You, Annukka and Sonja were close friends, but it seems I can't say the same for us,'' I finished quietly, starting to move around the room gathering the belongings I needed and shoving them into my red 'Fjallraven- backpack'.

'' R- Ronja, w-what are you doing?'' Annukka asked me in a hushed tone of voice.

I refused to answer as I finally straightened, the backpack now full and 'zipped-up'. Now all I needed was the diary still held in Elsa's hand. I lunged towards her a second time, one hand latching onto the arm holding the diary.

I could hear her gasp at the contact as I used my free hand to pry the book free from her fingers. I then strode towards the door, fisted my hand against the front of Annukka's shirt and then resolutely shoved her aside, ignoring the startled yelp that escaped from her. I hadn't used enough force to physically hurt her, after all, just enough of it to not be hindered in my stroll to the door.

I quickly stepped out and snapped the door shut behind me, leaning back against it to calm my breathing and racing heart. I could hear my 'former' friends calling out my name and felt them trying to push the door open. But I was much stronger than I looked, and I held firm.

Then I smirked rather cruelly at the opposite wall and spoke loudly enough for Elsa and Annukka to overhear,'' Please, go right ahead and enjoy the snacks and drinks in the kitchen. The ones my grandmother and I so nicely laid out for the three of us to enjoy. And while you're at it, why don't you explain to my grandma that I'm going mushroom hunting.''

With that, I immediately took off running across the downstairs hall, skidding around the corner. I practically raced up the wooden stairs and burst out the door that divided the upstairs hall and the stairs going downstairs to the guest- bedroom and sauna area. I immediately ran towards the vestibule across from the door and locked myself in before leaning doubled over against the nearby wall to catch my breath. After a few moments had passed I quickly slipped on the closest footwear I could reach and pulled my backpack off my shoulder. I slipped my diary into my backpack and 'zipped' it shut again.

I could hear the noise of the door being rattled. Elsa and Annukka were attempting to open the locked door. But I didn't look up at them. Instead, I straightened and grabbed my black leather jacket and my mushroom basket off the rack. Finally, I turned to glance briefly at my former friends who were looking at me from behind the glass with panicked and pleading expressions on their faces.

'' Hope it was all worth it, reading my diary,'' I thought and turned my back on them, the wooden expression still visible on my face.

I opened the door that leads outside and slipped out, squashing the urge to violently slam the door shut behind me. I bounded down the short flight of dark-green painted steps before changing my course towards the back of the house where I scaled the uprising terrain that leads to the woods. Which for me was the epitome of safety!

My feet cut across the familiar terrain that leads back to the dirt road. From there, I knew to jog up a small hill that leads to the house belonging to my second cousin's grandparents house. And once I'd reached the top of the hill I would jog down that dirt-road before coming back to the path leading towards the woods where I knew there were still golden chanterelles at this time of year.

I just hoped that by the time I decided to return after hours, my ' friends' had already left my grandparents house and that my grandparents wouldn't be angry at me for having run off like this all of a sudden.

''Maybe, if I come back with a decent mushroom catch will soften the reprimands, at least a little,'' I murmured half-heartedly as I brushed away the tear-tracks trailing to my cheeks.

*EOF**

'' But I never got back from that mushroom-hunt,'' I thought bitterly as another wave of pain lanced across my arm. I sucked in a shaky breath, trying to focus on just breathing through the torment Gothi was putting on me; though she wasn't doing it purposefully.

But then more memories surfaced and I found myself reliving that short, but to the point, conversation with my own dear sister, that had been the beginning of the rift between us.

*BOF** 

'' I don't believe this! First, our parents got us both so excited about the trip to Austria, and then they threw the ' unless you don't study you get left behind' card,'' I groused out, stomping over to my bed and flung myself onto the bedcovers.

'' They have a good point you know, you have been copying off of me a lot lately and it's not doing much good to you if you don't internalise the information of a written text,'' Sonja retorted with a scolding frown.

*EOF**

'' From where are all these memories rising from? It's almost like... someone is channelling them through to me so I'd clearly remember them,'' I thought, slightly panicked as I closed my eyes as the onslaught continued.

*BOF***

'' Hah! So now you are laying out that game piece, as well.''

'' Stop using those phrases, Ronja! You know, apart from the weapons training, those chess games with grandpa are also a reason your studies have been lacking.''

'' So are you saying I'm unintelligent because I don't sit around for hours with my nose in books?''

*EOF*** 

'' Oh Gods! Odin, is it you who is making these memories surface?'' I thought in distress, flinching upon hearing Gothi, and everyone within seeing distance, give suddenly startled exclamations.

But it was Gothi pausing in her healing ministrations that made me slowly turn my head to see the reason for why she had stopped. My eyes widened in utter shock and surprise. The arm that had borne the mark of Odin, the 'Valknut' tattoo, was suddenly facing an onslaught by the familiar blue coloured light that had appeared on only a few occasions until now. The light was very faint at first before it became brighter, and brighter until the glow started spreading further.

I gasped in wonder and slight disgust at the sight of not only my tattoo of the' Valknut' being lit up. The whole, jagged and burnt scar that ran over the formerly untarnished 'Mark of the Gods' was lit-up with a blue glow. I suddenly felt very shivery and dizzy just from looking at it.

*BOF***

'' No, I'm telling you I'm sick and tired of you always leaving your homework and studies late or not at all and then you expect me to just allow you to copy my hard work?!''Sonja was staring at me with such an intense gaze that I could only gape at her, my lips parted slightly in shock before I masked that shock into an unreadable expression.

'' Well, it's not gonna happen anymore, I need to focus on my studies and you need to focus on your own work. So get it together!''

'' If you didn't like me copying your work, why didn't you just prevent me from getting to your notes?'' I hissed out between clenched teeth.

'' Because you would have pestered me relentlessly, just like you always do when you don't get what you want. You are my sister, and I worried that we wouldn't be in the same class next year. But now, I'm sick and tired of showing my sister concern for her failing grades when you don't even bother to try, Ronja! You're going to have to do all your homework yourself from tomorrow on, without negotiations,'' Sonja bit back, meeting my eyes without falter.

I honestly wanted to shout at my sister, but instead, my words came out softly spoken with a steely calculative undertone.'' Then, if my attitude bothers you so much, then I guess we should not stick tightly together at school, or at home, until we both can figure out how to be our own separate people, Sonja.''

*EOF*** 

The next thing I knew, I had practically vaulted off the Healer's- table and was running towards the smaller postern-door that ran between the brink of the cliff and the wall of the Great Hall. I couldn't help my reaction. I needed fresh air. I needed air!

I could hear startled voices all around me, some calling my name, but no one had made a move to stop me from running off. Either they had been too shocked by the suddenness of what had occurred. Or they were realizing I was just about ready to 'crack' right then and there. The 'crushing weight' of old guilts, and being unable to talk to anyone about my heritage, my family, was finally becoming too much for me to handle.

I just wanted to 'scream to the wind' and let go of all the mixed emotions of anger, suspicion and sorrow brought to the surface by the unwanted fears I still clung to following my near execution under my own uncle's Chiefly- rule. And then these memories of my past had just popped out from somewhere deep in my conscience as if someone was channelling them right up to the surface so I would see the error of my ways in the past.

BANG

The heavy door swung open and hit the side of the wall with a loud noise I barely registered.I was suddenly breathing in fresh, crisp, but ultimately very freezing air. I heaved in and out for a long moment, clutching onto the snow blanketed, old, stone railing beside the stairs.

'' I should have cared for how Sonja felt. She wasn't the one who needed to grow up. It was I! It was me, the bully who pestered her to let me copy from her homework when I should have been wise enough to do my own work. I was a horrible sister!'' I spoke out loud, voice wavering and filled to the brim with bitterness.

My eyes were fixed upon the darkened sky. There was no blizzard that night, but the air was so cold that I could feel the moisture that had slid down the corners of my eyes freeze halfway down my cheeks. I shivered violently, pulling my hands into a hug against my chest for warmth. I really should have cared for my own health then, being outside in only my thin chemise, breeches, skirt and boots.

But the only thing I could focus on was how tangible Sonja had looked in the visions. So tangible in fact that maybe, if I had reached out, I could have touched her.

'' Great Odin, is all the bad that's happened to me, your way of punishing me for all my past 'wrongdoings'?'' I cried out loud to the wind. But even as I continued standing there, I was given no definite answer.

I was shivering more violently against the cold as the light wind swirled around me felt like a knife against my open skin. My head had begun to ache, my muscles felt stiff, and there was a tingling in my toes. I couldn't feel my fingers, anymore. They were completely stiff and numbed from being exposed to the freezing temperature. '

BANGGGGG

The door crashed open, violently, and I whirled around to meet the person barging outside face to face.

End of Chapter 3 Taka í sunder

...

Author Note:

Firstly, what I'm going to write in this Author Note is all true...

(*1) I was completely happy about not calling you this summer. And I wasn't going to call either of you.''

This sentence is very similar to what I'd spoken to my friend. We had been drifting apart during our last trimester of 8th grade. And it all came to 'a head' during our Camp Confirmation School.''

(*2) But then grandma asked me when you guys were coming over here like you do every summer. I told her we were taking time off from being friends until the start of school because we had been seeing too much of each other. But grandma couldn't believe the 'no' in my answer. So she called your families on the phone.''

True, I wasn't gonna see my 'friend' that summer because she wanted space. Because, apparently, I'd been acting too 'clingy'. But my grandma wouldn't hear 'no' for an answer and called her family.

(*3) If you two really didn't want to be my friends anymore, then why did you EVEN COME HERE?'' I snapped, starting to turn back towards the door.

Its been years since that Confirmation camp and yet I can clearly picture where the door to the changing room was. Where I'd sat. Where she had sat speaking to me. Where another person sat as she just silently listened to our argument. What I said to my friend was this... 

'' If you really didn't want to be my friend anymore, then why did you even come see me at my grandma's house ?!''

Then, I'd pushed myself to my feet and just left, not looking back. And it ended up being the last words I ever spoke to her, for only an hour or two later that same person, a friend I'd been drifting away from, was gone forever. She had drowned in a lake at a time when all girls had been at that said lake, or in the sauna, having a fun time. No one had noticed her going down, and I don't know why. It was never confirmed to us as to why she had drowned. Her death left a lot of things hanging for me. And maybe that's the reason I can still remember some things quite clearly. 

P.S Constructive criticism is always welcomed by the Author