𖣯 ✹ 🌷(makligr) ꏍ ！┈─❟
╰───►chapter twelve; hiccup
❝ the chicken will not be amused! ❞

     HICCUP IS VERY proud of himself.

     Considering everything that has happened the past few days, Hiccup finally was proud of something; beaming about it and unable to wait for just a second before showing it to his friends. The wind was strong up above the centre of the island; billowing in a precise gale beneath the cliffs. Hiccup carefully gazed downwards, a hand on Toothless's crown as he shuffled beside him, making sure he wouldn't be swept up.

    He breathed a grin, his heart leaping with possibilities. He was so excited, even the disgruntled complaints of his friends finally arriving behind him couldn't change his mood.

    "Urgh! My back! Ruffnut, hit it━OWW! Nice..."

    "I think I out-walked my toes."

    "You can't out-walk toes, Snotlout."

    "What do you know, Yrsa? Are you an expert on toe out-walking?"

    "No, but I do have something called common sense, you should try it sometime."

    "Wow... for someone who started complaining not even halfway up here, you're awfully smug."

   "Why couldn't we just fly our dragons up here?"

   "Because the winds are too strong, Ruff! Though, I have to admit, I wasn't planning on such a long walk this early in the morning."

    "Okay," Astrid cut everyone off, letting out a loud groan as they all stopped a good distance back from the cliff's edge. Hiccup glanced back at them, giving them all a bright grin ... until he locked eyes with Yrsa, and for a moment, his cheery disposition failed him. She pursed her lips, knowing exactly what he was thinking about, and instead crossed her arms over her stomach, casting her gaze away and muttering something to Snotlout beside her (an unexpected friendship, but now, Hiccup saw them standing by each other constantly). "Hiccup, you dragged us all the way up here."

    "Now," Tuffnut fixed his helmet, "what is it you have to show us? It better involve food or destruction. Or a combination of the two."

     Hiccup grinned again and spun to his saddle bag. Toothless warbled. He was not happy about this idea at all. Hiccup narrowed his gaze at him for a second, oh hush, you, he told him. "I bet you're all wondering why I brought you up here today!"

    "Wow, it's like you're psychic," muttered Yrsa sarcastically.

    Astrid coughed to try and hide her laugh. Hiccup scowled at the both of them. "Hilarious. No. The answer is: to show you my latest invention," he rummaged through the bag, finding the new invention easily. It was bulky; he barely managed to shove it in. Grasping two light metal bars, he pulled out━ "Presenting, the Dragonfly One!"

    Their reactions were not exactly what he expected. He thought he'd might get some surprised gasps from Fishlegs, an eye roll or two from Snotlout, complete disagreement from Astrid and Yrsa, and confusion from the Twins. Instead, they all just stared at him blankly as if he was showing them the most boring thing in the world.

     Hiccup pulled out the wings, arching a brow, "Eh?" he gave the mechanism a shake. "Eh?"

    Their expressions did not change. Tuffnut raised Chicken up so she could have her input. She gave an unimpressed crow. "The chicken," then said Tuff, "is not amused."

    "What is it?" then asked Snotlout, crossing his arms.

    Hiccup pulled out both wings, holding it out with a very proud grin. He waved it slowly, trying to mimic soaring to his friends. But he couldn't wait to actually try it out━to fly like he, himself, was a dragon. "It's a flight suit!"

     Their reactions stayed the same. His dropped. "Don't all applaud at once," he grumbled, sarcastic.

     Fishlegs pursed his lips, "I don't need to remind you that we already have flying dragons. Why would we ever need a flight suit?"

     "Well," Hiccup cleared his throat as he began to fix the wings onto his back with a fair amount of effort. "What if we were ever to get separated from our dragons mid-flight?" He fastened the leather belts around his waist. Toothless sniffed at the fabric wings. "We might need to solo fly for a bit until we catch up with them."

     Snotlout frowned at him, "When this doesn't work, and it clearly will not," a grin then formed onto his lips, "can I have Toothless?"

    Hiccup scowled at him. Yrsa punched him. Snotlout squealed in pain. 

    Sighing to himself, Hiccup turned to the cliff edge. Toothless growled at Snotlout for good measure as his rider muttered, "Oh, for Thor's sake."

     Staring off the edge, Hiccup took a deep breath. He fixed the belts tighter so they sat right against his abdomen. Behind him, he heard Yrsa say, "What are you planning on doing?"

     Oh, so she's talking to me now, okay. "Jumping," he didn't mean to sound bitter; he promised. He just couldn't help it. Whether he was bitter at her for somehow making things even more complicated, or bitter at himself for making her feel the way she did, Hiccup was still yet to figure. He glanced back at her, brow arched. "Unless someone has a better idea?"

    At this, she face-palmed. Beside Tuffnut, Astrid grumbled an annoyed, "Urgh! Boys."

    "This is why sometimes I prefer girls," Yrsa added to herself.

    "Guys!" Hiccup reassured them, chuckling. Toothless huffed, not at all happy about this either. "Relax! Feel that updraft?" he gestured out to the strong wind that flushed up against them, blowing their hair and chilling their skin. "That's why I chose this place. It'll pick up my wings and I'll be floating on a bed of air."

     With that said, he pushed his wings into place. 

    Hiccup frowned when one came out off-set. He found himself going red at the neck as he quickly tried to fix it, pulling it up with a strained grunt. Snotlout snickered, possibly the only one going to enjoy watching this━and for all the bad reasons. 

    "Or crashing on a bed of rock," he stated. Hiccup glared at him, finally managing to pull the wing up straight.

     "Okay, everyone!" he took another deep breath, rolling back his shoulders and getting used to the weight. His heart began to race, nervous for how this was going to go. Of course, he was absolutely certain it will ... kind of ... "Dragonfly One, maiden flight."

      A final deep breath. And without glancing back at the others, Hiccup took off at a run and leapt off the edge of the cliff. At first, he glided━and then he hovered. Hiccup's heart leapt with him, delightful at the thought that he had done it. Had he done it? Had he managed to feel the wind, see the world from a dragon's eye view━actually fly with wings of his own? Hiccup wanted to grin, he wanted to cheer out to the heavens. He did it! He did it━! 

     Until something felt off.

     His stomach dropped. His grin fell. And then so did he.

    "AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH━!"

     "HICCUP!"

     Hiccup flailed his arms, kicked his legs━he couldn't move the stiff wings he had made to slow his fall down. He was hurtalling towards the rocks just like Snotlout said; he'll be crashing on his very own bed of cold, hard, bone-shattering stone━

     Claws grabbed him around the back of his flight-suit. Hiccup's scream turned into a yelp as Toothless pulled him up and into a hug against his underbelly. Soon, wings wrapped around him, and Hiccup only saw the black of his best friend's scales before they hit the lake below. 

    Okay, he thought to himself. Time for take two. 

    Take two turned into take three, and then take four, and definitely a take five. The Twins soon joined Snotlout in cheering for Hiccup's failure each time, laughing and cackling every time he plummeted towards the lake and Toothless had to dive after him. Fishlegs squeaked and cried out each, clutching his heart and looking as though he was ready to passout. Astrid was completely over it all, sighing and shaking her head in her hands. Yrsa stood by the edge with Toothless each time, waiting for him having to be caught. 

     (Hiccup was bewildered with what was going on in her mind right now. She tells him they need to step back, that he made her feel controlled, but she wants to still be friends, but doesnt talk to him, gives him awkward glances and makes him feel like that friends were the exact opposite of what they were now).

     (He just really wanted this flight suit to work so he'd have something to be proud and happy about recently).

     Back up on the edge for hopefully the final time, Hiccup stretched his arms, wincing at the ache's in his shoulders and sides from all the fails. "Okay!" He let out once he was finished, nodding to himself. "This time, I absolutely know where I went wrong. You see, it's all in the timing. I just judged the updrafts wrong. I assure you, I definitely have it now."

      He pushed up the wings. Toothless warbled, concered. "Hey, don't worry, bud!" the Night Fury scowled at him. "I've got this under control."

     He twisted his feet into the loose rocks of the cliff's edge, holding a hand out to feel the updraft until the exact right moment. His hair flew up and off his face. "Oh! See?!" he glanced back at his friends, grinning. "There it is! Okay ..." he bent his knees. He took a deep breath━readying himself for hopefully the final test of the day. "And ... now!"

     He took the leap of faith. Hiccup held his breath as the wind made his body jolt and stagger━the wings went sideways, back and forth, and his stomach shuddered with nerves alongside it.  

     "Come on!" he shouted, willing the gods to let him do the impossible. Already, he had gone further than every other time, the wind and wings carrying a lengthy five metres from the ledge. 

      Until he started to fall again.

     Hiccup yelled, seeing the ground get closer and thinking, here we go again. His wings fluttered; pushing and pulsing; the ends of his tunic under his armour billowed, his hair flung up. He was getting faster and faster, but he still held out hope. Come on, he prayed amongst his screaming, Come on, come on, come on━

     And then the wings jolted a final time upwards.

     Just before Hiccup hit the water, he soared forwards. 

     Water hit his face, and he shook it out of his eyes. At first, he didn't realise what had happened. He frowned, seeing the world move forwards around him, the rocks of the shallow ends of the lake passing beneath him and the wind brushing like he was on the back of a dragon ... "Wait ..." Hiccup's whole heart lifted. "I'm flying?" he ducked his head down to check behind him. The cliff with the others and Toothless standing right on the edge was getting further away.

     Hiccup couldn't believe it.

      He beamed. 

     Then, he let out a bark of cheerful laughter. "I'm flying!" he shouted, head shooting forwards. "Oh, my gods━YEAH, BABY!"

     Hiccup couldn't exactly describe it. He's flown on the back of a dragon, free-falled far too many times, stood on the edge of a windy cliff to watch the sun rise, dived at full speed on a Night Fury, but this was different━it was even more thrilling, even more spetacular. It made him feel invincible. If he could fly, he could do anything. 

     ... Except turn.

     Coming up to an intersection of the river from the lake, Hiccup tried to turn right into the next stream━he tilted his body, forced it, but against the wind, he didn't have the strength. It was way harder than it looked━than he considered. 

     "O━okay," he started to freak out as the rocky cliff edged closer, "might have to work on the steering a little bit━TOOTHLESS!"

◞ ★ ꒱꒱◜

    HICCUP was still ringing water from his hair and tunic sleeves as the others joined him by the crash site. He sighed at his broken flight suit, holding out the snapped wooden splints with a disappointed scowl. Toothless was instead glowering at him, shaking the water off him like an aggravated mutt.

    Astrid was off her dragon first, landing on the rocks to state, "Okay, that's it. You're done with this." She propped her hands on her hips, glowering at him very much as if he was being scolded by an older sister. 

     "Right," he said, wiping water off his cheeks. Then, Hiccup added to himself with a hidden smirk, "For now."

     But they all saw through him. They knew he'd be back up there as soon as he could. 

    Yrsa hopped off her dragon the last and immediately, Toothless raced over to her to give her a wet rub. She hunched up at her clothes getting wet, but she gave him a scratch anyway. Hiccup watched them, feeling that same pain he's been feeling these past few days. She wasn't around as much aymore, and Toothless wasn't used to that. He sat waiting for her to arrive at Hiccup's hut just to hang out. But it wasn't like Hiccup was going to her hut regularly anymore, either. Things were awkward, despite what she promised━and in a way, he wondered whether no matter what they said, nothing could have stopped the awkward fact of how much their friendship had changed into brittle flaws. 

     He felt the urge to talk to her. To walk up to her. But he knew he had to step back. It was like three years ago all over again, except this time, it was him looking back, hanging on, waiting and confused. If Yrsa felt like this the past years, it made Hiccup feel even worse that he let that happen. 

     His thoughts were interrupted by a distant screech. Everyone tensed up. Hiccup spun towards it━it was not far away, sounding like it was just across the cliffs. 

     Yrsa frowned, eyes set after it as well, "What was that?"

    Fishlegs's brows lifted with worry, "Sounded like a dragon in distress."

    "Uh, guys?" Snotlout said as they all got back onto their dragons' backs. He led Hookfang in beside Yrsa and Astrid, meeting Hiccup's gaze, "Something about that call seems strangely familiar. Not good familiar. Bad familiar."

     Hiccup nodded and everyone knew what he met. They took to the air, leaving Snotlout pondering his thoughts still down below. Hiccup sighed, spinning Toothless back to call, "Snotlout, come on!"

     He saw them and glowered. Grumpily, Snotlout urged Hookfang to take off, "Oh, you've got to be kidding me!"

     Together, the Dragon Riders flew towards the sound of the distress calls, weaving through the canyon's jagged landscape. The screech grew louder, and worse━desperate and alone. It sounded young, too, which only made Hiccup's heart jolt. Young and vulnerable dragons were ideal victims of bigger dragons wanting dominance and lunch. 

     "The calls are coming from up ahead."

     They all took a left, veering into the next chasm. Hiccup almost passed it. But a high-pitched shriek made him stop and look over━and there the dragon was; small, lean, with sea-green scales, no wings, and a red-tipped stinger at the end of its tail. 

     Oh, gods ... He thought. Of all the dragons ... "A Speed Stinger," he announced to the others as they all hovered to a stop with him. 

     Everyone had mixed emotions. Snotlout slumped, "Speed Stinger," he sneered, still bitter about their attack on Berk three years prior. "Why did it haev to be a Speed Stinger?"

     "It looks like a young one," observed Hiccup as they circled it at a wide distance. Its beady eyes followed them, slitted and threatened. "Why would it be out during the day? They're nocturnal."

     Snotlout sighed, "Oh, poor little guy." Then, he pulled up Hookfang's horns. "Let's head home! It's starting to get dark, and where there's one, there's usually a whole pack of them!"

    But Yrsa spotted something. Her breath hitched and she pointed. Just as she did, the young Speed Stinger tried to get away from them, but as soon as he stepped forward, he crumpled to the ground again with a cry of pain. "He's hurt. His leg looks wounded and Speed Stingers can't fly."

     Hiccup nodded to her, happy to agree on something, "Which is why we can't leave it to predators. Come on, Toothless!"

     He pulled his dragon back towards the Speed Stinger. Yrsa was quick to follow with the others at Helrose's tail. The only one hesitant was Snotlout, who watched him go, gaping and horrified, "Is he seriously going back?"

     "Snotlout, meet Hiccup," said Astrid in passing, "of course, he's going back!"

     "Oh, come on!"

     Even with an injured leg, Hiccup decided it would be safer to land the dragons at a distance to the young Speed Stinger. Not only did he want him to try and hurt himself in attempted defence, but Hiccup needed him to calm, and to realise they weren't a threat, so he could think of a way to detain his stinger and get him back to the Edge. Problem was, Speed Stingers weren't docile, not even younger ones; they were naturally aggressive, and very territorial. 

     As soon as Hiccup got off his saddle, the adolescent dragon screeched in angry defiance and Hiccup threw up his hands, "Hey, hey, hey, whoa, no, no," he said in a gentle, calming voice. "Easy there. Easy, little fella..."

     In response, he just snarled and held up his stinger. 

     Snotlout stayed on his saddle, "Hey, Hiccup! It looks like that thing can defend itself just fine! Let's get out of here!"

     "Shh!" Yrsa scolded him sharply. "Quiet down, Snotlout."

     Ever since their strange blooming friendship, Snotlout was no longer scared to retort back to her, and without hesitance, he narrowed his eyes back at her to say, "You quiet down."

     Hiccup glanced back at him, "This little guy won't be a match for wild boars or dragons," he explained. "A Speed Stinger without its pack is extremely vulnerable."

     "He must've gotten separated from the others," said Fishlegs, "and then they had to go find shelter before the sun came out."

     "Sounds right. Let's go."

     "Snotlout," Hiccup frowned, "we can't leave him like this. We'll bring him back to Dragon's Edge, nurse him to health, then bring him back here."

      Snotlout crossed his arms, knowing he was right, but refused to let himself admit it. As the afternoon slowly turned into dusk, Hiccup worked a plan together. A risky plan━but when weren't they? He just knew that somehow, he needed to get that stinger still so he wouldn't be paralysed trying to fix a splint onto the dragon's leg. Problem was, even an injured Speed Stinger could move their tail dangerously fast. One wrong move and Hiccup would be out of commission, and time was sensitive right now. If the pack returned and saw that one of their own was injured, it would be their natural instinct to leave it to perish. 

     Of course, a few protested against having the Twins be the ones to help pin down the tail, but in reality, they were the only ones who perhaps would enjoy such a dangerous plan. 

     Hiccup explained it to them as they carefully approached the snarling Speed Stinger. They nodded ... but in his experience, he had to make sure. "Ruff? Tuff? You understand the plan, right?"

     They chuckled at him, muttering guffaws of, "Yeah━!", "━Of course━" ━Definitely!" Then they faltered and Hiccup pursed his lips. He knew this wouldbe the result: the simoultaneous shake of their heads as they admitted, "No━", "━Nope."

     Hiccup sighed, "All right." He started over. "You secure the Stinger so I can set the splint with the broken pieces of Dragonfly One," he showed them the rod he had snapped off and fabric to tie it. "And be careful!" he stressed. "I think we all remember what theyse guys' stings can do to you."

     "You don't have to remind me," added Snotlout stubbornly from the group. "I know exactly what they can do. This plan is insane. You know that, right? If I'm saying it's insane, it's actually insane!"

     "Actually, it is insane," agreed Tuffnut, looking as though this was great news. "And for once━" he doubled down with his sister, cupping his hand next to his mouth even though Hiccup could perfectly hear, "━it wasn't our insane plan."

     Ruffnut grinned, delighted, "I'm seeing a pattern here!"

     "First that lunatic flight suit, now this ..." Tuffnut gasped. "Could it be?"

     Ruff grasped the horns of her helmet. Hiccup rolled his eyes. "Is Hiccup coming over to our side?" 

     "Oh, Loki, please let it be so! We will welcome him with open arms!" said Tuffnut, ominously. "Teach him the ways of the truly disturbed!"

     Hiccup pinched the bridge of his nose. "Guys, please? Let's just do this."

     The Twins shared a low, evil chuckle before separating, and slowly, the three of them approached the aggressive dragon. 

     As soon as they were close enough, the young Speed Stinger flung out his red-tipped tail. Hiccup yelped, jumping back just in time before it would graze his fingers. Tuffnut skidded away on the stone, before yelling, "Come and get me!" he started to dance terribly. "Fresh meat on the grill, right over here!"

    Ruffnut suddenly jetted in front of him, "No!" she cried, waving her hands towards the Stinger. Hiccup frowned ... this was not what he had in mind. "Over here! I'm all yours!" she began to prance around. Her brother followed. Hiccup face-palmed. "Turn me into a pin cushion! I'll even give you a target━" she shook her backside. "Oooh! It's my butt!"

     The dragon roared, furious. He swiped his stinger overhead, but they ducked, cackling. 

     "That's it?" teased Tuffnut. "That's all you've got?"

     "Guys, what are you doing?" demanded Hiccup. "I meant secure the tail!"

     "Hey!" Ruffnut pointed at him, defensive. "We know what we're doing━"

    The dragon reached out and stung his tail right into the flesh of her extended arm. Hiccup and the others all winced. Ruffnut gasped, horrified. "Whoa!" She froze up involuntarily, anticipating the paralysis that would extend over her own body. But strangely━and horrifyingly━only half of her turned that cold, frozen blue. Ruffnut was stuck between a sort of limbo between conscious movement and paralysis, where her eyes could move and her cheeks were flushed with embarassment. 

     It was seriously freaky.

     Tuffnut's eyes widened, shocked and confused as the rest of them. Except, soon, he grinned, delighted by his sister's misery. "Talk!" he exclaimed, running up to her. "She can talk!" he poked her jaw and handled her jaw, which moved back and forth. From her lips, a incoherent whine tried to argue, but Tuffnut just laughed, closing her jaw and opening it to see how her teeth clashed. "At least," he glanced back at them, "I think that's what she's saying."

     Then, she managed to push him away, crumpled and hunched over like a cripple, but still able to stomp around furiously in her protest. Hiccup watched, freaked out and bewildered.

     "Hmm..." murmured Fishlegs thoughtfully. "Intersting. Only part of her is paralysed. Since it's an adolescent, its sting potency must not be at full effect."

     "I'm going to have nightmares of this," muttered Yrsa to Astrid, who nodded in silent, dubious agreement; both of them watching Ruffnut hobble back and forth. 

     "Huh," let out Tuffnut, stroking his non-existent beard. "So ... How do we get it to sting her lower half?" His eyes lit up with an idea. He threw his arms up, attention back onto the dragon. "Here, Speedy! Come on━" he bent down and whistled, patting his legs as if calling a trained pet. "It's the whole lower half of Ruffnut. Come on! Don't you want it?"

     Tricked, the Speed Stinger tried to run to him. But as soon as he stepped onto his bad foot, he cried and hit the ground. Immediately, Tuffnut leapt. He threw his arms down against the Stinger's torso, victorious. Until he realised he forgot about the tail. The stinger flung up and he let out a nervous, "Uh ..."

     "Someone!" shouted Hiccup. "Help Tuff!"

     Yrsa was on it. She raced forward. Dodging the first strike, she managed to grasp the stringer at its bottom, forcing it to the ground with a grunt. Astrid then jumped in and secured the head. Not wanting to distress the creature anymore, Hiccup rushed in and secured his leg, tying the small metal rod as tight and precise as he could with the dragon writhing in their holds. 

     "There!" announced Hiccup as he finished and they all jumped back as the dragon returned to his feet. He growled at Hiccup, prowling towards him. "Hey, hey━okay, it's okay━" he tried. Toothless came up behind him protectivey. "We're here to help you."

      Fishlegs suddenly squealed with excitement. "Oh! He's gonna do the hand thing, right?! Please tell me he's gonna do the hand thing!"

     Hiccup ignored him, just focusing on the dragon in front of him. His heart raced━he's never once trained a Speed Stinger before. He was actually scared, and dragons smelt fear like they smelt food━sometimes, that registered as the same thing. He took a deep breath, meeting the creature's gaze as he slowed down in his prowl, a low gutteral pur erupted out of his throat. That could mean many things: curiosity, threats, I'm going to kill you━

     But Hiccup took the shot and inched out his hand. Hunching up a little, expecting to get stung, those moments were painful. 

     Until he felt cold scales against his palm; smooth, small, almost as if it was just the surface of a wet rock. Hiccup's eyes snapped open and he couldn't believe it. The Speed Stinger rubbed against his hand, that gutteral purr turning soft and gentle like a low murmur. Hiccup's heart slowed and he breathed a grin.

     He never got used to it. Dragons always continue to amaze him.

     "Okay," he pulled his hand back and gave the dragon a small scratch under his chin. His eyes closed, very much enjoying it. Hiccup chuckled. "I think we're good. Now, let's load him up and get him back to Dragon's Edge."

     "You know the pack is going to do everything it its power to find it, right?" Yrsa stood back up, a brow arched.

      He gave her a brief glance, "Yep, and that's why we have to get him on his feet and back to this island as quickly as we can. Let's go."

◞ ★ ꒱꒱◜

    GETTING BACK to the Edge, Fishlegs took on the job of rehabilitating the Speed Stinger at the arena and his hut. Hiccup nodded, letting him do it. He wanted to say it was because he would be the best at the job, but the truth was, Hiccup was distracted. His eyes were fixed on Yrsa who gave Helrose a little kiss goodnight on the side of her head. 

    He told himself that he was supposed to give her space and let her figure this out, but he was frustrated. He was still frustrated even apart like this. He was frustrated with her, as usual, as well as himself━but the truth was, Hiccup wanted her friendship. He missed her friendship after just a few days of her distancing herself. 

     So, he ignored his better judgement and walked up to her. Fishlegs frowned, confused, but took that as a yes and led the Speed Stinger away with Meatlug behind him. The Twins had taken to the Club House, and Hiccup didn't want to know whether it was to take care of Ruffnut or to make fun of her. Snotlout went to bed, angry and complaining, while Astrid decided to go on a late flight since she didn't get the chance to do so this morning. 

     Long story short, Hiccup finally had a moment alone with Yrsa. 

     Finding courage, he spoke up, "Hey, Yrsa."

     She glanced back. He saw her stiffen, her fingers tightening around the straps of Helrose's saddle as she prepared to take it off for the night. "Um, hey, Hiccup," she decided before turning away again. 

     Hiccup frowned. The silence killed him, it boiled at the gaping pit in his chest. Toothless warbled at him, concerned, but he clenched his hands, moving them away from his curious snout. "Hey," he said again, frustrated. Yrsa met his gaze again, startled at the change in his tone. Hiccup gestured to her, annoyed. "A━are we just not friends anymore, or something?"

     She frowned at him, confused. "What?" let out Yrsa. "Of course, we're friends━who said we're not friends anymore?"

     "Friends don't avoid each other or stand next to each other in silence," Hiccup gestured wildly, seeing Yrsa's frown falter. "They spend time together, they have conversations, they talk. You said we'd stay friends, Yrsa━this is not how we act as friends. This not our friendship."

     Yrsa's fingers fell from Helrose's saddle. She pursed her lips, gaze flickering with that stubborness that told Hiccup this wasn't going to end up civilly. "You want to talk? Okay, Hiccup, let's talk." She faced him properly and gave him an indigiant shrug. "I said things will be okay, but I was wrong. Things are awkward, and tense, and I don't know how to deal with that━or━or how to be around you anymore. And you know, maybe this is our friendship, Hiccup. Maybe this is what it is without the possibility of being together, or our underlining feelings. Or at least mine. But I won't let myself have those anymore, and so perhaps this is it. Perhaps this is what it's like being friends, Hiccup. Is that the talk you want to have?"

     Hiccup refused to let himself feel hurt over her words━and possibly the truth behind them. He didn't want to think she was right, because he knew her. He knew what she was doing ... or maybe he wanted to believe this was what she was doing. "You're pushing me away, Yrsa," he told her. "This isn't you."

     "Isn't it?" she countered.

     He remembered the small smiles on her face, the little laughter that evening in the Cove the first time she let herself open up to him. "No. Yrsa, just because things are awkward right now doesn't mean they have to be. I don't want them to be. I want you to be my friend, Yrsa. I like you being my friend, despite everything. I don't ... I don't want to lose you."

     Yrsa took a sharp breath through her nose. She stepped back, her fingers itching up towards Helrose for comfort who whined, sharing a glance with Toothless watching behind Hiccup. 

     "You want space, I get it," Hiccup had a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach. It made him feel sick, seeing everything between them the past three years start to just fall apart so quickly. "But you told me you wanted to stay friends━"

     "I know I did━"

     "━so why are you saying this?" he was so confused, and hurt. And perhaps Hiccup was beginning to understand Yrsa's feelings properly. "Why are you saying that this is our friendship? I know our friendship was the way it was no matter the feelings. You know it, too."

     Yrsa hung her head. She turned away again. "Good night, Hiccup."

    And she lead Helrose away, not once glancing back. 

◞ ★ ꒱꒱◜

    DAYS PASSED. Hiccup hasn't seen Fishlegs much since he took on the role as the Stinger's rehabilitation doctor, spending most his time in the arena and his hut with Meatlug. The rest of them went as normal: they continued to build up areas of the Outpost━watchtowers, walkways, additions to their huts. The Twins were off ... wherever they were, Astrid almost knocked Snotlout off into the lagoon, and Yrsa was taking time to perfect her axe throwing techniques. Hiccup spent the week working on Dragonfly Two━most definitely keeping it a secret from everyone. But as the week came to a close, they all met up to check on how Fishlegs was going. They needed to get this dragon back to his island sooner rather than later. 

    The entire arena had been given an upgrade. With the rotating doors closed, it gave the Speed Stinger much needed privacy to calm its fast and aggressive mind as Fishlegs worked with him. There were logs for step leaps, barriers, stairs━an entire Speed Stinger obstacle course had been set up, and Fishlegs stood beside Meatlug, looking very proud of it all. 

     "Have a look at this!" with dainty fingers, Fishlegs opened the Speed Stinger's cage. Tentively, the agile dragon stepped out into the arena, his leg now properly splinted and healing. With a happy little roar, he started off at a slow run.

     He jogged in a circle, and Hiccup was impressed, "Wow," he watched him bounce off the logs and back to Fishlegs. "Nice work."

     "Uh━huh," Fishlegs still leaned against Meatlug. "All thanks to the carefully designed rehabilitation program based on trust and understanding."

     Suddenly, Meatlug burst forward with energy, eager to chase the young Speed Stinger around. Instantly, Fishlegs fell off balance━his arm that had been leaning on his dragon now flopping down, still and unmoving.

     Astrid frowned, "Fishlegs ... what's with your arm?"

     Fishlegs gave them all a sheepish look, "Yeah, let's just say that ... the Stinger and I may or may not have had a few differences of opinion these last few days."

     Tuffnut walked up, peering curiously at his limp arm. He poked at it. Yrsa sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Heh!" he cackled as he pulled it up and then let it flop back down. Fishlegs stared, unable to do anything. "Look at that━it's like a dead old fish!"

      Hiccup sighed. 

     "Okay," Fishlegs hobbled past him, struggling to make his way towards the shield rack, "Meatlug, bag to work. And ... we'll bring this just in case," He tried to grab one with his limp arm, pushing and brushing against the edges of the shield. When it toppled and rolled away, Fishlegs sighed, frustrated and just went ot grab another with his good hand, fixing it on the guard of his paralysed wrist. 

     Hiccup and the others all watched Fishlegs walk to the opposite end of the obstacle course. The Speed Stinger stood waiting for him. "All right," he egged the dragon forwards, "little fella━you can do it!"

     Meatlug gave him a gentle nudge.

     The Speed Stinger squawked at her tenderly before with a brave breath, leapt up onto the logs one at a time. A smile grew onto Hiccup's face━relieved and in awe to see a dragon they thought could ever be trained, listen to Fishlegs with a docile attitude. "Aha! There you go, little guy."

     "Huh," Yrsa jutted out her hip, glancing at Astrid. "He's Ornery and stubborn, but it seems like he's actually accepting Fishlegs and Meatlug ..."

     "Well," Hiccup said, not even thinking. He opted to ignore the way Yrsa's eyes shot towards him before quickly looking away, "makes sense. They are pack dragons. They can only function as a group. But if they accept you into that group, then, you have their allegience..."

     Astrid arched a suspicious brow. "Wait," She crossed her arms. "You're not actually thinking of trying to train it, are you?"

     Hiccup's eyes widened. "What?" he exclaimed, before forcing out a chuckle. "No! No," he shook his head, scoffing. "I━" quick to get away from her's and Yrsa's disapproving looks, Hiccup rushed forward to Fishlegs (and not because they were right), "━I━I could never..."

     The only Dragon Rider not present finally had arrived, pushing open the doors and sauntering in with a, "Well, well, well, lookie here!" 

     As if knowing Snotlout had an adgenda against him, the Speed Stinger looked over from where he stood ontop of a wooden barrier, and let out a low growl. "Our little friend can stand on his own two claws again. Only a matter of time before it's trying to sting all of us into oblivion!" 

     Hiccup turned back to his cousin, glowering. The Speed Stinger leapt off and back onto the ground, arching his back and baring his teeth. Snotlout paid no attention, he just jabbed his finger at Hiccup and then himself, "My vote is we take it back to where we found it. I'll get the cage."

     He marched past him and Hiccup's eyes followed his figure with an annoyed, "Snotlout!"

     As he got close to the dragon, it let loose a shriek that made Snotlout jump and scream. Quickly recovering, he responded with a hiss of his own. Hiccup rolled his eyes, muttering a low, "Oh, gods ... Snotlout," he spoke up louder, stern, "he's staying here, okay? At least for the time being."

     "Having a Speed Stinger around is way too dangerous," Snotlout stormed back up to him, hands clenched, "especially for me."

      The Stinger cut him off as he went to leave, brandishing his tail. Snotlout dodged his strike and brought up his fists. He pranced back and forth, serving a few light air-punches. "Ha!" he declared. "Not even on your best day, pal!"

     "Snotlout, don't," Yrsa tried, unamused. "Stop aggravating him."

     "Hey! Guys! Good news! The stinger venom wore━"

     Poor Ruffnut. Hiccup winced, hunching up as she accidentally walked right into the line of fire. Snotlout jumped back, cackling lowly as he watched her finish, "Off ..." as she froze up, falling down onto the floor. 

     Hiccup quickly held out his hands, seeing the way their Stinger friend bared his sharp teeth again, growling and shuffling his two feet like he would ready to run. "O━okay, everyone━" he tried urgently, eyeing the tense dragon, "━no sudden moves."

     "Oh!" Ruffnut let out, dragging herself away and towards her brother with both legs not working. "Who's got jokes, huh?" She groaned, reaching the small weapons chest. Grasping the edge, she tried to pull herself up. "Frozen from the waist down━come on!"

     Hiccup paid her no mind, trying to calm the growing aggitated Speed Stinger approaching him. "Whoa! H━hey, settle down, big fella. I━I━I'm your friend, remember?"

     Ruffnut managed to pull herself up onto the chest behind her battle-ready brother who was practicing kicks and punches to make himself look intimidating. "Haha!" She heaved one leg up to cross over the other. "Ruffnut, one. Dead leg, zero━whoa!" Suddenly, the top leg jerked out, kicking her brother harshly in the backside. "Oh!" she beamed, pleasantly surprised. "Not so dead after all."

     The Speed Stinger shot his gaze towards them and hunched up further, his tail sweeping danergously. 

     Tuffnut stomped his foot, spinning to glare at his sister, "What did you do that for?!"

    "Oh! Like I have any control━" her other leg snapped out, clocking Tuffnut right under the chin. He fell back with a high-pitched yelp. 

     "Uh ... guys?" Hiccup did his best not to snap, eyeing the Speed Stinger cautiously who growled at the Twins. "Quiet down. I think he's agitated."

     Tuff fixed his helmet, furious, "That makes two of us." He got to his feet, marching back up to his sister. "You better control that butt of yours before it gets kicked! YEOUCH━" his sister just punched him as soon as he got close enough.

     This set the dragon off.

    "Oh, I was afraid of this━EVERYONE, TAKE COVER!"

     Everyone split up, running to the ends and round corners of the arena. But poor Ruffnut couldn't, she was stuck on top of the chest, screeching and trying to run. Her arms spun like wild windmills, as if that was supposed to get her legs to work. Hiccup ran straight to Yrsa━habit, he supposed━, pulling her along behind one of the barriers. Helrose followed. They set themselves, shoulder-to-shoulder, peering in unison over the top like two wide-eyed Terrible Terrors with Helrose leering her long neck in between them. 

     "This is bad," Yrsa stated the obvious.

     Hiccup made a face, not wanting to admit it, "Well, I would say it's more of a ... minor━posisble major, sort of, maybe━set back."

     Helrose huffed herring-smelling breath in his face to tell him he was very much wrong.

     It was chaos. 

     Tuffnut was running back and forth, screaming at the top of his lungs. Astrid reached for a shield, dipping into a roll and blocking the passing stinger aimed at her face. Snotlout had taken to hiding behind the barrels, his head ducked under his arms. Toothless jumped right over the speeding dragon on his way to Hiccup, Yrsa and Helrose, slipping in behind them so it was four, very-similar looking idiots peering over the same barrier and watching the bedlam ensue. Fishlegs froze up, huddled with Meatlug and muttering weak, "Please, remain calm! Everything is going to be okay. Remain calm━" that last word turned into a shriek as the Speed Stinger ran straight at him, and he and Meatlug took off. 

      Veering right, the dragon darted past Barf and Belch, snagging Ruffnut's respective head without even blinking. Barf jolted, then, with a whine, froze up and slumped his head down against the stone, gas gurgling out from his mouth.

     "Barf━!" Ruffnut tried to reach him, only to fall flat on her face.

     "Okay," as soon as Yrsa jumped up, Hiccup knew what she planned on doing. "Helrose━" she clicked her fingers before pointing at the space near the rogue Stinger. Her dragon obliged immediately, sparking the spot with bursts of flame that made the speeding creature skid to a stop and change paths.

     "Toothless, plasma blast━" Hiccup pointed to the opposite and the Speed Stinger jetted away from Toothless's, too. Together, he and Yrsa rounded the dragon back into the cage, knocking the lock down with a final plasma blast.

     "Yes!" cheered Yrsa, clapping her hands. "Nice! Perfect shot━!" she turned to high-five Hiccup and he went to accept it until then, just like that, that tense air returned━shooting up between them like a geyser. Her smile dropped, Hiccup lowered his hand. She cleared her throat, turning away and Hiccup rubbed the back of his neck, cursing the gods under his breath. 

     As the chaos fell, and a breathless silence followed. Hiccup glanced briefly at Yrsa to see her already looking at him. She cleared her throat again, fixed her braids and her skirt, then stated, "Toothless fired a little too far away the first time."

     He sighed, rolling his eyes as she marched off, Helrose following━but not after forcing her head against Hiccup's palm for a scratch. 

     Then, very frustrated, Hiccup turned and marched out the opposite way. Toothless scoffed, but went after him. Soon, only Ruffnut was left in the arena, hugging Barf's neck after dragging herself over to him. "Uh ..." She watched them all leave, annoyed, "A little help?"

     Tuffnut looked back from the doors. "Uh...?" He thought about it, then shrugged, "No." He then left his partial paralysed sister to find a way to bring back their half-limp dragon by herself.

◞ ★ ꒱꒱◜

    HICCUP WOKE up the next morning believeing he was faced with something awesome. Fishlegs had discovered that Speed Stingers had evolved into having webbed talons to island hop across water. It was finally real proof of dragon evolution, and Hiccup was going to celebrate with immediately telling Snotlout who used to always gag whenever he mentioned it to prove him wrong, but as he, Fishlegs, Astrid and Yrsa arrived at the arena, they saw that both Snotlout and the Speed Stinger had disappeared. And with him, Ruffnut. 

    And Hiccup's good mood disappeared as soon as it arrived. 

   They set off for their friends immediately. Hiccup couldn't believe them━well, actually, he could. He could very much believe this. 

     Constantly━constantly, Snotlout defied him, and Hiccup didn't know what to do to get him to listen anymore. He should kick him out━and he tried to once, but no matter what he did, how annoying Snotlout got sometimes ... he always came back around in the end. He always showed━reminded, even━Hiccup that he was good at this, that when they needed him, he had their backs; Snotlout cared, he just had an awful way at showing it. But even then, he was Hiccup's family ... despite how annoying it was to accept that. 

     And like always, Hiccup and the others were there to run after him and his stupid ideas to make sure he (and Ruffnut) didn't get killed. 

     They saw them in the dark; the evening had by far descended into early night. The Speed Stinger pack had yet to surface, but it wouldn't be long when they heard the screeches of their own and the light of Hookfang's aflame scales with Snolout and Ruffnut shrouded in his attempt to protect them. 

     Landing, Hiccup jumped from Toothless's saddle, extending a hand out to the adolescent Speed Stinger growling with his tail raised to strike. 

     Rather nochalant despite his glower, Ruffnut struggled up towards him. She had been stung ... again. "Hey, Hiccup," she slurred, only half of her mouth moving. "I got stung again. Just the right side this time. I tried to walk it off ..." in order to show him, she continued to hobble and Hiccup sighed, watching her only able to just go around and around, "... but I just keep going around in a circle."

     Leaving her be, Hiccup rounded on his cousin. "Dragon-napping, Snotlout?! This is a new low, even for you." He jabbed his finger against his chest. 

     Snotlout smacked his finger away, "I was trying to save us!"

    "And how well are you going with that?" Yrsa arched a brow.

     "Good!"

    "Good?!" Yrsa stormed up to him as Helrose, Stormfly and Toothless kept the young Speed Stinger at bay. Snotlout soon shrieked, hunching up as her hands went to his head and started to shake it back and forth by the horns of his helmet. "You put you and Ruffnut in bigger danger you idiot!"

     "Ow! Ow! Stop! My head━my hair!"

     A distant set of shrieks made Hiccup freeze. His blood went cold immediately, especially when he saw the teenage Stinger's head shoot up, tilting in recognition. "Guys, guys━" he waved his hands at Yrsa and Snotlout, managing to grab Yrsa's hand and one horn of his cousin's helmet each, "━stop, stop! Listen! Be quiet!"

     The screeching returned, louder this time. The others all froze up. Hiccup could let go of Yrsa and Snotlout. 

     "Uh ..." Astrid glanced back at them, eyes wide with worry, "You guys heard that, right?"

     Fishlegs trembled in his saddle. "Please tell me that was an echo━"

     The shrieks trippled this time and everyone cupped their ears. 

     Yrsa shared a terrified glance with Hiccup, "The pack's come looking for it."

     Snotlout's courage withered, "How is that possible?!" he squeaked. "Speed Stingers can't fly!"

     "Yeah," said Fishlegs, "but we did just discover that these particular Speed Stingers can travel across the water just fine."

     "What?" Snotlout looked as though Ragnorok had begun. "Why━?!" 

     Hiccup rushed to clamp his hand over his cousin's mouth. "Shut up!" he urged in an angry whisper. "If we keep quiet, we might not give away our location."

     At the next call, they seemed to be very close. Snotlout hunched up, not even moving to force Hiccup's hand away. Yrsa reached up for her axe, sharing a nod with Astrid who grabbed hers. If they stayed silent, they should be okay, they wouldn't need to attack━

     But their friendly Speed Stinger didn't understand that. 

     In hearing his brethen, and was sure of who they were, his eyes lit up and he raised his head. Hiccup's heart seemed to burst up through his throat, unable to stop the dragon as he let loose a reply into the night. Instantly, the pack answered.

     "For the love of Thor," grumbled Astrid. She flung up a hand and Stormfly answered, spreading spikes all down to the tip of her tail. 

     "Great," muttered Hiccup. "Just great."

     "I'm guessing that very soon," said Ruffnut, "I'm gonna wish I could run in a straight line..."

     Hiccup heard the thunder of what sounded like hundreds of raptor feet. Seconds later, out of the above tree-line, lines of Speed Stingers emerged to snarl down at the cliff's edge. He felt his heart race at the sight of them, trying to quickly think of a way out. They could take their dragons and go, but with Hookfang unable to fly, and Ruffnut unable to walk in a straight line, they'd be too slow━they'd be swarmed even before they could get even an inch off the ground.

     "You!" Snotlout turned to point at the adolescent dragon. "I knew you'd rat us out!"

     Hiccup felt Yrsa take a stance beside him, and he instantly felt better. He glanced at her, meeting her dark gaze that glittered like a midnight river reflection of himself. Except instead of seeing someone terrified and out of ideas, he saw someone brave, and capable━as if Yrsa was always looking at some hero when he was far from it, but at the same time, made him believe that he could be. 

      He then realised what their friendship was. 

     Actually, it was more than a friendship. It was stronger than that. It was a partnership. An equal partnership━where no matter what, no matter their fights, and their differences, in the end, they were always standing at each other's sides because together, they were stronger; together, they were a team. Their friendship wasn't fights, it wasn't hanging by a thread waiting for the other to make a move. It wasn't based off feelings, and that without it, was nothing. It was this. It was always this, ever since they met Toothless and both decided that they'd let him free; that they'd leave him alive. 

     Hiccup nodded at her, wondering whether she could see how sorry he was. And his chest rose with relief when she nodded back, saying the same thing━understanding the exact same thing and agreeing with him. It made him breath a small smile. 

     Together, they glanced up at the pack of Speed Stingers as their leader emerged; distinct in the red stripes on his scales and dorsal fins. He snarled louder than the rest, too; domineering, threatening. Hiccup clenched his hands. Yrsa gripped the hilt of her axe. Toothless and Helrose had come to join their sides, battle-ready. 

     "Guys!" ordered Hiccup as the other Speed Stingers took off at a sprint. "Stand your ground!"

     They leapt off from the cliff, landing at a blur to circle them, searching for the weakest link to eliminate them one by one. They split up into groups to round each of them. Hiccup stayed close to Yrsa, eyeing the green dragons, waiting for one to pounce. Toothless bared his wings, his throat vibrating a low, powerful plasma blast at the ready. Helrose reared back her long neck━they were a small team within a team. 

    Both dragons let loose at the same time, knocking apart the circle and scattering the Speed Stingers to a halt. 

    "You really need some weapon," Yrsa stated despite the situation. "Like a sword. Your shield can't do everything."

     "Why a sword?" Hiccup couldn't help but respond. His arms dropped a little, glancing at her glaring figure. "You're so sure━?"

     "Because you're lean," she argued lightly, "an axe would overbear, a mallet would topple your weight━a sword is slender, like an extension to your arm━"

      "I can hold an axe━"

     "━Yeah, but fighting and holding an axe are two different things━"

     "━And what's wrong with my shield━?"

     "━You might throw an axe at Thawfest but having to constantly hold it━"

     "━my shield has kept me alive so far━"

     "Would you both stop yapping when we're being attacked my Speed Stingers?!" Snotlout yelled at them. "Seriously! I can't think with you two arguing every single second of every single day━HEY!" He jumped away from one stinger, coming to a stance beside the adolescent Speed Stinger without realising. 

      Meanwhile, Ruffnut and Hookfang were extremely vulnerable. Hookfang did his best to keep the older Thorston protected, but the two of them were just an easy target, walking and walking in circles in their attemps to get away. They were surrounded immediately, blocked away from the rest of them.

     Meatlug bellowed with fury when the pack readied to pounce. Before Fishlegs could stop her, she barrelled across the grass in front of the two of them, taking the sting instead right to her front leg. 

     Fishlegs gasped with horror, "Meatlug!"

     The Stingers moved on, never ones to stay at one target for too long. Ruffnut awkwardly reached out and patted Meatlug's flank. "Uh ... hey, girl, thanks."

      "We need to find a way to single out the leader of the pack!" Astrid called to Hiccup and Yrsa across the clearing.

      "I know," Hiccup answered back in the same tone, trying to think. But right now, all they needed to focus on was not getting stung so they could isolate the alpha, and then lead the Stingers back to their island much like they had back on Berk. "Getting to it, Astrid! T━t━there's just too many of them!"

     "And more are coming!" Yrsa pointed up the slope where the rest of the pack stampeded. Nothing more than blurs between the trees and bushes. 

    "Our only hope is to draw them away."

    "But how? With what?"

     Suddenly, it would seem Snotlout was struck with courage. He had been waving back and forth a long stick, pushing back Speed Stingers with a shout of, "I'm not leaving anyone behind!"

     Hiccup frowned at him, "Really? Since when?"

     "Since right now!" he snapped in reply. "Don't ask why! But I'm suddenly feeling selfess and heroic! AHHHHHHH!" he waved the stick with a Berserk rage. "BACK! GET AWAY!"

      And like that, an idea stuck him. 

     Before anyone could stop him, Snotlout grabbed the adolescent Speed Stinger and took off at a run into the woods. "Don't worry guys, I'll be back for you!" he shouted as he did. "COME AND GET ME, NEEDLE BUTTS!"

     And the pack followed him.

     "He's going to get himself killed," said Yrsa and Hiccup completely agreed with her. 

     So, mounting his dragon, he took off after him. Hiccup and Toothless found him quickly━thank the gods━and he was unharmed, faced toe-to-toe with the alpha Speed Stinger with only the adolescent dragon keeping him from a deadly strike.

     Snotlout was bewildered, staring at clawing half-paralysed Stingers and the dragon snarling in his favour. "What?"

     "He's torn!" Hiccup announced his arrival by shouting down. Snotlout glanced up at them, pale. "He's storn between his pack, and the one that saved his life."

     "But he hates me!"

     "But you're one of us," said Hiccup, hovering over the tree tops. "It's his instinct to protect you."

     When the leader pounced to attack, Toothless stopped him in his path with a short of explosion of dirt and sonic blue. 

     "Now, get out of here before he realises he has to choose a side!" Hiccup warned. He watched Snotlout turn to his new friend as the leader brushed the dirt from his eyes with his tiny, clawed arms. Hiccup urged Toothless up higher with a murmur of, "Okay, bud. Let's get these guys back in the water."

    It became a game of cat and mouse. Hiccup dipped Toothless into a sharp dive, blasting the pack of Speed Stingers towards the ocean's shore━they weaved in and out between the trees, trying to keep up with the only dragon that could even be faster than a Night Fury. The beach reached them quicker than he originally thought; soon enough, the vast ocean stretched out towards the horizon, and Hiccup continued to herd the Speed Stingers towards it.

     Until one decided to go astray. He gasped and jerked Toothless to follow, but a set of Nadder spikes embetted into the sand, quickly sending the stray Stinger back on track. Hiccup glanced up, grateful to see Astrid wave, diving past. In beside him, Yrsa pulled Helrose to a hover. 

    "Thought you'd want backup," she grinned and he smiled back, happy everything was back to normal. 

     Well, as normal as things can be around here.

◞ ★ ꒱꒱◜

    HICCUP COULD see a lot from the edge of the stables landing dock. His eyes stretched as far as the world would let him, thoughts yearning to the brief friend he had made. Everyone was still recovering from last night━those paralysed still trying to move half of their limbs whereever they went. But the Speed Stingers were gone, and the adolescent with them, finally back where he belonged: his own pack. Hiccup had to let him go━it was the right thing to do. 

     He glanced down at his folded Dragonfly Two, smiling a little to himself as he remembered how it worked last night━how he had flown away from Toothless to meet at the otherside. 

     Hearing footsteps behind him, his smile only grew when Yrsa happily sat down beside him, that awkward tension they held now seemesly gone━brushing away like streams of water out to the ocean's horizon. 

     "Hey," she greeted, moving Dragonfly Two more onto his lap so she could sit right at his side, like they used to. "You're up really early."

     Hiccup arched a brow at her, "And you're not out on a morning flight."

      A coy smile slipped onto her lips and she looked out to the sun rising, hair blowing out of her eyes in the cool ocean wind. "Well, I wanted to talk to my best friend."

     He looked away, too, hoping that would hide how much his cheeks hurt in wanting to beam. "Yeah?"

      She nodded, "Yeah." Then, her brows furrowed, a sudden sheepish look washing onto her features. Yrsa played with her fingers. "I wanted to say you were right. About our friendship. No matter what we feel, we're always going to be friends first. And ..." she shrugged, shy. "I also wanted to say that ... I ... I don't want to lose you, either."

      Hiccup gently nudged her at that, hoping she'd meet his gaze, and she did. "I'm sorry," he told her. "And I know you know that, but I wanted to say it. I really wanted to say it. For everything."

     "Me, too," said Yrsa. "For everything."

     "You aren't just my friend, Yrsa," Hiccup told her, and he watched her breath hitch. "You're my partner. You're the person I trust the most with ... with everything. You've been at my side since Toothless and I want you at my side in the future━wherever Dragon's Edge, Berk, anything takes us. We are equals, and if I didn't make that sure before I am determined to make that so from now on. So, let's start over, yeah? Let's make it right this time."

      "As friends," stated Yrsa.

     Hiccup nodded, "As friends."

     And just like that, a smirk donned her gorgeous face. "Okay. So, what's the plan from here?"

     Knowing where she was going, Hiccup couldn't help but meet her smirk with a mischevious grin of his own. "Something very stupid━"

     "Something crazy," she finished.

     "Always," Hiccup held out his hand to shake hers. "So, deal?"

     Yrsa titled up her chin, regal in even the grip her hand held and the shake it gave to his. "Deal."

◞ ★ ꒱꒱◜

     a/n: believe it or not, i worked on this chapter practically all day ...

     but i got it out! unedited, sadly, and rushed, but out!

     the babes have fixed their present problems and are on the road to coming back together in a mutual agreement that'll lead to a mutual relationship now, i'm proud.

     only one more chapter left of season one oop--

     for what felt like such a rushed chapter hooo is it long. it's like over 9000 words just so you know. almost 10 000

     anyway, i'll see you all soon! love you! <3