The 'L' Word

Today was a great day for flying and exploring new lands! Hiccup and his best friend Toothless were soaring through the skies and going beyond the clouds.

"Woohoo!" Shouted Hiccup as they did a summersault into a cloud, "Atta boy!"

"Mmrrghh," replied Toothless staring up at his rider, he stuck his tongue out and letting the wind flap it about.

"Whoa, Toothless over there! Do you see it bud?" Hiccup asked pointing over to a large island,

"Mmrrrghh," Toothless replied, feeling quite ambitious to go in,

"Hhhmm, Come on bud let's go check it out!" Hiccup said, he always had the taste of adventure. Yet he's still confused wether or not it was a good thing. They slowly glided down to get a closer look just for they could touch the ground, they heard the squawking of a Deadly Nadder. Hiccup turned his around to see none other than Astrid Hofferson, his long time girlfriend. In fact they had been dating for five years, quite a long time don't you reckon? But in these five years Hiccup never had the courage to tell Astrid the 'L' word. It just stayed inside punching his heart wanting to get out from his mouth and into her ears. But today all that could change, "Afternoon, M'lady. Where have you been?" He asked, she her dragon, Stormfly dove down closer to them,

"Oh, winning races, what else?" She said flicking her hair over to one side, "So I see you've been busy, skipping chieftain meetings,"

"Haha very funny," Hiccup replied sarcastically,

"So what exactly are you gonna call this island?" She asked, knowing what he was gonna say,

"So what do ya think bud?" He asked Toothless,

"Achoo!" Sneezed Toothless,

"Sneezy, it is!" Hiccup said raising his finger, "So what are you waiting for? Gonna help me map it?" He buckled the clips on his upper armour and pulled out his notebook,

"Let's go," Astrid said while patting Stormfly's neck asking her to fly forward,

"Rwark!" Stromfly said flying closer and closer to ground, with Toothless following. Just as they were about to land, a group of hunky men appeared from the bushes with trapping weapons,

"Dragon riders!" One screamed lunching nets up into the sky,

"Whhhoooaaa!" Hiccup shouted as he and Toothless dodge the nets, "Astrid! Fall back!" Hiccup then flicked his prosthetic allowing Toothless to fly back to up high into the clouds

"Let's go girl!" Shouted Astrid as they followed Hiccup, while dodging the nets. She had finally caught up to him,

"Well weren't those just the nicest people you've ever met?" Hiccup asked,

"I guess we will have to find another island to call sneezy?" Asked Astrid a tone of humour in her voice. Just before Hiccup could reply they heard a distant scream,

"FIRE!!!" A voice shouted. A net whirled through the wind, latching it self onto Stormfly,

"Astrid! Look out!" Screamed Hiccup,

"Rrwwaaarrkkk!" She squawked, flapping her one free wing trying to stay airborne. She and Astrid span out of control only metres away from the rock solid ground. Then the most daunting thing happened...Astrid lost her grip, she was falling to her death!

"Hiccup!" She screamed in terror,

"Hang on!" Hiccup screamed, as he and Toothless went into a nose dive, this was Hiccup's worst nightmare, "Come on buddy faster!" He reached put his hand trying grab onto her's. He wasn't close enough, he then disconnected his safety harness from Toothless saddle. He looked into Toothless' eyes, "You go save Stormfly, I'll go save Astrid," he then pulled the leaver allowing Toothless to fly by himself,

"Mmrghhh?" Toothless moaned, he wasn't sure if this was a good a idea,

"I'll be fine bud," Hiccup said as he pushed himself off of his saddle using the stirring rod, "GO BUD!" He was watched as Toothless then flew quickly over to Stormfly grabbing the ropes that bound in his talons. Hiccup on the other hand was was moving his arms as if he was swimming to try reach Astrid, they locked their eyes on each others. Hiccup knew that there was only one thing to do, he moved his arm faster making sure that he was the one closer to the ground.

"Hiccup? What are you doing!?" Asked a very panicked Astrid,

"Trust me on this!" Hiccup shouted back, he looked down they were getting incredibly close to ground. He quickly pulled out his flight suit, within seconds he was hovering closer to Astrid. He made sure that his back was facing the ground. He hovered closer and closer to her. He then wrapped his flight suit around her, just like Toothless does with his wings. They then continued to fall to the ground, Toothless started to dive after them with Stormfly in tow. Astrid head was lying closer to his, she looked at him,

"Hiccup, Toothless and Stormfly are coming for us!" She said with a sigh of relief,

"I don't they're gonna make it in time," he replied, "Keep holding on to me tightly Astrid, our nightmare will end soon," he then closed his eyes, Astrid in confusion did what she told. After a matter of seconds their was a disturbing thud and a crack. Toothless and Stormfly landed onto the rocky ground, terror and sadness filled their eyes, especially Toothless'. Astrid quickly opened her eyes,

"Hiccup, we did it! We're okay!" She said happily, "Hiccup, you know you can let go of me now?" There was silence, "H-Hiccup?" Astrid gently moved Hiccup's arms off her, and laid down beside him, his eyes were closed, "Hiccup, you did it! Wake up," she ran her fingers though his hair, she felt something cold and wet. She pulled her fingers away from his hair, tears started form in her eyes, her fingers were dripping in blood. She got up her knees and noticed a pool of blood was starting to form under Hiccup's body. "No..." She whimpered as gently lifted up his head and let it rest peacefully on her chest; where her heart was. She rested her chin gently on his forehead, she sobbed uncontrollably. Tears fell down like waterfalls. She then placed her hand on his cheek, stroking it gently. Just then she noticed his eyes were flickering, she heard a sigh and was greeted by two amazing forest green eyes. "Hiccup,"

"A-Astrid?" He said weakly, "You're okay,"

"Yeah, and so will you, we're gonna make you feel good as new and then we're gonna find that 'sneezy' island," she said optimistically,

"I think, you're gonna have to do that youself," he replied, handing her his notebook which was stained in blood. He then placed his hand on Astrid cheek. He could feel the dampness of her skin as he placed his hand upon her cheek and using his thumb wiped away her tears, "Your so beautiful," Astrid sobbed even more placing the notebook to the ground, she sniffled and placed her hand on top of his, "Astrid, before....I go, there's something you need to know...."

"What is it?" She said choking on her tears. She watched as his lips quivered,

"I love you." Astrid watched as the light faded out of Hiccup's eyes, his hand growing cold and stone like in her grasp. Blood started to pour out of his mouth, he looked at her one last time giving her his goofy smile with blood stained teeth. She weakly smiled back,

"I love you too," she whispered back, before he gently closed his eyes. Astrid then using her arm pad wiped away the blood, she leaned in and gave him his final kiss. She felt his cold, wet lips on hers, more and more tears escaped her eyes landing on his cheek. She the broke apart from his lips, hugged him tightly in his arms and cried out into the sky, filling the world with her sorrow. The dragons joined in as well.

'A great man as fallen. An explorer. A chieftain. A son. A friend...'