Chapter Text
We’re wasting our summer, for this?
Four tried to calm all the chattering voices in his head. All the colors were arguing at once. Shouting and bickering over who fault it was. Blue was ragging, while Vio scoffed at everything anyone said. Red was trying to mediate but looked on the verge of tears. And Green was just trying to pay attention, for Hylia's sake. The shouting match in his head was not making Four’s already boring class any better. He couldn’t focus and was feeling more than a little jibbed by the class.
Maybe Legend was right. Summer classes are the worst.
He had begged and pleaded to be let into the welding class. He even agreed to do extra chores for this! The college welding course (wrongfully) boosted at being full of hands-on training and on the cutting edge of technique and design.
But, NO.
Instead, it was nothing more than a boring history lesson. Four felt like pounding his head into the wall. Or at least that's what Vio had voiced. Anything would be better than listening to their boring professor.
Six weeks! We are wasting six weeks of our summer for THIS! Blue roared in the background.
Maybe it will get better? Red was trying and failing to calm everyone down.
We’re on week 3 and, we haven’t so much as seen the inside of the shop. How will it get better? Vio grumbled back
Uuuuhhhhh…..
Guys… can we maybe focus on the class. Green sighed.
Focus on what?! Stuff we already know?
There was no way of calming Blue down now. He was on a roll and he had a point. They already knew all of this stuff. When Four had first discovered smithing and welding, he poured his heart and soul into learning everything he could about the art. He lost count of how many nights he spent up researching how to make things. He had actually gotten quite good if he did say so himself. And he was even starting to cross over into mechanics when he heard about this class.
He had tagged along to pick up Twi and War from the local college when he overheard some art students talking about it. They were gathered around a brightly colored flyer at said;
Mister Smiths Welding and Shop class,
Learn how to become the Cutting-Edge Creators of Tomorrow.
Everything from Digital Design to 3D printing.
Welding, Building, Mechanics, and More.
Limited Class sizes and minimum age required.
The pictures alone were enough to intense Four. The only problem was…. He had just turned 15. He wasn’t even able to drive yet, let alone enroll in a summer college course. But, the poster did promise to teach him a lot of things. Things that he was interested in learning.
So, he may have done some talking.
Mr. Smith seemed pretty cool. At first. He even agreed to let Four join the class. If he got a guardian to sign a waiver, of course. It had taken some doing. But with Time and Malon's help, the three of them were able to sell his grandfather on the idea. Time and Malon even co-sign the wavier for extra measure.
He then had to plead with Twilight and War to drive him to campus every Tuesday and Thursday for a couple of weeks to drop him off. War certainly wasn’t happy about it but, he couldn’t refuse Four’s chore deal. He may be stuck on dishes duty for the rest of the summer, but it would be worth it in the end. Right?
Oh, how wrong he was.
Four groaned for what felt like the millionth time that day. All that work. All that talking, and begging, and pleading. All for nothing.
Just as Four was debating making a break for the door, something, or rather someone, caught his attention.
Hiccup Haddock, one of Four’s classmates was particularly frantic today. He was fidgeting back and forth in his seat. Looking rather distressed over his backpack. His backpack that just moved.
What?
Now, Four was curious, why did his bag just move? How did his bag just move? Wait…... Is his bag on fire!?
Sure enough, his dark green backpack was smoking with little yellow and orange flames erupting from it. Hiccup, for his part, only grew more frantic and tried to quietly stamp them out with his foot.
Mr. Smith hardly notice. He didn’t even notice when the fire alarm started to go off. By the time he did notice half of the class had hastily taken the excuse to escape. This left only Hiccup, his burning backpack, and Four in the room with Mr. Smith.
Mr. Haddock, I hope you understand how much trouble you have caused by disrupting my class.
Ahhh…. Uhhh… Sorry sir, I just had a little…. Malfunction… with… a…. fi…fire…rune that I have been working for a different class. Hiccup stuttered out his plea as he continued to stamp out the ashes caused by his backpack.
Fire runes are hardly the focus here today. Mr. Smith remarked. And I doubt they will play any importance in your future lessons.
Four was really starting to hate like this guy. Runic writing was essential to the magical parts of smithing. How else are you supposed to get a magic sword to work? Incantations? Please, that only works on organic materials.
Well…. You… see…. sir. Hiccup continued to stutter. His focus was solely on his backpack. A backpack that was now wiggling around with a mind of its own.
My word! Mr. Haddock, what foolish runes have you been messing with?
I… ahhh… uh... Gotta go!
Hiccup sprinted towards the door. Not even noticing the group of students gather at the door. Four racing after him. Four had to figure this one out. If Hiccup could enchant his backpack with fire magic, then he definitely knew more about magic than he let on.
What kind of rune does that!
I don’t know, but we’re going to find out, right Green?
Duh.
If Hiccup has the hook-up on Runes, we have to find this out. Vio shouted.
Wait... should we go back to class?
Not now, RED!
It wasn’t hard to find Hiccup. All Four had to do was follow the trail of smoke and ash. He eventually caught up to him after a few wrong turns. Hiccup’s bag wasn’t on fire anymore, or at least what was left of it. And it didn’t look like he had any rune on him either. No instead, resting on Hiccup’s shoulder was a dragon.
A very tiny dragon. But a dragon nonetheless.
Four jaw hit the floor. Hiccup had a pet dragon. He had a pet dragon! And he brought it to class with him!? HOW! Why?
And can we pet it?
Not now Red.
But it's cute! Just one pet? Come on Vio, tell him it's cute.
It…. Is kinda cute….
VIO!
The dragon preached on Hiccup's shoulder was small, about the size of a cat. Its wings were a smokey grey with hints of silver and purple at the tips. The body scales were a glossy black and, its horns were almost white with light grey circles at the base. The dragon’s eyes were bright emerald green with a spark of mischiefs as it stared at Four. To Four it looked like a small Lizalfo with wings and a bigger nose.
Red still wanted to pet the creature despite Blue’s protest. Vio wasn’t helping and Green was just shocked. Rambling on about who willingly brings a dragon to school. The internal argument was strong enough to cause Four to stammer and mumble out loud. This caught the attention of the dragon, who alerted Hiccup to the rambling mess know as Four.
Uhh…. Four... You…. You... alright their…. Buddy….? Hiccup asked nervously. He was trying to play it as casually as he could, but this was Hiccup. Four was pretty sure that Hiccup was nerdier than Flora. And that’s saying something.
Four shook his head to quiet the others. Ummm… Yeah… I just… didn’t know that you had a pet dragon. That’s..... all.
Dragon?! What dragon? I don’t see one. Hiccup stammered as he tried to hid the small dragon.
I’m nearsighted, not blind you know. You have a dragon behind your back and your backpack is a pile of ash.
Uhhh….. well you were talking to yourself… soo….. ahhh….
I talk to myself all the time. Just ask my brothers. You, on the other hand. Said that you have no experience with magic and, yet here you are with a dragon.
Well…. I said that…. I had very little experience with magic….. not that I don’t know…..any….
Four raised his brow. That was a lie. For Goddess sake, even Hyrule could lie better than that.
Uh-huh.
I’m telling you the truth.
Sure….
Okay, look. The dragon really isn’t mine….. I kinda… found him on the way to class….
You… found him? Just some random dragon off the street? Four was beyond confused now. Who picks up a wild dragon off the streets and brings it to class with him?
Hiccup continued to stammer out how he found the dragon and why he thought that bring it to class was a “good” idea. Well… I didn’t plan on bringing him to class… it's just…. You see….. I just had to do something. I couldn’t leave the little guy…..
Huh…?
He has a broken wing. Hiccup gestured to the ting creature in his hands. And one of his horns is broken. Not to mention that he has a sprained leg, a few cuts from other dragons, and probably a cold….
So…. You just wanted to help it….?
Basically yeah.
And you’re just okay with having a dragon preached on your shoulder?
Hhmmm oh, yeah. Terrible Terrors are just fang kittens. They’re mostly harmless.
Terrible…what?
Oh…uh… that’s what species he is, Terrible Terrors. Not the friendliest of names, but they’re not as bad as they seem.
Can I pet?
What?
I…. Umm… Red’s influence broke through. He had been asking to pet the creature during their entire conversion and now Four had just blurted out his wishes. Nothing…. I….
You can pet him if you want. Hiccup’s face grew soft and relaxed from his normally nervous state.
Wait… really? But it’s a wild creature?
Aw, he’s not so wild. He’s a city dragon. They’re practically tamed pigeons by this point.
Hiccup motion Four to come closer and held out his arm for the dragon to walk on. Four slowly shuffled forward, not quite sure why he was approaching a living blowtorch of his own free will.
Hold your hand out flat, like this. Hiccup held his free hand out and up at a slight angle. Four mimicked it and extend his arm towards the ting dragon.
That’s it. Now, slowly touch his nose.
Hiccup said with a confidence that Four had never heard before. Hiccup was like kinda like Four. Nerdy and quiet. Anytime Mr. Smith called on him, Hiccup would stammer out his response. He was always right, but he never sounds confident about it. From what Four had gathered, Hiccup was only a year older than him and that his dad worked for the college.
But if Hiccup was confident about this…. Then maybe Four should be too.
Four took a quick breath and lightly touched the dragon’s nose. To surprise, the dragon did not try to bite him.
Instead, the small creature…. Purred?...... At him?
Huh, Four continued to gently pet the creature's nose. I have never been this close to a dragon before. Are all their scales this smooth?
No, only the ones on their nose are. They use their nose to dig up things and it smooth down their scales.
Huh… wait. How do you know this? Four’s hand moved to pat the dragon’s head.
I study them. Kinda want to specialize in magical creatures one day.
Like as a vet or something? Four was now scratching the dragon’s chin.
More like a Magical Zoologist.
Okay, now that would be a coo… Woah…. The dragon had leaped towards Four’s shoulders. Happily making a nest on the hood of his hoodie. Hey, now come on. That’s not really a bed back there.
Hiccup laughed. Yeah, they tend to do that.
Four laughed along as he tried to reach the small creature in his hood. The mischievous dragon purred some more and curled its head to nuzzle Four’s check.
Awww. You really are just a fanged cat aren’t you?
Told ya. They’re pretty harmless…… most of the time….
I see what you mean about his wing. The dragon had moved from Four’s hood into his arm. The poor creature's left wing was completely tattered and torn. His little boy seemed to be covered in old scar and scuffs too. What even happened to this little guy?
Dragon fights, probably.
Are all dragons that violet with their own kind?
No, but…. unsavory people like to pit these guys against bigger dragons. And sometimes other things in staged fights. When my dad was police chief he broke a few fighting rings…..
Wait! Someone made him fight a bigger dragon? Four hugged the small creature closer. Who does that? This guy’s the size of a cat and some dragons get bigger than a house. Four personally knew what it was like to be the little guy in a fight. At least he had backup during those.
Unfortunately, but hey all those scars mean that he’s a fighter. Probably ruffed up whatever did this to his wings.
Four let out a small smile. He knew what Hiccup was trying to do, but that didn’t change the fact the little dragon had gotten beat on by bigger foes. Is there any way to fix his wing?
I was thinking of printing him a cast, maybe tucking it into a sling until he heals up some more.
That might work. Four pondered for a moment. Ideas were racing through his head. A hexagonal cast might work. A sling of some sort would be better for joint movement, but he would need fireproof materials…. wait. Where do you have a 3D printer? Aren’t those expensive?
Gobber’s got one at his shop.
Who’s Gobber?
He's my dad’s….. best friend. He owns and runs a blacksmith shop downtown. He’s got all sorts of tools and equipment. Hiccup paused and mauled over his thought for a moment. ….You wanna come with me? To Gobber’s shop, I mean.
You had me at blacksmith.
Sweet… Okay… I’ll go grab Toothless and we can head right over.
What’s a… Toothless?
My dragon.
WHAT!