Archive of Our Own ^beta

Skizz and Etho weren't always close. If fact, it took Skizz almost half a year before he even talked to Etho.

Etho had turned up on Berk a few days before the school year had started, just barely fourteen and always on the defensive. They were accepted into the school, because they weren't the only kid who turned up like that.

Etho hadn't been anything special for days. Even in the hatchery, when everyone got their first dragons, they didn't choose a special one. A purple sand wraith hatchling had walked up to them, and that hatchling seemed to be all Etho needed. Besides, there were more weird dragons chosen, such as Skizz's own triple stryke.

Admittlly, Etho had returned to the hatchery a few days later to obtain another egg, this one a dragon nobody had seen before. But Etho claimed it was a light fury, a species from far north that mirrored the night furies. That was when the whispers started, but they were quickly over shadowed by Cleo's boneknapper and screaming death causing chaos.

Then the skipping began.

Etho showed up to classes only when they wanted too, which wasn't often. At the same time, they spent every free moment in the wilderness, hanging out with the dragons that lived there.

This was the pattern that followed Etho for almost half a year, while Skizz was busy making friends and learning about Gaze and all the subjects the school offered.

Soon, it winter was upon them, and that was when Etho and Skizz would first meet.

A new dragon species, an island that snowed all year round, and someone named Skulder. That was all it took for Etho and Skizz to be put on a boat with Hiccup and Skulder, to sail to Icestorm Island, to find a home for the groncicle. The boat ride was quiet, but Skizz learned a bit about Etho during the five days on water and more during the three weeks setting up camp on the island. He learned that they weren't from this archipelago, and that they had gotten separated from their two friends and washed up on Berk's shores.

Skizz learned that despite having no last name, they always signed their name as Etho SL due to an old joke between those friends. He learned they love dragons, and find them preferable to humans in some cases. He learned they like to be alone, finding humans annoying most days.

Skizz learned so much, but he couldn't take the cold of the island forever. He took the next boat back to the school, read to make up work he had missed. Etho had stayed, wanting to learn more about groncicles, and Skizz missed them.

Etho had stayed away for weeks, until their light fury egg was about to hatch. There had never been a case of a rider away while an egg was hatching, so the school was in a panic about what to do. And then Etho had showed up, with no communicating, just an instinct that the egg was ready. They also still had the groncicle with them, declaring it their third dragon.

They had been correct in the end, it was a light fury. Etho named her Sundaze, and after letting her grow up for a few weeks, they returned back to Icestorm Island.

Etho wasn't seen again until a week after the final exams. They returned, and were preparing to take an abridged version of the exam, when the death song invaded. The entire school and all of Berk were all needed in relocating the dragon, but Etho seemed to do more then others. There were records of them going out for flights in the middle of the night, and one of these flights resulted in what would be their forth dragon, a razorwhip egg.

That was when the rumors truly started. According to Hiccup, a close friend had allowed Etho to keep the egg, but nothing more was revealed. This lead to some of the other students picking on them, saying that they bribed Hiccup or that Etho was cheating. Skizz always stayed out of it, but he couldn't find a reason why Hiccup would let Etho do that.

Then, when the death song was driven out, it left it's hatchling, which Etho promptly took in. That was the end of Etho's social life, at least for another year, when Skizz was put on a mission with them.

And next up on the adventure list, Dragon Island.

Dragon Island had been tough, and the revelations of the Green Death had shaken Skizz to his core. Etho had taken it in stride, even when the earth shook and the two of them were forced to outrun a beast of nightmares. But after that, Skizz made a promise to himself: never let Etho go without a friend.

But before he could make friends with them, there was Impossible Island. And dragon egg that nobody, even Etho, knew the species of. That didn't stop Etho from diving into the maze, risking their life for this dragon. They came out of it with yet another baby dragon, a stowaway flamewhipper. But Etho seemed to stop caring at the rumors at that point.

It took longer to earn Etho's trust then to become their friend, as apparently Skizz had a 'calming effect' on anyone he met. Within a few weeks, Skizz was regularly skipping meals to meet with Etho in the wilderness, talking about dragons and everything else. Skizz learned more about Etho then he thought he ever could.

He learned they bond with dragons extremely quickly, they love doing stunts on Starlit'Void, they had a fondness for reading, they created their own dye to maintain a purple strip of their hair, they wore a mask solely because they didn't want to give the satisfaction of knowing what was under it to the bullies.

Skizz learned so many little things, so many things that added up to who Etho really was.

Then the Hidden World was revealed, as Skizz and Etho huddled in a cave near the hatchery and wondered if the world was ending. The cave under the school quickly became their home, days spent flying around, mapping everything inside it.

Stormheart provided the next threat, and although it wasn't personal at first, attacking Lumie and ransacking Vanaheim had been the last straw. Skizz had never been scared of Etho until he saw their pure fury at the act of using dragons to power the ship. Skizz knew to stay back and let Etho take the lead on this one, and it payed off.

All that had lead up to this moment.

------

Etho's suiting up for their mission, and Skizz is hovering over them. This one mission was more dangerous then anything else the rider had done in all the years since arriving at the school.

"Well then, I've got everything." Etho said, putting a few flowers into a pouch on their flightsuit. "I'll see you in a bit."

As Etho walks out the door, Skizz grabs their hand, holding them back.

"Promise me you'll survive." Skizz begs, and Etho's eyes hold more worry then ever.

"I'll do my best. Besides, I don't think you can take care of all my dragons." The joke breaks a bit of the tension, and Skizz lets them go.

"I love you." The words go unsaid by Skizz, not knowing how to tell Etho about his feelings. Instead, he waves goodbye at his flock, and lets them go out to risk their life.

----

Skizz can't hear much over the shouting. The battle against Grimmel had arrived, and New Berk was fighting with its back against the wall. Silly Grimmel, didn't he know that a cornered animal is among the most dangerous?

Although he can't hear much, Skizz catches sight of Etho. His flock had arguably the most important job: hit Cloudjumper with an antidote, midflight, in clear range of Grimmel. Etho notices Skizz staring at them and gives a salute, and Skizz can feel their courage reflecting in his own soul. Etho was going to do this no matter what. Skizz can only give them a worried nod in return, before Starlit'Void was off.

The sand wraith was silent as a shadow, quick as the breeze. Etho flew him close to the water, using the sunset's darkening sky to their advantage. Skizz didn't often get to see Etho and Starlit'Void from afar, usually being right next to them. Skizz turned away, not bearing to watch.

"Come on Gaze, we've got to make sure nothing creeps up from behind." The triple stryke growled in excitement, before giving Skizz a reassuring look. Skizz couldn't help but chuckle at his friend's face. He never did understand why there were the people who said to abandon the dragons in the Hidden World.

It wasn't until he heard a growl, louder then most, that he turned back towards where Etho was suppose to be. Cloudjumper was thrashing in midair, letting out circles of fire in every direction. A purple blur sped back him, shooting... sand at Grimmal's dragon held aircraft.

Etho had done it. They had done it, somehow, they had done it.

Skizz lets out a whoop of excitement, because that was his flock flying above the clouds, shooting sand of all things at Grimmal to free the deahtgrippers.

"They did it, voiddamnit. They fucking did it." Skizz doesn't think about the fact he swore, because his flock had pulled off a job that Skizz knows he would fail.

-----

It only takes a few minutes before they find each other in the aftermath of the battle, but those few minutes were far too long for Skizz's liking. Once he spots Etho in all the chaos, he wastes no time.

"Etho!" It's a familiar cry, one used almost daily at this point, but the pure relief in Skizz's voice surprises even him. In the end, the momentum was too much, and they both ended up sprawled out in the long grass, the green stuff in their hair and their clothes torn from the weeks of fighting. Skizz couldn't tell if he was laughing or crying, all he knew was that they had made it. They were both alive.

"We made it." Skizz didn't know if it was him or Etho who said it first, but it ended up being repeated many times as they held onto each other.

Eventually, they quiet down, still holding hands. They just used the time to be with each other, making up for all the missing time from the past week and a half. There's still grass in their hair, and Etho makes quick work of pointing it out. Skizz responds by reaching over to lightly punch Etho, not having the energy to form words to get back at them.

"Hey Skizz, you're the best." Etho breathes, and Skizz can tell they're doing the smile they make when they're to tired to function.

"Thanks. What brings my awesomeness up?" Skizz jokes.

"Just thinking of how much harder this would've been with my flock."

Skizz melts at the words, because he knows as much as he cares for Etho, they care just as much, in their own, weird, dragonish ways.

"I love you so much." Skizz didn't even realize he had said anything until the words were out of his mouth.

Etho just chuckles. "Love you too Skizz, was wondering how long it would take you to voice that thought."

Skizz wanted to scream into a pillow at that moment, but without a pillow, the grass works perfectly. Etho laughs, and Skizz's face is red. Neither say anything else, they know what the other is feeling without trying. Whatever may come, they are a flock, and that isn't affected by how they feel about each other.

----

It's a hard night, because they cannot get to their home for the night.

New Berk is stable, but the school is still open. There is much discussion about the best way to run it, but it will be kept open no matter what. Etho storms out mid conversation because nothing has changed and Skizz follows them.

Etho is found sitting on the edge of a cliff, staring into the night sky. Yet another time Skizz could almost see Etho's should-have-been wings. He thinks they would've been a sand wraith, maybe they were destined to be Starlit'Void. What a funny thought.

Skizz sits next to Etho, and he doesn't say anything. Not at first, because this was concerning Etho's home.

"I just want to be back there."

Skizz nods. "I'm assuming you mean the cave?"

"Yeah."

Skizz leans back, staring at the sky above. "I want to be back there as well, and we'll be back there soon."

"We'll leave in the morning, once we get the dragons."

"We can live in the Hidden World Annex, build a little house with our own lava pool to hatch all the eggs we want."

"We'll be the local legends that exist, but nobody really knows about."

Etho and Skizz talk about their silly ideas for the future for an hour, ranging from doable, to impossible (Although, Etho protests about using the word 'impossible', because they've taken on Impossible Island's labyrinth and won.). They end up laying next to each other, watching the stars until they fall asleep. They don't need to worry anymore.

They've made it this far, and they'll make it farther in the future.

Etho and Skizz were en route to New Berk, having gotten a message from Valka a day ago requesting their presence, due to their ability to understand dragons extremely well, as Hiccup was away on chiefly duties.

And what did the hours of being alone mean?

It meant Skizz was being teased and bombarded with questions. By his own flock, of all people.

"You took one look at Valka and decided that you'd be a saint around her, and I still don't understand why!"

Skizz groaned playfully. "She's so nice! I've never met a person like her and I didn't have a great relationship with my mom before she died, so..."

"Oh, so you're the one with parent issues then?"

Skizz loved Etho, he really did, but sometimes he wanted to dump them in the middle of the ocean for a night.

"Yep, that's me. You get all the other issues, I get the parent issues."

"I do not have all the other issues!" Etho retorted, as Starlit'Void seemed to chuckle at them.

"Let's see, social outcast, keeps getting into trouble, anger issues but only when Stormheart is brought into it, an obsession to adopt every dragon you come across, you somehow washed up on shore, need I go on?" Skizz asked, counting off his fingers.

Etho blinked. "Longer list then I thought."

Skizz couldn't help but shake his head. This was what he had signed up to back on Dragon Island, after all.

"Actually, how did you end up here, you just kinda... appeared."

Etho grew quiet, before answering the question with a far off look in their eyes.

"Well, my parents both died when I was young, and I was taken in by a friend's mom. My friend, Beef, his family were farmers during the summer, fishers during winter. One day, me, Beef, and Pause went out to see what we could catch but a storm... interrupted. I got thrown off the boat, and I kinda boat-hoped for a few months until I got on the ship that brought me to Berk."

"Adding more issues to the list then." Skizz noted, smirking when Etho have him an exasperate expression.

"Either way, I'm really glad fate brought me here." Etho continued, smiling softly. "These past six years have been the best thing to happen to me."

"Love you too." Skizz replied, dodging the dragon scale thrown at him. Huh, singtail scales this time.

-----

"What kind of dragon are those?" Skizz asked Valka, staring at the hybrids in front of him with awe.

There were three of them, one resembling a light fury but with small black patches, and the other two looking more like night furies. One of the black ones had green eyes and the other had bright blue eyes.

Hybrids weren't a 'new' concept, per say. They had been discovered about two years ago at that point, when Cleo had found the first graveknapper and proceeded to adopt it. She probably was the one best prepared to take care of it anyway, due to her prior experience raising Screamy and Bones.

After that, more hybrids were found and soon, it became normal to see students take one in for their second or third dragon.

"These are the nightlights, Toothless and the Light Fury's offspring." Valka explained, petting the white one. "This is Pouncer, the one with green eyes is Ruffrunner, and the girl is Dart."

Dart seemed to be the leader of the pack, as she was the one in front of her brothers. Pouncer was right behind her, looking at Skizz and Etho with quizzical eyes, while Ruffrunner was in the back, almost asleep.

Oh dear, Skizz and Etho were probably going to get attached to these guys enough that they'd kill for them. Well, Etho's already killed people so it doesn't matter.

"Hey there, how are you guys?" Etho knelt down so they could get to eyelevel with them, as to appear less threatening. "I'm Etho, and this is Skizz, and Starlit'Void and Gaze are around here somewhere."

The attempt seemed to work on them, because Dart came up to Skizz and nuzzled him.

"Aww..." Skizz then tried to pick her up, finding it harder then it looked. "Hello Dart."

A look at Etho, who had both Pouncer and Ruffrunner attached to them, confirmed Skizz's earlier thought. They'd both kill for these dragons. Probably better to not voice that thought in front of Valka.

-------

"So, why is Toothless the only night fury around here anyway?"

Skizz and Etho were flying a little behind Heather, opting to have a chance to talk to each other. Skzz cast Etho a questioning look, before remembering that his flock always skipped history.

"Nobody knows why Toothless is still here, because almost all the night furies were hunted to extinction years ago." Skizz explained, shrugging. Etho titled their head, a puzzled expression on their face.

"No, that's not correct?" Etho turned to look at Heather and Windshear, making sure they were still on course. "The night and light furies relocated to my old archipelago almost a century ago."

Skizz did a double take, staring at Etho. "You had night furies? And more light furies?"

"Yeah, why did you think I knew what Sundaze was before she hatched?"

"I don't know, I just thought you were weird and then Cleo's dragons started causing chaos, so-"

"Sorry to interrupt your chatting, but we're approaching Auction Island soon, and it might be best to go stealth mode." Heather called, causing Skizz and Etho to quiet down.

Auction Island, the place hunters and pirates and scum all gathered to trade and to sell their hauls. It also happened to be ruled by Stormheart, who Etho hated with a burning passion. It seemed Skizz was going to have to work overtime to make sure his flock didn't do something they would later regret.

He also really hoped the missing titan skrill wasn't locked up, purely because lightning and Skizz did not get along very well.

-----

"It's all right, you did a good job."

Pouncer was huddled next to Starlit'Void with Etho, the nightlight shaking and downcast. After the disastrous attempt to figure out what Stormheart needed the Warlords help for, Pouncer had attempted to blind the hunters, but had failed. Most likely due to his young age.

And now the four humans and five dragons had arrived on Titan Island so that Pouncer could meet someone with a similar power.

Skizz always shivered when he went to Titan Island, even with the lava pools that made up most of the interior of the mountain. He guessed it was because this was such a sacred place to the dragons.

Skizz, Valka, and Heather all followed Etho, who was carrying Pouncer. Etho was the one who had 'trained' the dragon they were going to meet after all, they got to lead the way.

"Lumie! Where are you?"

Skizz heard a splash from below, in the mini lake at the bottom of the mountain, He pointed in the direction.

"Ah, thanks Skizz!" Etho started making their way down the rocky pathways to meet their friend. "Lumie! I've brought a friend!"

Lumie peaked his head out from the water, before leaping up to meet Etho in excitement. After splashing everybody except Heather, who had remained in the back, the luminous krayfin started wagging his tail and smiling.

"Hey Lumie! Sorry it's been awhile, but I brought a new friend!"

Etho set Pouncer down, the nightlight still shaking from the fright he had experienced earlier. Lumie noticed this and lit up his scales, making a small flash to comfort the hatchling. Pouncer seemed to perk up, letting out his own fireball, which gave a small flash before sputtering out.

The two continued making the cave light up from their flashes for another few minutes, before Pouncer leapt from the ground to fly above Lumie, chipping happily. Skizz elbowed Etho, who gave him an annoyed look.

"What was that for?"

"You did this." Skizz said. "Just pointing out what you've done."

Etho looked at Lumie and Pouncer again, as now the nightlight had landed on Lumie's shell and seemed to be having a conversation in dragon with him.

"I guess I did help do this."

"Man, you gotta take more credit for your actions." Skizz said, shaking his head. "You've done so much for Berk."

Etho didn't reply, just leaned into Skizz. But Skizz knew them well enough to recognize when they were smiling.

-----

"Remind me why we're doing this again." Skizz asked for the third time in the past few minutes. Etho gave him a knowing look, as they knew why this idea was the cause of horrible memories resurfacing.

"Because Dart needs a chance to spread her wings, this is the first time we've gotten a chance to see the Green Death, and some of the Warlord's ships were spotted sailing this way." Valka said from where she was perched on top on the rock formation.

"Yeah, and the second reason is why I do not want to be here." Skizz muttered, moving closer to Etho. If he zones out too much, the air seems to turn hotter, sounds of screams and roars and lava and falling rocks fills his ears, and the taste of ash and fear and blood fills his mouth. Skizz curls his hands into fists, digging his nails into the skin to remove himself from the past.

"Hey, at least we're not back there, right?" Etho takes his hand, giving Skizz another reason to keep his head in the present.

"Yeah." He replies shakily, making sure not to let go of Etho's hand.

It's another few hours until anything happens, so Etho and Skizz spend a bit racing in the sky, a bit talking about their most recent group of hatchlings, and a bit just messing around doing silly things. Skizz doesn't start to tear up a bit when Valka tells the two of them she's proud of their connection with their dragons, nope not at all!

But all good things come to an end, and as the sun was starting to paint the sky golden and pink, the ships appeared. And with the ships came furious roars from above the clouds, roars Skizz knew by heart. You never do forget some nightmares, especially not when they stem from a life threatening experience and happen for years on end.

One battle to free the captured scuttleclaw eggs later, Skizz is hiding behind Etho as far away from the Green Death as he can be, while Dart and Valka introduce themselves to her. Skizz knows he's shaking, because Etho is holding his hand.

Skizz knows about the idea of 'lasting mental scars'. The idea that if you go though something that endangers you, you will have a mental 'scar', it might fade with time, or it might stay forever. He just never considered Dragon Island might have caused as something like that.

It's almost funny, how many things he faced, all the battles he's fought, and only two things scare him: Etho when they're furious, and the Green Death. Nobody else seems to mind Dragon Island as much as him.

Later on, after the whole deal with the warlords is over, Etho tells him stories of how scared they were during their first few Situations, of the nightmares and little flashes of fear that have lingered for almost five years. And Skizz realizes Etho's dealt with the same thing, they just bury it with more scares and nightmares and adventures.

In the end, Skizz and Etho don't know Dart as well as the other nightlights. They love her, but they still can't get near Dragon Island without the sights, sounds, and tastes of those two days returning in all their glory.

But they still make progress, learning about the Green Death and meeting dragons from the island.

And in the end, maybe they'll find the courage to return.

----

"GET AWAY FROM LUMIE!"

And Skizz knew without looking the warlords had gone for the luminous krayfin. Well, they were going to learn why nobody messed with anybody Etho cared about.

Deep down, Skizz knew he should probably be more concerned about the fact that his flock was about to murder people, but it didn't matter in the long run. Etho had already murdered people before anyways.

And so with just a quick prayer to the gods, Skizz dove back into the battle on Gaze, cheering on Dart and Pouncer. The two of them were doing quite well for their first battle, so all Skizz needed to do was make sure nothing came at those two.

Suddenly, a protective roar filled the battle grounds, unlike any of the dragons Skizz knew the sounds off, quickly glancing towards Etho, he found the answer.

Apparently, Lumie had been dragged onto one of the boats, and while Etho and Starlit'Void had gotten the warlords away from him, Ruffrunner had landed on the deck to make sure nothing could get near Lumie. And it looked like Ruffrunner's power was healing, as just his presence seemed to make Lumie perk up.

Skizz could always count of Ruffrunner to protect everyone he could, something Skizz himself always tried to do. Even in the heat of battle, neither of them would give up.

-------

"I want to give you two a reward for all you've done for the school," Hiccup started, gesturing at Etho and Skizz. "All these years you've taken on foes I couldn't have taken on at your age, and you deserve something special."

Skizz subtly elbowed Etho when they made a noise of disagreement.

"I've talked this over with Toothless and the Light Fury, and we've decided that you may take one of the nightlights in, to train." Hiccup continued, smiling fondly. "So, which ne have you bonded the most with?"

After a few seconds of disbelief, Etho and Skizz turned to each other, and it was little question.

"Pouncer." Etho said firmly. "He's the one we're closest with."

"Really, both of you choose the same?"

Skizz spoke this time. "It's not worth it to separate one from the rest, and the one we have bonded with the least will be going to a place we cannot go."

"Besides, they can come to our home in the Hidden World Annex whenever they want." Etho finished explaining. "We only wish to claim one, and to let the others choose themselves."

Hiccup nodded his head. "That seems fair." With an encouraging look at Pouncer, Hiccup motioned to Skizz and Etho. "Well Pouncer, go meet your new caretakers."

Pouncer seemed to be grinning with excitement as he bounded up to Etho.

"Haha, I'm the favorite!"

"No far, he just likes you better because Lumie likes you!" Skizz complained lightheartedly.

They laughed it off as all three nightlights took a victory lap around New Berk, as Skizz pulled Etho into a side hug. This was their happy ending.

Sure, Stormheart was still out there, but the longer she waited, the harder it would be to take over Berk.

--------

Pouncer settled in quite well, always an exciting presence to have around the house. He acted like an alarm system whenever he didn't know someone who was approaching, which was both very helpful and annoying depending on the time of day.

And it was mere weeks after they took home Pouncer did the second nightlight show up.

Ruffrunner wasn't meant for the icy walls of the Bewilderbeast's sanctuary, despite having a connection to the alpha. So Ruffrunner made his home in the Hidden World, his scales making a map of the night sky. He always helped with the clutches of eggs and the gaggles of hatchings running around, making sure nobody felt left out.

Whenever Skizz and Etho and any of their dragons ventured to the Bewilderbeast's home, Ruffrunner followed. He did love hanging out with the alpha, after all.

As for Etho and Skizz?

They kept doing what they always did: protecting dragons. They stopped being called on by the older riders as much, but every once and a while they followed along to give a hand. In the meantime, they stayed in the Hidden World, keeping an eye on everything inside it.

They did venture up to the surface, mostly for food or to gather supplies. But, they did end up making friends after they settled down. A trio their age (who were in the school, and Skizz did recognize them) ended up hanging out with them quite often. And before a few months were over, Etho and Skizz couldn't imagine life with Ren, Martyn and BigB.

Etho got into their fair share of trouble, getting roped into a weird family dynamic with Cleo (who they were absolutely terrified of), Scar, and Bdubs. It was... interesting, for lack of a better word.

But in the end, it was always Etho and Skizz and Starlit'Void and Gaze, and Lumie and Holly and all the dragons they've met.

This is their happy ending, and they've made it through four (or six, in Etho's case) years of hell for it.