twenty four

THE BRUNETTE GIRL FLEW BESIDE TOOTHLESS AND SNOTLOUT AS THEY MADE THEIR WAY TO THE WINGMAIDEN'S ISLAND. Of course, Snotlout was feeling skittish since Astrid, Fishlegs, and the twins were back on the Defender's of the Wing island to set up a summit meeting, since he claimed he could've done it.

"What difference would it make?" Hiccup asked.

"I just like to know where I stand," Snotlout said.

"Well, what about me?" Alora said, trying to make him feel better. "I'm the weird girl who had no memories and until now just found out she's from another planet."

"Yeah, but you're the 'Al' in Hiccal."

She raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"You're the most powerful person out of all of us and you're Hiccup's other half. Therefore, your place is beside him."

Alora glanced at Hiccup who shook his head in confusion.

"Look, I need you here with me, okay Snotlout?" Hiccup said.

"Oh, I get it now. You need me and my skills, because the Wingmaidens love me. And therefore you need my help. Do I have this right?"

Hiccup rolled his eyes and said, "Yes Snotlout, you could not be more right."

The three dove as they landed on the island. Hiccup explained everything and Atali was heartbroken after hearing about Johann's betrayal.

"I'm assuming you did not see that one coming?" Atali asked.

Just as Alora was about to say something, Hiccup held her hand and pulled her behind him as a motion to shut her up. But she couldn't help but glance down at their interlocked fingers.

"No."

"He is a threat of most serious proportions, not only to you, but to the Berserkers and the Defenders of the Wing," Atlai said, "but to us Wingmaidens and our sacred mission."

"Which is why we need you at this summit meeting," Hiccup told her.

Atali paused before turning to one of her warriors.

"Minden. . ."

The brunette Wingmaiden was quick to reply.

"I will prepare to accompany you on the journey, Atali."

"Actually, Nadia will join me," she said. "I need you here. Wingmaiden Island must be defended."

Alora paid no attention and continued to stare at her hand. Hiccup was oblivious, but the pink dust on his cheeks said otherwise. They had completely forgotten about Snotlout, who was witnessing the whole thing in its entirety. But his attention was elsewhere now that he'd seen Minden fly off. Hiccup gestured for the raven-haired boy to follow after her.

"Hiccup, you, Aly, and your dragon should rest while I prepare for the journey ahead," Atali glanced down at their hands. "But I ask that you behave yourselves."

The two looked down and unlocked their hands.

"N-No!"

"It's not what you think!"

Toothless laughed at their awkward interaction, causing the teens to send him a look. Everyone parted leaving the two to hang behind with the Night Fury.

"So. . ."

"So. . ."

There was a pause.

The two went their separate ways and didn't regroup until nightfall. It was actually Toothless who had rounded them up.

Alora shifted her feet on the wooden planks and Hiccup (for some reason) went to fiddle with Toothless's saddle. The Night Fury huffed and pushed the two of them into the hut that Atali had provided.

"I-I guess I'll take the floor."

"No, it's okay I will."

Then, Toothless pushed both of them on the bed, forcing the two to lay side-by-side.

"I guess he will then," Alora joked.

There was a prolonged pause. All she heard was Hiccup take off his metal leg and place it beside the bed.

Alora was going to speak up but Hiccup beat her to it.

"I don't want you to leave."

She turned her head to him.

"What?"

"I. . . As selfish as this sounds, I don't want you to go home," he told her. "I want you to stay here. With us, the dragons. . ."

He carefully moved his hand and interlocked his fingers with hers.

"With me."

"Hiccup. . ."

"Aly, please don't—"

"I want to stay here too," she confessed. "But I can't."

He shifted his body until he was on his side facing her.

"Why?"

She did the same thing.

"Because I need some questions answered and if I start something and leave. . ."

Alora stood up.

"Hiccup, I want this. I do, truly. But if I'm in another world. . ."

"Aly."

". . . What if I can't find my way back?"

"You will! You're Aly fucking Danvers, you always find a way."

Alora placed his interlocked hand on her collarbone.

"Are you sure you want this?"

"I've never been more sure in my entire life."

Just as he was leaning in, there was a loud boom sound coming from outside causing Hiccup to pull back. She leaned over his body and grabbed his leg, giving it to him so he could quickly put it on. Just as they stepped outside, Alora felt herself plummeting forward. She grabbed the two boys and shielded them. When she looked up, she saw Flyers.

"Where's Minden and the guards?!" Atali yelled, landing beside them.

"I'll draw them away!" Hiccup said. "Aly, you stay here with Atali and protect the Razorwhips!"

"Hiccup!"

"No!" Atali said. "This is my island, and I will defend it."

"Aly!"

Alora stayed behind and protected the newborns until the Wingmaidens came and got them. Then, she followed them inside and saw Hiccup lay Atali down. She was unconscious, not dead. The baby Razorwhip on her back was injured.

"Why are they attacking us?!" Minden asked.

"Because they're looking for a Dragon Eye lens," Alora said.

"Minden, I need to know if you have one of these hidden somewhere on the island," Hiccup said, showing her one of his lenses.

"No," Minden said. "I've never seen anything like that before."

"Aly, I need you to go to the Defenders of the Wing island and get help."

"What?! Are you crazy? I'm not leaving you," she looked around, "guys here! I'm staying."

"I wasn't asking Aly," Hiccup said. "That's an order."

But she stood her ground.

"Aly, please," Hiccup said. "Do it. For me."

She sighed before flying out towards the island, a sonic boom could be heard.

She knew it was going to take a while, but she used all her remaining strength to reach the Defenders island.

The night sky started brightening and she saw the team gathered around the lava pit.

"Aly?!" Fishlegs exclaimed.

"The Dragon Flyers attacked Wingmaiden Island!" she yelled.

That was enough to send the team rushing to mount their dragons.

"Lead the way!" Astrid yelled.

∾

The sun rose causing a pink hue. Alora would've thought it was beautiful if she wasn't worried about Hiccup, Snotlout, and the Wingmaidens.

The brunette got there before anyone and she saw that Krogan was about to fire at Snotlout.

Alora let out a battle cry and used her palms to shove the dragon away. She let it roll and she hovered in front of Krogan. The Riders hovered behind her and she narrowed her eyes at him.

"Pick your poison!"

He narrowed his eyes at her, before retreating.

Once they cleared up the group was led to some sort of underground cave where the Wingmaidens hid the rest of the lenses for the time being. Of course, the summit meeting never happened and they went back to the Edge.

Alora was behind Hiccup, holding him and placing her head on his shoulders.

Oh, and this was just the beginning.

"So can I do important jobs now?" Snotlout asked.

"You'll have to fight Astrid for it!" Hiccup said.

". . . I'm good."