Ch. 7- Together

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The day after we went to the cover I had a terrible fever. Mom asked Ruffnut to babysit Blade and Bard for the week, which Ruff eagerly agreed. Mom refused to let me out of bed after I threw up breakfast before I finished it. All day, I hadn't been able to keep anything down, not even water.

Dad came home throughout the day to cheek on me and stayed home around four.

I had been sick for two days afterwards, slowly little by little being able to keep small amounts of food down.

On the fourth day of being grounded mom kept a close eye on me and made sure I took it easy, not doing any work that would put stress on my body.

On the fifth day I snuck out early in the morning to check up on Emerald. I said hi, fed her a few fish, flew around the island once, before heading home. Everyone was still asleep when I got back, for the sun had not risen yet, and took a small nap to catch up on sleep, which the elder had thought was why I was so sick. Mom gave me a small, gentle scolding and told me to get enough sleep or I'd be grounded for another week.

I was able to go with dad and watch him work but mom made it clear that I was to do no work, I still had to take it easy. When I threw up a while after lunch dad called it a day and took me home. I told them over and over again that I was fine, but they didn't listen.

"You're sick, you are not fine," dad had said. "Now stop complaining and go lay down and get some sleep."

I spent the day making new plans for a fire sword like dad's and a new flight suit.

On the sixth day I wasn't allowed out, and mom checked up on me every now and then, allowing me basically the whole day to work on Blade's flight suit. It wasn't as cool as mine was because some of the stuff mine could do was dangerous, and I didn't need Blade getting hurt.

I often helped dad with his flight suit so I used some of his ideas sometimes, but he also used the ideas I gave him as well.

I was able to get a little bit of my fire sword upgraded but not much since I couldn't leave the house.

On the seventh and last day of being grounded I tried to take it easy and help mom around the house. I was allowed to watch dad work a few hours but still I wasn't allowed to do any work.

I was questioned by a villager though, "Why is it that you watch your father work but Bard doesn't?" I didn't tell them the answer, just gave them a simple shrug.

Though I wasn't as close to Bard as I used to be, I knew the answer and also realized that I should spend more time with my older brother.

That night I drew a picture of dad and Toothless in the village as mom cleaned up after dinner.

"I love that picture," dad said, startling me. "What great detail, Star. You're better at drawing them I am."

"Oh, yeah. I just- I just- yeah, thanks," I managed to say.

Once I was done I played with Toothless again. Over the years I had learn a few tricks with Emerald that came in handy with other dragons, sometimes only with Toothless and Emerald though.

As we ran around the house, Blade joined us. After a while, Toothless managed to trap us in the corner. I bent my knees all the way, held me hands out, my left one near me with my right hand closer to Toothless, and as I slowly stood up and whistled a small rhythm, making Toothless hypnotized. Once I was standing all the way up Toothless collapsed.

I laughed, grabbed Blade and ran past Toothless, who was just starting to get back up.

I ran across the room before I noticed that everyone was staring at me.

"Star," dad began.

"What's wrong, daddy? Did I do something wrong?" I asked, slightly scared. Toothless had gotten out of his daze and was smiling as he bounced over to me, tongue hanging out of his mouth before realizing the atmosphere around us and sat down.

"No. No. It's just- how did you do that?" he asked, slowly walking over to me.

"I learned it with Emerald. I didn't mean to do anything wrong!" I started to cry, worried I was in trouble.

"Oh no no, baby girl," dad said, lifting me into his arms. "You did nothing wrong, sweetheart. You did nothing wrong. It's okay, baby girl. It's okay. We were just curious to where you learned that. You did nothing wrong."

Once I calmed down I told him a few things about the trick.

"It works on Deadly Nadders, Changewings, Gronkles, and the Night Fury. It does not work on a Zippleback or Monstrous Nightmare. I haven't tried other dragons."

"How would you know if it worked on Changewings?" dad asked.

"I tried it on a Changewing," I said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"How?"

"Went to Changewing island, how else?"

"You went where?" mom shrieked.

"Mommy, it's fine. I'm okay."

"Why did you go there?" she asked.

I shrugged. "We weren't planning on it. It just kinda happened. I'm sorry, mommy!"

"It- it's fine, dear. It's just- it's just that I'm worried about you. You have to be more careful."

"Okay," I muttered. There was no way that was going to happen. I love excitement. "Well, it's late. I'm going to bed," I told them before dashing to the stairs.

"Wait, Star!" Dad called, as I was halfway up the stairs.

"Yes, daddy?"

He looked behind him, at mom. Mom narrowed her eyes and nodded once. "Um," he looked back at me. "Uh, d- do you w- want to, um-"

"Spit it out, Hiccup," mom told him.

"Uh-"

"Boys," she mumbled as she rolled her eyes and walked to him. "What your father is trying to say is that you two don't spend a lot of time often, and he wants to spend the day with you. Doing whatever you like. You could go to the cove, play with Emerald, take a nice gentle flight on Toothless, whatever you want."

"Uh, okay."

"Good," dad said, suddenly getting his confidence back. "Tomorrow. We'll do it tomorrow."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Bard said. "Have you never done one of those days with Star?" he asked dad.

"No. Not really."

"Why not? I thought she was your favorite," Bard questioned. "How much do y'all know about her?"

"Everything. She's my daughter," dad said.

"What's her favorite color?"

"Uh, purple?" dad asked.

"No. It's emerald green," I said, slightly hurt. My own parents don't know me well. That's not really their fault since I push them away, but it still hurts. "What's my favorite day of the week?"

"Uh, Saturday?" he guessed.

I shook my head no, "Monday. Favorite food?"

"Okay, okay, I don't know a lot about you, but that's why I wanted to start hanging out more."

"How often do you spend a day with the boys?" I asked.

"One day a month I take one of them, then the next month I take the other."

"For how long?"

"Since you were five."

"So you never bothered to spend time with me?" A tear ran down my cheek.

"Star, baby girl, please don't cry. It's just you were always having fun with Emerald, and I didn't want to take your friend away from you," he took a step closer, I took a step back.

"N- no. I- I just- I just need some time to think," I said, before racing out the back door.

"Starfire," dad grabbed my arm before I made it to the woods. "Star, I love you, baby girl," he said, bringing me into a hug. "I love you and I just want to see you happy. You were so happy with Emerald, I can see it in your eyes when you talk about her, but you're starting to get more distant from the family. From our family." He started to carry me inside.

"I know, daddy. And I don't like it. I hate it. But I don't know how- I don't know how to fix it." I noticed that Bard and Blade already went to bed. It was just dad, mom, and me. He set me on a chair and bent down to my level, making eye contact with me.

"Now, Star, I have a very serious question to ask you. I've wanted to ask you this for a long time, but never really built up the courage to before today. Ready?" I nodded. "Is Emerald even real? I know everyone in this village and there isn't one Emerald. Is she an imaginary friend you made up? Did you do it because you were lonely?" I opened my mouth to speak. "Honey, we can find you real friends. Kids, same age as you, who will play with you every-"

"Dad. I didn't make up Emerald. She is real, she doesn't live in the village, but she is real. I am not lonely and I don't want to be friends with others my age, except Emmy."

"Emmy?"

"Short for Emerald."

"Ah," he said, understanding, as he stood up. "Wait. She doesn't live in the village?"

"Nope."

"Where are her parents? Who are her parents?"

"I don't know. I've never met them."

"Does she have parents?"

"I don't know."

"Ask her, tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? I thought you, and I were," I trailed off.

"Yes, sweetheart, we still are. But tomorrow you are taking me to Emerald."

My eyes widened and I jumped out of my chair. "No. No. No. No. No! No! No! I can't! You can't meet her yet! This isn't the right time! Not yet!"

"Star?" mom asked.

"I- I- I- I just- I- I'm going to bed, see you in the morning." They let me simply go up to bed.

I woke up early in the morning, taking Stormfly nearby the cove. I quickly ran the rest of the way and got Emerald. I put on her gear, and took her to the cave, I dropped off my flight stuff before taking her to Stormfly.

"Stormfly, follow." I lead Emerald and Stormfly to a nearby, uninhibited island and took off the gear. "Emerald, stay. I'll be back tomorrow. Bye, Em," I gave her one last hug before riding Stormfly back to Berk.

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