...It's hard for me to leave reviews because I never know what to say. I think less in words and more like Toothless does. It's impossible to italicize text in these comment boxes, so I use underscores instead.

_fly fly high bright dark pain pain pain brave brave warm fire good pain good fire good warm inner-fire curling warm nest warm nest fire burning bright warm good good good_

It's like up and down and flying to read this story all at once, as I've read it today. Like when Toothless and Hiccup will tell this as a story later. Is that enough to say what I mean?

I hope nobody ever requests me for a beta reader. I would be so terrible at literary critique. About all I can critique-wise it that it _works_. Working means a story makes the feeling it's supposed to in the reader. This story works. It was nice. My sincerest apologies to Past You for the content of this last Author's Note here. (sorry sorry sympathy)

I can't find HTTYD 3 anywhere. I remember seeing the second movie on Netflix, but all of them are down now. I can only find the shows. Guess I'll have to read Freefall blind.

Love this story! It is the first httyd story i ever read and it is amazing! Thank you for writing it!

It took two years to make my way through “Stormfall,” but that didn’t detract from the feelings of excitement, dread, anticipation, and exhilaration that came from being part of this journey in any way.

You are a master of your craft. Your characterizations of everyone - the Berkians, trappers, fierce ones, subjects of the king’s flock, and Drago’s henchmen - were wonderfully rounded out. You certainly don’t keep any flat, two-dimensional characters around when you write!

The massive shift in tone between “Nightfall” and “Stormfall” was impressive. I love how versatile your writing style is. You have a core pace and flow to your words, and are able to transition between a silly chapter to a severe chapter without a break in stride. For example, the atmosphere was dark and almost palpably oppressive during Hiccup and Toothless’ capture and subsequent separation aboard Drago’s ship. But then the Berkians, always the lighthearted viking fools they are, seemed to bounce into the story and shed some much-needed light in an otherwise suffocating succession of scenes.

I love the way you characterized Astrid’s driving need to be all that - as she perceives it - her vikings need her to be. In desperate times, she steps up to the plate and delivers. Her deception may or may not have fooled Drago from the start, but he let her run with it, and, boy, did she take off running. I love her sense of responsibility, her willingness to command, yet the underlying compassion she has for those she loves, which only makes her protectiveness all the more fierce. I enjoyed the complexity of her character. I felt that the second HTTYD movie lacked any development as far as Astrid was concerned, so I enjoyed seeing this “redeemed” version of her unfold during the course of “Stormfall.”

Likewise, I enjoyed the development of Eret and his crew. Eret’s concern for his crew was night-and-day different from Astrid’s, but his determination to protect those who looked up to him was none the lesser. His was a carefully concealed concern, secreted behind a mask of bravado and manly preening, a crafted appearance of strength so none could call him weak. But then his affection for the crew who always had his back broke through, and a weight was lifted from his shoulders. Should’ve done that from the start, Eret son of Eret.

I honestly didn’t expect Hiccup to show such vulnerabilities after Drago’s defeat, and that took me by surprise. I expected victoriousness coupled with somber reflection, and the emergence of a solid sense of duty; I did not foresee the shock, horror, and pain that plagued him instead. It brought a different dimension to the story. It also highlighted again Hiccup’s need for Toothless’ intervention in his life, the relationship the two-who-are-one share, how they draw strength from the force of the other’s will. (See also: Hiccup challenging Monster.) Toothless didn’t have as prominent a role in this part of the saga as he did before, so this was a reminder that Toothless by no means is one to simply fade into the background.

Monster’s backstory was intriguing, the way you brought his character to life. How did Drago command such a seemingly unconquerable behemoth as a Bewilderbeast? I thought of how wild elephants are broken - using pain as a punishment, relying on the restriction of cages and chains the baby elephants cannot break. This leaves a psychological impact on them as they grow older, bigger, and stronger than their captors - but the elephants have by then become submissive and no longer try to exert their own dominance. Drago would of course be one to use underhanded methods to squelch the will of any creature he acquired, demeaning it and breaking it to the point that thoughts of rebellion ceased to exist. Drago may not have been the nicest fellow, but given the massive size of his army, his methods were crushingly effective. And all the while there was this fragile pride that Monster felt in himself, trying to prove how tough he was to impress his master - desperately trying to push through his insecurities to attain that which would never be given - that was truly heartbreaking.

Two other scenes had a great impact on me, the type that still rings in my ears and my mind even though I’ve put the last chapter down to rest and think about the story as a whole. The first, and in my mind, most poignant was the exchange between Monster and Eret. In the crux of that moment on the war-torn beach, Eret made the most profound decision of his life: to lay down all that he knew; the power and glory that would have been his if he just reached out his hand; and determining to shake off his own enslavement by setting them both free. His decision to put his “family” first and start a new life, and then impart that wish upon Monster - he chose to break the bonds. Part of me hopes we will see the result of this decision in “Freefall,” but perhaps it will remain a mystery. I don’t know. (But I suppose I will eventually find out.)

The second moment was back in the heart of the king’s nest. Safe and at home, with the king’s presence nearby, Hiccup draws. He wears his slightly cumbersome claws, struggling to heal from the wounds of his intense emotional trauma, but nevertheless finds the courage to once again turn to the things he loves, the things that make him who he is, that define him as uniquely talented among the rest of his flock. He draws his family first: his loved ones, his friends. He remembers those who have fallen, those who live again in his heart. Then he draws the king, the presence of whom undergirds the security and peace of his family. Tentatively, Hiccup grabs onto the idea that he has other friends, too. It’s almost like he shyly inspects the possibility of making the idea real, and hesitates just a moment, but then, with bold strokes of charcoal, adds Flies-in-Storms and the pfikingr she. Then, off to the side, watching, the St-t-t-t-t-kk. The inclusion of these powerful viking figures into his personal, hand-drawn story are an affirmation of their perseverance, their desire to become part of his life. It was only after both had chosen to fully accept Hiccup as he was and relinquish their desire to make him anything else, that he accepts them in turn. And they don’t even know it. But a seed was planted, and it is beginning to grow.

I have to ask: when you resolve to take on such an ambitious undertaking, what is your angle of approach? Do you outline each chapter of the story before you begin, or do you hold loosely onto the tale and let it create itself? You said once that you wrote a chapter of “Nightfall” every two days, and a chapter of “Stormfall” every four. So perhaps, immersed as deeply in “Freefall” as you are, there might not be time to answer this question, but I am curious to know how you do it.

I am eager to read your side stories before heading into “Freefall.” I want the taste of this tale to linger a little longer before I venture into the next epic; I’m still somewhat reeling. Thank you for this flight, and for the many others yet to come.

You've probably never been in the position where something's so good you're intimidated to even leave a comment because the peak that's been reached is as far from you as the moon is from some animal howling at it, and you stand in about the same relation to it. That was kind of how I felt reading your Hictooth flying in Freefall, and when he said "never again" being separated, I made the mistake of coming here. I still remember Tamer's comment, among others, where he said that this chapter was strongest as a trans narrative. Having no personal experience, and being ignorant of all such things, I wouldn't know, but I can see clearly how that is. And I'm always awestruck and intimidated by your writing and it's always almost impossible to find words, and letting you know is a poor substitute for words but it'll have to do.
Oh btw! I want to rec an essay to you that is very eloquent about all the HTTYD3 fail. I THINK this link should work since FFN does allow links to its own site: u/6051962/toothlessgolfer

you said to review even though this is too epic to comment on because one feels rather small and insignificant.
"Disarming traps is what they do" (quoting from memory here) is what really knocked me flat.
I'm here after sobbing my eyes out at Gift of the Night Fury - the canon short.
You're magnificent, but you knew that.

Oh my goodness, so many Nightfall encores! THANK YOU! I know what I'm reading for the next several days... :D

This is one of my favourite chapters :) I've said it before and I'll say it again, I am insanely jealous of how well you write realistic dragon dialogue. I started planning and writing my own HTTYD story before finding yours, and I humanised the dragons to an extent because I have trouble getting into the heads of other humans, let alone non-humans. I tried to change the dialogue to resemble yours without outright copying, but it felt too unnatural; not to mention, if I had them be as realistic as yours the whole premise of my story wouldnt work. Even so, I'm constantly torn between enjoying what I'm writing (which I do, of course) and feeling like I should be writing it more 'accurately'. I'm just trying to accept that we're writing very different kinds of stories. Your work is incredible and I wish you every success, you deserve it :)

I love your stories and how you describe Hiccup and Toothless' point of view. I also love their speech patterns and how original (**better**) it is compared the movies. I powered through this one as I didn't realize Nightfall had a sequel till last week. You're a great author, keep it up.

Hi! (thank you for your earlier reply- I read it and immediately went to read the rest of your works for this series! …meaning that this is a weird conglomerate review.)

I continue to be amazed by the complexity of this world that you’ve created. I know that HTTYD already has a rich tapestry of characters and setting, but you’ve ensured that they all shine through your words. It’s amazing. I have really come to feel for your version of these characters. All of the Vikings who have that line of tenacity in their character that really rings true as human, while the dragons have this great capacity for unbridled emotion and joy.

I really love your narration style. It manages to be engrossing and is a huge example of how telling a story can be just as effective as showing one. I noticed your writing style several times while reading and always enjoyed it. It almost reminds me of Tolkien’s style in the Hobbit? I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it was really enjoyable.

Your creativity is astounding as well! I’ve found myself rereading segments of ‘dragonese’ figuring out what’s being said, and trying to figure out why the language pattern is so effective at communicating emotion. (Your inclusion that so much is physical was really cool! Sound resonance that echoes emotional intent! Sub-vocalization! Physical qualities mimicking thought-patterns! This is all! So! Cool!)

Hiccup-and-Toothless is always a joy to read. I know I commented before on this lasting line of love that you tie characters together with, and nowhere is that more evident than in how you write these two (or one, given the theme that has been evident through your series). I was so glad when reading Nightfall that Hiccup did push back against claims that he was human, partly because it was so refreshing to see, but also because on a note entirely unrelated to dragons, it’s just so satisfying to see someone defending their right to assert their own identity. (Ha ahaa haaa.)

Also I have a soft spot for dramatic irony and thus really love all of the people of Berk being confronted with dragon-hiccup. Especially those who love him. That we have so many instances of that through this series makes me grin like a lunatic, ESPECIALLY when it ends on a positive note (Wildfire being in the Book of Dragons!) (I feel like Hiccup would be deeply pleased to know that he was on those pages and in the same category as his family.)

The inclusion of Stoic and Cloudjumper was another element that really got to me, especially when reading their perspectives side-by-side. Their mutual love for Valka (though they both doubt that the other feels anything similar) was just deeply satisfying to read, as foils to each other and for how it deepens their individual characters. I do feel bad for Stoic every time that he’s confronted with the reality of Hiccup and he thinks back to holding little tiny Hiccup in his hands.

Speaking of Valka, that one prequel that dealt with her life as she adapted to the Nest really hurt my heart. Particularly when her desire for Hiccup not to grow up into a wild mute dragon was emphasized, given that that is essentially what happened. (I also remember reading something similar to that in the first chapters of Stormfall- about what was cute and harmless as a toddler verging on childhood was very worrying as a teen and was downright frightening as an adult. This might have been one of my favorite passages.) At the same time, I wouldn’t have it happen any other way. Like I previously mentioned, I’m so happy that Hiccup is more draconic than human, and that the other dragons recognize that. I just wonder at Valka’s reaction if she (through impossible hand-waving ‘a wizard did it’ plot-bending magic) were to meet her adult son. It would probably hurt everyone involved, so maybe that’s a good thing to be impossible.

I’m really interested in the soundtracks you’ve mentioned a few times, and will certainly be checking them out!

awesome fanfic!
Just like the first installment of this...potential trilogy...it was awesome, it had perfect grammar(something which is more then I can say then most if not all books I have ever read) and was well written through and through.

I would give this fanfic 12/12 just like the last one, this series of two fanfics are definitely the two best fanfics I have ever read.

It managed to surprise me, and ended differently then I anticipated, while still staying true to the characters and setting.

Just a quick question: have you ever written, or considered writing a book? If you ever do(or have) I would definitely be interested in whatever you wrote.

I really liked how Hiccup dealt with Drago, and really the entire ending was quite interesting(obligatory "in a good way" sentence here because it is apparently necessary).

Thank you so much for writing this, these two fanfics are the two best fanfics I have ever read(and I have read hundreds, if not thousands, many of which was HTTYD fanfics)

Have an awesome summer vacation!

(Sorry for not reviewing earlier, I was preoccupied with school, and then laziness, then Overwatch, then laziness, then being with my family in a hut[Because that was a GENIUS fricking idea...so fricking good...{I hope your sarcasm detector didn't overload there}])

Finished reading the whole story. I like that you let Stoik live and only killed of Drago, who deserved it. Again wonderful storytelling, interesting to read the toughts and memories of the black Bewilderbeast. And I am happy that the white one survived the battle here. I wished only that someone had removed the chains and shackles on the tusks of the black bewilderbeast, best would be Hiccup. I always love to read how you descibe him acting feral especially when he is showing happyness. I hope there will a few more one-shots or meetings with Astrid and the Berkians. Your HTTYD feral Hiccup fics are all aweseome!

Wowowow. I don't remember when I first read Nightfall, but I do remember that I totally loved it. Your take on feral!Hiccup was unique and the way you envisioned dragon communication and Hiccup's internal thought process was fascinating. Since then, I've reread the fic a few times, and when I saw that you had put up a sequel...I read this with great pleasure. It's just as good as the first one! I really liked all the different POVs. Monster's was heartbreaking, Eret's felt very true to the character, and all the others were great. The story was funny (the twins try to invent waterskiing!) and heartbreaking (everything about Hiccup an Toothless's separation) in turns. Also yay happier ending than the actual movie!

...One thing I've noticed about the difference between this story and the canon movies is that Hiccup and Toothless are less leaders in this. Like at the end of the second movie both of them end up in charge of their respective species groups, and while they do still lead dragons to a new place in this story it's not the same type of leadership/responsibility. And I wonder if that's because they grew up under the leadership of a good Alpha, and therefore don't feel that there's any need for them to, whereas canon Toothless was part of the Red/Green(?) Death's nest and Hiccup was the odd duck of Berk-neither being particularly nurturing environments, so maybe they feel the need to create a safe home.

Basically I really enjoyed it, and thank you for writing a sequel.

Loved it - thanks!

Another beautiful story. I too hope that the third installment is just as good as the previous two, though I should comment that we WILL be seeing Drago Bludvist again, the filmmakers have already confirmed it.

Still, once again you have crafted an amazing story that stands on it's own, not bound to the exact canon of the source material (both of them) but something unique, to be held up and treasured by all. Kind of like Tt-(click)-th-puh-ss.

I dearly await your next short story about this beautiful world you have created.

Hugh D. Martin

Wow I am far behind on this now...well let's get to the review of this chapter:
Nice chapter, I thought it would go in the "they get their dragons and escape direction", so them being detected was a nice surprise.
I liked how you wrote Astrid's response to Drago's(is it 's or s?) words, and through there wasn't really any action in this chapter I still liked it.
It was(as always) well written, fun to read and interesting.
thanks for writing and have a really nice day!