So I'm obsessed with HTTYD. I watch the show on Netflix. I have the albums to both movies on my phone and listen to them daily. I also bought both movies on my mom's computer, and I and one of my best friends are going to see it the weekend it comes out in February. SUPER PUMPED UP GUYS!!!!!!

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Sophie watched Felicity flee the scene, not wondering where she was going, or if she should have gone after her. She wasn't even thinking about the strange ice. No, what she was thinking about was how she had foolishly NOT let go of Fitz's hand in the bush. It had probably sent the wrong message, and now he would think she was some physco girl. She was actually trying to keep him from succumbing to Felicity. Had there been a twinge of happiness from getting to hold his hand? Most definitely. More than Sophie would admit. 

Sophie was shaken from her thoughts by someone gently nudging her arm. Sophie looked over to find Fitz smiling at her. She smiled back, loving the way the corners of his mouth turned up with his smile, and how his teal eyes sparkled in the dappled sunlight. Sophie felt her cheeks heat up, and she turned away to conceal it. 

"THAT'S what she can do? That was totally awesome and very scary!", Fitz exclaimed, turning Sophie's head towards him. Sophie smiled at his excitement.

"It's pretty cool, isn't it?", she asked, feeling like a kid again. It was her and the prince, nothing else, no worries. Then she realized what she was feeling, she shouldn't have been. The smile fell from her face, and she turned away, everything crashing back down to the ground. She turned away again, moving her body this time. 

"Hey, you okay?", he asked, coming closer. Sophie nodded, not sure why she felt like she was going to cry. She barely knew the guy. But she still felt like she had known him a whole lifetime. LIke they should be together, and they always had been. But she knew he probably didn't feel the same way, and he would never feel the same way. 

"You sure?", he asked, and Sophie turned to look at him. She saw sincerity in his eyes and something else she couldn't read. But she didn't linger on it. 

"I'm absolutely perfect", Sophie said, hating the sarcasm in her voice. COnfusion filled the perfect teal eyes.

"Was it something I did?", Fitz asked her, grabbing her hand before she could walk away. They had both, apparently forgotten the battle. She glanced down at their intertwined finger, and then back up at his face.

"No, it's just...", she trailed off, not knowing what to make as an excuse. So she didn't. "It's complicated". 

"You can tell me, I promise you can trust me", Fitz said. Sophie turned her head away, looking at the trees, the ground, the undergrowth. Anywhere but his face. 

Fitz gently grabbed her chin and turned her head back to him. She was suddenly aware of how close they were standing. Closer than normal. 

"I-I don't know...", Sophie said. Fitz looked her in the eyes.

"I promise", he reiterated. 

Sophie was about to say something, but the sounds of the battle got closer to them, bringing them back to reality.

"I'll tell you another time", She said and pulled away. She ran back to the battle, finding only a few warriors from the Ogres left. The rest had either fled or had been slain. Sophie and Fitz looked at each other, not needing to communicate with words. They charged into the fray, and swung their swords, making sure they only hit enemies. Grunts of pain and panic rose up, and with the extra help, more soldiers fell or fled, making one guy very unhappy.

The leader was still there. He was a tall, stocky man with tattoos circling his bald head, and pieces of amber in his earlobes. He wore little, aside from a chainmail kilt type article and a holster for his sword. 

"Where is she you puny little insignificant girl?", the guy asked, pointing his sword at Valerie.

"I told you already, I have no idea where your stupid daughter is! And if you had any sense, you'd flee like the rest of your men", Valerie said, nodding. Two arrows came flying from the trees and struck the man. They barely phased him, he just pulled them out. But he did seem to know a losing battle when he saw one.

"I will be back. Mark my words, you will regret not telling me where she is", the leader said, signaling his troops to fall back. They glared once more at the tired group of rebels, then fled into the forest. Sophie watched the forest line until the footsteps faded.

"Hey, it's over now. We won!", Fitz said, nudging Sophie. She looked up at him.

"We win this one. But what about the next battle? We can't possibly be prepared for every attack", Sophie said, souring the mood. Fitz looked down at her.

"But we can do the best we possibly can, and hope we win", he said. 

Sophie shook her slightly. "We're relying on hope now? What kind of people are we, if we can't even have a reliable back-up plan?". Fitz sighed, shaking his head. 

"You can't always have a back-up plan. Like when we escaped your castle. Did you have a back-up plan?", he asked. Sophie shook her head. "Exactly. And that reminds, what did you need me for? Everything I've been around for, you could have done without me". Sophie turned her head towards the forest again. 

"I don't know. I just had a feeling there was something I would need you for. And...and I am glad you were here today", Sophie admitted quietly. Fitz blinked twice. "I know, it sounds absolutely ridiculous, but it's what I thought".

Sophie was suddenly washed over with guilt. She had uprooted the prince's life and dragged him to some foreign rebellion that he would never have affiliated with if he hadn't agreed to come with her. 

She felt pressure on her hand and looked down to see Fitz's wrapped around hers.

"It's not ridiculous. Remember what we said earlier?", Fitz said. She had a vague recollection of it, but she had been so focused on getting the right spot for Felicity. 

"Yeah, I do. But if I hadn't asked you to come with me, you wouldn't be here. I'm sure you're probably on the wanted list in my kingdom, knowing my father. But you're also at risk of being discovered here, mingling with the 'common folk', which means you're family might-". Fitz cut Sophie off.

"Correct, but if I hadn't come with you, I wouldn't get to know the amazing person named Sophie. Sure, we might have talked a little at your palace. But if I hadn't come with you, I never would have known you at all. And let's not forget your father probably would have locked me up for doing something to you, and the war would have gotten worse. And I also wouldn't have known Biana was alive. So you have no reason to feel guilty. I made this decision, and I don't regret it. I should really be thanking you", Fitz said, grabbing Sophie other hand, and waiting until she looked at him.

"I know, but-", she started.

"No buts. Just believe me. I think that it was the best choice I've ever made. It's what made me meet-", Fitz was cut off by Wylie yelling from the trapdoor.

"Hey! You guys coming?", he yelled, waving them over. Sophie smiled and nodded.

"We can continue this conversation later. Right now, people need us", Sophie said, pulling away. They walked over to the trapdoor and climbed down the steps. Linh bounced over to them, a wide grin stretched across her serene face. 

"Everyone's gathering around in the banquet hall to celebrate!", she said and skipped off to where her twin was waiting. Sophie trailed along in the back, still sad about Calla's loss. Soon everybody else, including Fitz, was far ahead of her, and she was alone. Then Biana came up next to her, with a wide smile on her face. 

"So...", she started, and Sophie gave her a weary look.

"What?".

"So are you and my brother together?", Biana asked. Sophie's eyes widened.

"No! We barely know each other!", Sophie said.

"Yeah, but Maruca and Fitz have only met each other once", Biana pointed out.

"Yeah, but that's WAY different", Sophie protested. Biana nodded.

"I guess that's true. Maruca and Fitz wouldn't make a great couple, but you and Fitz? Could anybody be more perfect for each other?", Biana said with a dreamy smile. 

"Biana, seriously. I only met him, like, a week ago".

"Yeah, so? I know plenty of people who married people they met for only two days, and they're happy", Biana said. Sophie raised her eyebrows at Biana.

"No offense, but you haven't been in your own kingdom for at least a year. How would you really know they're happy?", Sophie asked. 

Biana raised her finger to argue, then closed her mouth. She thought for a moment, then said, "Okay, I guess that's a fair point. Why don't we ask my brother?". Sophie narrowed her eyes at Biana.

"Yeah, I don't think so. Your brother...wait, your brother!", Sophie exclaimed, earning herself a confused look.

"Yes, he's who we've been talking about this whole time", Biana said. 

"What? No, I meant your other brother. Aren't you always telling me about how Alvar made you study royal duties, and then just stopped one day?", Sophie asked.

"Yeah. He kept disappearing. Sometimes he wouldn't come back for a week. My parents always assumed he was helping with the war. But he never left with any equipment. Ever. Fitz agreed with me, but he thought he was seeing someone. I just thought he was doing something, like maybe passing information over to your side. I don't like to talk about it much, because it turns out I was wrong", Biana said with a shrug.  Sophie stopped in her tracks, and Biana stopped as well, turning to face Sophie.

"How did you know you were wrong?", Sophie asked.

"About two weeks before I was kidnapped, I was spying on Alvar. I saw him in the library, reading on war tactics. So I asked him where he had been sneaking off to. He told me he had been sneaking off to see a girl. I followed him one night, and, as he said, he saw some commoner girl in the gardens", Biana finished. Sophie thought about it, but something wasn't adding up. She turned around and started walking in the opposite direction. Biana ran to catch up with her.

"Okay, what are you doing?", Biana asked.

"Go on ahead. I'm just checking something out", Sophie said. 

"Yeah, well, I'm coming with you", Biana said. Sophie stopped, laying a hand on Biana's arm.

"No. Go celebrate with the rest of our friends. I promise I'll be quick", Sophie said. Biana shook her head.

"Nuh-uh, you're my best friend. Either both of us go, or none of us go", Hiana argued. 

"You know I won't enjoy the feast. But I know you will, and I know you want to go. I still have my sword, I'll be fine", Sophie promised.

"Fine. But if anything happens, scream and we'll hear you", Biana compromised. Sophie nodded and watched Biana walk down the corridor to the banquet hall, which was actually quite large. 

She followed the hallway back to the stairway leading up to the small clearing. She opened the trapdoor, climbing up and into the gruesome sight. Sophie found swords, shields, and pieces of armor, among other things, scattered around the clearing.

"All I need is one thing...", Sophie said to herself, picking up pieces of shield and armor with emblems on them, looking for one that was different. 

"Well, well. Looks like the little Moonlark's ready to play", cackled a voice from behind Sophie. Sophie jumped, then turned around, pulling out her sword. A woman came out of the trees, with a hood over her head, Her hands were wrinkly and pale, and her nails were darker than the darkest night.

"Who are you?", Sophie asked, proud that her voice held steady. The woman laughed, the scratchy sound filling the air. Somehow, the space around them grew darker. 

"Oh, you'll find out", the woman promised. Sophie took a step back, holding her sword in front of her. The sword didn't even phase the woman. She just laughed again, and suddenly shadows were pouring into the clearing. They rose up behind the woman, creating a tidal wave of darkness that threatened to drown anyone caught in its depths. Just as the wave of shadows fell over Sophie, she did the only logical thing to do. She screamed. 

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506 READS? thank you, thank you, thank you!!! You guys are all amazing, and I hope you know that! No matter what problems you have, or whatever negative things you are being told, your amazing, and you deserve to feel that way!!

Have a good night or day, wherever you are, and have a great 2019!!!!