Chapter 44: Finally arriving in the city
The journey had been long and full of anticipation, but now the moment had arrived. The group was finally approaching the mysterious modern world hidden beyond the mist. Thor, standing tall with his usual confident demeanor, turned to the girls— Astrid, Moana, and Shiro— who were all watching him intently, their expressions a mix of excitement and uncertainty.
Thor then looks at the girls and says:
— Well, since we're going to this place, there are some things I need to say first about this place we're going to and how everything works there. Understood?
Astrid, always quick to question, responds immediately:
— So it's very different from Berk?
Thor nods, his voice steady and reassuring:
— Much more The place is pretty cool and safe.
He gestured for them to sit closer on the deck of the ship, and they gathered around him. Thor sits with them and starts explaining how the modern world works, what to do and what not to do. He spoke patiently, detailing the rules of this strange new land: cars zooming on paved roads, tall buildings that reached the clouds, electric lights that glowed without fire, and the importance of blending in. After an hour of explaining everything, Thor looks at them and asks:
— Did you guys manage to understand everything?
Astrid, processing it all, says:
— Well, I understand. So you're saying that this place has normal people and that we can't have any behavior that doesn't seem like normal people. Like, you can't use your powers, Moana here can't talk to the ocean and Shiro can't turn into a dragon in front of them.
Moana, tilting her head in curiosity, asks:
— Why do we have to do this?
Thor explains carefully:
— Even though there are powerful beings in that place, thanks to the characteristics of these beings — which either can't be seen or can only be seen by children —, people believe that dragons and people with powers don't exist. So, if we're seen, it's going to cause a huge mess.
Astrid glances toward the horizon where Stormfly was perched nearby:
— So we have to leave Stormfly on the boat, yes. After all, we can't walk around with a giant dragon.
Thor replies gently:
— But she can stay guarding the ship for us while we're there. After all, we can't take the ship either. And, Astrid, if you miss her, just ask Shiro and me to bring you to see her.
With a soft sigh, Astrid then goes to say goodbye to Stormfly, stroking the dragon's scales and whispering promises of a quick return. Thor watches for a moment before turning to Moana:
— So, where's Hei Hei?
Moana spots the rooster, who was dramatically trying to peck at a knife in his usual chaotic way, and picks up the rooster that was trying to kill itself by pecking a knife. Thor chuckles lightly:
— Well, then let's go.
To prepare for the flight, Thor kisses Shiro's forehead and says:
— Shiro, I need you to take Moana. Okay?
Shiro smiles warmly and says:
— Okay, ni-san. No problem.
Thor looks at them and asks:
— Are you guys ready? Then let's go.
In one smooth motion, Thor picks Astrid up in his arms like a princess. Shiro transforms into her Light Fury form, her scales shimmering with ethereal light. Moana, who was seeing Shiro's dragon form for the first time up close, says in awe:
— Shiro, you're so beautiful!
She then climbs on Shiro, holding Hei Hei securely. Thor looks at Moana and says:
— It's better if you hold on tight. When we start flying, you might fall.
Moana then grabs Shiro tighter. With powerful flaps of their wings, Thor and Shiro rise into the sky with a loud thunder sound in the sky. The wind whipped around them as they soared higher, leaving the ocean behind. After a few minutes flying, they finally arrive. Thor and Shiro land quickly on a rooftop and Shiro returns to human form.
From their vantage point, Thor shows the city below, snowing gently, with Christmas decorations in several places and people passing from one side to the other by car or walking, the children playing in the squares making snowmen. The lights twinkled like stars brought down to earth, and the air was filled with the scent of pine and fresh snow. Thor looks and says:
— So, what did you think of this world?
Astrid, still in his arms but now standing beside him, says:
— When you said that behind the mist there was a different world, I knew it wouldn't be like Berk, but I didn't think it would be so different.
Moana says smiling:
— But it's cool to discover new things that I've never seen before.
Thor looking at them says:
— Well, let's go to the place I found for us to stay.
They then descend from the building walking down the street. Astrid holding Thor's arm. Astrid looking at the people passing by says:
— So that's why you brought clothes for Moana, Shiro and me to wear. Our normal clothes are very different from the clothes of the people here.
Moana and Shiro were also looking at the things they had never seen with curiosity. At that moment Jack Frost flies past them. Astrid looks at Thor and asks:
— Who is he?
Moana and Shiro also look at him curiously. Thor says:
— You know the beings I said that normal people can't see and that's why they don't believe in powers and dragons? This is one of them. He represents the cold of winter, so he has the power to control ice. Cool, right?
Astrid on guard:
— Is he an enemy?
Thor smiles and says:
— No, he's one of the nicest people worth being friends with.
Thor says while thinking about how Jack ended up like this, because he died to save his little sister. Thor says:
— Well, but let's go to the hotel. There will still be plenty of time to meet them.
Thor then starts walking towards the hotel with the girls, the snow crunching softly under their feet as they step into this wondrous new world together