We return with the sequel to The Dragon Boarder. This story runs completely off of the last story, so I STRONGLY recommend reading that one before. Go ahead and review the old story as well! As usual, enjoy.
The Dragon Boarder Reunited
Chapter One: A Familiar Face
"Hey Sarah!" Matt yelled, pulling open a drawer "Where's my screwdriver? You had it last!" Turning around, Matt angrily eyed all the snowboards that didn't have bindings on yet. Three days until the season opened and he barely got his boards in his shop, he was way behind schedule.
Dressed in a flannel shirt and wearing snowboard pants, the young Matt Haddock still looked about the same as he was when he was 16.
"I left it on the chair…" Sarah's voice shouted back.
"That narrows it down…" Matt shouted sarcastically.
"The one that swivels! Your favorite one!" Sarah replied, unfazed by the sarcasm.
Looking behind the counter, Matt saw the screwdriver. Cursing silently so Sarah wouldn't hear, Matt quickly grabbed it and the partially completed board. Tightening the screws, he suddenly put himself in a flashback. Almost 6 years ago, he was busy putting bindings not on a board, but a saddle. A shrewdly made saddle, but a saddle nonetheless. Easing up on the tension of one of the screws, Matt kept on thinking when he strapped the saddle. He remembered the feeling he had, the anxiousness, the excitement, the terrifying experience. Saddling his dragon Wasatch, a Skrill for the first time.
It wasn't long before he finished tightening the bindings on the board. Racking it on the shelf next to him, Matt walked to the front of his store. Sarah and Trent were both sitting at the counter waiting laughing at some joke. Smiling, Matt walked up and lightly shoved Sarah, causing her to take a step back. "Thanks for putting away your tools. You know, you've caused me more stress than when I first opened up Strike Class Boards."
Laughing more, Sarah pushed Matt back saying "You really need to loosen up! You're acting like a businessman or something.
"Well…I own this store and I'm unable to board as much as I'd like to…so yeah, I guess I am a businessman." Matt smirked back.
"We all know that's not true Matt" Trent said with a smile "you're a boarder at heart and will always be so."
Smiling, Matt walked with a more noticeable limp, to a light switch and began to flip the lights off. "Thanks Trent…Been a little hard since I…since the doctor told me that I can't be on my leg as much anymore."
"We noticed Matt…just remember we're here for you." Sarah said with a somber attitude.
Smiling at his friends, Matt said "Alright, you guys get out of here. I can finish up the rest of the boards tomorrow so don't bother coming back. I'll see you when the season opens up."
Walking over, Sarah hugged Matt. Returning the hug, Matt then walked her and Trent out the door.
"Hey drive safely will ya? Supposed to snow a little down in Cedar City." Matt said.
"Don't worry Matt! I made this trip at 3 in the morning in a storm…Not going to be a problem." Trent said, getting into his Subaru.
"I'll make sure he'll get home safely" Sarah teased, getting in the passenger seat.
Watching his friends pull out of the small parking lot and drive away, Matt took a look at the Alpine Heights Ski Resort, all lit up as if it was opening night. Though the season wasn't open yet, the ski patrol and staff members were still prepping the slopes and courses. It was because of this place that his life changed forever. It was then he found a cave to take shelter in, to survive a storm. That cave led him to where he met his ancestor Hiccup at his native island Berk. Matt tried for the longest time to figure out how he went back in time, but he shrugged it off a few years back with the conclusion that it was a gift given to him my some unknown power. Hiccup, though his ancestor, became his best friend. He remembered the first time he met Hiccup and Astrid was when they chased him off a cliff! Laughing to himself, Matt quickly closed and locked the door. Only having the small security light giving him the little visibility he had, he started to walk up some stairs.
Reaching the top, Matt flipped on a light to reveal a small one bedroom apartment. His futon couch was his bed as well as his dining table. The cupboards and kitchen appliance made the room feel smaller as well. Though small and usually cramped, it was more than enough for him. Going to Pandora, Matt started to play some Linkin Park. Matt then opened a can of chili and threw it into his little microwave.
Letting his food cook, he finally sat down to rest his leg. He immediately went to where he left off with his memory. After he officially met Hiccup, Matt's life was changed from then on. He never intended to train a dragon, just kind of…fell into his life. He remembered when he was captured by Alvin and was taken away to Outcast Island, held as a hostage to try and get Hiccup and learn how to fly dragons. That was where he met Wasatch. First meant to kill Matt, the Skrill ended up being his trained dragon and ultimately saved his life. That was where he ended up fighting Alvin, falling from the sky, and almost losing his leg. Alvin cut it so deep that he did permanent damage. That is why Matt walked with a slight limp. When he healed, he kept on snowboarding, thinking that he could do what he had before. Only of recent was he told by his doctor that Matt was putting too much stress on the leg and would be beneficial if he laid off of it this season.
Hearing the microwave beep brought Matt back to the present. Smelling the hot chili suddenly made him hungrier than he probably was. Grabbing the can and a spoon, Matt began to shovel the chili in his mouth. Looking through his window to the ski resort, Matt smiled at the memories he had. That was almost 6 years ago. Now he was 22 and owned his own board shop. Even though he hated to admit it, his leg being injured was a blessing to him.
Sitting on the futon, Matt said out load "Xbox on." A distinct bing sounded and Matt saw his Xbox come to life. Smiling, Matt picked up the controller and went to Netflix. As he selected his show, he heard a pounding at the door downstairs. Confused, Matt turned off the TV and listened closer.
Bam bam bam bam bam. "Yeah!" He thought "Someone's definitely down there."
Putting his food down, Matt jogged to the stairs. The doctor urged him not to do too much more on his leg, not stay off of it like it was a fragile stick.
Finally getting to the door, he heard the pounding again. Even though it was a glass door, the posters and advertisements he taped to it blocked his view. A little concerned, Matt slowly reached for the door, shouting "Ok, ok, ok, I'm getting the door! Ease up a little will ya?"
Turning the deadbolt slowly, Matt breathed heavy and then swung the door open. What he saw almost knocked him down. There in front of him was an oh so familiar face
"Matt! Is that you!?"
"Wait…is that you Astrid!?" Matt gasped. Even though she was bigger, taller, and a dressed differently from when he last saw her, he could tell that it was Astrid!
Throwing her arms around his neck and squeezing him in a big hug, Astrid shouted "Oh I can't believe that I found you! Thank the Gods!"
"Astrid…how did…what are…how are you…WHAT'S GOING ON!?" Matt shouted in confusion, pulling her inside and locking the door.
"It's bad Matt…Berk's been captured, everyone's a prisoner, I don't know what to-"
"Astrid." Matt said, grasping and shaking her lightly. "Start from the beginning. No. Wait. Come with me." Almost immediately he dragged her up to his small bedroom. Halfway up the stairs Astrid collapsed to which Matt promptly shouldered her and carried her the rest of the way.
Sitting her on his futon, he handed her his can of chili. "Eat it." He said gruffly. After she took the can, Matt went to the stove and began boiling some water and threw another can of chili in the microwave.
Grabbing a stool, he quickly sat himself in front of Astrid and said "Ok, now start from the beginning. Start when you woke up for all I care!"
Shivering a little, Astrid looked up at Matt and said "Berk was invaded by a tribe called the Berserkers. They're led by a man named Dagur."
"Worse than Alvin?" Matt asked.
"Alvin doesn't even compare to Dagur!" Astrid exclaimed "Dagur can't hear reason! He's insane!" with that she finished eating what was left of the chili.
"Great…" Matt groaned, sitting back a little bit on his stool.
"We thought he was dead, but…" Astrid trailed off.
"So…how did you get here?" Matt asked, getting up to grab the other can he put in the microwave.
"Let me get to that point." Astrid said, sitting back on the futon. "When the Berserker's attacked, they hit us hard! They had three times the fleet than what we remembered and they quickly caught Hiccup!"
"And Toothless?" Matt asked, handing her the new can of chili and taking the old one.
"Knocked out of the sky with Hiccup but was able to knock down a few Berserker's and get away." Astrid said, who began to wolf down the chili.
Grabbing the boiling pot of water, Matt began to make a hot chocolate for her and him. "So I still don't get it. Why did you come here? More importantly, how did you get here?"
"Stormfly and the other dragons were captured as well…" Astrid's voice trailed off a little. "I was fighting to try and free Stormfly when I heard Hiccup shout at me to 'Go hide Toothless! Go get help!'."
"Wait…why did he want to hide Toothless?" Matt asked, sipping his drink.
Astrid, who had finished the can of chili, said. "Dagur wants him. He wants to use Toothless as a weapon and a symbol of their power."
Matt didn't say anything. This was not in his family's history book.
"I didn't have time to learn how to fly Toothless's tail, and I was being chased by three other Berserkers!" Astrid said "I couldn't go to Outcast Island to get help, so I immediately thought of you."
"Wait. Why on earth would you want to go to Outcast Island?" Matt asked in awe and shock.
Astrid didn't say anything for a second, and then continued "Alvin saved Berk Matt…He saved Hiccup and Toothless. He's an ally."
"He almost killed me!" Matt roared "He almost killed Hiccup and Toothless! Don't you remember when I was at Berk!?"
"Of course I remember!" Astrid said defensively.
"Astrid! I can't snowboard anymore because of him! He took away that which was most dear to me!" Matt shouted even more.
"Well you know what Matt!?" Astrid replied standing up "You've been gone for 6 years! 6 years! That's a long time and a lot's changed!"
Matt stared at Astrid, still fuming about Alvin being an ally, but he knew that this wasn't going to help Hiccup or Astrid. "Listen. I understand that…and for the sake of what's going on, I'll pass up on this subject."
"Good." Astrid said, sitting down and grabbing her drink.
"So…Hiccup told you to leave. Hide. What happened then?" Matt asked.
"Well, I told you that I was chased by three other Berserker's. The rest of the Berserker's were busy securing the dragons and warriors."
"And?" Matt edged in.
"I gave them the slip" Astrid replied simply "Toothless and I went to your cave and that's where I saw that it was open. Toothless is still hiding there. I came down that mountain and when I got to the bottom, saw the sign on your building. The Strike Class symbol."
Everything clicked in Matt's head at that moment. That's how Astrid was able to find him! Soaking this in, a thought then occurred to him. "Wait. The cave was open!?"
Astrid stared at him and nodded, like 'duh Matt…that's how I got here!'
"I tried going to that cave every year for the last six years, and nothing has come of it. I can't believe it!" Matt said ecstatically. Walking back and forth, Matt suddenly thought of something. "Wait…is Wasatch still there? Is my dragon safe?"
Astrid looked at Matt in the eye with sadness and said "Matt…Wasatch left Berk a few months after you left. We guessed he just got tired of waiting."
Matt nodded. Staring at what was left of his drink, Matt quietly replied "I guess 6 years is a long time. I hope he's ok…"
Astrid slightly chuckled and added "Having dealt with a wild Skrill, I'd say he's more than ok."
Smiling, Matt then piped in "Its good to see you Astrid! I wish it was on better terms, but it's still good to see you."
Smiling broader now, Astrid replied "Likewise Matt. It seems you have a knack for trouble!"
"You mean trouble finding me." Matt threw back, grabbing Astrid's empty mug. "I seem to only find trouble wherever I go."
"So…this is where you live?" Astrid asked looking around.
"Well…for the winter. I live with my parents during the summer since business is usually slow during the summer." Matt said, putting the mugs in the sink. Walking to a closet, Matt began to pull out his snowboard gear and coat.
"Ah, well I guess I don't have to beg you to come back with me then huh?" Astrid said walking towards Matt.
"I kinda assumed as much when you decided to show up here at my shop." Matt replied with a smile "Besides, can't turn away the sight of a helpless little girl."
Wham! Suddenly Matt's arm lit up with pain. Gripping his shoulder, Matt turned to see Astrid staring at him, as if daring him to say it again. "Ah, I see you never got over the 'hit first, ask later' mentality." He groaned, rubbing his arm.
"Only when I need to." Astrid replied with a smile. Then batting her eyes joked "I have to since I'm a helpless girl."
"Remind me to NEVER joke with you…" Matt said finishing rubbing his shoulder. Grabbing his backpack, Matt began to load it with some food and other survival gear. He learned to always carry basic items to survive since the last time he went to Berk. After packing everything and strapping his board to his backpack, Matt went to a desk he had and pulled out a box and opened it. Astrid looked over his shoulder to see what it was. It was a handle with two small metal nubs at the end of it.
"What is that?" she asked quizzically, staring at the object in Matt's hand.
"I bought it shortly after I came home." Matt replied. Turning to Astrid, he held it in front of her and pushed a button. Astrid saw electricity shooting across each nub.
Putting it in his backpack, Matt continued "It's called a Taser, it shoots jolts of electricity into whatever it touches."
"You got that for Wasatch didn't you?" Astrid stated.
"Yup…and now for anyone who gets in our way." Matt said, zipping up his bag. Turning to Astrid, Matt smiled and said "Well…let's go get Hiccup back then eh?"