Five Years Later
A beautiful dawn was casting its rays of copper and gold warmth and hope on the Isle of Berk once more, and as those sweet sunrays crept through the village they showed there had been a significant passage of time.
Many new buildings had been built along with some very bizarre looking contraptions to an outsider of Berk, but to those who'd lived on Berk and knew that the Chief's three children were clearly genius way ahead of their time, having the most advance island as well as trained dragons living among you was as normal as the sky is blue.
Waking up with the dawn and doing some slight complaining about it were the Dragon Riders, but they're different in two ways. One they looked about five years older, and two they didn't ride alone as they're swooping in to meet at the town square.
Each of them save Astrid had two extra people riding with them, she had four. These extra people were younger kids but the way they rode along with them and how they acted with it appeared they're something more to the Riders.
"How is everyone this morning?" inquired Astrid as she helped girl who appeared about ten who had dark blond hair in long braided pigtails off Stormfly, she was the smallest on the dragon.
"I'll tell you how I'm this morning, Astrid," Snotlout began when a young teenage boy with greasy blond hair and stormy gray eyes interrupted him, "Um, can you say it nicely, Snotlout? I know you're not a morning person, big bro. Yet all our parents did agree they liked the ten of us," gesturing to the other children the Riders were helping off their dragons, "We a good influence on you and you on us."
"My big brother Brimstone is right of course," the girl whom Astrid helped down concurred. "Thanks, Bloodfire," her blood brother replied, "Of course," she respond in kind.
"They do have a good point already, Snotlout. After all wasn't that Hiccup, Boden and Una's aim when they challenged the five us to become big brothers and sisters for two weeks?" Astrid remind him of what had become known to all of Berk as "The Brother Sister Challenge"
"Ugh don't remind me of that sneaky little game he played us for!" Snotlout growled.
"Well he did have a point, Snotlout. We did mock him for a long time and never understood just how important his job as a big brother was or how much he had to do as one," Fishlegs pointed out.
"Yeah, and even though it was game of fun and laughs for the three of them," Ruffnut and Tuffnut finished, "We still learned a valuable life lesson which is what they're aiming to teach us and now we all have great siblings too," as he and Ruff looked at the two girls who were their adopted siblings and one by one the other Riders looked at their adopted siblings.
"So wasn't it a win-win for everyone?" asked their younger siblings to their older ones who all nodded. It was a hellish two weeks no doubt about it getting played by Hiccup and his siblings, but getting their own was cool.
They'd even signed an official document that made all these kids all except the Twins were already siblings themselves their official adopted little brothers and sisters.
Therefore in the eyes of Berk and the Gods they're bound to them and had all the same responsibilities as Hiccup had to Boden and Una. So that yet one of many of their very cool, awesome and grand adventures of the past five years.
"Alright, anyway before we getting reminiscing more we've got chores to do before we can race this afternoon. So let's get too it, shall we?" Astrid suggested as she took out a scroll with the check list and everyone fell into place.
"Alright, me and my siblings, Bloodfire Anderson, Birger and Ria Milun and Larkin Luka," she turned to glance at her siblings who were in age ten, 13, 12 and 11, "We shall go get the water needed to refill all the fire prevention apparatuses throughout Berk."
"You can count on us, big sis!" they declared both loudly and proudly with huge grins on their faces.
"Okay, while we're fetching the water, Fishlegs?"
"Yes, Astrid?"
"You and your siblings Alle Sarryck and Lanon Luka go fetch and deliver the supplies needed for the Dragon School."
"Sounds like fun! After all it was our idea to try and teach dragons how to read and do basic math!" reminded 13 year old Alle who had her raven black hair in two long pigtails.
"Yeah, getting an education is a good for one and all. If it's good for Vikings it's good for dragons. Makes us better Riders, or those who will eventually become Riders!" 12 year old Lanon added with some bitterness in his voice but excitement in his honey colored eyes.
"Sounds like you three will have a delightful time. Now for those who have six heads!" Astrid cast a dubious look at the Twins. It was true they'd mature and become a bit more responsible in the last five years with their two adopted little sisters to look after, though it still didn't mean they didn't have moments of idiotic every now and then.
"So what's the deal, Astrid?" asked Ruff who was eyeing the boys suspiciously.
"Yeah what do you want us and our cool sisters to do?" asked Tuff not really picking up on his twin sister vibe like their two 13 year old sisters were.
"Well it's your turn to check out and make sure Boden's Dragon Life Force System is still function correctly. That all the parts at each station are in working order and at the heart of the system is functioning correctly."
"So you want us to make sure Berk's power supply is in working order?" a girl with blond hair in a side ponytail asked for clarification.
"That's right, Creel can you and Gala do that?"
"Don't worry about a thing, Astrid," the other girl waved her hand in flippant manner, "we'll make sure to help out brother and sister out and they don't mess up. You have the word of Gala Marta and Creel Carlieff to count on," pausing a moment to consider her next words she added politely
"Our older brother and sister may act a little silly at times, on the other hand they can be serious when they needed to be!" Gala laughed good-naturedly as she flicked her brownish blond straggly locks.
"Alright, no need to butter me up, Gala. You just keep an eye on your big brother and sister, okay?"
"Will do!"
"So, what do you want me, Brimstone and Velika Sarryck to do? What's left on the list?" asked Snotlout in as polite manner as he could managed. His 15 year old adopted brother was right with what he'd said earlier. He also knew for the sake of his 11 year old adopted sister he needed to work harder on his manners at any rate.
"You're going to check out Una's Dragon Voice System and the Dragon Lung to make sure it's also all in working order. That means going to both heart of the system and making a few calls to see if reaching their receivers.
You should also read the schematics to make sure nothing from above looks like it could be crushing the pipes from above and if something sounds wrong a little dig around to make sure none have been damaged underneath. Also do the monthly testing with the Dragon Lung."
"Alright, we and our big brother will get right on this. But after we are all done with this can we meet for a quick lunch at the Great Hall and then go to the Nursery?" Velika asked hopefully her rust colored curls bouncing with hope.
"Yeah can we all go to the Nursery?" asked the other kids.
The Berk Dragon Nursery was the former Underground Dragon Sanctuary. In the past five years it been converted from a secret sanctuary into a Nursery for mated dragons to go lay their eggs and raise their families.
It'd been the ideal place to use as it was already familiar to dragons, had more than enough space and had partly been used for that. So it hadn't taken long to convert it.
"Yeah, we'll all go make sure the eggs are okay. Since we know you're really dying to know when your long awaited dragons will be born. We also all promise to take turns checking on Moon Shadow and her ten eggs in the private Night Fury Room." Astrid confirmed.
"We best protect that with our lives, sis! I mean of all the things you could've discovered when you race to the edge as we've sometimes called it after you found the Dragon Eye, but the fact it was once in a blue moon, well it was a blue moon," Bloodfire was rambling but then her friends looked at her she got to her point.
"The point is if you guys hadn't left to explore beyond the boundaries of our known lands, found Dragon's Edge and then…"
"Then drove Hiccup and his siblings nuts from you're the mother of all bickering feast, then they may never chose on the night of blue to fly away to get away from you all," Birger start and Ria continued.
"Then the mysterious forces at work would've brought that storm out of the middle of nowhere that got them lost in the middle of nowhere in uncharted lands to that strange little island which caused them to crash."
"And then they'd never encountered the beautiful but angry Night Fury whom Una realized was a female when no-one else would've ever guessed that! And then Toothless and Moon Shadow never found true love at first sight and spent the next three years building their relationship to this point we now have TEN EGGS just waiting to hatch!" Larkin finished excitedly.
Well the thought of that adventure made everyone very happy. Finding the beautiful silver eyed Night Fury who got her name from Una whom named her for the snow white crescent moon on her forehead.
"Well if we get started on our chores right now and get them done thoroughly and correctly we should be able to visit the Nursery where our dragons' mates are watching over the eggs and pay Moon Shadow a visit as well."
"Then two after that is racing time! So let's get to this! Dragon Riders Forever!" everyone shouted loudly and hurried to get to their jobs but still intended not to rush through them but do them thoroughly.
Throughout the time the Riders started their chores to getting the Nursery you saw just how much Hiccup, Boden and Una had done. Hiccup was the one who'd come with the fire prevention, dragon wash, feeding stations and stables.
Boden's Dragon Life Force system simply took natural energy source around Berk, water, fire, air, geothermal and even made lightning channeled into a special battery he'd invented actually and well Berk was powered.
It powered their automatic defense system, their village laundry system, and a number of other things other people could never dream off. Thanks all to the boy's strange understanding of energy and power.
Thanks to Una who understood music and sound she'd had a few things going for her as well. She'd had trained a Dragon Choir for entertainment purposes, invented a 'phone' system by using pipes, valves and ocarinas.
They'd make a complex network of pipes buried throughout the village with different valves and with these special ocarinas at the end. You just played a certain melody and that opened the system one way to whoever you want to speak too.
The Dragon Lung was mental megaphone that could spin 360 degrees and again with her Dragon Voice make announcements. It was very useful sending out warnings, news and other things.
And working together with the other Riders who created a band with their siblings and combing that with Una's Dragon Choir during times of celebration they'd even invented their own version of stereos and microphones and how to amplify the village's musical instruments.
The Haddock's brilliances also shinned brightly when the Riders and their siblings finally got done with their chores, had a quick lunch before bolting to the Dragon Nursery.
They're greeted by the Anquetils sisters Skullette was Head of Berk Dragon Nursery and her little sister as she thought of her cousin was Head of Bookkeeping.
The changed Sanctuary to a Nursery had changed by the fact they'd built artificial hot water springs for the eggs, made it a lot homier down here and the caverns had been used for other purposes.
One half of the Nursery was the 'office side" and the other was the family side and they'd a lot of humans and dragons working together to raise happy healthy families.
The office side had a cavern set aside for the records, medical room, classroom, storage, laundry and a kitchen. They even had a fully drawn out schedule how the Nursery was run and when the hatchlings could be taken to the fenced in playground area just outside, under supervision of course.
The other side people were checking on many different dragons with their mates with the Rookery Aunts and Nana Misty Skullette's mother elderly Nadder who was a grandmother figure to the dragons down here.
The Riders' younger siblings dashed forward to see how the mates of the Riders' dragons were doing guarding the eggs that would be their dragons that Una had prophesied back when the Brother Sister Challenge had been issued five years ago.
"Hey Day Glider! You doing okay, boy? Are you scared about becoming a daddy?" questioned Bloodfire as she patted the dark blue male Nadder with hues of purple mixed in that made his dark green spines glisten in the glowing light.
"He seems fine too me, Bloodfire. Aren't you boy?" asked Astrid as she and Stormfly came over who was cuddling with her beloved.
"Love must be the grandest thing in the world," Ria sighed as she and Birger rotated the four eggs gently in the nest as they'd been taught to do.
"I bet it is, little sis."
"You'd know wouldn't you, big sis? Since you and Hiccup been together for far longer than forever?" inquired Larkin as he brought over some salmon to give expecting parents.
Astrid flushed fuchsia and tugged her hair nervously. "Well, it's not like that, love is complex and you're still too young to be explain how complex it is!"
"So when will be old enough?" Bloodfire wanted to know being impatient as all the kids were to be told 'the facts of life'
"I promise I'll give you more insight into love after the babies are hatched, alright?"
"Alright."
Over by Meatlug who was her mate Granite who was a yellowish orange Gronckle with yellow green bumps Alle and Lanon where whispering quietly to themselves as they're turning the eggs to help them get more heat.
"You don't think our brother being an idiot chasing after Ruffnut the last few weeks?" Alle hissed as she turned over what she felt was her dragon egg.
"He's also been book smart but he's clueless in love, that's for sure!" Lanon agreed and glancing over to Snotlout and his siblings looked like they're having a similar discussion.
Brimstone was busy giving scrubbing Ember the beautiful female that was Hookfang's mate. She was a beauty with a soft rose pink body with royal purple stripes and robin's egg blue eyes, horns and spines.
He was talking out of the corner of his mouth to Velika as she was busying herself with the eggs. "So he couldn't get Astrid to like him, nor any other girl in any of their travels, so he's settling for Ruffnut. I call that desperation not love." Brimstone muttered as he worked on polishing Ember's left horn.
"Our brother made a lot of changes over the past five years, Brimstone, and yet he's still not quite got woman don't like men with egos or rudeness. We'd like to be treated with respect and not as objects without brains," sighing. "I've only tried to help him a zillion times!"
"Some people just can't change in some areas I guess!"
The Twins' younger sisters were tending to Barf and Belch's mate Clover and Thistle and listening to their big sister complain how she hated the idiots chasing after her.
"I'm not so smart and never will be, but I know they don't really like like me. They just want me as I'm the only girl left around here their age! It's only because I'm available! It's pathetic!" she was grumbling before glancing at Creel and Gala work.
"You need to trim their nails a little on the front. Tuffnut! Get the nail clippers from Skullette!"
"Fine! Do I need to get anything else?"
"Something to drink would be nice, big brother!" the girls chimed in unison.
"Okay four berry juices coming right up."
"It's nice you're the smart one and he's the dumb one," giggled Creel as she patted Clover's head.
"Yeah, girls rule and boys drool. Not that we don't like our brother. Still, we're hoping this egg is a female Zippleback. We already have a name picked out for her and we still hoping it's a girl!" Gala confided in her older sister excitedly.
"I hope it's a girl too. Though I wonder girl or boy are they gonna look like Barf and Belch or their mother?" Gesturing to the sunset colored Zippleback which body was the burnt orange of sunset with red violet on its spines and purple eyes and underside of her wings.
"Who knows? I mean Una looks just like her mommy other than the blond hair when neither of her parents are blond. And well the fact the last 3 to 4 inches of her hair is forever vivid lilac due to those magic flowers they found when she was four." Creel pointed out the fact when it came to how you looked when you're born you never knew what to expect.
Once they're all done with their dragons they all wanted to go check in the private but heavily guarded Night Fury room on Moon Shadow and her eggs, but Skullette and Firefang told them Hiccup had left strict orders: only one person and one dragon at a time could check on his dragon's mate at any time.
"That must mean you for now Astrid you and Stormfly. Remember no longer then fifteen minutes," Skullette remind her of the rules as they went to the secret room they'd discovered that was concealed within the walls of the Nursery.
They'd Gobber install a Gronckle Iron door, painted protection symbols on the door and also even had some of the Dragon Life Force System hidden around her to fire weapons should any uninvited guest try to get to Moon Shadow and the babies she and Toothless were about to have.
Having a special key Astrid disabled the security system to let her in which reengaged the moment she was inside and would only disengaged when she left. It was a magical room with the rock walls made of hues of pinks, purples, turquoise and blues. One of kind reddish purple flowers grew only in here they'd named Night Fury Blossoms. The ceiling was lined with glowing crystals that looked like the night sky.
And in the center of this room in a nest which had a heating source under it were ten objects that looked like ten flawless black gemstones, but they're in fact Night Fury Eggs.
Sleeping contently by the eyes with her head on a pillow with a blanket draped over her was a Night Fury. She looked exactly like Toothless other than that snow white crescent moon on her forehead.
She instantly woke when she sensed someone had entered her personal space, Astrid tensed for a moment but quickly relaxed as Moon Shadow gave her a toothless smile and walked over to greet her.
"Hey girl. How is the mistress of the night doing? You feeling okay?"
Nodding her head she walked over to eggs with a proud smile glowing on her face, love was shining in her silver eyes. "I know you'll be a good mother, Moon Shadow. You're loving, kind and courageous."
She looked at her as if asking for more and Astrid went on as they began to turn the eggs as they needed to be and line the nest with more flower petals as well. "I know you and Toothless will be good parents.
I know because Hiccup is a good man and if he raised Toothless who is his best friend that a good sign. And both are wonderful brothers so I know if Toothless is an excellent brother, he'll be an amazing father as well."
Her silver eyes seemed to say, "I know you speak the truth and I feel in my heart it's the truth. Still nothing scarier than becoming a parents and having a life to look after. And we've got ten babies to look after."
"If you worried about having ten children to look after everyone will do their parent to help you raise your family right. Everyone on Berk is family to each other and love is thicker the blood!"
She smiled at the girl and licked her a lot. Then gave her a look and she blushed, "Yeah I know. Hiccup and I been through a lot in five years ourselves, but we still too young to tie the knot ourselves or start a family of our own. We're just not ready for that, Moon Shadow."
Sighing she could tell her time was drawing to a close. "I've got to go get ready for the Dragon Race. But we'll let you know who wins, okay?"
She nodded zealously about that and hugged her tightly in wings and Astrid kissed the moon on Moon Shadow's head before using her key to safely leave and the Riders then left with their siblings to get ready for the next Dragon Race.
The Riders and their siblings all played certain parts in bringing Dragon Racing into existence. It was quite an astonishing story as well as very highly amusing one, however the short version of how all the Dragon Riders' siblings had played their parts was this.
Alle and Velika's father was the formerly Silent Sven and when he broke his silence well that led to them having to round up the sheep. When the people had desired more of the game things got even more complex and the siblings had gotten even more involved than anyone had first anticipated.
To feed the spectators was Brimstone and Bloodfire's parents job as their parents were the best bread maker and farmer on the island. They're continuously trying to improve quality of food on Berk subsequently this was just the perfect job for them to do.
Birger and Ria's mother who was Gustav Larson's mom younger sister being Berk's resident artisan provided the face paint, mark the sheep with, and had painted the dragon faces for each net for each Rider.
The sick and injured were taken care of by Lanon and Larkin's mother and their Great Aunt Gothi as their mother was her niece.
Finally Creel and Gala's Uncles Mulch and Bucket's jobs were to signal the start and end of each race.
Consequently that's how each of the Dragon Riders' siblings had gotten involved in addition were related to other members of the community as well. It was all complex at first but quiet simple once you broke it down.
Therefore right at the moment the siblings' jobs were simply to get their older brothers and sisters ready for the race before getting to their reserved seats of honor which was around the Chief and his wife to delight in the race.
Once the younger siblings had finished with both the dragons and siblings they got to their seats of honor where Chief Stoick and his beautiful Valka greeted them warmly and kindly.
Valka like always helped them to their specially assigned seats before she sat in her own seat of honor. Front row center with Stoick by her side in the biggest and most comfy chairs.
. The race started first with the Riders ascending into to sky to show off some stunts before getting in the starting position then Mulch and Bucket sounded the horns and they're off.
Soon everyone was lost in the excitement, adrenaline and screaming that alone brought on Berk's signature game and while Gobber was supposed to be running commentary with some help from the inventions of Haddocks kids' design he wasn't doing his job at all.
He was distracted by what sounded like a very juicy argument of heated words between Stoick and Valka who seemed to be using the screaming crowd to cover their own words.
It was a good strategy to not be overheard, but Gobber was one never to mind his own business, so he knew how to really hear pretty well over what others never be heard.
As such everyone was too caught up in the engaging race antics of the arrogant Snotlout and bookworm Fishlegs fighting ridiculously over Ruffnut. And Astrid being the only one taking the game seriously. It was so distracting and entertaining no-one noticed at all the lack of commentary at all.
Thus Gobber was able to catch snippiest of what seemed to be a reoccurring argument between Stoick and Valka about something that by the sound of it dealt with the children no doubt.
"I'm telling you Stoick, we need to tell them all the truth! Why do you think they keep running off? This isn't the first time they've done a disappearing act when you've broached the subject with them! You need to be honest with them what the plan really is."
"Val, I thought we once agreed when we decided to have three kids we want to surprise the village and our children when this day came?"
"Yes, that was the original plan, Stoick, but things have change. You can't foresee things are gonna play out 20 years before they actually occur. You're pushing them away which is the last thing we need right now.
Please we can surprise the village, though I'm begging be honest with your children with what the plan is. Stoick you know they raise and fall together and they are one now and forever."
"I want what's best for them and Berk, I just want one last surprise is all."
"I don't understand why you keep thinking the end is coming. You've plenty of years left in you! Your only 50 and your stronger than any dragon we've ever encountered!"
"Still you just never know Valka."
"I know I know Stoick! Still I don't think this is the time to surprise your children. You really didn't like the surprise we dropped on you five years back. Can we just not have a surprise five years later?"
"Perhaps your right…Gobber?! Why you over here and not where you're suppose too be?!" demanded Stoick all of sudden noticing his best friend who was trying to come up with an excuse.
"Um you see the thing is…"
"Don't you even try to lie, Gobber! You were eavesdropping weren't you? You still aren't happy with the no tolerance laws we passed a year ago, aren't you? And ever since then you've been eavesdropping a lot more. Don't deny it. We've got plenty of eyes and ears to confirm it!" Valka said as she rounded on him and he looked more than red with embarrassment but anger.
"I may not agree with the fact you made your husband impose a law that made everyone go on the wagon and prohibits gambling, Valka. But really what spy on me?"
"Because the sobering laws were brought on because of you and we need to make sure you stay clean and know Berk is still a good, clean and healthy environment for both human and dragon children," she replied.
"What was so wrong running a betting pool on Dragon Races or having a couple of drinks after winning the pool three weeks in a row last year?" he demanded for the umpteenth time.
"How many times do we have to go over with this with you Gobber? You and all who participated in that were told why we could no longer tolerated it. And why all mothers and some of the fathers couldn't stand the behavior any longer," Stoick ran a large hand down his face and stroked his graying bread in exasperation.
"You and your buddies think us parents liked it that our children were being used to line people pockets with treasures? Like they weren't even human beings with feelings or free will? Like there were just objects without thought or will?" Valka demanded to him.
"Or what a bad example that set for the Riders' adopted siblings whom they're trying to teach important life lessons? Nor was that a good example you're setting for them or any future generations with such vulgar and disgusting behavior?
Beside the bigger the pot got the more drunk people got and then we had property damage, disorderly conduct and the dragons and their children were mistreated in ways that are not to be repeated!" the auburn haired mother continued to seethe as she grinded her teeth making her point crystal clear.
"So really Gobber I had no choice but do order everyone dry and to outlaw gambling activities. And uses the trained Terrors to make sure everyone stays on the wagon.
Now tell me why you were eavesdropping on my private conversation with my wife when you should be getting ready to launch the black sheep in for the final lap?"
"Umm… you see… I…"
"Gobber if you don't get to the sheep launcher and get that sheep in the air in the next ten seconds I'll remove your spleen without knocking you first. And if you dare repeat whatever you did overhear us speaking I'll also take out your gallbladder as well!" Valka threaten him and he knew Valka meant what she said so he ran off as fast as a one legged lout could.
Finally able to enjoy the end of the Race when Astrid did a very wicked, stellar move to pull off a win they yelled loudly as did the crowd, her four adopted siblings.
Though no-one heard them whispered to each other as the crowded was leaving their seats and her siblings were swarming her to give her their love and affection their other private conversation.
"She'll be the ideal daughter-in-law, won't she, Valka?"
"Stoick! I still think that's a few years away. Beside what's wrong with the girl whose heart our second son's stolen? Don't you think she'll make a great daughter-in-law as well someday?"
"Yeah, Asta Caxel will make a fine daughter-in-law as well. And whoever is the lucky man who will one day win our little Una's heart will make a great son-in-law as long he understands a few things first."
"Stoick I know like every father you'll go through your "protective daddy' phase when Una falls in love. And given how beautiful she's become? I can truly understand."
"Well, given the fact, all of our children indeed got all your good looks, considering how well they all look now? Both our sons are the most attractive men on Berk and our daughter?"
"She's truly as you've always said the most beautiful woman to walk Berk's shores next to myself, I know that. I also know they're stubborn as their father."
"Yeah we both know a lot about how special our children are from the inside out. From how attractive they look, their genius minds, their special talents and how amazing they are on their dragons," Stoick noted as they started to head into town.
"There seems to be only one thing we currently don't know, Stoick."
"What's that Val?"
"We don't have a clue where they fly off too this morning!"
And that was true and now the question was where Hiccup, Boden and Una Haddock were?