Season 1

Episode 1: Raid on the Northern Markets

Hiccup and the newly minted Dragon Rescuers catch wind of wounded dragons Drago's men sold to the Northern Markets and fly to investigate.

"It's not my fault our dragon flew away, I don't smell like a cod liver!" Ruffnut squared her shoulders and shoved her finger into her brother's face.

"Well at least I don't sing like a drowning yak!"

Tuffnut recoiled in horror.

"You don't mean that!"

Ruffnut crossed her arms defiantly across her chest and scowled at her twin.

"Oh yes I do!"

Behind them, Hiccup emerged from the ruins of the Berk weapon's cache with Toothless on his heels. Eret was by his side, talking animatedly about a problem with Skull Crusher.

"He won't listen!" Eret complained, waving his hand at his dragon who was methodically melting a slab of Bewilderbeast ice. "He doesn't do anything I say. I'm not a dragon trainer, Chief."

Toothless cooed in sympathy and bundled up next to Skull Crusher to help clear away the crushed ice.

"You're going about it the wrong way," Hiccup tried to explain. A Viking with a massive blonde beard stopped Hiccup in his tracks.

"Chief," The Viking said. "We have a problem."

Hiccup groaned and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Another one? What is it now?" The blonde Viking leaned in close to Hiccup's face.

"Drago's men," The Viking whispered. "Sven saw a group of them, hauling dragons to the Northern Markets!"

Hiccup raised his eyebrows.

"Drago's men? Are you sure?"

"Aye," The Viking assured him, nodding. "At least a dozen strong," He looked up to scowl at Eret. "Dragon trappers from the look of 'em,"

Frowning, Hiccup stepped between the Viking and Eret.

"Right," Hiccup said firmly, making the Viking stand back sheepishly. "I'll take care of it. Thank you,"

The Viking ducked his head and skirted around Toothless and Skull Crusher, giving the working dragons a wide berth.

"Sorry about that, Eret." Hiccup apologised once the man was out of sight. "Some people are still rattled,"

Eret shrugged and turned away, folding his arms.

"So," Eret said after another moment of continued silence. "What about these dragon trappers?"

"We'll catch them," Hiccup promised. "We have to protect the dragons." Toothless abaonded his task and nuzzled into Hiccup's side, grunting affectionately. Hiccup smiled and scratched Toothless' chin.

"Don't worry bud, I'll do everything I can to help you be the Alpha," Toothless grumbled and meandered back to help Skull Crusher.

"What's this about dragon trappers?" Tuffnut asked leaning around his sister.

"We're going to the Northern Markets," Hiccup told him. "We've got dragons to rescue."

Half an hour later the dragon riders were standing in the academy laying out their plan.

"We should leave the dragons here," Hiccup said pointing to a place on the map he'd spread out on the academy floor. "That way we can move in casually, hopefully, they won't suspect a thing."

Snotlout rolled his eyes. He'd abandoned his bearskin wrap for a loose flap of red material he insisted matched Hookfang's scales. "I don't understand why we don't just go in, teeth and fire first. We could be in and out like that," He snapped his fingers for emphasis.

Astrid swatted his shoulder with the back of her gauntlet. "You don't understand anything, Snotlout. If we did that they could just shoot us down."

"Astrid's right," Hiccup agreed. "From Sven's report it seems like the dragon trappers are still in the area. Probably waiting to get paid, you know how the merchants can be. They'll be touchy, better we do this diplomatically."

"And if that doesn't work?" Tuffnut asked, nudging his sister eagerly. Hiccup sighed and sat back on his heels.

"Then we go in teeth and fire,"

"Yes!" The twins butted head than staggered off, spinning around the academy in dizzy circles.

"Alright," Hiccup said, watching the twins from the corner of his eye. "Let's saddle up."

"Not without me you're not," Valka appeared from the academy entrance, Cloudjumper by her side. Ever since her return to Berk, Hiccup's mother had put her heart and soul into the re-building of the village. Cloudjumper looked anxious for an adventure.

"Right," Hiccup smiled. "Not without mom," The dragon riders mounted their dragons and reviewed the plan one more time regardless of Snotlout's chargin.

"Oh, this is exciting!" Fishlegs squealed as they took off through the hole the Bewilderbeast had stomped in the academy roof. "We need a new group name!"

Hiccup twisted in Toothless' saddle.

"Group name?"

Ruffnut pulled Barf's head alongside Fishlegs and Meatlug. "I agree! Something bold and to the point,"

"I conquer, sister," Tuffnut added. "How about, the Dragon Helpers?"

Astrid buried her face in her hands. Fishlegs winced.

"Yeah, I don't think that's the best idea, Tuff." Hiccup remarked. He looked ahead to Eret and Skull Crusher. "Any suggestions?" Hiccup asked.

Eret paused. He stroked his non-existent beard in thought.

"Dragon Savers?"

Toothless made a gagging noise in the back of his throat.

"Hey, be nice, bud." Hiccup scolded, patting Toothless' nose. "I don't think that one's popular either."

"How about, Dragon Rescuers?" Fishlegs proposed.

There was general murmur of consideration from the riders.

"Great, any objections?" Hiccup announced.

"Nope," Astrid said, dipping Stormfly's wings so she could be level with Hiccup and Toothless.

"None here!" The twins coursed.

"Why not?" Valka murmured with an amused look.

"I like it," Eret promised.

Hiccup turned to look at Snotlout.

"Snotlout?"

Snotlout hesitated for a moment longer just to draw it out then shrugged. "Sure," Fishlegs pumped his fist in the air.

"Woo hoo! Dragon Rescuers!"

Hiccup chuckled and leaned forward into Toothless' saddle. "Okay bud, let's do this,"

Hiccup and Toothless led the way to a sheltered outcropping of trees within shouting distant of the Northern Markets.

"Huddle up guys," Hiccup began. The newly minted Dragon Rescuers gathered around him.

"We'll split up and go in groups. Divide and conquer. Everyone got a partner?"

In the end there was only slight hassling as Fishlegs was reluctantly pared with Snotlout, the twins were separated to avoid making a scene, Ruffnut with a perturbed Eret, Tuffnut with Valka, and Astrid with Hiccup.

"Good," Hiccup continued. "Pick a direction, don't draw attention to yourself. Keep a lookout for the dragons."

The groups dissipated, each choosing a different way to enter the markets.

Finally, it was just Hiccup and Astrid.

"Ready?" Astrid asked, hooking her arm through his.

"After you," Hiccup offered, smiling.

They moved slowly into the market, heads down and alert for dragon trapper based activity but for now all was fairly quiet.

"Where are they?" Hiccup muttered.

"What if Sven was wrong?" Astrid said softly. Her hand rested on the hilt of her dagger. Her axe was strapped across her back. As usual, they were expecting trouble.

"Think about it, we could be on a wild dragon chase."

Hiccup shook his head, the thought had occurred to him but he was trying to ignore it.

"I'm sure Sven saw something he thought was worth warning us about. Look, there're Snotlout and Fishlegs,"

Hiccup caught Fishlegs' eye and nodded to a secluded corner between two slouching tents.

"Anything yet?" Fishlegs asked, brushing off an elderly merchant selling pickled eggs.

"Nothing," Hiccup sighed.

"This is stupid," Snotlout said. "Why don't we just ask someone?"

Fishlegs opened his mouth to reply, then closed it again.

"That's actually not a bad idea," He admitted. "Who should we ask?"

Hiccup peered around the side of the tent and sought out anything unusual. His gaze rested on two Vikings clad in shabby leather tunics arguing next to a fruit stall.

"There," Hiccup whispered. "They'll recognise me, we need someone they don't know."

"I'll do it," Fishlegs offered. Everyone turned to stare at him. Uncomfortable under their gaze, Fishlegs shrugged.

"I can do this," He insisted. "Just give me a chance,"

Hiccup's shoulder slumped.

"Okay," He relented. "Go on. But be careful. You know what the trappers are capable of."

Fishlegs nodded, set his face casually and strolled out of their hiding place and up to the arguing Vikings.

"Excuse me gentlemen," Fishlegs drawled, standing at his full height with his hands on his hips. "Would either of you by any chance know where I might find these dragons I've been hearing about?"

One of the Vikings had a knife to Fishlegs' throat in an instant.

Between the tents, the Dragon Rescuers tensed.

"What've you heard?" The Viking hissed, spraying Fishlegs with saliva. Fishlegs gulped and wiped his face clean.

"N-nothing incriminating!" Fishlegs assured them. Hiccup smacked his hand to his forehead.

"Just that someone here is selling dragons."

"Leave him alone," The other Viking said. He tugged the first trapper's hand away from Fishlegs. "What kind of dragons were you looking for? None of the one's we got fly."

Fishlegs blinked, then recovered his composure. "Can't fly?"

"Not a league," The first Viking admitted. "They're cheap though. Good for labour. You still interested?"

Fishlegs nodded enthusiastically.

"Definitely!"

The second Viking grinned. "Right this way then, sir."

"Be ready to move," Hiccup whispered to the others. At his side, Astrid clutched her knife. Snotlout adjusted his stance.

"Excellent," Fishlegs was saying. He followed the trappers around a bend in the market stalls and vanished from sight.

The Dragon Rescuers hurried after them trying to look inconspicuous as they rounded the corner.

"What do ya' think?" They heard one of the trappers say as they found a boulder to crouch behind.

The trappers had led Fishlegs to a bared off enclosure where three Deadly Nadders were cooped up together.

"Awful," Astrid murmured. Hiccup nodded his agreement but made a hand gesture for her to stay hidden. This was in Fishlegs' hands now.

"They're magnificent," Said Fishlegs. "How did you get them in there?"

"Easy?" One of the trappers explained, looking pleased with himself.

"Drago Bludvist had no use for 'em, so he sent them our way, at a very good price too."

At the mention of Drago, the little hairs on the back of Hiccup's neck stood on end.

"Snotlout," He said quietly. "Call the dragons. We're gonna need them to get those Nadders out of here."

"Right," Snotlout said. He made a move to sneak away but his boot caught on a jagged stone sticking halfway out of the dirt.

"Oh Thor!" Snotlout exclaimed as he was sent tumbling forward, and into plain sight of the trappers.

"What is this?!" One of the trappers shouted. He turned on Fishlegs and re-drew his knife. "A set up?"

"Uh…." Fishlegs murmured.

"Now!" Hiccup cried. He leaped out from behind the boulder and drew Inferno from its place on his hip.

"I knew it!" The trapper spat. "It's those dragon riders!"

"Actually we're called Dragon Rescuers, now." Hiccup said with a dismissive shrug. "Now, you're going to let those dragons go, or you'll have to deal with ours."

The trapper laughed and pointed at Hiccup with his knife.

"So you're the one who defeated Drago? Please, you're bluffing! I don't see any dragons,"

Hiccup but his fingers in his mouth and gave a sharp ear-splitting whistle that made the trappers clap their hands over their ears.

There was a rustling from the marketplace, then a shout and the sound of metal merchandise crashing to the ground, then Toothless dove out of the cover of the market and landed, growling in front of the trappers.

"Do you see them now?" Hiccup smiled.

The trappers swallowed and dropped their weapons.

"Good," Hiccup said. "Now open the cage,"

One of the trappers fumbled for the keys at his belt while the other stared at something over Hiccup's shoulder.

Hiccup turned slowly,

"What the-?" A huge fist thudded down on the back of his skull and forced him to his knees.

"Hiccup!" Astrid shouted. Hiccup blinked the black stars from his vision and pivoted to see a hulking Viking wearing the skin of a red Deadly Nadder over his shoulders. The Viking's face was almost completely hidden in scar tissue and a bristling black beard. He carried a heavy mace at his side.

"Dragon lovers," The man hissed. "I don't like dragon lovers."

The Viking swung out with his fist again but this time Hiccup was ready for him. Hiccup dropped to the ground as Astrid pushed forward with the butt of her axe and smacked the Viking squarely in the nose.

The Viking reered back, roaring in pain and Fishlegs helped Hiccup to his feet.

"Come on!" Snotlout taunted. He hopped around the massive dragon trapper, tapping his chest in a 'come at me' gesture.

"Toothless," Hiccup shouted. Toothless spun back on the terrified dragon trappers.

"Open that cage." Hiccup ordered.

"I'd do what he says if I were you," Fishlegs put in, popping up behind Hiccup's shoulder.

The trapper with the keys pushed one into the lock, realized it was the wrong one, and tried again. This time the lock clicked open and the Nadders charged out screeching.

"Whoa!" Hiccup said. He raised his hands to stop the stampede. At a growl from Toothless, the nearest Nadder skidded to a halt.

"Easy," Hiccup soothed. "We're gonna get you out of here." He leaned one hand towards the Nadder's nose and the dragon pressed its snout into his palm.

"Aw!" Fishlegs cooed.

"Stop moving!" The big Viking screamed as Snotlout pranced around him, ducking and side-stepping.

"Astrid," Hiccup called, not taking his eyes off of the Nadder. "Find the others and get the dragons. Go!"

"You got it," Astrid took off, dodging a swing of the big trapper's fist.

"Come on," Hiccup told the Nadder. "Let's get your friends and get you back to Berk." The Nadder snorted and turned its head to crow to the other dragons.

"Hey!" Snotlout howled. Hiccup spun on his good heel to see the big trapper pinning Snotlout to the ground.

Thinking on his feet, Hiccup lit Inferno and flung it left-handed at the trapper's back. The blade bounced harmlessly off the trapper's dragon-skin cloak, but a spark caught in his hair and sent his beard up in smoke.

"Gah!" The trapper bellowed. In his surprise, he released Snotlout and dropped to the ground, rolling and spluttering profanities.

"Here comes the Calvary!" Tuffnut whooped as Barf and Belch burst into the clearing in a cloud of green gas.

"Prepare to be Zipplebacked!" Ruffnut laughed.

Eret crashed in on Skull Crusher and Valka was close behind with Cloudjumper.

"Gotch'a!" Astrid said. She directed Stormfly to land on top of the dragon trapper. Eret winced in sympathy.

"Grab those nets," Hiccup told Fishlegs, pointing to a pile next to the cage.

"We'll use them to get the Nadders home."

Together, Hiccup and Fishlegs spread the nets flat and eased the dragons onto them.

"Hold on, bud." Hiccup said to Toothless. Toothless cooed and let Hiccup fasten one end of the net to his saddle.

When they were done, each of the Berk dragons was attached to a corner of the net, the three Nadders were curled up inside cawing nervously to one another.

"Easy you three," Fishlegs murmured to them. "You're safe with us."

"Just one more thing," Astrid said, sliding off of Stormfly. She brandished her axe at the two dragon trappers still standing by the cage. "You like locking up dragons? Let us return the favour." She maneuvered the Vikings into the cage and Stormfly tossed in the third.

Eret was standing by to slam and lock the door. He chucked the keys up and down in his palm then passed them to Hiccup.

"Figure you'd better hang on to these, chief. Don't want them falling into the wrong hands."

"Exactly," Hiccup agreed. He chose a low-hanging tree branch and strung the keys onto it. "There," He said, looking at his work. "Someone will find them and let you guys out." He pointed a finger at the imprisoned dragon trappers.

"Now, let this be a warning. There will be no enslavement of dragons so long as we're around," He promised them. "Do you understand?"

The trappers nodded and clutched one another.

"Well done," Valka said, coming to stand by Hiccup's side. "Your father would be proud.

Hiccup smiled.

"Thank you."

He turned back to the Dragon Rescuers. "Now let's get these dragons back to Berk." There was a collective cheer and the dragons took to the sky. Soon the Northern Markets were just a dot behind them.

"Pretty successful start for the Dragon Rescuers," Hiccup commented to Fishlegs as we flew. "Who knew you were so good at naming things?"

Fishlegs laughed and patted Meatlug's nose.

"So, what do we do now?" Astrid asked over the wind.

Hiccup looked down at the netted dragons. Thin white scars littered their wings like the ones in Valka's dragon sanctuary that'd been caught in dragon traps.

"We do what we can for them," Hiccup announced.

He rubbed Toothless' head. "For all of them,"

Finally, Berk came into view below them.

The village was still riddled with ruined huts and chunks of ice, but they were making progress. Vikings and dragons were helping each other to rebuild their homes, their lives. This was the way it should be.

Hiccup smiled at the Nadders.

"Welcome home,"

A/N: Please don't flay me!

Hi, how'd that go? It's been a really long time but I heard this rumour about a new series? I thought I'd try writing a version just in case it doesn't happen and I hope I didn't disappoint with episode 1.

I have many seasons planned and hope you enjoyed it!

Please review!

- destinyowldreamer