A/N: and here's the next chapter. Enjoy! And please don't forget to review. I love reviews. Reviews are awesome!
Chapter 7
When Hiccup reached the docks he found the place in chaos, with dragons flying and rushing around everywhere and a few of the newly repaired boats on fire. Snotlout was standing on the wooden walk way, soaking wet and looking a little charred, while the twins stood laughing a few feet away. At least the villagers around were attempting to put the fire out with buckets of water. "What exactly happened?" Hiccup asked.
"It seemed that a few Terrible Terrors were playing around and a few of the other dragons started to join in and somehow everything went up in flames," Spitelout answered.
"And what happened to Snotlout?"
"Do you really want to know?"
"Now that you've said that I'm not sure I do. Thank Thor someone already organized an attempt to get this under control."
"You have Magnhild to thank for that. Snotlout tried. Then he ended up hanging from a mast, caught on fire when Hookfang got him down and ended up in the ocean."
Hiccup face palmed, then took a breath, ready to start giving orders. "Go find my mom," he said. "Putting this out will be easier without the dragons running around and I'll need as much help as possible to get them under control."
"What about Toothless? He's the Alpha, can't he help keep them under control?" Spitelout asked.
"He's still with the eggs and the new baby and I can't get him to move. So the sooner you find my mom, the sooner we can get this under control."
Spitelout rushed off to find Valka, while Hiccup rushed down the walk way to get a better look at the damage. As soon as the twins saw Hiccup coming towards them, they stopped laughing. "Don't ask," Snotlout said.
"You're dad already told me," Hiccup said.
"It was Belch and Barf's fault."
"They were only trying to help," Tuffnut shot back.
"I really don't care who's fault it is," Hiccup said. "Just get some buckets and get this fire put out before we lose any more ships."
"Yes Chief," Snotlout and the twins said before they mounted their dragons and flew off to refill the buckets they already had. Eret landed on the walk way on Skullcrusher, and jumped down while Hiccup continued to give orders, gathering up a few of the villagers to help round up the dragons. When Hiccup saw him he rushed over.
"Eret, how good are you at rounding up dragons? And I mean nicely," Hiccup said.
"Completely rubbish to be honest," Eret replied. "Being nice to dragons wasn't really on top of my list of priorities during my trapper days."
"Not exactly what I wanted to hear. I need as much help as I can get getting these dragons under control while Toothless is out of action."
"Well I'll do what I can."
Valka came flying overhead on Cloudjumper, her staff in hand and already rounding the dragons up as she flew round with the speed and grace that managed to always amaze the two Viking men who were watching underneath. "Eret get up there and tell my mom to lead the dragons to the Academy," Hiccup said. "They'll be save there. Gustav I need you and the rest of the A-team to give them a hand!"
"Sure thing Chief!" Gustav said before mounting Fanghook and giving orders to Spitelout, Bucket and Mulch. Eret was already back in the air flying around the dragons with Valka and Cloudjumper to keep them in one space. Hiccup went to find Astrid's parents and Silent Sven to get them to help round up the dragons on the ground and get them away from the boats.
Snotlout and the twins had been joined by Fishlegs on Meatlug and they flew overhead with buckets to dump water on the fire, helping the villagers on the ground with buckets. The place looked a calmer now the dragons weren't rushing around causing more havoc. And once all the dragons were safely away it didn't take long for the villagers putting the fire out to complete their task, leaving the smoking ruins of the ships floating in the water.
"Someone tell me the damage isn't as bad as it looks," Hiccup said as everyone regrouped on the walk way, Valka, Eret and the A-team returning from the academy.
"Lost about half of the ships," Snotlout replied. "Two by sinking."
"That wasn't what I wanted to hear."
"How'd this happen anyway?" Fishlegs asked.
"Because the Alpha is too busy with his new babies to keep the rest of the dragons under control."
"It was an accident," Hiccup said. "It's not like Toothless can be everywhere at once anyway."
"Then it's a good job we have Valka and Cloudjumper around," Spitelout said. "If the dragons didn't listen to them we'd still be chasing after them."
"Aye, it seems the two of you are going to have to be acting Alpha for the time being," Vali said. "Until Toothless gets sick of baby dragons under his feet."
"Well the dragons will need someone to keep them under control for a while," Valka said. "If Toothless won't mind Cloudjumper acting as Alpha for a while."
"I don't see why he would," Hiccup said.
"Then it's best I get back to the academy and sort out all those dragons kept there. Get them back to the stables." And with that Valka flew off on Cloudjumper to deal with the dragons in the academy. Hiccup started to give orders to deal with the sunken boats and the repairs to the others, wanting it sorted before the sun fully went down so he could get back to Astrid and the dragon eggs.
It was already dark by the time Hiccup got back to Astrid's house to see her standing outside the stables. "You were a long time," she said. "What happened?"
"Some dragons accidently set some of the ships on fire," Hiccup answered. "Sunk two. So tomorrow it's back to repairing ships. How's the baby dragon?"
"Still not standing. And I'm getting a little worried about Stormfly and Toothless not wanting to leave. Think tomorrow we really will need to persuade them to take some time away for a flight."
"Yeah. Really could have done with Toothless down at the docks earlier. If mom hadn't been there to help round the dragons up it would've been a lot harder to get things under control."
"It won't be for much longer."
"I know." Hiccup looked into the stables, to see Toothless helping to feed the baby, while Stormfly slept. "Listen, with your parents doing another night shift as look out, can I stay tonight?" he asked looking back at Astrid. "In case anything happens with the baby."
"Of course," Astrid answered. "If that really is the only reason you want to stay."
"And what if it's not?"
"You can stay anyway. Come on, I've already made you dinner. Hopefully it's edible. And hasn't gone cold." Hiccup took Astrid's hand and led her back to the house, hoping there wasn't going to be any more problems that would take him away from the woman he loved for a second time that evening.
The dinner was starting to get cold but Hiccup ate it anyway. Astrid had put too much work into it to not eat it and it seemed now he was chief he might have to get used to the occasional cold dinner. "So that's the main plan for tomorrow then, ship repairs," Astrid said sitting across from Hiccup as he ate.
"And I was hoping for a morning off," Hiccup replied. "Spend the morning with the most amazing woman on the island."
"And what if I had plans for the morning?"
Hiccup shrugged. "Then I hope you wouldn't mind me joining you in whatever you had planned," he said.
"Well tomorrow after I feed the dragons I've got washing to do," Astrid said. "Like the domestic goddess that I am."
Hiccup choked back a laugh. "Shh you," Astrid shot back with a smile. Hiccup just smiled back before pushing his near empty plate away.
"Why don't we head upstairs?" he said leaning back in his chair. "It's getting late and it's been a long day."
"I like that idea," Astrid said getting up from her chair. She headed for the stairs, Hiccup watching as she swayed her hips seductively. Hiccup jumped up from his chair and raced after her, picking her up as soon as he caught up with her and carried her into the bedroom, kicking the door closed behind him.
