A/N: Okay, I'm sorry I've been away for so long. I've been extremely busy. I also know this isn't the story that people want but I swear, due to me being on holidays now, I will finish Watching the Movie really soon.
I'd like to thank all the people that kept with the story over the long time. We've passed 20,000 views. Thank you all very much.
Oh, and for people that are annoyed that Thane is the leader and not Hiccup, take it up with Incinerator. Personally, I think it still makes sense anyway that he would be the leader, so it's not going to change.
Disclaimer: I do not own How to Train Your Dragon, nor the franchise. They belong to Cressida Cowell and DreamWorks. I also do not own the main OC's in this story. That honour belongs to Incinerator1.
Chapter 9: Reinforce the Guard?
Raven's Point summit, Berk
Dawn
Raven's Point stretches high into the skies above Berk, adorned with numerous ledges jutting out from the mountainside. The slopes rise steeply at a level that is impossible for Vikings and mammals to climb, the numerous ledges jutting out of the rock and the flattened peak only reachable by the wings of birds, dragons and insects. The land that is capable for nature's touch to grow and bloom teams with luscious green grass, thick bushes filled with thorns and berries and oak and fir trees that reach higher and higher as if in a contest for supremacy. Soft chirps and whistles of birds and crickets fill the air, too quiet to be heard from the Berkian port built into and protected by the base of the mountain.
Thane walks slowly across the peak, taking in the peaceful environment around him. His mind a clutter of thoughts as he sits upon the smooth rocky edge with his legs draped over the ledge, the vast stretches of the Archipelago lay before the veteran Dragonborn. Countless questions swam through his consciousness as a breeze stirred, along with the ever constant presence of Black Death and his arrival, his next move and how to best implement the Vikings of Berk into the defence of the isle and the aide of silencing the ever-growing poison that is their foe.
'Even with Berk on our side, no matter how dedicated, we are still horribly outnumbered,' Thane ponders, gazing ever off into the distance towards Helheim's Gate. 'Death is on our doorstep and they aren't ready. What else is missing? What else would give us the chance we need to cut the head off the snake?'
The tiny growls of a dragon emanate from a rustling bush. From within crawls out a small Razorwhip, still only a babe, yawning and stretching as it wakes up to a new day. It blinks a few times, looking from side to side, before spotting Thane and bumbling over to him.
'Hiccup and Astrid too now know of the past, the knowledge that could be very dangerous. Despite the sudden interest of those youth in dragons and the bonding with them, they won't be ready and it won't be enough. Can they be trusted to keep on this path? Do they have what it takes to be there for each other?'
The baby Razorwhip sidles up next to Thane and rubs its head against his leg, crooning up at him before curling up next to him.
"A Razorwhip … now that's interesting," Thane murmurs as he strokes a hand along the baby dragon. "You're not here alone, are you?"
The baby Razorwhip peers curiously up at him.
"Maybe you can't speak yet …" Thane sighs. "Although … you may have given me an idea-"
The sudden rapid snapping of branches and trunks alert Thane to the presence of another presence. As he turns around and gets to his feet, a toxic black and purple Monstrous Nightmare bursts into the clearing, roaring in a fury. The baby Razorwhip cowers and wraps its wings around it whilst Thane draws his tempest blades.
The Nightmare erupts into a dark flame and lunges, the limbs flailing in a berserk rage. Thane raises his swords to clash, until a big grey blur slams into the onrushing charger. The Nightmare is thrown to the side, rolling and tumbling along the grass. As it rises up again as if possessed, the interceptor, an adult Razorwhip, spreads its wings wide in an intimidating stance, screeching at the Nightmare.
"Get out of here!" Thane bellows at the Razorwhip. "You're just going to get hurt!"
"I will not let anyone harm my young!" The Razorwhip, a female, screeches back, glancing towards her terrified child.
The Nightmare, spotting the Razorwhip's split concentration, unleashes a tainted flame from its mouth towards the dragon. The mother instinctively puts her metallic wings in front of her in order to shield from the fire.
"No, don't!" Thane warns.
The dark flame sears into the metallic wings, flaring out around the mother. At first, it seemed as if the dragonfire would have no effect on the Razorwhip. But then, the Razorwhip roared in pain as the heat grew greater and the wings began glowing red and black as the dark flames burnt through the great armoured scales of the Razorwhip.
'Electricity won't help here …' Thane thought as he sheathed his blades, running forwards and exhaling grey flames around, engulfing him.
The dark flames quickly burn their way through the wings of the mother. She gives an ear-splitting screech in pain before the fire envelops her, knocking her to the ground. The Nightmare ceases its fiery breath and lunges to throttle the neck of the Razorwhip, but is instead met head on with the sudden incinerating plasma blast from Thane, now in the heavily scarred form of his dragon, Blackbolt. The Nightmare is thrown to the ground as the veteran Night Fury stands over the body of the wounded Razorwhip. Thane strides forwards, snarling at the Nightmare gingerly getting back up. The tainted reptile has smoke rising from its face due to its own fire and the impact of Thane's plasma blast, its eyes rolled back into its skull with red veins around the edges.
"That … Nightmare … u-unatural …" the Razorwhip hissed, struggling to even raise her head. The holes in its wings still are edged in fire like metal in a forge, black wavy veins and tendrils spreading throughout her from the small shield-sized wounds in her wings.
"Rest," Thane urges her, powering up another plasma blast. "Save your strength."
The Nightmare shoots a fireball at Thane's feet. The Night Fury Dragonborn rolled, dodging to the left and firing again, striking the body of Death's minion and collapsing it once again. It hisses and roars, rising up again with a mix of seething rage and undead dread, spreading its wings to take off. The ghastly white gaze falls upon that of cold fury from Thane who fires three rapid shots, grounding the minion. It then flares up, wrapping itself in a contaminated and rushing at Thane. The Dragonborn flies up and over the Nightmare who takes the advantage to launch itself into the air, flapping furiously to flee and get back to Death.
"Get back here!" Thane roars, speeding off after the lone scout with a vengeance.
They fly away from Berk, soaring over sea stacks stretching out from the island. Thane quickly makes up what distance there was between the two due to the injuries sustained during the shot exchange on top of Raven's Peak.
'At least one more shot left …' Thane remembered. 'Let's make it count.'
The Night Fury ascends higher before diving down, cutting through the air like a knife. The faint whistling as the air is split around him alerts the Nightmare who rolls over to face upwards, opening its mouth and firing a stream of corrupted fire straight at Thane. He spreads his wings, slowing him down just enough to adjust and barrel roll out of the way, tongues of fire missing the black scales of the Dragonborn by a hairs length. Coming out of the spin, Thane fires his last shot at the vulnerable Nightmare. The plasma blast slams into the underside of the Nightmare, catching the dragon and sending it crashing down into the flat top of a large sea stack with a painful howl.
Thane lands on the sea stack accompanying the grounded Nightmare, with its wings, legs and head flailing around weakly in a pitiful attempt to roll back right-side up. The Night Fury breathes out his grey flame, enveloping and transforming him back into his human form. Drawing one of his tempest blades from its sheath, he walks over to the fallen dragon.
"What is your purpose here, servant of Death?" Thane snarls, fixing the Monstrous Nightmare with a cool gaze.
The Nightmare, its struggling getting ever weaker, gives no response. Its white empty eyes give no signs of any other life inside save for the darkness that has corrupted the being, contorting its very soul to a decaying state.
"Why were you up on that mountain? Are there any other minions that were sent with you?"
Again, no response comes from the dragon as it now ceases to struggle and flail. The only signs of life remaining inside the shell are the heaving of the torso and the rasping of breathes as air is inhaled and exhaled. Thane sighs and walks away towards the nearest edge of the large, round sea stack.
"I am the Dragonborn your master wants out of the way. You are no assassin. You wouldn't have been sent alone for that purpose. You're just a scout sent to spy on Berk, to see its defences and to find the stone."
He turns around and looks at the Nightmare, his face returned to its normal stoic, unemotional state of expression.
"You will not find it now. Not now that you diverted your attention to me. Now pass peacefully, honour the life of the soul you have corrupted, for a more painful death would've been gifted to you by Death. After all, oblivion is the fate of all things. But you cannot kill me. Not now."
"Ignorant … slug …" the Nightmare rasps as Thane makes to turn away and transform. "He comes … s-sooner … than … you think … Your trap … did not … set him back … nearly enough …"
Thane turns back to face the downed dragon, gripping the handle of his blade tighter. Storm clouds begin to swirl overhead, answering the call of the drawn tempest blade.
"Vikings … too weak … Not enough defence … Son of … Lightning …" the Nightmare hisses, its head tilting around as it stares lifelessly at Thane. "No one … will survive … Darkness … will reign …"
With that the Nightmare suddenly unleashes a blackened flame towards Thane. The Dragonborn tuck and rolls out of the way, before using a lightning strike to counter the following fire stream which results in an explosion. The smoke spreads out, clouding both combatants from being able to see one another. A third fire blast comes in swift and scorching, seen late by Thane due to the grey smoke from the explosion. Thane draws energy from the storm clouds overhead and brings his blade slashing up in front of him, another lightning strike countering the blast just in front of him. The resulting explosion throws Thane back, tumbling and tossing over the edge of the sea stack.
"As you … said yourself … Dragonborn …" the Nightmare hisses, its head dropping down onto the flat rock that it lays upon, "Oblivion … is the fate … of all … things …"
A Night Fury call sounds out from underneath before the rush of wind as the battle-scarred dragon form of Thane soars up from underneath the sea stack. He loops around before landing roughly on the rocky formation, smoke rising from his body from the impact of the explosion.
"Im … impossible …" the Nightmare rasps, too weak to do anything else.
"It's not my time now," Thane growls as he transforms back into his human form. His clothes and light armour contain black scorch marks from the collision of lightning and fire, his skin with some newly added scars and burns and sword drawn as before.
Thane walks over to the Nightmare, kneeling next to its body by the weakened underside. He places his free hand onto the blackened scales of the dragon, looking into the pale, dead eyes.
"Forgive me …" he murmurs to the true soul of the dragon lying before him and for the other Dragonborn as if they were standing with him.
He raises his sword up slightly before bringing it down, piercing the scales of the Monstrous Nightmare and thrusting it deep into the heart. The Nightmare gives a heart-wrenching roar as its life fades away, limbs coming up in reflex before dropping back down to never move again. The eyes of the dragon clench closed tightly before opening one last time. Instead of the cold, deathly eyes of before, the yellow colour of the species with pupil slits return, filled with pain, regret and relief as if it knew what it was made to do.
"Surrender now to your heart's desire," Thane whispers to the dragon as the final drops of life flow away, along with the rasping breaths and heaving torso.
Thane slumps backwards, letting go of his sword as the heart of the dragon beats its last. He lays back next to the now truly lifeless corpse, breathing heavily and coughing quite a bit from the combat.
"It … It had to be done."
Training Arena, Berk
Mid-morning
The sun rises higher and higher in the sky as the trainees make their way down to the arena, each carrying a weapon of their choice. Shortly before they began their trek, Terry had gone around to each of their houses and asked them on behalf of Hiccup to bring a weapon down to training today.
Snotlout, after rummaging around in chests and barrels, chooses his rounded stone hammer with a studded and spiked metal ring connecting the stone hammerhead and the thick wooden handle. The twins, after hanging upside down from the rafters of their roof, decide upon taking identical small double ended spears, one head in the typical wedged shape of a spear head, the other having more of a single slanted blade. Fishlegs, after worrying and debating with himself for the good part of five minutes, reluctantly chooses a short, thick bladed dagger and a short sword, sheathing the dagger in a small pouch on the belt around his belly and the sword in an open slit in the same belt. Astrid, as soon as she's told, goes straight upstairs and grabs her trusty double-edged battle axe.
As the five trainees arrive at the arena, curious as to the reasons for needing to bringing their weapons, they see Gobber hobble out of the arena.
"As much as I'd like to watch this, I've got other things to get on with," Gobber says to them when they approach him.
"What is it? What are we doing?" Tuffnut interrogates, getting right into Gobber's face with an accusing finger. "You know, don't you? Tell us, blacksmith!"
"You'll find out when you step into that ring," Gobber answers, putting his hand in Tuffnut's face and pushing him away, much to his chagrin.
"Oi! I am not finished with you, sir!" Tuffnut exclaims, flailing against the mighty hand of Gobber.
"Come on," Astrid sighs, pushing past Tuffnut and Gobber. Snotlout and Fishlegs follow her with the twins pulling up the rear, Ruffnut hitting her twin with a rock to the face before dragging him off behind her. Tuff frantically paws at his face before becoming a little dazed.
"This is not over!" Tuffnut declares as Gobber hobbles off. "I will get my answers from you yet!"
When they walk down the ramp into the cold, stone arena the first thing they see are wooden barricades set up all over the ring, some upright, some slanted and some completely lying flat on the ground. A few more things are noticed by the trainees as they look around are that there are two wagons on either side of the entrance. One is filled with the wooden shields that they used to use in the old dragon training, the other stacked high with Gobber's killing things. They also see that their dragons are lying along the walls of the ring, watching them warily, and that Hiccup is standing in the centre of the arena with Catherine over by the switch for the cage that is the Gronckle, Meatlug. From above, a couple of Vikings look down on those inside, curiosity persuading them to watch the training session.
"Hello, students," Hiccup greeted, a knowing grin covering his face.
"… We're not fighting our dragons, are we?" Fishlegs asks anxiously.
"No, you won't be fighting your dragons," Hiccup confirmed to the relief of Fishlegs. "However, you will be fighting today. Our focus today is combat training."
"Combat training? Why do we need to train to fight?" Snotlout questions, clearly insulted and ready to boast as he pushes his chest out and holds his head high. "Some of us are naturals in the art of battle."
"You will be fighting because you will soon be fighting in situations you won't have ever fought in," Hiccup explains. "None of you will ever have fought on or alongside dragons before, plus you have to be extra careful against the foes that will be sent our way."
"I dunno. We've fought on boars before," Ruffnut stated, gesturing to herself and her brother.
The others look at them both blank and surprised.
"What? Boar pits," Ruffnut simply states as an answer.
"Pray tell us, good sir, why we have to be careful against said foes?" Tuffnut inquisitions in a formal tone, gaining a few glances from the dragons.
"Because the slightest burn or scratch from any of Death's dragons can kill you," Hiccup responds, clearly not joking. The expressions of the former teens instantly become worried and fearful.
"Seriously?!" the twins cry out.
"Will there be any enemies that won't instantly kill us the moment they touch us?" Snotlout vociferated, his voice getting louder and higher.
"Yes, as a matter of fact," Hiccup says in a matter-of-fact tone that calms the trainees down a little until he continues. "The only one is the Dragonborn that was fighting in here yesterday. Malthazar."
"The crazy one with the scythes?" Snotlout specifies as the fear returns to them all.
"Yes, and his compensations for not being able to kill you with a single scratch is to be able to transform into a Night Fury and that his magic and weapons draw upon death anyway."
"So, in other words, if we want to survive, we have to be perfect?" Astrid questions, tightening her grip on her battle axe.
"Well, you at least have to be able to dodge just about anything," Catherine calls out from the other side of the arena. "That or incapacitate them before they can attack you."
"Oh great," Astrid exclaims slowly and sarcastically.
"I thought I was the only one here that did that," Hiccup muttered before walking away. Astrid, hearing him, brushes a couple of locks of her hair out of her face and tries to avoid looking embarrassed.
"Are we fighting each other?" Snotlout questions, glancing at the others.
"Hey, not problem there," Tuff declares as he kicks his sister to the ground, snickering.
"No, you won't be fighting each other," Hiccup says as he runs over to them, pulling Ruff and Tuff apart before she could retaliate. "To get a better idea of what you can do when fighting in an unfamiliar situation, you will be fighting these people."
Hiccup signals for Catherine to open up the cage. She complies, pulling down on the lever just like Gobber did eight years ago when the then teens were readying themselves for their first battle with a dragon. The wooden brace over the door rises up just like it did all those years ago, with their unknown foes hidden behind. The doors part as soon as they can, revealing the remaining Dragonborn; Draco, Spitshot, Spitfire, Natalie and Bomber.
"Oh, dear Thor …" Fishlegs whimpers as they step out of the cage, walking halfway between the cages and the trainees.
"The rules for these fights are simple," Hiccup says as he begins to list them off. "Each combatant will select the weapon that they wish to use in their duel, including fists, with the optional inclusion of a shield. That being said, the use of magic and enchanted weapons is not allowed."
The Berkians seem relieved at the news, relaxing a lot more as they realised that they would be using the same style of weapons. The Dragonborn seem unconcerned as they lay their weapons down on the ground.
"The duels will go until it doesn't look like there's much point in continuing."
"And who will be the judge of that?" Snotlout pressed.
"Catherine and I will decide," Hiccup answered.
"Wait, does that mean you're not fighting?" Astrid asked.
"No. Not at this stage."
"Oh … I would've liked to see how you've improved."
"Maybe another time," Hiccup said with a light chuckle. "Finally, you cannot leave the arena or go too close to the dragons, lest you want them to fight back."
They all nod in understanding, moving their look from Hiccup to the dragons who return the gaze.
"Alright, who's going first?" Hiccup asked, clapping his hands together.
"Me!" Snotlout shouted as soon as Hiccup finished, raising his fist into the air.
"Alright then. Your opponent will be … Draco!" Hiccup announced, the short Dragonborn stepping forwards in a cocky manner matched only by the smug look on Snotlout's face.
"What weapon do you choose?"
Snotlout looks back and forth between his smooth stone hammer and his open hands. After a moment of constant looking back and forth between the two, he tosses his hammer behind him and balls his hands into fists.
"I choose to give Draco a bunch of knuckle sandwiches," Snotlout declares, raising his fists in front of him.
"As you wish," Draco smirks as he stands across from him with his arms crossed over his chest.
The other Dragonborn and trainees walk over to the right edge of the arena, opposite the dragons. They either lean up against the wall or sit down on the smooth floor as they await the bout to begin.
"When you're ready, gentlemen," Hiccup said before sitting down.
"Isn't gentlemen a bit much?" Catherine giggled.
"Probably," Hiccup laughed along with the others.
The brawl started with Draco simply unhooking his left arm and outstretching his hand, gesturing to Snotlout to bring it on. Snotlout with a smug smirk strides towards Draco, slightly angled in a boxing stance leading with his left side. When he gets within striking distance, Snotlout swings with his right fist aiming for Draco's head. The Dragonborn fighter simply sidesteps out of the way of the punch, Snotlout stumbling a little on the follow through. Snotlout, a little surprised, straightens and swings again, first his left fist and then his right in quick succession. Draco sidesteps the first punch and rolls under the second, a complacent smile showing on his face as he straightens.
'Let's see you get out of the way of this,' Snotlout muses as he moves to attack again.
Snotlout's third attack began with a fierce swing with his right fist. Again, Draco sidestepped the punch in an almost premeditated state. Snotlout then followed by pivoting on his right leg, turning his back to Draco and thrusting his left elbow at Draco's chest. Draco ducks down to avoid it, Snotlout grinning at the movement. Following what he planned he used his spinning momentum to pivot on his left foot, dropping down and delivering a swift, strong uppercut aimed at Draco's gut.
'I've got you now!'
Draco spots the swing and turns out, catching the fist with his left hand and pushing Snotlout in the back with his right. The momentum Snotlout had was now redirected against him as he was hurled a few yards, grunting and rolling as he hit the ground. Both pairs of twins, along with Natalie and Bomber, laugh at the result of the counter movement. Draco straightens with a cocky smirk, gesturing for Snotlout to come at him again. The Viking, fuming after his plan went disarray, scrambles back to his feet.
"You think this is a joke?!" Snotlout yelled seeing the amusement on Draco's face. "You want the Viking fury?!"
"It's a duel, Snotlout," Draco retorted, setting himself again. "You're meant to give me your all."
Snotlout growls as his anger grows before bellowing out a battle cry, charging headlong towards Draco. Snotlout starts flailing and swinging wildly with little composure or regard, his sole aim to pummel Draco. Draco manages to dodge and block most of the punches until he is caught on the temple by a right hook while in a kneeling position. A little dazed, he then gets hit with a left hook before Snotlout brings his leg up and stomps, kicking Draco in the chest and knocking him back into a barricade.
"Hah! Who's the man now, huh?!" Snotlout brags with some anger still in his voice, flexing his muscles in celebration.
Draco gets up off the barricade after watching Snotlout for a little, reaching for his head and twisting it twice, cracking his neck.
"Right, no more going easy on you," Draco declares, flaring his nostrils.
"Oh-ho-ho," Spitfire chortled, rubbing his hands together. "This is going to be good!"
The two fighters run at each other, fully intent on beating the other to a pulp. Both men swing their fists hard and fast and sweep and stamp with strong kicks, all the while avoiding most of their opponents blows by ducking, weaving, rolling and countering each other's moves. Within a few minutes, a sickeningly loud crack is heard as Draco's right hook slams into Snotlout's face, breaking his nose and drawing blood as it begins trickling down his face. Snotlout wipes his nose after his little stagger from the punch. Wincing from the pain of the break and seeing the blood as he pulled his finger away just made Snotlout more irate, going nearly into a berserk state. One of the first things he does after his nose was broken was to drive Draco into a barricade, both the Dragonborn and the barricade toppling over. Snotlout then jumps on him and clocks Draco on his jaw with both fists. Snotlout then grabs Draco by the scruff of his shirt and raises his fist to pummel Draco into the ground, but is prevented from doing so when Draco kicks out from underneath, flipping Snotlout over and onto his back. Both get up to their feet, with Snotlout charging in using his head like a battering ram. Draco dodges to the side, grabbing Snotlout under his shoulders and hurling him across the arena as if he was tossing a sheep. Snotlout crashes through the barricade that he was aimed at, turning a good part of the wood to splinters.
"Alright … maybe we should stop it here," Hiccup suggests as he looks at Snotlout struggling to get back up with blood pouring out from his nose.
"Why? I'm just getting warmed up," Draco said bluntly, rolling his jaw around with his hand.
"Draco, now's a good time to-"
Snotlout scurried to his feet, shouting incomprehensibly as he charged at Draco again, resuming their scuffle again.
"Maybe pairing those two up wasn't such a good idea after all," Catherine suggested to Hiccup with concern. "At this stage, we're going to be two members short."
"I know," Hiccup agrees, getting to his feet. "Guys, that's enough!"
The two don't hear him at all as they brawl it out, getting more furious with each passing second. The main difference between the two is that Draco is nearing the point of losing control, while Snotlout has well-and-truly passed that point. Hiccup runs out to try and separate the two, but he ended up being pushed back by the two. He tries again to no avail, even when Bomber, Astrid, Catherine and Natalie run out to help him.
"Enough, you two!" Bomber booms, attempting to wedge them apart.
"Draco, stop!" Catherine pleads, tugging hard on his arms. "Please stop this."
"It's over, Snotlout!" Astrid strained as she tried to push him away.
Draco glances over to the dragons and utters some growls towards Hookfang. The Nightmare rolled his eyes, yawned and got to his feet. He casually walked over to the commotion and lifted Snotlout up by the back collar of his shirt, thanks in part from Draco letting the Viking go and pushing him away.
"Thank you, Hookfang," Hiccup spoke to the Nightmare while he, Astrid, Catherine and Bomber surround Draco to prevent another scuffle. "Would you dropping him down outside the arena?"
Hookfang gives Hiccup a curt nod and exits the arena. As he twists around due to the hold Hookfang has on him, Snotlout glares at Draco as he is carried out, pointing a finger at each of his eyes before pointing both at Draco. The Dragonborn holds both his hands up to signify that he wasn't going to fight back, the four around him cautiously backing off.
"I'll go tend to Snotlout," Catherine stated as she walked out of the arena, following Hookfang.
"Yeah, that's probably a good idea," Bomber said as he walked back to the others with Draco, the latter rolling his shoulders and jaw around tentatively.
After a half hour passes, which involved picking up the remnants of the broken barricades, washing the blood off of the arena floor and Catherine tending to the wounds of both Draco and Snotlout, every man, woman and dragon are back inside the arena with Hiccup standing in front of them all, the two combatants considerably calmer as they accepted the fact that it was just a training fight.
"I think it's safe to say that that was not the intended outcome," Hiccup said addressing everyone. "What was meant to be a simple duel got out of hand for a while."
"What is the point of having these fights, Hiccup? Astrid asked, leaning up against the wall.
"The point in having these fights was to highlight the weaknesses in your fighting styles and show you what you need to work on," Hiccup explained. "That way, if your flaws were improved upon it would benefit you all as warriors."
"Hmm … it makes sense in theory," Fishlegs pondered, with some other concurring murmurs from the others.
"Unfortunately, things got out of hand in the first fight," Hiccup continued, Draco and Snotlout rubbing the back of their necks awkwardly.
"However, seeing as we all should now be expecting an outburst like that-"
"Uh … you didn't expect it before?" Snotlout scoffed, his voice clogged up due to the bloody cloth plugs in his nose. "We're Vikings, Hiccup. Remember?"
"Yes, thank you for that timely reminder, Snotlout," Hiccup responded. "Anyway, we can continue with this and see how the next couple of fights go, or we can instead do some other training exercises with your dragons instead. Which would you prefer?"
The trainees and Draognborn look at one another for a while, contemplating their answer, before all turning back to Hiccup. They all open their mouths at once, breathing in simultaneously.
"Okay … creepy …" Hiccup says warily. "What do you want to do?"
"HICCUP?!" a young voice calls out from outside the arena.
"Uh … who was that?" Snotlout asked.
"That sounded like Terry," Natalie replied, looking up at the sky.
Sure enough, shortly afterwards, Terry runs into the arena and up to Hiccup, doubled over and panting heavily.
"Terry? What's wrong?" Hiccup queries, kneeling down on one knee to look the young Dragonborn in the eye.
"Thane … meeting … Camp … everyone …" Terry wheezed, trying to catch his breath.
"Whoa, whoa, take your time," Hiccup urges, putting a hand on Terry's shoulder. The other Dragonborn and trainees come over, gathering around the young boy.
"Thane has called a meeting at the Camp," Terry reported after gathering his breath. "He wants everyone there, both Dragonborn and trainees."
"Did he say why?" Catherine pressed.
"No," Terry answers shaking his head, still panting slightly. "Though … he didn't look too good … and it sounded like he had a … dragon with him … somewhere …"
"Alright then," Hiccup said, standing back up. "Thank you, Terry. Are you right to trek back?"
"Yeah …" Terry assured. "Just give me … a few minutes."
"Take as much time as you need," Catherine said smiling, crouching next to Terry and rubbing his back.
"Alright gang, let's pack this place up," Hiccup instructed, turning to the Berkians, Natalie, Draco and Bomber. "Today's session is put on hold for now."
The Cove, Berk
Midday
After locking up the arena, the Dragonborn and Dragon Trainees make their way to the Dragonborn Camp in the Cove, led by Terry. The Dragonborn lead the large group up front with the Berkians a few steps behind them. Upon arriving at the camp, they all see Stoick, Gobber, Silent Sven, Spitelout, Elder Gothi and Phlegma the Fierce already present, most looking around marvelling at the camp structure and the tents.
"Dad? What are you doing here?" Hiccup asks the chief as they approach the Vikings.
"Your leader asked us to be here," Stoick answered simply, looking at the big tent in the centre of the camp.
"But why?"
"Ah, he sent word saying that he would like the leading Berkians to come to an emergency meeting that you all were having. So, with some deliberation, the council 'volunteered' to come and see what he wanted," Gobber explained.
"More like Stoick ordered us to come," Spitelout muttered to his eye-rolling son, both leaning up against a boulder.
Both, for their responses, receive a solid whack over their heads from Gothi with her stick.
"And where is Thane now?" Catherine asked, on edge a little.
Gobber points over his shoulder to the big tent that was serving as the tactical, as well as Hiccup's, tent.
"He wants us to all wait out here," Terry warns as Catherine and Hiccup make to enter. "He was not in a good mood when I saw him."
"He always looks grumpy though," remarks Tuffnut, looking and shrugging at his twin.
"Yeah, so what's the difference?" Ruffnut inquires, choosing a log to sit on.
"One is looking like he's in a bad mood," Spitshot began.
"And the other is that he is actually in a bad mood," Spitfire finished, leaning back with his hands behind his head.
The Berk twins look at each other blankly, clearly not getting it.
"So … he just looks grumpy all the time?" Tuffnut queries, both pairs of twins looking at each other.
"Pretty much," Spitshot confirmed, leaning forwards and resting on her knees.
"Oh, so kinda like Stoick, then," Fishlegs compared out loud.
"I heard that!" Stoick called out sternly.
"Ooh … uh … s-sorry, chief!"
With both sets of twins and Fishlegs over in one group, Snotlout talking with his father and Phlegma, Sven and Gothi silently conversing, Gobber and Stoick laughing amongst the fire pit, and most of the Dragonborn talking towards the right side of camp, Astrid didn't really have anyone to talk to. She spotted Hiccup walking towards the left end of camp and decided to follow him. As she followed she saw him move in between a tent with a Gronckle design, Bomber's, and a Night Fury tent, Catherine's.
'Come on, Astrid. This is just Hiccup you're trying to talk with," Astrid tries to convince herself, rubbing her cheeks. 'It's just Hiccup. Just to pass the time. Nothing … nothing more. It's not like you're trying to … ask him out … o-or kiss him …'
Her eyes widen at the thought and her face gets flush. She starts to panic over the thought of Hiccup seeing her like that.
'Damn it, Astrid! Pull yourself together!' she yelled mentally at herself over and over, spinning and pacing until she hears to voices talking.
"Why do you think that my brother is taking so long?" Catherine's voice floats on the air, reaching Astrid ears.
"I don't know," she hears Hiccup respond thoughtfully. "But whatever reason it is, it must surely be important."
Astrid dives out of the way, going in between Bomber and a Nightmare designed, Draco's, tents, keeping closer to Bomber's tent in order to overhear the conversation.
"Do you think he found something? Maybe what we originally came here for?" Catherine queries as she rocks on her legs.
"It's possible," Hiccup answers, his hand over his chin in a thoughtful manner of expression. "Either that or he has a plan."
"But why take so long for a plan?"
"Well, why show them something that may end up being used against us if someone doesn't keep quiet?"
'If someone doesn't keep quiet … does that mean Hiccup doesn't trust us after all?' Astrid questioned herself.
"Touché," Catherine said warmly, giving a small smile.
"There's the Cat I know," Hiccup chuckled, his lop-sided grin returning.
"What do you mean?"
"You've just seem to have become glum the longer we've been here."
"W-well I … I guess everything is just catching up to me …" Cat stammers.
"Don't worry," Hiccup soothed, taking her hands in his. "You've got us all here with you. It's just like every other time."
"Just with Death on our doorstep this time," she laughed slightly, getting a laugh from Hiccup.
"Yes, I guess that's true."
Catherine gives Hiccup a warm smile and pulls him in for a soft embrace. Astrid peers out from around the tent just in time to see them hug each other, to her detriment. A pang resonates in her chest as she ducks back into cover.
"Thanks, Hic," Catherine says, giving Hiccup a little peck on his cheek. "You always seem to know what to say to make me feel better."
"Anytime, Cat."
Astrid crawls away from the tents, not wanting to hear any more of their interaction together. She gets up and walks away when she's sure that they can't see her and when she's in sight of the others.
'Catherine … what makes her so special?' Astrid questions glumly, letting her pain and jealousy get the better of her.
After a few more minutes, which in that time Catherine and Hiccup returned to the camp centre with the others, the Dragonborn and Berkians have set up a bunch of rocks and logs for seats around the fire pit. While they are talking with one another, Thane hobbles out.
"Yo, Thane!" Bomber calls out, walking over to the tent. "What's the emergen … what happened to you?"
The leader of the Dragonborn still looks worse for wear, still carrying some fresh burns and scars from his clash with the tainted Monstrous Nightmare. His movements are stiff and taut, clearly not in good condition.
"It's nothing," Thane replies gruffly, feeling his right shoulder.
"Seriously, what happened to you?" Spitshot inquires.
"Sudden destruction doesn't just happen, you know," Spitfire added on.
"Or does it?" Tuffnut questions, looking up with a thoughtful expression.
"It does when you both are involved," Gobber accuses, pointing his hook appendage at the Thorstons.
The twins look at one another before throwing themselves at Thane's feet, bowing apologetically and fearfully.
"We're really sorry, Mr Dragonborn, sir!" Ruffnut cries, keeping her face close to the ground.
"We, or she, or us … whatever! We didn't mean to hurt you! We never knew!" Tuffnut pleads, unsure of what to do before proceeding to plant kisses over Thane's boots.
"Wow. They're just as pathetic as our twins," Natalie marvelled, Draco nodding in agreement.
"One more attack like that and you'll be getting a grenade in your bed!" Spitfire threatened, holding up a shrapnel shell in his hand.
"Please, Mr Night Fury … Dragonborn … Thane … leader, sir! Don't turn me into something unnatural!" Tuff continued pleading, grabbing Thane's legs and bringing him up a bit. "You can have Ruffnut! Do whatever you want to her! Just don't hurt me!"
Ruffnut punches her twin brother in the small of his back, arching him forwards.
"Hey, you're as much at fault here as I am!"
They start butting heads until Thane shoves them both away from him.
"I doubt either of you could have corrupted a Monstrous Nightmare," Thane stated roughly, moving away from them.
"Hah! I knew it!" Tuff exclaimed, thrusting his hands up into the air in celebration. "I knew there was no way … Wait, what?"
"What are you talking about?" Spitelout questioned, everyone looking confused and expectedly at Thane.
"Death sent another scout here," he explained, sitting down on a tree log. "A Nightmare, this time. He decided to ambush me up on that mountain."
Thane points in the direction of the village, above it to the peak of Raven's Point. They follow his point up to the clouds, the small signs of smoke still smoking slightly from where the flames burnt the green grass.
"Are you alright, brother?" Catherine queried with worry in her voice, sitting down next to her brother.
"I'm fine. But he managed to kill a mother Razorwhip who tried to help me."
"A mother what?" Gobber asked, he and the other inhabitants of Berk having never heard of that species of dragon before.
"It's a species of dragon that rarely ever shows itself to other dragons and humans unless it feels like it can trust them," Bomber explained, giving them a short explanation of Razorwhips. "Very dangerous, but extremely helpful as an ally."
"Ooh! I can't wait to see one!" Fishlegs squealed giddily.
"Guys, can we get back to the topic at hand?" Hiccup asked, looking a little annoyed before turning to Thane.
"Hang on, Hiccup," Draco interjects, holding out a hand. "You said it was a mother, right? Where's the child?"
At that moment, the baby Razorwhip chooses to reveal itself, crooning softly as it trots out of Hiccup's tent.
"Aww! It's so cute!" Fishlegs squealed as the Razorwhip runs up to the group and stands in the middle, looking at everyone.
"Guys? More pressing issues right now than a baby Razorwhip," Hiccup chastises, getting more annoyed with the situation.
"Oh, right. Sorry," Fishlegs apologises, a little embarrassed.
"You captured it, right? The scout?" Hiccup questions Thane, getting the conversation back on topic.
"Where is this scout now?" Stoick questioned, concerned for his village.
Thane paused, hesitating in his answer as he chose what to say.
"… It's dead."
"Dead?!" the Dragonborn blurt out together.
"You killed it?" Catherine quizzed, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Not so high and mighty now, are ye?" Spitelout goaded, grinning despite himself.
"I had little choice," Thane went on. "It was in pain and would've died anyway when it crashed onto a sea stack outside the port. I just eased it and gave it a less painful passing."
"At least it didn't get away," Draco muttered.
"It said something to me before it died which, along with the Razorwhip's appearance, made me think that we need a few changes."
"And what might these changes be?" Stoick questioned sceptically.
"Death has not been delayed very long by my trap on Dragon Island," Thane stated, looking at the Dragonborn. "It should be safe to assume that he'll be here in five or six days."
Everyone shuffles uncomfortably at the announcement of just how little time they have left to prepare.
"Only a day or two delay," Bomber calculated. "That's not good."
"Exactly. And, with no disrespect for your warriors," Thane continued, turning his attention to Berk's council, "Berk and its inhabitants are too few and weak in comparison to Death's forces to be able to handle them."
"Numbers do not win battles," Stoick growled sternly, taking some offence at the notion of not being able to handle an army of dragons.
"And we have the best dragon slayers in the archipelago, in case you haven't noticed," Spitelout declared, the trainees cheering in agreement.
"Even if that was true, and I'm not saying it isn't," Hiccup replied warily, "Black Death would still overrun everyone."
"So, with the acceptance of the council, I would like to ask for aide from some of the other tribes in the archipelago," Thane said, looking at Stoick in particular.
"Which tribes were you thinking of?" Stoick questioned.
"The Berserkers and the Bog-Burglars."
"WHAT?!" Draco and Spitshot exclaim angrily simultaneously, jumping to their feet. Spitfire, Tuffnut and Snotlout seem ecstatic at the announcement while the others look at the irate duo.
"You can't be serious! The Bogs?!" Spitshot shouts, balling her fists up and thrusting them down.
"And the Berserkers?!" Draco yelled, stomping up to Thane. "Why in the name of Valhalla do we need the help of those 'people' and their stuck up, barbaric, idiotic chief-"
"ENOUGH!" Thane roars, silencing the whining duo. "I don't tend to take anyone's personal thoughts and feelings when I make these plans. The Berserkers are needed for their lethality and size of their army, while the Bogs are silent, stealthy and crafty. Attributes you need as a thief."
"Just why exactly do they not like those tribes?" Gobber queried, nods from the other Berkians.
"Just personal reasons, like Thane said," Spitfire jumped in, almost too eagerly.
"What does stealth have to do with open warfare?" Spitshot retorted, hitting her brother over the head in the process.
"Simply using brute force does not ensure that you'll win a war, no matter what some people may think," Thane explains, looking more so towards Spitelout. "Having the stealth and lethal abilities of the Bogs will give a different approach for us to use, plus they can also provide a solid last resort and a swift reinforcement."
"Not to mention that they are, unfortunately, as good at burglary as they are at everything else," Stoick mutters, annoyed.
"Well, if brute strength and numbers don't win wars," Draco dissected, picking up Stoick's phrase from before, "then we don't need the Berserkers after all."
"Just because brute force doesn't win wars, doesn't mean that it won't be needed," Thane lectured. "So … ignoring these two quibblers, what are your thoughts?"
"We need to discuss this for a moment," Stoick answers as the six members of the council look at one another. "Alone."
"Don't take too long," Thane says as the council members walk away to the other side of the Cove.
The other Dragonborn, along with the baby Razorwhip, walk over and talk to each other, the baby dragon looking up and inspecting all the Dragonborn. Meanwhile the trainees walk up to Hiccup.
"I'm sorry that this had to get in the way of our training," Hiccup apologises to the five as they approach him.
"Never mind that," Tuffnut said, excited at the prospect of seeing the Bog Burglars again.
"What was up with those two?" Ruff asked, jabbing a thumb over her shoulder at Draco and Spitshot.
"Well, Draco and Spitshot have a particular hatred for a member of each of the tribes." Hiccup explains, sighing as he stands up. "Draco hates the chief of the Berserkers, Dagur the Deranged, while Spitshot hates Camicazi, the heir of the Bog Burglars."
"And why do they hate them?" Snotlout queries, surprised. "Those guys are great!"
"How about we start with Draco?" Hiccup asks, receiving nods from the trainees. "Well, you know how Dagur became chief, right?"
"He kept saying that Oswald just 'retired'," Fishlegs answered.
"But he kept saying it creepily, as if there was something else behind it," Astrid added.
"Yeah, it was weird."
"Though it didn't stop the peace treaty between our tribes being signed each year."
The trainees acknowledge these opinions and accounts with nods to each other.
"I'll try to fill in the blanks then. Just under a year after I left here, Dagur became chief the chief of the Berserkers due to his father's 'retirement', as he has always put it. Our assumption is that he murdered his father because of anger over how the tribe was being led and his … deranged-ness."
"A lot of people seem to agree with that," Astrid stated.
"Anyway, since then Dagur has brought the Berserkers back to their aggressive, dragon slaughtering ways of old," Hiccup continued. "Now, shortly after joining us, Draco, his Nightmare Swiftwing, and Natalie ended up landing on their island during a search mission they were sent on."
"Natalie didn't have her dragon?" Fishlegs asks, cutting in.
"No, she did. Her father was a Dragonborn, so she was already one with her Nadder Sharpshot."
A collective "Oh," sounded from the Berkians before they allowed him to continue.
"Dagur found them after a while because they were spotted during their descent. Their arguing didn't help much either. Dagur attempted to kill Swiftwing the moment he saw her, alone in a ravine. Draco jumped in to protect her, which in turn caused Dagur to challenge him to a duel with Swiftwing's fate on the line. If Draco won, he could leave with her unharmed. If Dagur won …"
"Then he got to kill Swiftwing?" Fishlegs squeaked, afraid of the answer.
"Precisely. According to Natalie, Draco fought the better of the two during the duel and was going to win, until Dagur resorted to some dirty tricks to 'win'."
"Tricks like what?" Snotlout asked, trying to not sound too interested.
"Low blows, interference from spectators by throwing in items for him and rocks at Draco and flinging dust in Draco's eyes constantly."
Snotlout slowly nodded, wondering when and if he should try doing those tricks in a duel.
"Dagur then went over to slay Swiftwing, but Draco recovered in time to knock Dagur out and escape with Natalie. Draco has never been able to forgive Dagur and has been plotting ways to get payback on him ever since. Coincidentally, Natalie hasn't been as harsh towards him since then either."
"Fair enough. No one would ever forgive anyone for winning dishonestly," Astrid stated.
"So what about Spitshot?" Tuffnut asked. "What's her problem?"
"Well, she and Spitfire are twins like Ruff and Tuff, in case you didn't know."
"Well, duh!" Ruff exclaimed. "You're telling twins who are and aren't the same. I think we'd be able to notice better than anyone else."
"Yeah, and they're awesome too," Tuff went on, Ruffnut nodding in agreement. "We're huge fans of their destructive nature."
"Can I continue?" Hiccup queried, annoyed slightly with the interruption.
"Please," Tuff urged in a regal, formal manner.
"Anyway … the twins took a trip to the Bog-Burglars tribe in order to build upon their skills and experience in thieving. During their time over on their, Spitfire and Camicazi met up and, for reasons unexplained, they became 'friends'."
"What?!" Snotlout and Tuffnut exclaim whilst the girls look grossly at the boys and Fishlegs breathes a relieved sigh.
"Some things will never change," Hiccup sighs to himself before continuing. "After becoming 'friends', they grew really close together to the point that Spitfire was spending more time with Cami than with his sister."
"Cami?" Astrid interjected, looking surprised.
"Oh, that's what she asked me to call her when we first met," Hiccup explained, which gave Astrid another pang in her chest.
"Oh …"
"So anyway, Spitshot was jealous of Camicazi for spending all her time with her brother. And when she gets jealous, she gets really jealous. You don't really want to get in her way unless you know you can beat her or calm her down. So she challenged Cami to a thieving competition, in which whoever stole the most amount of objects at the end of the day won."
"Was it close?" Fishlegs asked.
"Very. Spitshot managed to steal twelve swords, ten axes, fourteen daggers, two hammers, eighteen chickens, four yaks and three of the villagers' underwear."
"Whoa," they all utter in shock and surprise, the twins being the most impressed and awed of the group.
"Yep. However, Camicazi won by a yak and three pairs of underwear, all of which she claims to have stolen from their owners while they were wearing them."
"Cool!" the twins and Snotlout express, impressed even further.
"Gross," Astrid vocalises, looking repulsed like Fishlegs.
"So Spitshot was left to watch for the next three weeks as Spitfire grew closer and closer to Camicazi, taking him away from her. Like Draco with Dagur, she still holds a grudge against Cami."
"Well, that all seems fair enough," Fishlegs stated. "I'm not surprised why they don't want either tribe involved."
"Well that's the thing," Hiccup pressed on. "Draco wouldn't mind the Bogs helping and vice versa with Spitshot."
"Ah ..." Fishlegs utters simply.
"Thane, we have reached a decision for you," Stoick announces as the six members of the council make their way back to the fire pit.
The Dragonborn and the trainees take their places around the pit, awaiting the response from Stoick. The council stand on one side of the fire pit, Thane opposite them.
"What is your verdict?" Thane questions the chief.
"We have decided …"
A/N: Well, on the bright side, when I come back, I always write nice, long chapters. This was a 9000+ chapter, for those who were wondering.
As I stated before, I know this isn't the story of mine that the majority of people want uploaded right now, but I will have the other finished really soon. I will also work hard on other stories during the holidays, so I should also have some more updates coming at a much sooner later date. That all, of course, depends on how school ends up going when we get back.
Another thing to mention is that I've got a page on Facebook, along with a YouTube channel now. The links to both are on my profile, so go there if you wish to visit them. Either that or just type in my pen name into the search engines and you should find the channel/page. Shameless plug, I know.
Anyway, fav/follow if you like the story and leave a review or PM me if you want to convey your thoughts. Constructive criticism is welcome, mindless abuse is not. Yes, there is a difference.
Until next time
