Coming Home
A How to Train Your Dragon Fanfiction.
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to How to Train Your Dragon or any of its characters.
This story takes place some generations after How to Train Your Dragon 3: The Hidden World. It is based on what would have happened if the Vikings of Berk had joined their dragons in the Hidden World and lived alongside them, waiting for humanity to learn to live in peace.
Chapter 9: The Challenge
The village of Berk was buzzing with activity. Ever since the news of a possible dragon invasion a week ago, the riders had been training and the builders had been creating defensive bunkers for civilians to hide inside. Kadil had taken charge of the tactical planning, using his technical expertise to find ways for the villagers to outmaneuver any hostile dragons that may be pursuing them. Hagrish was busy keeping up moral and helping wherever he could. Even was helping in the blacksmith's shop, creating building materials and delivering them with Burple's help. Helia was taking the role of informant, teaching the villagers and riders about the possible dragons that could attempt to invade Thunderheart's home.
Morek and Shadestar stood alone in the Alpha's Court, the crystal glowing softly at their feet. Thunderheart had been growing anxious, not allowing the rider into the nest. Morek could tell from the sounds from the nest that the rest of the furies were growing restless as well.
Just like his father, something was bothering Shadestar, he continued to pace and growl to himself, jumping and hissing at the slightest noise. The jet-black dragon kept looking up at the nest then back at the dark entrance to the Caverns Beyond, as Morek had come to call them.
"What is it Shadestar?" Morek asked, knowing that he couldn't get an exact answer. The night fury warbled and gestured up to the nest again before gesturing to the Caverns. Morek tilted his head.
"Is someone out there? Someone you know?" Morek asked, looking at the dark expanse. Shadestar warbled in agreement, before warbling and posing. It took Morek a moment to realize what he was doing, before realizing he was mimicking the stance of Thunderheart's second-in-command.
"Oh, the rule follower, is he your family?" Morek asked. Shadestar nodded and turned to look at the Caverns and growled. Morek looked over, reaching for the sword at his side. From the depths of the darkness, something was emerging. It was dark, with bright, intelligent green eyes. Morek's eyes widened as he saw the rule follower emerge from the darkness.
"Shadestar! He's back!" Morek yelled, Shadestar warbled in happiness before leaping into flight. The two night furies flew towards each other, but Morek noticed something was wrong. The rule follower wasn't flying happily, he had his eyes narrowed like a dragon on a mission. When Shadestar flew close to greet him, he growled and flew past him, straight for the nest.
Thunderheart stepped out of the nest, looking at the rule follower and growling. The rule follower growled back, and they both flew straight at each other. Morek's eyes widened further as he noticed the two begin charging their plasma shots.
An unholy screaming filled the air as the two black dragons flew at each other. In a deafening boom, their plasma shots released and collided, shaking the cavern. They continued flying in a circular path, shooting plasma blast after blast at each other. For a moment Morek wasn't worried, Thunderheart was the undisputed alpha, there was no way he would lose. Then Thunderheart missed his shot.
Morek took a step back. Night furies don't miss, it must have just been miscalculated on Thunderheart's part, but then he missed again, and again. Morek started to worry, Thunderheart was wasting precious fuel, and the rule follower wasn't missing.
Again and again, plasma shots slammed into the older night fury, not burning him but they did throw him off his flight pattern. Morek clenched his fists. This rule follower, no, Usurper, was attacking his father, the night fury that had protected him for so long. Morek's vision started to turn red as the two night furies landed on the crystal, both out of breath.
Thunderheart stumbled slightly, shaking his head to clear it. Usurper walked forward, raising his head and growling at Thunderheart. Shadestar landed beside Morek, looking angered. Morek heard a screeching sound and saw Usurper's maw start glowing blue. "Shadestar, come on!" He yelled.
The two rushed forward, images of Morek's grandfather shooting through his head as he saw Thunderheart standing defeated below the younger night fury. He and Shadestar moved in perfect unison, their hearts and minds beating and thinking as one. They had one goal, one purpose, to protect their family.
Morek ran to the right side of Usurper, while Shadestar ran to the left. The two moved seamlessly together as Shadestar shot a plasma blast at Usurper's head, causing him to miss his plasma blast at Thunderheart. As Usurper's head rocked to the side, it was greeted with Morek's knee.
The night fury roared in pain as Morek's knee collided with his eye, streaming blood as it split the skin of the dragon's brow. Morek and Shadestar roared, slamming into Usurper and throwing him backwards, away from Thunderheart.
Usurper shook his head, only able to open his right eye as his left was covered in blood. He looked at the two and growled, the spines on his back splitting. He started glowing green as the plasma in his mouth started changing colors to match the green glow.
Morek had expected this, but he didn't expect what happened next. Usurper's eye started glowing green as well, the pupil shifting from black to electric white as electricity arced out of his eye. Morek took a step back seeing this transformation. Electricity began arcing through Usurper's fins and eyes, making him look like the offspring of lightning and death that the Book of Dragons mentioned.
The air started to crackle as Usurper roared his fury, staring straight at Shadestar. Shadestar growled and started charging his own plasma shot. Before the two dragons could fire, a flock of furies landed on the crystal, all of them staring angrily at Usurper and charging their own shots. He glared angrily at all of them before his eyes landed on Morek and Shadestar.
Usurper roared and took to the air, flying back towards the Caverns Beyond. Shadestar was about to go after him, but a bark from Thunderheart stopped him in his tracks. Shadestar turned to see the older night fury stand shakily, walking forward and pressing his forehead to his son's.
The dragons turned to look at the Caverns beyond and the retreating figure of Usurper. Thunderheart huffed and turned back to Shadestar, warbling at his son. Shadestar warbled back and the two dragons shared an embrace.
After Thunderheart returned to his nest with the help of the other furies, Morek looked at Shadestar. Shadestar gave him a knowing look and cooed at him, turning and gesturing for Morek to climb on.
"Alright bud, let's get back and tell the others about Usurper." Morek said, getting in the saddle. Dragon and rider took off, flying back towards their home and friends.
During the flight, Morek took a moment to enjoy the beauty of the world around him. The beautiful glow of the bioluminescent plants and the waterfalls cascading down the rocks brought such wonder to him now that he stopped to contemplate his world.
The Hidden World was a blessing to the dragons and Vikings of Berk. If it hadn't been for chief Hiccup and his loyal friends, Berk would be a very different place, and they may well have had to give up their dragons. However, thanks to Hiccup's ingenuity, the Vikings of Berk could live alongside their dragons. It hadn't been easy, it still wasn't, but it was the best life the Vikings of Berk could ask for.
Morek smiled as they flew towards the village, seeing the preparations and buzz of life that the Vikings had been missing in their small village.
As Morek and Shadestar landed, Helia and Heartbreaker emerged from the Great Hall to greet them. Morek smiled as his friend walked towards him.
"So what's the report?" Morek heard Kadil ask, turning to find his cousin walking towards him from the blacksmith's stall.
"Thunderheart is injured, he was attacked by another night fury that tried to usurp him." Morek said, going on to explain the entire situation to Kadil and Helia. Helia nodded along, following Morek's words very closely.
Kadil nodded understandingly. "That means that this fight has escalated to a war." He said. Morek gave him a confused look before he continued.
"Originally, he would have just killed Thunderheart and taken over as Alpha, but now that you and Shadestar have interfered, it's become a little more personal. This Usurper is out for blood now, he sees you as a threat to his dominance, so he'll seek to take you out." Kadil said.
Morek nodded and sighed. "I had a feeling it became personal. I've never seen a look like that on a dragon before though." He said, feeling disturbed about Usurper's hate-filled gaze. It was almost unnatural for a dragon to be that angry.
"Morek, we need to find out how Usurper did that thing with the glowing eyes." Helia said, popping in to the conversation. "If Usurper can do that but the other night furies can't, Thunderheart and the others might be at a huge disadvantage." She explained. Morek nodded and looked back at his cousin.
"Thanks for the input Kadil." Morek said, earning a nod from his cousin.
"I'm happy to help. If you excuse me, I will go oversee preparations on the bunkers." Kadil said, stepping past the two of them and walking down the path.
Morek turned to look at Helia and smirked. She gave him a confused look and he chuckled.
"Wanted me all to yourself, did you?" He asked, smirking. Helia scoffed and slapped his shoulder. Shadestar warbled and Heartbreaker huffed at the two humans.
"Watch it sir!" Helia said warningly. The two had been getting close over the past week, often going on walks or flying on their dragons together. They shared a strong bond now, and Morek had even had her come over to his home to have dinner with his family.
Morek smiled and waved it off. "That just conveys to me that you're trying to hide something, but I'll let it slide." He said, smirking as she huffed at him.
"Whatever, let's just talk about the glowing eyes." Helia huffed, giving him a smile of her own. The two began walking down the path, looking out at the Stalagmite Forest around them as they walked on the wooden planks stuck into the side of one of the stalagmites.
They talked for a while, only staying on the topic of the glowing eyes for a few minutes before moving on to other topics such as their homes or how the preparations are going.
"Have you ever noticed how the crystals glow when something moves near them?" Morek asked. Helia nodded, watching the crystals across the way light up as a dragon flew past them. Morek watched and narrowed his eyes.
"Wait a second, Helia, dragons react with what they eat, right?" Morek asked, looking at Helia. She looked back and nodded.
"Yeah, it can even change the color of their scales…" She said, before her eyes widened. "And the color of their flames!" She said. Morek nodded and smirked.
"The crystals reacted with the dragons, and it reminded me of how dragons react to different foods. So maybe that glowing that Usurper was using was a result of something he ate!" Morek said, earning a nod from Helia.
"It must be something that reacts specifically to night furies, and it's probably good at conducting electricity." Helia said, closing her eyes as she thought.
Morek nodded and smiled. He enjoyed talking with her, especially when they make a breakthrough like this. The two continued talking for a while before Morek heard his grandfather calling for him.
"Ok, I've got to get going. I'll see you in a while Helia." Morek said, turning and running off towards the Great Hall.
Morek found his grandfather in front of the Great Hall, sitting with his head resting on the wall. When Morek moved closer, Erik opened his eyes to smile at his grandson.
"Son, I heard about that night fury with the glowing eyes, and I think I know how Shadestar can get that power." Erik said, standing and looking at Shadestar. "Now, let's talk about Toothless, the first Alpha of the Alpha's Court."
