Draco walked in the hall dressed in the black look alike of his old outfit with his swords attached to his belt. The hall was so silent you could hear a feather land on a creaky board. As he advanced further into the hall his steps seemed to echo throughout
"Well if it isn't the dragon loving bilge rat." said Mildew sitting in his chair. Draco turned to the old man with an emotionless look in his eyes.
"Really Mildew, name calling," Draco said to the older man. "Why don't you act your age and not your boot size." There were a few giggles and smiles from the Vikings including the young riders. Not many people liked Draco but Mildew wasn't exactly the most beloved person.
Mildew didn't take the comment lightly and stood up "Why you little-"
"Please don't move, your squeaky joints are like pieces of metal scraping against each other." this time the laughter was louder.
"I may be old but I've still got a fair amount of time."
"That's what, a few seconds, that seems as fair as possible." One Viking spit out his mead and laughed.
"You'd be wise to hold your tongue, filthy pirate."
"You think I'm filthy? You obviously haven't smelled yourself. I can smell you all the way over here," Draco waved his hand through the air then held his nose. "Phew, and you really need to do something about that cabbage breath," All the Vikings were laughing now while Mildew only got madder. "and do you even wash the cabbages before you eat them because that is not just cabbage I smell."
Everyone was now laughing so hard it could be heard outside. Ari and Honeycomb were tearing, Astrid had to hold her sides fearing they might split, Ruffnut leaned too far back in her chair and fell back quickly grabbing Tuffnut's tunic and dragging him down with her, Fishlegs was gasping for air while Snotlout pound his fist against the table. Mildew's rage continued to grow as his face became red. Unable to process coherent thought Mildew picked up his knife and angrily whipped it at Draco.
The entire room went dead quiet as Draco made no move to dodge; instead he caught the blade between his fingers. There was complete silence throughout the hall yet again, until Draco spoke.
"If that was an attempt on my life it was a futile one," Draco then twirled and spun the knife in his hand. "I'm not the same person I was four years ago," The Pirate King then flipped the knife into the air with the point of the blade landing on Draco's fingertip perfectly balanced without breaking the skin. The word 'Impressive' barley covered it. "I'm in a whole new league." He then moved his hand from under the blade and let it fall before he grabbed the hilt and threw it at Mildew. The old man had no time to move before the knife took off one of the horns on his helmet.
"W-what are you?" the older man's voice hitched with fear.
"Funny, for over the past three and a half years I've wondered the exact same thing." Draco turned to the table where Honeycomb, Ari, and the others were sitting and made his way to them any Viking that was in his way quickly moved aside.
"Thorston, Ingerman, Jorganson, front and center." Draco ordered. At first they just stared at him like he had just sprouted a second head. "That wasn't a request grunts, it was an order or are your brains having trouble processing that." Draco said grabbing the handle of his sword.
Remembering what happened in the ring the trio got scared and rushed to position.
"Woah, how was the training, really?" Ruffnut asked Honeycomb surprised at the boys actions.
Draco put his arms behind his back and started pacing in front of his 'students'
"Out of the few riders I have trained already, you lot are by far the most pathetic bunch I ever had the displeasure of teaching."
"How many others have you trained exactly?" Fishlegs cut in.
"Counting Ari, Honeycomb, and you washouts, the total number is six."
Tuffnut began counting with his fingers for a whole minute "So wait, who the sixth?" Tuffnut questioned.
"All I will say is that like Ari and Honeycomb the sixth was able to get on the dragons back on the first try and was by far one of the best worriers I've ever seen, even greater than Stoick himself."
The trio started to feel stupid, someone even better than Stoick was able to mount a dragon so soon while they only succeeded in getting the crap beaten out of them.
Every Viking could hear Draco's words especially Astrid who 'unlike the other Vikings' grew more determined.
"Tomorrow I expect better results," Draco said slowly to make sure they understood. "Or you will see just how miserable I can make this for you."
Hearing all she needed to hear Astrid practically jumped from her seat knocking it over in the process and attracting the attention of everyone in the room. Even with everyone now looking at her Astrid did not falter.
"Something you'd like to say Hofferson."
"Yeah, I want in." The gasps in the hall were a clear indication that everyone was shocked by her words, but she paid them no heed.
"I'm sorry could you repeat that I don't think I heard you correctly."
"I want you to teach me how to ride a dragon."
Draco hardened his gaze and pushed Snotlout out of his way and approached Astrid. "You want ME to teach YOU, you Astrid Hofferson, who wanted nothing more than to kill dragons."
Astrid couldn't explain why but it felt as though there was some kind of pressure trying to crush her, but she stood firm. The last thing she wanted to do was appear weak. "Yes, and I won't take no for an answer."
"If you're so adamant about this then prove it, by turning your back on everything you know and believe in, because once you enter that ring your life as a Viking will come to an end."
Astrid looked around the great hall seeing all eyes were on her every one waiting for her answer expecting her to decline. "If that's the price I have to pay… then count me in."
Gasps once again echoed through the great hall, one Viking even fainted. The pirate king only smiled at her and the pressure seemed to just disappear.
"Congratulations, you passed."
"What?" More than anything Astrid was confused
"All of this was a test for you, my true pupil. You didn't really think I'd put the fates of both the dragon and Viking races in the hands of just those three did you? I put them in the ring to demonstrate what would happen to those who continue to follow in their ancestor's footsteps instead of accepting a new way. I even withheld a little information from them to make sure they'd screw up."
"WHAT!" the three boys exclaimed in a mix of shock and anger
"But," Draco continued "they're welcome to try again after you show them how it's done?"
"What about me." Ruffnut cut in. "I don't really care how we do it but all I want this war to be over soon."
"You do realize that you'll be turning your back on the very Viking way of life and tradition." Draco said.
"I think you've made your point," Ruffnut replied pointing at the boys, "we've been doing things the Viking way for three centuries and we're still at war, maybe a change is just what we need."
Draco let out a small chuckle. "Finally, just when I was beginning to think you people were beyond redemption. Alright Thorston you're in too, but I expect you to try and do better than your idiot brother."
"Done and done"
"Alright girls, report to the ring at high noon tomorrow we'll see how you do."
"Aye, aye, captain." Ruffnut said jokingly
"Come on, you two." Draco said to Ari and Honeycomb "It's time for lunch."
"Actually Captain Draco, we were wondering if we could stay here and eat," Honeycomb said to her captain. "It's been a while since we had a meal on firm ground."
"Oh, ok then," Draco said as he turned to leave. "And here I thought you kids liked Pisan Pie."
"Pisan Pie!" Honeycomb and Ari shouted in unison before they bolted out their seats and ran straight out leaving the doors wide open.
Draco chuckled at the young rider's actions. "Oh to be young and so full of energy." The pirate king then made his way out closing the massive Mead Hall doors behind him. Chatter started back up, some of it of it jeers at Mildew who eventually left the Hall fuming, but most of it about the two girls throwing everything away.
