Bing! Bang! Boom!
Part One – The Thunder- Ear
A few hours after noon, a week after Dagur's most recent attack,
Hiccup had just finished adding the final- touches on his most recent project: A large metal contraption, which stood atop a wooden platform; the purpose of which he had yet to disclose – though several people had asked, as they passed the spot where Hiccup worked. The 'mystery- project' didn't look like anything special: A hollow metal shell; with a wide opening at one end, and that gradually tapered down to a small opening – large enough to peer through, at the other.
At one time, the sight of Hiccup working on another of his projects would've attracted scorn and jeering from the other villagers… But that was then.
"There: That should do it," Hiccup commented, as he lifted the 'mouth' of the tube a little higher, and adjusting the stand; to keep it at that height.
Once he'd finished, he turned to Toothless; who was laying in the grass, nearby; and asked, "So: what do you think, bud?"
Toothless raised his head, and considered the device for a moment. His head tilted a little to one side, and he uttered a noncommittal warble.
Hiccup grinned, "Ah: reserving your opinion until you see it work, huh? I'm good with that."
"Hiccup? Are you up there?" A moment later, Stoick and Thornado had appeared from beyond the nearest ledge, and Hiccup's father had jumped down from his dragon's back. "Thornado and I were busy surveying the village when…" Stoick had spotted Hiccup's project; "What in the name of Thor is that contraption?"
"I call it: 'the Thunder- Ear', Hiccup said; as he made his way forward. "It can track dragon- sounds from miles away, and that – hopefully, includes 'our friend'; the Screaming- Death."
Hiccup paused for a moment; while Stoick took a closer look at the Thunder- Ear, then he added, "And, you're just in time to see me demonstrate."
"All right: demonstrate away," As he spoke, Stoick took a step back: to give Hiccup room to work.
"Put your ear up to this," Hiccup said, gesturing to the earpiece at the end furthest from the ocean. Once Stoick had, Hiccup turned and nodded to Toothless, who shot a plasma- blast into the sky above them.
Two miles off the coast of Berk,
Fishlegs was the first to spot the flash of blue, as Toothless's plasma- blast reached the limit of its range…
"Oh, there's the signal, girl: Do you remember the song? – Oh, what am I talking about: of course you do… 'Well, I've got my axe and I've got my mace, and I love my wife with the ugly face; I'm a Viking through and through…'"
As Fishlegs sang, Meatlug 'sang' along, in her 'native- tongue'.
What he'd heard seemed so unlikely, Stoick first thought that Hiccup had been playing some kind of joke, "Alright, Fishlegs: come out from wherever you're hiding." He chuckled, and turned to Hiccup, "Very funny, son: Joke's on the chief."
"Dad, it's not a joke: look," As he spoke, Hiccup handed his father one of his telescopes.
Stoick took the telescope, and pointed it out in the direction that the sounds had come from: Sure enough, Meatlug and Fishlegs were hovering several miles away from Berk… yet the sound of their 'singing' was as clear as though they'd been right there with them!
Stoick double- checked the Thunder- Ear, then turned back to his son, "I think we could use this to hear enemy ships approaching as well: That Thunder- Ear gets the Chief's Seal of … Hang on." Another noise reached his ear, and Stoick swivelled the Thunder- Ear in the new direction.
A moment later, Gobber's voice was emanating from the earpiece; and – as he was that much closer, it was loud enough for both Stoick and Hiccup to hear…
"… Stoick? Oh, he'd be lost without me: I'm his right- hook man, you might say; Of course he would never admit this… And if you repeat this, I'll deny I was ever here."
Whoever Gobber had been talking to said something in reply, but his voice was harder to make out.
Stoick straightened, "'Right- hook man', eh?"
'Busted,' Toothless said; amusement clear in his tone.
Before Hiccup or Stoick could reply, another sound lead Stoick to swivel the Thunder- Ear back out to sea. Stoick winced, and turned to Hiccup, "You can signal for Fishlegs and Meatlug to stop: I don't know who's a worse singer; the boy, or the dragon!"
Hiccup frowned: the Thunder- Ear wasn't aimed where it had been before, so it shouldn't have been picking- up Fishlegs and Meatlug's 'singing'…
Hiccup double- checked the Thunder- Ear, and he then turned to his father, "That's not Fishlegs…" Another wave of noise came through, and Hiccup added, "Or Meatlug."
Stoick frowned, "Well, if it's not them, then who – or what, is it?"
"Only one way to find out," Hiccup said, clambering onto Toothless's saddle as he spoke.
"My thoughts exactly," Stoick agreed, before whistling to Thornado. As the Thunderdrum reappeared, Stoick said, "Ah, would you look at that! I never get tired of seeing that magnificent beast make his entrance!"
A short time later,
"I thought it was coming from somewhere around here," Hiccup said, as they would their way through a collection of sea- stacks.
An instant after he'd said the words, he heard the sounds again; only much closer, now…
Thornado must have recognized the sounds; because, without a word of warning, he dropping almost twenty feet in a steep dive…
"Whoa, Thornado!" Stoick exclaimed, pulling back on the reigns. "I'll do the steering, if you don't mind!"
'Sorry,' Thornado said; as he slowed his descent. 'But I'd recognize those sounds anywhere: They're…' They rounded another sea- stack, and Thornado said, 'There!'
Sure enough, on the top of the next sea- stack… were three baby Thunderdrums!
"Baby Thunderdrums!" Hiccup breathed. "But what are they doing all the way out here by themselves?"
Even as he spoke, the young- dragons caught sight of them; and, perhaps most importantly, of Thornado. Immediately, they rose off of the sea stack, and shot towards them; darting through the air, and getting 'a little' too close for comfort.
"Watch it: I'm a Chief, you know!" Stoick warned, when one of the Thunderdrums shot within a few feet of where he sat.
"Dad, they're just kids: they're playing…" Hiccup began, when the other two Thunderdrums shot past him and Toothless, on their way to Thornado.
"Well, someone needs to tell them that playtime is over!" Stoick said, firmly.
Thornado apparently agreed with Stoick on this, because an instant later; he released a blast of air that sent the three young- dragons flying backwards.
"Apparently 'someone' just did," Hiccup commented.
Stoick chuckled, and gave his dragon a pat, "I taught him that!"
"Yeah; I thought I recognized that roar," Hiccup commented to Toothless, as they flew. Toothless and Thornado snorted with amusement. Stoick rolled his eyes, but took the joke in good- humour.
The three Thunderdrums, who had settled back down of their sea- stack, were staring up at Thornado with what seemed to be a combination of respect and awe; which Thornado seemed to enjoy.
After a moment, Hiccup said, "You do have to admit that they're kind of…"
"Cute? Cuddly?" Stoick supplied.
"I was going to say 'cool'," Hiccup finished. "So, uh, dad…"
"Uh-uh-uh: I know what you're thinking, and you might as well forget it… We've got enough racket on Berk with those Twins!"
"I… I guess you're right," Hiccup sighed. "I just hope they'll be 'ok'."
"Of course they'll be ok… They're Thunderdrums, after all: Toughest dragon in the Archipelagos!" Toothless growled, and Stoick said, "That's right: I said it." With that, Stoick turned Thornado around, in preparation to return to Berk.
In a low voice, Hiccup said, "We've created a monster."
'At least he's not trying to ride me anymore,' Toothless commented; speaking so that only Hiccup would hear him. 'Earth- and- Sky: Your father is heavy!'
With that, Toothless made to follow Stoick and Thornado, while Hiccup fought to hold- back his smile. (His father was called 'Stoick The Vast' for a reason.)
That evening; back on Berk,
Night had fallen by the time Toothless and Thornado arrived back on Berk.
A moment later, Gobber came into view; a set of panpipes in his hand, "Ah: Out for a little father- son flight, were we?"
"Actually, we were just testing the Thunder- Ear," Hiccup said, as he slid down from Toothless's saddle.
"'Thunder- Ear'; is that what you're calling it? … Catchy."
"Oh, I'm glad you like it; Gobber," Stoick said, as he came to join them. "Because you and the Thunder- Ear are on night- watch together; all night, as a matter of fact."
Gobber's eyes widened, and his face went slack. For a moment, he seemed unable to speak, and then he managed to say, "You know, I'd love to Stoick; really I would… but I'm performing my one- Viking spectacular at the Great Hall tonight. I'm closing with a rousing rendition of the Reindeer Waltz on the panpipes… It's sublime!"
"I'm afraid the village will have to do without your panpipes tonight, Gobber; because my 'right- hook man' will be doing his duty for his chief… The one who'd be 'nothing without him'!" Chuckling, Stoick turned around, and set off in the direction of the Great Hall.
Gobber's expression morphed from surprise to disbelief, and he seemed unable to form words. After a moment, Hiccup turned to the smith, and said, "Thunder- Ear… "
"I've got a different name for it," Gobber said, scowling. Still muttering, he set of in the direction of the Thunder- Ear; where it stood on its platform.
Hiccup and Toothless, meanwhile, made their way up to the Great Hall.
Part Two – Unexpected Visitors
The following morning,
Hiccup and Toothless awoke, the following morning, to a loud crashing sound: which was never a good start to a day on Berk.
The two of them rushed downstairs to find his father putting his helmet on, and snatching up his sword.
"What's going on?" Hiccup asked, as he bolted down the stairs; Toothless close behind him.
Stoick glanced up, "I was about to ask you the same thing."
The two of them rushed outside, took- in the scene, and Stoick groaned out loud: The baby Thunderdrums had, apparently, followed them back to Berk; and they were causing chaos everywhere they went.
A sheep flew past them, a second later: carried by a blast of wind, unleashed by one of the baby Thunderdrums.
Stoick turned to Hiccup, "Still think they're 'cool'?"
Hiccup shrugged, "I'm… on the fence."
"Well, get off it and do something before we have to rebuild the entire village!" Stoick said, gesturing at the chaos before them, as he spoke.
Hiccup and Toothless were in the air mere seconds after Stoick finished his sentence. A moment later, Astrid and Stormfly had joined them…
"Should I even bother asking what's going on?" Astrid called, once they were close enough to be heard.
"Out- of- control baby Thunderdrums… Yep: that's what's going on," Hiccup called back; an instant before one of the three dragons shot in front of him – unleashing yet another blast of wind as it did.
"And I'm guessing you want them back under control."
"That would be preferred; yes," Hiccup confirmed. "Can you help me wrangle them into the Academy?"
"I thought you'd never ask," Astrid said. She shot Hiccup a grin, and then they and their dragons turned their attention to the chaotic young Thunderdrums.
Five minutes later,
"Wow: They're slippery little guys!" Astrid commented.
"No kidding," Hiccup agreed.
"Wow: what are those things?" Ruffnut asked, from where she sat on her head of the Twins' Zippleback.
"They are loud and destructive dragons, and we have to stop them!" Hiccup called over his shoulder, as he, Astrid, and their dragons shot past.
"Au- contraire: We must own them!" Tuffnut said.
"Immediately," Ruffnut agreed.
This was when Snotlout and Hookfang joined in the 'effort': They chose a Thunderdrum, and trying to chase it down… but they didn't do any better than the others (– which… didn't really come as a surprise to anyone).
Finally, Stoick; who'd been watching from the ground, decided that enough was enough; "Huh… Do I have to do everything myself?" {'Ahem,' Thornado 'said'.}
Stoick rolled his eyes, "Fine: Do we have to do everything ourselves?" {'Thank you.'}
Thornado rose into the air, and shot forwards to intercept the younger dragons. When they reached him, each of the baby dragons roared again; but Thornado's roar cancelled them out with ease.
Immediately, the young Thunderdrums dropped to the ground; gazing at Thornado with evident awe and respect…
Hiccup thought he saw Thornado's chest puff- out, a little, at this; but he wasn't sure.
"Well done, dad!" Hiccup said, as Toothless and the other dragons landed; a short distance behind the destructive- trio.
"Look at that: They're putty in Thornado's hands… claws!" Fishlegs commented; his eyes fixed on the suddenly- obedient Thunderdrums.
The Twins' Zippleback was the last to land, and Ruff and Tuff immediately zoomed- in on the baby dragons.
"Ok: We'll take… that one!" Tuff said, immediately, pointing at one of the dragons.
"No, that one!" Ruff chimed in.
"I know: It's such a hard decision… Ok: We'll take the set!"
"QUIET!" Stoick said, before turning to his son, "Hiccup: I want you to get these trouble- makers off this island, now."
There was an almost- humorous moment when the Twins thought that Stoick meant them, but it didn't last long.
"Dad, don't you think we'd be better off training them?" Hiccup said. "I mean; think about it: They're fast, powerful…"
"… Destructive, loud, and out- of- control." Stoick finished.
"Chief, you're kind of making Hiccup's argument for him," Tuff commented.
"The lad's got a point, Stoick…" Gobber commented, as he joined them. "I mean: a squadron of Thunderdrums would be tough for Dagur and the Berserkers to defend against."
Stoick considered the idea, and then turned to Hiccup, "You really think you can get them under control, son?"
Hiccup nodded, "I'm sure of it: It won't be quite like training the other dragons; these guys are a lot younger, but we should be able to work something out."
"We can do it, chief," Fishlegs joined in. "Just let us try."
"Alright, fine," Stoick relented. "But at the first sign of trouble, they go: Thornado isn't their mother or a babysitter; he's got chiefly- duties, just like I do."
A short time later, in the Dragon Training Arena,
With Thornado's help, it took only a few minutes to get the baby Thunderdrums into the Dragon Academy.
Once the older Thunderdrum had left, however, they were pretty much back to square- one: The Thuderdrums began chasing each other around the arena, and harrying the other dragons.
That is, until Hiccup grabbed several handfuls of dragon- nip out of one of the supply crates, and set it down on the arena floor.
The young Thunderdrums wolfed down the snack, and – once full, staggered drowsily, and settled down contentedly.
Once Hiccup could hear himself think, and the others would be able to hear him; Hiccup turned to the others and said, "I think the first thing we should do is name them; that way, they'll have something to answer to."
Finally, they decided to name the green- scaled Thunderdrum; who was also the most cooperative of the trio, 'Bing'. At Ruff and Tuff's suggestion, they named the blue one 'Bang', and the purple one 'Boom'. (The twins had wanted to call the green Thunderdrum 'Lloyd', but the others outvoted them; in favour of 'Bing'.)
Once the Thunderdrums began to recover from their stupor, Hiccup and the others tried to get them started on some "actual training". This didn't go as 'quite' as- planned, however…
Every exercise they tried to assign quickly turned into 'target- practice'; using whoever or whatever happened to be nearby at the time.
That is, until Thornado returned – alone, to the arena: As before, the three young Thunderdrums settled became the picture of innocence as soon as they set eyes on the older dragon; who they'd obviously adopted as a role- model.
Hiccup decided to use this to their advantage – as nothing else they'd tried seemed to be working. "Hey, Thornado: how about a little follow- the- leader?"
The moment the grown Thunderdrum rose into the air, the formerly- unruly youngsters rose into the air; following Thornado as though they couldn't think of anything else they'd rather be doing.
A moment later, Stoick arrived to bring Thornado back to with him. Just as before; the moment the older dragon left, the 'new arrivals' stopped behaving.
And, unfortunately, they found the gate; which had been left open, and shot through it.
By the time they'd caught up with the young dragons, the unruly trio had caused yet another wave of destruction, and they'd managed to find Thornado… and Stoick.
One look at his father's face, and Hiccup knew they were out of time.
"You need to find those dragons a new home, son: those Thunderdrums have to go."
After that, there was nothing else to be said.
Part Two – Relocating the Thunderdrums
Getting rid of the infant Thunderdrums turned out to be… 'Eventful'. The first time they tried, the young dragons seemed to think this was some kind of day-trip: Every time the Berk Riders tried to leave, their unintended companions rose into the sky with them.
Astrid came up with their second plan: to distract the young Thunderdrums by leaving them a small mountain of fish for them to eat. While the young dragons were busy eating, the riders and their dragons would "take the long way home".
The baby Thunderdrums were waiting for them when they arrived back on Berk, having retraced the same route they'd used to get there.
As their dragons set down, Stoick said, "It looks like Thornado and I are going to have to give you dragon- training geniuses a hand.
Hiccup and Toothless exchanged a look, and, speaking so that only Hiccup would hear; the black dragon said, 'This is starting to get embarrassing.'
One hour later, en- route to Dragon Island; Again,
"I hope this works," Hiccup commented, as the six dragons and their dragons flew.
"Thornado has a way with them: It'll work," Stoick said, turning around in his saddle to look back at his son, and the other riders and dragons.
'Well I won't miss them,' Stormfly admitted. 'I have nothing against Thunderdrums, and less against younglings, but those three were really pushing their luck.' None of the other dragons spoke, but they seemed to be of much the same opinion as Stormfly.
Dragon Island,
"Ok, guys: this is it," Hiccup said, addressing the three young Thunderdrums. "Berk just… isn't the island for you: there're too many Vikings, and not enough places for you guys to play." The three dragons began to whine and whimper; pleading for 'one more 'one more chance'.'
"Lets let Thornado have a word with them," Stoick suggested, as he and his Thunderdrum moved forwards. To the others, it was simply a roar; but Hiccup, and their dragons, understood; 'Stay here: you are not ready to live among humans; not yet, at least.'
"Well: that's done," Stoick said, as Thornado turned away from the three silent younglings. "Alright, Thornado; back to Berk." Thornado and Stoick rose into the sky, followed by the other riders and their dragons. Unlike before, the three young dragons made no attempt to follow them; though they continued to whimper, as they glanced around in apparent fear.
Then Thornado heard something he didn't like, and he spun back towards Dragon Island. The others followed suit, and they saw it – or rather 'them': Wild- dragons were emerging from their caves, and behind boulders: growling and snarling as they moved ever- closer to the defenseless baby- dragons.
Hiccup's eyes widened as he realized the full scope of the problem; "It looks like they might not be welcome on Dragon Island either… Maybe that's why we found them out on the sea- stacks to begin with!"
Fishlegs understood immediately, "Oh: They were probably chased there!"
Thornado growled, and Stoick said, "Well: I guess we're not going to let any wild- dragons bully our boys; are we?"
Hiccup grinned at his father, and nodded to the other riders. Together, they dove back in the direction from which they'd come.
Part Three – Stoick's Decision
The baby Thunderdrums tried to defend themselves, but their best efforts seemed to only anger the other wild- dragons further: Bit by bit, the three younglings were forced to retreat into the insubstantial shelter of a tree.
Then Thornado unleashed a far more formidable attack, and several of the wild- dragons fell- back. But more were moving- in from another direction; though Toothless's plasma- blast forced the second group to scatter.
This continued for perhaps twenty minutes, and it showed no signs of stopping any time soon. Finally, Thornado turned to the young Thunderdrums, and began to give them instructions in their native- tongue.
Hiccup, who understood them, shouted a warning to the other riders: "COVER YOUR EARS!" Without question, the others did as Hiccup said.
They were just in time, too: A split second later, the Thunderdrums unleashed there combined power into a single attack; blasting the wild- dragons back, forcing them to withdraw.
A moment later, Hiccup lowered his hands, and looked around. He had to admit: he was impressed by what he saw; "They sure taught those wild- dragons a lesson!"
"Yeah… this time," Fishlegs said; pointing at the rocks, caves, and trees, as he spoke.
The others took a closer look, and they saw that Fishlegs was right: the wild- dragons had fallen- back for now, but as soon as the riders and their dragons had returned to Berk… the wild- dragons would drive the young Thunderdrums off of Dragon Island – just as they had once before.
Hiccup sighed, "What are we going to do with these guys? – We can't take them with us, and we can't leave them here…"
Even as Hiccup spoke, the three young Thunderdrums gathered around Thornado, speaking to the older dragon, and he to them.
Stoick considered the four of them, and he came to a decision: He jumped down from Thornado's back, and began to unbuckle Thornado's saddle.
For a moment, the other riders watched in silence, then Hiccup said, "Dad, are you… ok?"
"Yes, son," Stoick said, before turning back to his dragon. "I think we both know what we have to do; don't we, Thornado?"
Hiccup's eyes widened, "Dad… what are you doing?"
"I'm setting Thornado free," Stoick explained, pausing to glance over at the other riders and their dragons. "I'm doing what any chief would do in this situation… or any father."
Stoick turned back to Thornado, "These boys won't survive without you… Right now they need you more than I do."
Fishlegs began to sniffle, and appeared on the verge of tears; and several of the others felt their eyes grow 'a little' misty.
Stoick sighed, "I understand; I'd do the same thing; it doesn't mean I won't miss you…"
Thornado nodded, 'Thank you for understanding, Stoick… I will look after these younglings, and – when they are ready, we will return to Berk.'
Stoick nodded, "Until then, old friend…" Thornado stepped forward, and Stoick placed his palm on his Thunderdrum's scaly forehead. "Good luck; take care of your new family."
'I will.'
The rest of them said their own farewells, and Stoick clambered onto Toothless; seating himself behind Hiccup. Toothless winced a little, but he didn't complain.
Then the riders of Berk and their dragons took to the skies, and began the return trip to Berk. As they flew, Hiccup turned in his saddle, and said, "Dad… you did the right thing."
Stoick gave his son a sad smile, and turned to look back at Dragon Island; to get one last look at Thornado, before the Thunderdrum dragons – and Dragon Island, vanished into the distance.
To be continued…