Ok, I know I said that this chapterwould be here next weekend, but it looks like I'm going to be out of town next weekend and thus unable to update. So instead, I'm updating a week early (not that you guys mind too much, I bet). Now that that is aside, let me just say that I think Fright of Passage is the best episode of Defenders so far. Just by looking at the previews and stuff I figured it was going to be good, and I wasn't disappointed. This season is off to a great start and I can't wait for the rest of it! I hope you all enjoy this chapter and cherish it since there are probably only 4 left at the very most. Make sure to review!
Hiccup cautiously approached the Changewing as Alvin watched from behind the cage door and Astrid at spear-point. Hiccup held out his hand and let the Changewing put its nose in his hand. After a moment the Changewing opened its eyes and continued to stare at Hiccup as he made his way to its back and started to climb on.
"Easy there, I'm not going to hurt you," Hiccup cooed as he finally sat on the Changewing for the first time. "There, that wasn't so hard was it?" A cackling laugh split the silence as Alvin opened the door and threw in a poorly constructed saddle. Hicccup climbed down and grabbed the saddle.
"Well go on boy! Put it on 'im!" Alvin cried through the bars.
"I'm working on it!" Hiccup yelled back as he rolled his eyes. As Hiccup walked toward the Changewing he made sure he was extra careful as he rubbed the still slimy head of a decapitated eel on the saddle. After a moment's lollygag to finish his work with the eel, Hiccup finally put the saddle on the Changewing. At first nothing happened but after a moment the Changwing sniffed the saddle, and catching the scent of eel on it, went berserk. Hiccup was thrown across the room as the Changewing snapped and spit acid at the saddle while turning in circles. Astrid broke free of the guards and ran up to the cage.
"Hiccup!" she yelled as the guards pulled her back from the cage. Alvin swung the door open as the straps on the saddle burned off and was thrown to the feet of Alvin. The Changewing hissed a final time and disappeared against the wall.
"Well what's gotten into it?" Alvin asked as Hiccup picked himself off of the ground.
"I'm fine, thanks for asking." Hiccup said sarcastically.
"That wasn't the question boy." If looks could kill, Hiccup would have been roasted alive. Hiccup quickly got the message.
"I honestly have no idea," he lied convincingly. "What was that saddle made out of?"
"What else do we have around here? Dragon skin." Alvin said deadpan. Hiccup didn't have to feign shock.
"What?! You honestly thought that putting another dragon's skin on a saddle wouldn't cause any sort of reaction?"
"No." Alvin said as Hiccup facepalmed.
"Ok… well, what kind was it?"
"We used the skin from a Monstrous Nightmare since we figured that way it wouldn't catch fire."
"Well, besides making a cannibalistic saddle I also noticed some design flaws that might have also been a problem." Hiccup said not having to lie, as he had noticed several flaws that would have made flying uncomfortable for both the rider and dragon.
"Such as?"
"For starters the connection straps keep the saddle on were too short and could end up damaging the joints in the wings. Not to mention the Nightmare skin could make the Changewing chafe," Hiccup said as he counted on his fingers. "Next, the seat portion of the saddle and the handle grips are too far apart, which could give your riders back pains. Then finally, shouldn't the saddle be able to disappear?"
"What?"
"Well it is called a Changewing for a reason, Alvin. Without the saddle blending in with the dragon, what your enemies will end up seeing is floating Outcasts." For the first time since Hiccup had known the man, Alvin seemed genuinely surprised.
"Huh. Hadn't thought of that. Well Hiccup, now that the dragon is trained it seems that you've got yourself a new job."
"Oh really? And what's that?" Hiccup asked barely containing his excitement as his plan was working.
"It looks like you're going to be in charge of designing and making the saddle for the Changewing." Inside his head, Hiccup was cheering, but on the outside he kept a serious face.
"Fine." Hiccup said with a fake exaggerated huff. "I've lost count of the days we've been here anyway so what's a few more. Right?"
"That's the spirit!" Alvin said as he pushed Hiccup towards the guards and tossed him his metal foot. "You're done for the day. Get some rest because tomorrow you've got work to do in the forge."
"Yay, a hot, smelly, filthy forge to make this trip even better!" Hiccup said under his breath as the guards led them away. When they got back to their cell they found two bowls of broth waiting for them with a note. Hiccup picked it up and read aloud.
"I look forward to working with ya in the forge lad. You'll find working with me to be an absolute blast! –Nagur"
Hiccup put the note down and looked at Astrid. She shrugged and grabbed a bowl. After a few minutes of eating a tapping noise drew their attention to Savage, who was standing at the cell door with something in his hand.
"Compliments from Alvin for a job well done today." Savage said sourly as he tossed the item to Hiccup. Hiccup caught it, and then immediately dropped it as it was piping hot. At the sight of Hiccup in pain, Savage laughed as he strode off down the hall. Hiccup carefully un-wrapped the parcel to find a fresh loaf of bread inside.
"Bread!" Astrid exclaimed as she tore off a chunk and ate it. After a moment of chewing she mumbled 'hot' and drank some soup to cool her mouth. Hiccup tore off a chunk himself and sniffed it. Confirming that it was indeed ok he chunked it into his mouth and chewed happily.
"Man, how long has it been since we've had fresh bread?" Hiccup asked.
"Long enough to where your dad should have attacked the island by now."
"Ok, I'll give you that. They must be preparing something huge since they haven't attacked yet… at least I hope their working on something huge."
"You and me both." Astrid grew quiet for a moment, but then continued eating. "I wonder what Stormfly is doing right now."
"Probably the same thing Toothless is doing, worrying her guts out." Hiccup said as he thought of his Night Fury back on Berk.
"Yeah. I bet Spike's grown a bit. I may have to start making him sleep outside so he doesn't break my bed." She said with a yawn. "Speaking of which…"
"Yeah, we should probably hit the hay." Hiccup said as he reached for a blanket.
"Goodnight Hiccup."
"Goodnight Astrid." Hiccup said with a yawn as he drifted off to sleep.
Meanwhile on Berk, sleeping was the last thing on Stoick's mind. He paced back and forth in the forge while Gobber hammered away at a gear for one of the many catapults that still needed constructing. Outside the forge, Toothless sat and watched the two with a sad expression on his face. After a while Gobber finally became fed up with Stoick's pacing.
"With all due respect Stoick, would ya stop that?!" Gobber said as he turned around to face Stoick.
"I'm sorry Gobber, but I'm worried sick about Hiccup. It's almost been a month now and they haven't made it back, and we're still prepping to attack Alvin." Stoick said as he threw his arms up in frustration.
"I know how ya feel Stoick, I miss 'em too. We'll get them back." Gobber said reassuringly.
"But how?! Every drawing that Hiccup had was built and tested, and none of them worked! We're back to square one."
"The one he used to catch Toothless with worked."
"Yes, but it's not really helpful in this situation, now is it?"
"Not really."
"Exactly. So how are we supposed to breach Alvin's defenses?"
"With catapults!" Gobber said as he held up the now finished gear.
"Gobber, I've already told you, catapults aren't going to cut it."
"Ahh, now see it's what the catapults will be throwing is what's so special about it. I was talking with Fishlegs, and we've decided that if we use a mixture of Gronkle lava and Nadder fire, then we might be able to weaken the new iron plates that surround Outcast Island."
"Gobber, that's the same metal that we have on the doors to the Great Hall. Nothing can penetrate it."
"True, but the doors are standing upright and were meant to deflect the fire blasts from dragons. Well, by what Fishlegs said is that their using the same metal, but it's laying down, and look what happens when the metal is covered with the lava for a while." Gobber walked over to a hole that had been carved in the ground and filled with Gronkle lava. He fished around in it with his grabber-hand for a few moments until he finally brought out a half destroyed piece of metal.
"Gobber, is that-?" Stoick began to ask.
"Yep. The same metal that's attached to the doors of the Great Hall."
"How long has that been in there?"
"About three hours."
"That's still too long. The metal isn't completely gone yet! Who knows what Alvin could do to the kids in that amount of time?"
"Wait for it Stoick." Gobber said as he switched his grabber-hand out with his hammer-hand. With one hit of the hammer, the metal shattered into pieces. Stoick was dumbfounded.
"Gobber… you did it! You figured out how to breach Alvin's defenses!"
"Hadn't I made that clear already by smashing the metal?" Stoick shook his head.
"How many more catapults will we need to build before we're ready to launch an attack?"
"About 50 or so."
"And how long will that take?"
"With the entire village working? Mmm… I'd say about three days."
"Then tomorrow morning they'll get to work."
"Are you sure that EVERYONE needs to be working? I don't think that Snotlout and the twins are going to be the best of help."
"And that's why I'm sending them on another scouting trip to Outcast."
"Good call."
"Go ahead and get some rest Gobber. You'll need to be at 100% tomorrow, and this will take a lot of energy from all of us." Stoick said as he put his hand on Gobber's shoulder.
"You got it Stoick!" Gobber picked up a bucket of water and splashed the coals to make the fire go out. "Goodnight Stoick, goodnight Toothless!" Gobber said as he walked away toward his house. Stoick motioned for Toothless to follow him.
"C'mon Toothless. Let's head home and get some rest." Stoick said as Toothless hiked himself off the ground and stretched his wings. After a few minutes of walking Toothless looked up at the full moon and roared pitifully. "Don't worry Toothless, when we get Hiccup back you can fly in the moonlight to your heart's content." Toothless nodded as Stoick opened the door for him and the two walked inside. Don't worry, son. We'll be coming to get you soon. Stoick thought as the door shut.
To Be Continued…
Ok, there it is. I kinda had to stop it there to make sure it wasn't too long. Oh well. Just keeps you guys coming back for more doesn't it? I hope you all enjoyed!