The Isle of Night – Chapter One {Almost a month after Alvin's attack.}
Part One: An Island of Night- Furies
Hiccup and Toothless had left Berk; alone, except for each other. They'd found the map; and had originally planned to make the journey with their friends, the following morning. Then Hiccup had found a note in Bork's records, about how Night Furies didn't get along with other dragons… If the others came with them, things could get bad.
So, they had left before anyone else woke- up. They knew that if they didn't; the others would insist on coming, regardless of the risk. It was the darkest part of the night, but that didn't bother either of them. Toothless was practically made to fly at night, and Hiccup knew he could rely on the dragon's senses.
After almost three hours of flying, at top Night- Fury speed, they saw the island appear on the horizon. Elated, they shot across the remaining distance, although it would still take close to another hour for them to get there.
When they'd finally reached the island, Toothless appeared uneasy. Noticing this, Hiccup said, "Relax, bud; if this map is right, you're going to like what we find."
'Something feels wrong; where are they? They should've heard us coming,' Toothless commented.
They searched on foot for a time, than Hiccup attempted a Night- Fury call. A moment later, they heard a response, though they still saw nothing. Toothless had set off to investigate... Then they were ambushed by the Outcasts.
They struggled, but once Toothless had been chained down; they knew they'd been beaten. They were loaded onto an Outcast ship, where they saw Mildew waiting. Hiccup understood, then, that they'd been betrayed.
While Toothless was being secured to the deck, Alvin and Mildew started gloating over Hiccup. When he'd finally had enough, Hiccup said, "I don't understand... How did you do this?"
Alvin smirked, "The map of this island came from Bork's archives. Mildew – here, folded it up and hid it in the back of that book for you to 'discover'. You see," Alvin paused, gesturing at the island behind him. "This island was the home of the Night Furies; though there's been no sign of them for years, now. Bork never got close enough to study them, but he chose to focus on his 'success' in finding the island. He even painted the map on the roof of his cave, so it'd be the first thing he saw waking- up. Mildew also added the 'warning' about Night- Furies not getting on well with other dragons; so you'd come without your friends. A lesson for you, Hiccup: 'Sometimes the most dangerous deception is an outdated truth!"
When Alvin saw that everything had been loaded onto the ship, he turned to his men. "Right, then – We're going home. Set sail, for Outcast Island!"
A few hours later,
The Outcast ship was nearing the horizon; soon, it would be out of sight.
About halfway up a cliff, overlooking the abduction site; five shadows detached themselves from the mountain. Five pairs of black wings opened, and a chorus of shrieks filled the air, as the five creatures took flight. They flew to the other side of the mountain, and into a wide opening, high off the ground, and hidden in the shadow of another ledge. Nobody could have found it, unless they'd known exactly where to look.
The 'opening' was the entrance to a vast cavern. Immediately, two of the creatures shot to the left, and two to the right, to spread the news to the rest of their colony. The fifth Night Fury continued to fly straight, towards the far side of the cavern: towards the two Night Furies who, even now, mourned the loss of their son.
Speaking in the language of dragons, the new arrival explained what he and those with him had seen. He finished be saying, 'There can be no doubt that it is him; your son has returned, and he has brought the Peacemaker! Long we have waited for this, and we need wait no longer!' Already, the colony was stirring to life; and the cavern echoing with the roars and wing beats of an untold number of dragons, even though most of them would remain here.
Within the hour, twenty- two Night Furies shot through the opening, and rose into the air, to journey into a world that had all but forgotten them.
Part Two: The Rise of the Outcast Riders
Earlier that morning; at the Berk Dragon Academy,
Astrid, Fishlegs, Snotlout, Ruff, Tuff, and their dragons were waiting for Hiccup and Toothless to arrive, so they could start their highly anticipated trip to the Isle of Night. At first, they were merely surprised not to find him already there; and waiting for them.
A half- hour passed, with no sign of Hiccup. Then a horrible possibility occurred to Astrid, "He wouldn't!" Without a word of explanation, she leapt back on to Stormfly, and they took off. The others hurried to their dragons, and followed.
Minutes later, Astrid burst into the main room of Hiccup and Stoick's house; interrupting the latter's whittling break. Astrid apologized, than asked, "Is Hiccup here?"
"No… He was gone when I woke- up. Should I let him know you stopped by?" It was the answer Astrid had expected, and had been dreading.
"No, I'll just... Leave him a note … in his room." Stoick nodded, and she hurried up.
She found Hiccup's notebook on his desk – as well as ink, pens, and sheets of parchment. There were also several books; one of which lay open. On an impulse, Astrid leaned over to read the notes – There had to be a clue here, somewhere…
'My observations have brought me to the conclusion that the Night Furies have chosen this remote location to settle, due to their inability to coexist peacefully with other species of dragons.'
Astrid's heart froze, as she understood: 'Hiccup and Toothless went to the Isle of Night by themselves! Hiccup read Bork's notes... and decided it wasn't safe for the rest of us to come!' She grabbed Hiccup's notebook – with its copy of the map, and the book with Bork's note – and hurried downstairs. She had to tell the others...
Five minutes later, Astrid and the others had brought Stoick up to date on what had happened.
Gobber arrived as Astrid was describing the pages that referred to the Isle of Night. Then he interjected, "Wait: Why would the pages about the Isle of Night be in the back of that book? They should to be with Bork's other unbound- pages!"
A chill shot down Astrid's spine, "You... you know about the Isle of Night? But... Hiccup discovered the pages in the book! We went to Bork's cave; to find the map..."
"Look: something odd's going on… I was just at Mildew's place, to deliver a new wheel for his wagon. It's completely cleared out; no sign of him." Gobber scratched his head. "He shows up yesterday, as I'm bringing out Bork's records; insisting that I go fix his wheel. Then he goes and disappears..."
Stoick seemed to have also put the pieces together; and, like Astrid, he didn't like the picture they'd formed. "Grab your dragons! We're going after them!"
Six hours later; The Isle of Night,
It was early afternoon when the seven Vikings and their dragons landed on the Isle of Night. When they did, they immediately fanned- out to search for any sign of Hiccup and Toothless.
It wasn't long before they found signs of a struggle, and an abandoned replica of a Night Fury. Gobber examined it; than turned to the others, a few fingers covered in black powder. "Well... I've got good news, and bad news. Good news: this powder – it's ash from a charred Loki- tree... they only grow in one place."
For a moment, Astrid felt relieved, "So... you know where Hiccup and Toothless are?"
Gobber nodded, "That's the bad news: that one place... is Outcast Island."
"Alvin..." Stoick spat out the name like a curse. "Let's move out. Outcast Island is almost a full days' sail from here – we might overtake them."
Gobber sighed, "Hiccup and Toothless would've gotten here sometime this morning... They're probably already there." Then he saw Stoick glaring at him, and added, "So... We'd better hurry!"
Meanwhile; on Outcast Island,
Hiccup had just been given the V.I.P. (Very Important Prisoner), Tour of the Outcast's dragon- cells, before being led to his cell.
Now that he was alone, Hiccup's thoughts returned to Toothless, as he'd last seen him: chained to the wall of one of the dragon cells, and guarded by two Outcast warriors. As soon as Toothless saw Hiccup, the dragon had reached across to his rider's mind; 'Don't worry about me. Alvin will want to use me as leverage; for that, I must be kept alive. You make your escape, and I'll make mine.'
The sound of voices shook Hiccup back to the present. Whoever was speaking seemed to be getting closer. "Alvin, I gave you what you wanted – We had a deal," That could only have been Mildew.
"Well; I didn't like that deal, so I changed it." The second voice replied.
Three men came into view; Alvin, Mildew, and Savage. While Hiccup watched, Savage shoved Mildew into the cell across from Hiccup's. Then they snatched Fungus, Mildew's pet lamb, out of his arms; to 'prepare his supper.' –– Then Alvin left, leaving Mildew to blubber.
'I'm almost disappointed,' Hiccup thought. 'Did they honestly think they could plant Mildew in the cell across from me, without making me suspicious? Still... I think I'll play- along for now; this could be my way out.'
It took Mildew a surprisingly short time to 'recover' from having lost his pet- lamb. After which, Mildew started to play whatever game he and Alvin had cooked- up. "You know you're never going to save your dragon by sitting around in a cell. You've got to go get him; and soon, too."
"And how do you suggest I do that?" Hiccup was in no mood for word- games, especially not with Mildew.
"By giving Alvin what he wants." The expression on Mildew's face added 'and use it against him.'
Hiccup was not about to trust Mildew; the beginnings of a plan were starting to take form, in Hiccup's head.
Meanwhile; in the Outcasts' Dragon Enclosures,
Alvin and Savage were making a round of the dragon- cells; examining the 'improvements' that had been made to the cells, using off- hand comments that Hiccup had made during the tour.
When they reached Toothless's cell, Alvin took one look, and froze. "HEY! What's wrong with the Night Fury?"
One guard looked up, "I don't know! He won't eat or drink… He hasn't moved in hours!"
"Well; keep him alive… If he dies, we lose our leverage with the boy!" Alvin turned; and stalked off, fuming.
High above Outcast Island,
The strike- force of Night Furies had reached Outcast Island several hours ago; but they remained out of sight, circling. They were dangerously patient creatures – with more natural cunning that any other species of dragon. They were ready, eager, to fight... But for now, they circled; watched, and waited. Waited for the right moment to strike.
Below, in the Outcasts' jail,
Hiccup had decided that now was the time to act, "Guard … Guard!"
When the Outcast guard reached his cell, Hiccup said, "I'll tell Alvin whatever he wants to know, just let me out of here."
The guard unlocked the door, and Hiccup whacked him over the head with his fake leg – which he'd detached for just that purpose. The man stumbled backward, stopping just short of Mildew's cell, growling angrily.
"Ok; that worked a little better in my mind," Hiccup admitted.
For a moment, Hiccup thought that he'd be lucky if this guy locked him up again; because the look he was getting said 'I am going to kill you, painfully.' Than Mildew hooked the end of his walking stick around the guard's neck, and yanked him back against his door. The second knock to the head did the trick, and the man crumpled.
Hiccup immediately re-attached his fake- leg, and was about to run down the hallway, when Mildew said, "Wait; take me with you!"
"You're kidding, right? … After you set Toothless and me up?" Even as he spoke, Hiccup was reviewing his 'contingency plan', in his head. This was the plan he'd been working on ever since Mildew had been locked up, and Hiccup had accepted that he might need the older man's help – in order to escape.
"I know the layout of this place; I can help you! I... I... I can take you to your dragon!"
Hiccup heaved a sigh; and moved to unlock Mildew's door, "Don't make me regret this, Mildew." The door opened, and Mildew led the way down the hallway.
In Toothless's holding- cell,
The men who'd been looking after the Night Fury were getting nervous. The dragon still hadn't moved, eaten, or drunk.
In desperation, they removed his muzzle, which turned out to be a mistake. The second it was off, the dragon's eyes snapped open. It struggled against its bonds for a moment, before it broke free – landing on his feet. There was a single flash of blue light – and the two Outcasts were blasted off their feet and into the opposite wall. They fell to the floor, out cold, and Toothless exited his cell; and bounded for the exit. 'I'm coming, Hiccup!'
Not far from the enclosure,
Mildew and Hiccup had chanced upon a herd of wild dragons; and Mildew immediately shifted his walking stick in his hands, gripping it like a spear.
Hiccup waved him down, "Don't; the last thing you want to do is threaten them."
"Me? Threaten them?" Still, he followed Hiccup's lead, and lowered the staff. Moments later, a Deadly Nadder had walked up to Mildew to 'say hi', and Hiccup began to give Mildew an intro- course in 'How to Train Your Dragon.'
Seeing that Mildew was actually paying attention, Hiccup decided to add a few more pointers to the 'List of Key Points I'll Conveniently Forget to Mention' (– a list that already included close to 98% of what Hiccup himself knew about dragons). 'If' Mildew was working for Alvin, the meager facts Hiccup was giving- up would let the Outcasts 'ride' dragons, but as for controlling them... Well, let's just say it would make Hookfang look as cooperative as Stormfly – when working with their respective riders. (And – as anyone who's met Hookfang and Snotlout could confirm – Hookfang almost- always does whatever Hookfang wants, and only helps Snotlout if he feels like it.)
Hiccup could imagine the scene now: Alvin – attempting to ride, say, a Monstrous Nightmare. The dragon deciding to spin nonstop as it flew and zigzagged through the air. And Alvin bellowing, "EEVVERRRYYYTTTIIINNNGGG I TTTEEELLLLLLLL I-I-T-T JJJUUUSSSTTT GGGOOOEEESS IIIINNN OOONNNEEE EEEAAARRR AAANNNDDD OOOUUUTTT TTTHHHEEE OOOTTTHHHEEERRR!" –– It was all Hiccup could do not to grin.
Forcing himself back to the situation at hand, Hiccup looked around for Mildew – just in time to see the Nadder's tail vanish around a corner.
Hiccup just shook his head, 'I guess it's a good thing I didn't tell Mildew anything important... or practical.'
Then a shout caught his attention and, a moment later Stormfly, Meatlug, Hookfang, Thornado and Barf & Belch were landing around him – their riders dismounting, and rushing over.
Stoick was there first, "Hiccup; are you alright, son?"
Before Hiccup could answer, Astrid pulled him into a hug. When she let go, she said, "Hiccup; Thank Thor! What were you thinking; going to the island of Night by yourself?" She probably would've gone on, but – with some difficulty, she reasserted her self- control.
Once the others had calmed down, Hiccup told them everything that had happened; starting with Mildew's betrayal, and finishing with how Hiccup had spent the last ten minutes feeding next- to- useless dragon- facts to Mildew – who'd snuck- off just before they'd arrived.
Toothless reached them in time to catch the end of Hiccup's tale, and the dragon was the first to comment. 'It would have been better if you'd been able to avoid giving anything away, but still... that was clever of you.' The others agreed, though they did look a bit worried.
Hiccup said what they were all thinking, "While the Outcasts have no understanding of how to bond with dragons; and I highly doubt they'll be able to figure it out; we still need to get out of here. A few outcasts may be able to get dragons in the air, and we don't want to wait around to see if they will!"
At that moment, Alvin appeared over the crest of a nearby ledge – sitting on the back of a Whispering Death. Next to him, Mildew sat on his Deadly Nadder. With them, were ten other Outcasts – each of whom was sitting atop a dragon. The Outcast Riders had risen, but Alvin was red in the face. Seeing this, Hiccup's face fell... "I think Alvin just caught- on to what I was doing."
"I'VE GOT TWELVE MEN ON DRAGONS, COUNTING MESELF!" Alvin bellowed across the space separating them. "THIRTY MORE ARE EITHER BEING: THROWN- OFF EVERY TIME THEY MOUNT, CHASED AROUND MY ARENA, OR SPINNING THROUGH THE AIR WITH NO CONTROL!"
"Truthfully, I was hoping you'd be one of the guys spinning around with no control … Looks like neither of us got what we wanted!" Hiccup called back. Turning to the others, Hiccup said, "Let's go – Now."
They all leapt back on to their dragons, and shot into the air.
They heard Alvin bellow, wordlessly, and they heard they heard the sound of wing- beats. They knew without looking, that the Outcasts' dragons had joined them in the air.
Moments later, they were speeding away from Outcast Island – and, high above them, the Night Furies saw the opening they had been waiting for!
The air filled with ear- piercing wailing; as twenty, fully- grown, Night Furies descended on the Outcast Riders.
However, the Riders of Berk had eyes only for the two that were speeding towards them. Seconds later, they drew up next to Toothless; both uttering soft warbles, to which Toothless responded will obvious joy.
Hiccup let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, and turned back to face the others... "Guys... They're... They're Toothless's parents!"
A moment later, the older Night Furies began to angle downward; towards a medium- sized island, a little ways ahead. Toothless and the others followed, some a little hesitantly.
On the island,
As soon as they'd landed, Hiccup dismounted, gesturing to Toothless to 'go on.' Toothless nodded, and trotted over to where his parents were waiting. The three brought their heads together, and Hiccup could tell they were exchanging memories of their time apart.
Standing next to his parents, it became clear, for the first time, how young Toothless was. The adult Night- Furies were about the same height as Stormfly, and almost as long from nose to tail; though their wingspans were noticeably larger.
After a time, they separated; and the three turned them turned to face the Vikings, standing nearby. This time, they felt the minds of three Night Furies brushing against theirs.
Then Toothless's mother spoke, 'We never thought we would see our son again.' They could feel the emotion in her voice. Turning to face Hiccup, she added, 'Our son has also shared his memories of you – and the bond that has formed between the two of you. You complete each other.' They could hear... approval, in the female dragon's 'voice'.
Toothless's father nodded, in agreement. 'Once our clan- mates, above, finish; we will return with you to Berk. We will confer with those who accompanied us here; to share our new knowledge with them, and discuss terms.'
Hiccup was the first to find his voice, so he asked, "Um... terms for what?"
Amusement colored the thoughts of the Night Furies. This time, Toothless's mother answered. 'We mean the terms for an alliance: Between the Vikings of Berk and us, the Night Furies. Our son has placed his trust in you, and – if we can come to an agreement, so will we.'
After that, Vikings and dragons turned that to watch the battle. It quickly became obvious that – even if Hiccup had told the Outcasts everything he knew, they and their dragons would not have had even the slightest of chances against the Night Furies.
Their biggest problem: Neither the Outcasts nor their dragons seemed able to inflict any sort of injury on their opponents. When Hiccup pointed this out, Toothless's father merely nodded, 'As Night Furies grow, our scales thicken into a sort of armour. By the time we are fully- grown, swords and axes barely scratch us. We are not invincible, but little exists for us to fear; very little.'
After a mere ten minutes, Alvin was forced to admit that they were outmatched: "FALL BACK! FALL BACK TO THE ISLAND!"
By then, only three Outcasts remained atop their dragons: Alvin, Savage, and another man. Of Mildew, the other Outcasts, and their dragons, there was no sign.
Once the remaining Outcast Riders had turned to flee; the Night Furies lost interest in them, as though they were not worth the trouble of chasing.
To be continued…