Maces and Talons-part 2 - conclusion of the first part of my dagurized Fanfics.
Hiccup was looking just over the ship still processing what just happened.
"I don't get it. How did Viggo get away? How did we loose Heather, Windshear and the Flightmare?" he sighed.
"Lets face it. He outsmarted us." Fishlegs said.
"I don't even want to think about it, what they´re going to do to her and the dragons." said Astrid, rubbing her arm.
"I think, Dagur will look that nothing happened to his sister. He will not allow it. That's the only thing that gives me a bit hope." Hiccup said.
Snotlout and the twins appeared.
"You guys found anything?" Hiccup asked them.
"No, the fog was too thick. They used it as a cover and vanished." Snotlout answered. "This scroundel has it all planned!"
"We really should have Heather pulled out of this." Astrid said.
"But I am sure she wouldn't have come with us. And as I said, Dagur will sure find a way to get her out of there." Hiccup said.
"Yeah, it could be worse. We could´ve brought the dragon eye with us." said Tuffnut. Hiccup raised an eyebrow.
"How do you know I didn´t bring the Dragon Eye with me?"
"Uh-ah, well…-OW!" Ruffnut elbowed her brother, before he was going on to spill more.
"No kidding. Then Viggo would have Heather, Windshear, the Flightmare and the Dragon Eye. The full set." he grumbled, counting them off his fingers.
Hiccups eyes widened.
"The Dragon Eye is still back on Dragon´s Edge! And completely unguarded!" he gasped.
"Just great!" Fishlegs groaned.
"Let´s go!"
They quickly returned to Dragon´s Edge and arrived just as the sun rose. When they landed and looked around, they found their entire place trashed, the Dragon Hunters had got there first and turned everything inside out.
"This was the last part of Viggo´s plan." said Hiccup and looked out to the sea with crossed arms.
"Lead us away, so the rest of the Hunters had all the time ransacking our base!" said Snotlout.
"You have to admit, this guy is a master strategist." Fishlegs said.
"Dragondung! How did I not see that!" Hiccup cursed. He made his way to his hut to look for the artifact, but there was no sign of it at all.
"Its gone." he said and slammed the lid of his chest close." They got it."
"Are you sure you put it away after you got it from the twins?" Snotlout asked.
"Got it back from the twins? I never gave it to them! What are you talking about?" frowned Hiccup.
"Oh, then we have a slight chance, that the Hunters did not get it."
Snotlout led them to the cave where he and the twins had spent the last night. The entire place was a mess, barrels and crates smashed and the contents spilled all over the floor.
"Wow, they really wrecked this place." said Hiccup.
"No, this is pretty how we left it." said Snotlout.
"Really? What in Thors name have you done?" Fishlegs asked.
"Played Pirate and Vikings." Tuffnut answered.
They began looking through the wreckage and Tuffnut finally pulled out the Dragon Eye, covered in oil and feathers, out of a demolished crate. Hiccup just stared at it.
"What on earth is that on there?" he asked.
"A bit boar rind grease. Don't worry. It´ll buff out." said Tuffnut and rubbed the Artifact against Ruffnuts back. Then he handed it over to Hiccup, quite a lot grease on it. "See? Well, it takes a while.
Hiccup took the Dragon Eye from Tuffnut and glared at him and his sister.
"I can´t believe you took it without telling me. You know, all you have to do was to ask and you could´ve used it. It belongs to all of us." he said.
"Nevertheless, if I hadn´t removed the Dragon Eye from your masterful hiding place we´d be having a very different situation right now." Ruffnut said, crossing her arms.
Hiccup sighed and walked out of the cave. Then he leaned against the entrance, a hundred different thoughts were running through his mind.
"You okay?" Astrid asked, who followed him.
"No, Astrid. I let it happen. I put Heather and Windshear in that position. I risked the Dragon Eye being taken. I fell for Viggos plan." he sighed. "It's a mess."
"You´re right, it is. But if there is a mess, we clean it up. All of us. Together."
"We can get the A-Team from Berk, load up whatever weapons we can and strike and blaze with double power." Fishlegs said, as he and the other Riders exited from the cave.
"That will get us all captured. Viggo is not like Dagur, Alwin or Ryker. He is different." Hiccup said. "So nobody is going anywhere. Not yet. Think about it. We do what we do well. We´re a pretty smart group. We´re fast, fearless and we are riding dragons.-But Viggo manipulated us like a bunch of inexperienced little kids. If we have any chance against him, we can´t go in dragons blazing like we usually do. No, that could bring Heather, Windshear and even Dagur in greater danger. Or one of us get even killed."
"So you just want to leave Viggo hunting dragons at will?" Astrid asked in disbelief. "You want to put your hands in your lap and do nothing?"
"I want to do the right thing. And that is going to have some good thinking." said Hiccup. His friends watched silently as Hiccup walked off in deep thought.
On the Dragon Hunters Island, Ryker approached the Flightmare that had been re-muzzled and placed in a cage.
Ryker approached the cage, tossing a bucket of glowing algae water near it. The Flightmare banged angrily at the bars trying to break free.
"Viggo wants you to eat up, so be a good little boy. If it was up to me, I would let you starve." the bald Hunter said.
"Come now, big Brother," said Viggo as he joined Ryker by the cage. "This dragon is our guest. His value to us is immeasurable. We must treat him well, he will play an important role in my next plan."
He grabbed the bucked and placed it in the Flightmare´s cage, who began to eat the given food.
"The other question is-what to do with our other guest." Viggo continued.
"The traitor? Drop her in one of the whispering death tunnels and let the crew watch how they tear her into pieces. A nice boost for the morale." Ryker said.
"I am not concerned with entertaining the crew." Viggo said as he got up and began stroking his beard. "They must stay sharp. Its only a matter of time before this Hiccup formulates his counter attack. He will not let the girl and her dragon in our hands without a fight. – Leave Heather be for now. She will prove useful." Then he looked at the Flightmare. "Almost as useful as our glowing Friend her."
Elsewhere on the island, Dagur was taking a handcuffed Heather towards one of the cages.
"This should you keep you nice and cozy until we bring this Dragon Rider nonsense to its horrifying conclusion." said Dagur, shoving her towards one of the cages.
"Ah, and riding your Gronkle is not nonsense?" Heather shot back.
"No. I am riding Shattermaster for a greater thing. To let anyone fear me!"
"Dagur, we come from a proud and historic tribal of Vikings." said Heather "We Berserkers don't turn on each other. We stand for each other. How can you just ignore that?"
"Well I enter my noggin and then I pay no attention, right? I mean that's how you ignore something." said Dagur.
"But you don't. You can´t. I know you, Dagur." said Heather desperately. "We share the same blood. You are too smart to ignore anything, Brother."
"Can I ask you something, sister?" Dagur asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Of course. Anything."
"Where were all these lovey-dovey family values, when you were trying to blow up my ship and kill me?"
"I didn't know you were my brother at this time. And if you remember, YOU destroyed my entire island!" Heather pointed out.
Dagur was slightly taken aback, because he had forgotten that.
"Yeah, that's true."
He then looked at her curiously. "Are we okay, you and I on the whole thing? Still some lingering feelings of sceptism?"
Heather just remined silent and looked away, not able to look him in the eyes. In the next moment Dagur shoved her roughly into a cage and slammed it shut.
"Thought so."
"Wait! What are you doing?" Heather asked.
"If there is one thing I´ve learned out there over the years, is that I can only trust one person. Its me! Myself only! Dagur! He is so trustworthy! Tried and true, that Dagur!" he shouted.
"But I´m your sister. There is nothing I wouldn´t do for you."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Oh good." Dagur said, then turned and glared at her." Then shut it and don't make any more trouble! You know, you´re really giving the family a bad name."
Heather sighed, as he walked away.
Then, behind some rocks, where no one could see the Berserker, he came to a halt and his stern face became worried and sad. "I am sorry, sister. But I had to do this to keep you out of danger. I hope you will forgive me one day." he sighed.
Meanwhile, Hiccup, Astrid and Fishlegs were making their way over the open sea.
"Before we will face Viggo again, we need to learn more about him." explained Hiccup. "Let´s take a second look at his ship. Maybe we missed something."
Soon they landed on the still abandoned ship in the middle of the ocean and began to search through it from top to bottom. They finally reached the break and still had found nothing that gave them any idea on Viggo.
"We´ve been through this place before. They took everything when they left." reminded Astrid.
"Have you noticed? Viggo never actually puts himself in danger. He fights with his intellect. Planning every move, accounting for every scenario. Take Heather." Hiccup said as he looked around.
"You think he knew that she was working for us all along?"
"I think, at some point he found out and used this against us."
Then they noticed that Toothless was making his way to one of the cells.
"Is there something, bud?" Hiccup asked as they made their way towards him. When they entered the last cell, they found something standing in it covered with a tarpaulin. When Hiccup removed it, a game board of Maces and Talons was revealed, but it had only three game figures, one on each island and in the center was a broken piece. Hiccup looked though it and recognized the figures instantly.
"The Viking King. That's supposed to be me, trying to save the traitor." he said.
"And who is that?" Astrid asked, gesturing on the last figure.
"The chief of the Marauders. If I had to guess, I´d say it´s Viggo."
"Looks like he has a special liking in this board game." said Fishlegs. Hiccup picked up the broken pieces of the remained Figure.
"And this-is the Traitor." he said with a grim face.
"Also known as Heather." said Astrid.
"I suppose this is how he strategized his battles and movements." said Fishlegs.
"And I am sure like Viggo had this left for me here. It's a challenge from him to me. He is daring me to play with him." Hiccup said.
"Why did he break Heathers figure?" Astrid asked.
"To send me a message. Because the Traitor dies in the end. The Traitor always dies."
Hiccup dropped the pieces onto the small island on the game board.
They returned to Dragons Edge with the Mace and Talons game board.
Snotlout and the twins joined the Returners in the Clubhouse.
"So this is this Mace and Talons game? I heard once my dad talking about it." Snotlout said.
"Maces and Talons was designed to test the abilities and decision making expertise of future chiefs in the heart of battle." Fishlegs explained to the Jorgenson and the Twins.
"I am not taking over as Chief of Berk." said Hiccup firmly. "Viggo left this for me. He wants me to play Maces and Talons with him."
"Viggo´s there? Where? Can we play too?" Tuffnut spoke up.
"Guys, no, no. He is not here and we´re not using the board." said Hiccup and prevent the Twins from meddling with the board. Tuffnut threw his arms up frustrated and turned away. "We are playing for real. With real people. For Viggo it may be a game-but not for us!"
The Hooligan heir reached for the Traitor figure and showed it to the others.
"Viggo is forcing my hand. He is making me play for Heathers life."
"And what will happen if you don't play?" Fishlegs asked. Hiccup looked at his friends and dropped the pieces of the Traitor on the board. Fishlegs stared at the board and got the idea pretty fast.
"Oh-no, no, no! You have to play, Hiccup, you just have to!" he said looking up to the Hooligan heir.
"And we need a strategy." said Snotlout.
"We do, cous." Hiccup agreed. "And that strategy has to be different than any Viggo has ever seen or tried. Otherwise, Heather won´t stand a chance. And so won´t Dagur, if he made a mistake."
Afternoon has come and on Dragon Hunter Island Viggo has invited Dagur to a game of mace and Talons. But instead of using a board, they were using Hunters and Berserker as pawns. But the Berserker could not stand a chance against Viggos intellect and so it was obvious, that the Hunter chief defeated Dagur in no time.
"Game over." Viggo smirked, as he got off his throne and walked off. "You see, Dagur, a player has to be willing to sacrifice every one of his figures to be victourious. Every one. Figures, as people, are expendable. No one is irreplaceable."
Dagurs eyes widened as he had a feeling that Viggo was indicating that his usefulness was soon coming to an end. When Viggo turned and vanished behind a rock, he showed him his middle finger and stuck his tounge out.
"No, you are wrong, Viggo! My little brother is NOT replaceable! Never!" he growled low. "And some other ones too."
Later in the night, Hiccup and the other Riders were flying towards Dragon Hunter Island.
"All right, remember guys. Viggo is a master of deception. We have to be one step ahead of him all times or it´s game over." said the Hooligan heir.
Suddenly out of nowhere arrows zipped through the clouds and beside them and they found themselves doing zigzag maneuvers to avoid getting hit.
"Whoa! Where are those coming from?" Fishlegs asked. They looked down and saw more arrows coming at them through the clouds.
"They must have ships down there." said Astrid.
"How did they know we are up there?" Fishlegs asked puzzled. Then everyone felt heat and a burst of light coming from Snotlouts direction. They turned and saw that Hookfang had ignited himself just that Snotlout could keep himself warm. They all glared at him.
"What? I was chilly." the Jorgenson defended himself.
Thanks to Snotlout the Hunters now knew that they were coming and were shooting arrows though the clouds. Fortunately, since they were still in the cloud cover, the Hunters below are shooting randomly and had no clear look to aim.
"We must be close to the island." said Hiccup.
"You are right. Look." said Astrid.
They saw a break in the clouds and the island below them, a well fortified base of operation.
"Viggos base." Hiccup growled.
"Are you sure? Looks kinde deserted." said Fishlegs. "UUUAAH"
Suddenly spiral flames shout out of nowhere creating a wall of fire blocking their path. They looked down and saw four bound Typhoomerangs surrounding the base and several Hunters were stabbing them with the tip of their spears. This forced the dragons to let out a fire blast every time they got a painful stab.
"He is using Typhoomerangs as blow torches?" said Snotlout, trying to avoid the hot flames.
"I thought you were freezing. Now you have a nice hot place all around." Astrid smirked.
"I like it warm and cozy, not burning hot!"
The Hunters kept stabbing the dragons, whenever they stopped, so that there was no opening through the wall of fire.
"This guy really is more devious than-" began Tuffnut, but a warning yell from Hiccup make them dodge another spiral fire blast from one of the Typhoomerangs below.
"Maybe we should turn back? There is no way we´re getting through this fire!" Astrid suggested and gestured to the wall of fire in front of them.
"No. All this is just a distraction." said Hiccup.
"But its fire, cous´. Actual fire!" said Snotlout.
"I´m gonna have to concur on that one." Tuffnut said, looking up at his smouldering helmet.
"Guys, what I mean is, Viggo doesn´t want us to retreat." said Hiccup as he zigzagged trough the columms of fire from below. "It just seems that way. He want us to get past the fire and the arrows. He wants me to find Heather. And then his game really begins."
"You think, he will await you with a board of Games and Talons at the end?" Tuffnut asked.
"No, that's not what I mean." Hiccup answered. "He doesn't want us to get through. He wants us to go around and attack him from the back."
"And the he´ll set a trap for us just like he did before." said Fishlegs.
"Oh, that sounds a way better. But that's not what we will doing, right?" said Snotlout.
"No." said Hiccup and looked at the columns of fire. "We´re going in this way. Straight into the fire."
He then looked at the other Riders who just stared at him as if he had lost his mind. "I know, you guys now thinking I am nuts, yes?"
"Yeah." nodded Snotlout. "We are going to be roasted Riders, if we are flying straight through this flame wall!"
"No, we are not. The fire from the Typhoomerangs is like a giant Tornado. If we fly right into it, it´ll be hot, but the fire won´t touch us."
"Inside it?" Snotlout yelled. "Yeah, you are really nuts."
"Hey, leave the "Nuts" to us." said Ruffnut. "My dear brother and I have performed said feat of daring many time throughout the history of the "Nut". "
"Yeah, for fun! It really works! As long as you don't panic while you are inside." said Tuffnut.
Everyone just stared at the twins wondering how they managed to survive for so long after doing so many daring feats.
So they flew down the tornado of fire and Snotlout and Fishlegs were screaming their heads off of horror, when they did it. The twins did enjoyed it mostly standing on the heads of Barf and Belch, whooping excitedly.
The Hunters tried to locate the Riders but it seemed, they had suddenly disappeared without a trace.
"Dragondung! Where did those brats go?" said a Hunter puzzled. "Hey! Cease fire! Cease fire!"
When the Typhoomerangs stopped their fire attacks, and the flames dispelled, they saw the Riders hovering over them. With a few blasts the Hunters were knocked out and the way was free for Viggos base.
"You guys free the Typhoomerangs. I´m going to free Heather." said Hiccup and flew off.
Meanwhile, Viggo was sitting in his tent in front of the Maces and Talons game board. Suddenly there was a huge explosion that shook the ground. Ryker was entering the tent.
"They´re here, I assume?" Viggo said calmly.
"Not the way you have planned. They went through the fire. Right down through the middle. Cunning brats!" Ryker said.
Viggo actually looked impressed.
"Brilliant. Simply brilliant. That boy know his dragons, I give him that."
"Are we gonna do something? Most of the troops are on the other side of the island." Ryker asked, who didn´t share his brother´s sentiment.
"Come on, big brother. " said Viggo getting up. He walked past his brother and patted him on the shoulder. "What fun would a game be if not saddled with and inferior opponent?"
"Whatever you said, little brother."
Viggo walked outside and a few moments later Dagur met up with him.
"There is a rumour going around that the Dragon Riders broke through the fire wall of the Typhoomerangs." he said.
"You´re sure about that?" Viggo asked him.
"Yeah. Did you see the four Typhoomerangs flying into the horizon? It's a pretty good indication." said the Berserker pointing into the direction of the freed and now fleeing dragons.
"Dagur-did you do what I told you to do with the prisoner?"
"Of course. But I am still thinking-"
"Stop thinking." said Viggo turning towards him with a fixed expression. "You simply need to do what you´re told, follow orders. Can you do that?"
Dagur stayed silent and glared at him, as the younger Grimborn walked away. Ryker walked out of the tent.
"You are the bigger brother, right?" Dagur said.
Ryker sighed. "That I am."
"Don´t you ever just want to kick the living yak dung out of him?"
"Of course I do. And I could. Easily. But I don´t.
"And why?"
"Ryker stared at him. "He´s my brother. Always remember that, Dagur."
The Berserker watched Ryker walking away. I remember, he thought. And I remember, that I have a little sister. And a little brother, who both need my help.
In the meantime, Hiccup was flying over the island, trying to find the area, where the Hunters keep their prisoners. Then he saw a bright bluish glow that could only belong to a Flightmare.
"Come on, bud. Let´s get a closer look."
They headed closer towards the light and landed on the ground. The entire place was covered with cages. Hiccup dismounted Toothless. "Stay here, bud. And if you see some Hunters, keep them busy."
The Nightfury warbled in agreement and the Hooligan heir ran across the cages that were housing dragons. Under normal circumstances he would try to free them, but to find Heather and rescue her was main priority. Hisses und roars were heard when he passed cage after cage. I am so sorry guys, but I haven't got the time to help you, Hiccup thought sadly.
Finally he found for what he looked.
"What have they done to you?" Hiccup asked, as he looked through the bars of the cage. The Flightmare had again a muzzle over its snout that prevents him from spewing its mist, but strangely this time there was a small little hole on top of the muzzle which was slightly confused. The Flightmare slammed with it against the cage, causing Hiccup to yerk back.
"I´ll be back, I promise." he said with a hushed voice. The Hooligan kept looking through the cages, but found no sign of Heather.
"I´ll never find her this way." he thought and looked around. Then he spotted a trebuchet. "That will work."
Hiccup pulled his shield from his back and fired the grappling hook which wrapped itself around the trebuchets arm. With one good pull he was launched straight up into the air. From above he could see a cage with a hooded figure sitting inside it.
"Got her." said Hiccup to himself.
He landed near the aforesaid cage. ran to it, broke the lock and opened the door.
"Heather! Come on, we gotta get out of here." Hiccup whispered. The hooded figure raised and threw off his cloak. But it was not Heather-it was Viggo himself.
"Welcome, Hiccup Haddock." he said. The Hooligan backed away and raised his shield.
"Where is Heather?" Hiccup demanded.
"I have bad news. She will be not joining us tonight. But on the positive side, you´ve far exceeded my expectations. Good on you." Viggo answered. "But your little mission will not have a success end."
Hiccup saw Hunters appearing out of the bushes, aiming arrows at him.
"So many guards, so little time." said Viggo with his hands behind his back. "But please, go on. I am enjoying this."
"Curse you, Viggo!" Hiccup growled. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because I am giving you a last chance. If I didn´t, the game would end here. But what would that be?"
Hiccup didn´t waste any time and started to run as fast as he could.
"How can I put myself out of this mess?" he thought. "Why would he give me a head start? He knows I have Toothless somewhere here."
Suddenly he came to a stop when several Hunters blocked his way, holding the Flightmare. But at the same time Toothless appeared and ran to his side.
"Thank Thor you are okay, bud." said Hiccup.
"Ah, now you and your Nightfury are together again." he heard Viggos Voice behind him. The Hooligan jumped on his dragons back and turned. The Grimborn was standing on top of one of the cages. "And you didn´t get as far as I imagined."
"Game´s over, Viggo!" said Hiccup, while the Grimborn jumped off the cage.
"I´m so sorry you feel that way. Was I not a worthy adversary? No need to answer. Your surrender speaks volumes." he said.
"I am not surrendering." Hiccup growled.
"Then here is what I propose." said Viggo. "Turn over what you stole from me, what has belonged to my tribe for centuries, and I will think about letting you and your friends go free."
"You are talking about the Dragon Eye."
"Dragon Eye? Oh-a fitting name. If you don´t mind, I use it too."
"Have it your way, Viggo. But don´t say I didn´t warn you!-Toothless..-"
But before Hiccup and his Dragon could do any move, Viggo gave a slight nod to his men with the Flightmare. The Hunter who held the muzzle, pulled a small lever and the captured dragon sprayed the Hooligan and the Nightfury with his mist. Instantly they were unable to move and at the complete mercy of Viggo.
"You and your Nightfury played right into my hands. " said Viggo as he made his way towards the two stunned figures. "To be honest, I expected more, Hiccup Haddock the third."
He grabbed into Hiccups satchel and pulled out the Dragon Eye. When he held it up and showed it to his men and Ryker, they cheered in triumph.
"Go and take the Flightmare to the caverns. I will follow soon." Viggo ordered. "Brother, keep this for me."
He tossed the Artifact into his older brothers Hands.
"As you wish, Brother." Ryker nodded and he and the Hunters disappeared back into the forest.
Viggo watched the two still stiff forms.
"My dear Hiccup. I´ve enjoyed your our time together-and I hope we will met again-Oh, I am sure, we will." the Leader of the Hunters chuckled.
His eyes roamed over the scrawny form of the frozen Hooligan heir. And then, the Grimborn reached out his hand and rested it on Hiccups right tigh.
"You are really something, special, little one. And I know that this first encounter will not be our last." he said in a hushed voice and let his hand glide over Hiccups tigh.
"Pity that I can´t take you or your Nightfury as a trophy. This would bring me your entire Gang and your tribe against me.-Ah, but THIS would be a nice trophy too!" Viggo smirked as he spotted the two short braids in Hiccups hair. Viggo pulled out a dagger, grabbed the two braids with his fist and cut them with a swift motion.
"You don´t mind if I took these as well? As a little token." he smiled.
"Viggo!"
Rykers voice broke his musings. He quickly pulled his hand back as if it has touched a hot rock and turned around.
"Where are you? Its time!" he said. "The other brats will be soon here!"
"I´m coming." Viggo said and followed his brother.
Meanwhile, Heather, still shackled, was escorted through a tunnel, flanked by two Hunters. Dagur was with them and pointed with a stern face down another tunnel. Heather said nothing and walked silently in the pointed direction, her guards following.
"Hey, that's not the tunnel that Viggo-" began one of the hunters suddenly when he noticed that something was not right, but in the next moment Dagur knocked their heads together, sending them to the ground out cold.
"I don't longer care what Viggo has to say!" he said at the two unconscious Hunters. Then he turned to Heather with an emotionless expression. She has a bad feeling as she knew what her brother was about to do.
"Dagur, please! Don't do-" Heather pleaded, when he lifted his axe up high and squeezed her eyes shut. Then a metallic sound was heard and when Heather opened her eyes again, she saw that her shackles were lying on the ground. Dagurs face was still like stone as he put his fingers to his lips and let out a short whistle.
The next moment Winshear and Shattermaster came out of another tunnel and ran to their riders.
"Windshear, you are okay!" Heather said happily. Then she turned to her brother. "Dagur…"
"Don't waste your time! Take your dragon and go!" the Berserker told her sternly and threw her double axe into her hands.
"But-"
"GO! Now! And don't let yourself caught again by Viggo and his men! I will not be able to save you a second time!"
Heather nodded only and mounted Windshear. When she looked again for her brother, he and Shattermaster were gone. She whispered a silent thank in his direction.
"Lets go, Windshear! Hiccup and the others need us!"
In the meantime, the stunning effects of the Flightmare mist began to wear off and finally Hiccup and Toothless were able to move their bodies again.
"Ah! Dragondung! Thor, struck Viggo with your Mjölnir!" the Hooligan cursed as he tried to find out, where the Hunters had disappeared. Toothless began to sniff the tracks.
"You will not get away with this!" Hiccup growled.
Not far away inside a cave, Viggo, Ryker and some Hunters were standing in the centre of a cavern with the Flightmare. Viggo made his way towards the Dragon and on his sign a hunter pulled the lever that released the glowing mist from the muzzled Flightmare which struck directly the lens of the Dragon Eye.
Ryker suddenly turned when he heard a familiar roar.
"Viggo! He found us!" the bald Hunter warned.
"Just a moment….-okay! Now release the dragon!" Viggo shouted. The muzzle and collar was pulled of the Flightmare who flew off just as Hiccup and Toothless arrived.
"Viggo!" Hiccup yelled enraged.
"Too late, little Hooligan!" the Grimborn shouted, as the Flightmare charged for Hiccup and Toothless, forcing them to retreat down the tunnel.
"Accepting defeat is the most difficult part, but necessary, Hiccup." Viggo said, as they left.
Hiccup flew down the tunnel with the enraged Flightmare in tow, but they are able to get outside. The other riders were not far away and now they had to deal with the furious dragon.
"I can understand you, but you are unleashing your hate to the false people!" Hiccup sighed, as they tried to avoid the mist of the Flightmare. But the twins got a direct hit and fell hard to the ground. So were Snotlout and Hookfang.
But then Heather came to help and together they were able to chase the Flightmare back on its food trail, where it belongs. But with the dragon, Heather and Windshear vanished too without a good-bye.
Dagur watched the entire scene from a safe distance. When Shattermaster warbled questionly, the Berserker shook his head.
"No, Bud. Not this time. Heather was there to help, but after doing so, she left them again. And so will we. I will meet my little brother later at their base. He is now too upset and needs his time alone. Come, bud. Lets go. Viggo and Rykie will now have to continue their business without us."
"Come on, let´s sweep the tunnels!" Hiccup ordered.
"Hiccup, there is no way he is still down there! You know that." Astrid said.
"Besides, there are still too many Hunters down there." Fishlegs told him.
"You know, Viggo had this whole thing figured out from start to finish. He´s long gone by now. "said Astrid. Then she noticed something.
"Oh Hiccup! Your braids! They.. they are gone!"
"What?"
Hiccup touched his hair and searched for the two appendages. They were indeed missing.
"Viggo! He must have done it while I and Toothless were stunned! He took not only the dragon eye, he took a part of me away as well!"
"What?"
The Hooligan heir looked down at the ground in shame. He knew that he had lost for the first time in his dragon riding career. Anger bubbled in him and
he then let out an agonized and angry scream into the sky so loud that even the gods in Asgard themselves could hear him.
"That went not so good, Loki." said Thor, who was standing with the trickster god in Odins Throne room.
"Aye. But Skuld saw it and send it to me in my dream. And I was not allowed to help." Loki nodded. "But this is only the beginning."
"Don't worry, Hiccup. I will braid you two new ones. There is still enough hair left." said Astrid with a sad smile.
"Let´s fly home. There is nothing we can do now." Fishlegs said.
"Where is Heather?" Hiccup asked.
Astrid shook her head.
"But how did Heather got free?" Fishlegs asked.
"Dagur did it. He would never hurt her. And I hope he got away too." Hiccup sighed.
"You know her. She is a bit of a loner, but I am sure, we will met her again."
"And about the Dragon Eye….we´ll get it back, Hiccup. Besides, without the Snow Wraith key, its useless." said Astrid.
"And he knows that! So, why did he wanted it so badly?"
"You think he knows another way how to unlock it?"
"He knew I would take the key out for ever coming to this island and my mistake cost us the Dragon Eye."
"You may lost this time, but they are other ways. And besides, we are all still alive, with our Dragons, have managed to escape, Heather is free again -and we know our enemy better now. I still call that some sort of a victory." said Fishlegs.
"Thank you, my friend." said Hiccup "You are right. Its better than nothing. -Okay, guys. Back to Dragons Edge."
The whole next day Hiccup was sitting in his hut, brooding and trying to figure out, why Viggo took the Dragon Eye and what he was planning next. His friends left him alone with his thoughts, only Toothless did not left his side. When the evening came, he finally left his hut with Toothless.
"Where did Hiccup go?" asked Ruffnut, when the othter Riders saw their leader leave.
"Leave him. Its not easy for him to digest it all. He needs time." Astrid said.
Hiccup was sitting at one of the watchtowers, watching the sun set into the ocean. Toothless was lying beside him.
Suddenly a rider on a green Gronkle came floating in his sight.
"Evening, brother!"
"Oh, hello Dagur."
"Hey, whats up, little one? You look sad."
"Our plan failed. I failed. And now Viggo has the dragon eye."
"Oh." Dagurs smile fell.
"Damn! I was so an idiot!"
"No, you weren't. Viggo is a cunning opponent!-Hey, but you have still the key, have you?"
"Yeah. But I fear he will find a way to open the secrets that the dragon eye holds."
Dagur dismounted from Shattermaster and embraced Hiccup from behind.
"Uh…have you shaved?"
"Heh, a little bit. My beard looked awful. And I don't want to scratch you.
Hiccup managed a little smile.
"Don't worry, little one. We will get it back. And Viggo will pay for humiliating you! -Eh, where are your two little braids? There were so cute. Did you cut them?"
"No, Viggo had cut them! As a sort of Throphy for his cabin!" Hiccup growled.
"WHAT? I will rip his head out for this! No one steals something personal of my little brother!"
"Dagur!"
"Eh?"
"Please…just hold me." Hiccup sighed and leaned into his embrace.
The Berserker took a seat beside him and pulled him closer Hiccup rested his head on his shoulder. This gave him a little comfort at least.
"I have freed Heather and we are now going separate ways again." Dagur said.
"I knew it. Only you could have done that. She was with us, but then she vanished, after she helped us driving the Flightmare away."
"Well, she tried to talk into me, but I played the stone-hearted fool. I said to her, that I only trusted myself. But that's not true. I trust you, little one. And my loyal bud Shattermaster here."
The Gronkle laid on the opposite side near Dagur and warbled happily, his mace tail wagging.
"But she is still my blood, Hiccup. And I hope, we will find one day together without hating us." the Berserker said.
"Have you told her that you did not kill Oswald the agreeable?"
Dagur shook his head.
"She would not believe me. Not yet." he said sadly.
Meanwhile, Viggo was able to reactivate the Dragon Eye again, without the key. Then he explained his astonished older brother, that the Dragon Eye had an emergency release. A filament, that can only be burned away by a Flightmares glow. And now with the fire of a Terrible Terror, a big map was shining on the wall.
Viggo watched the glowing patterns on the wall of his cabin. Then his thoughts returned to the young Hooligan heir. He could not stop thinking about him. He was scrawny, but a good-looking boy.
Then he opened a small wooden chest and took something out. They were Hiccups two cut off braids. He bound the loose ends with a thread to prevent them from opening and knotted them together. He hold them in his palm, looking at them, then closed his fingers around them.
"I am awaiting our next encounter, little Hooligan." he smiled.
Later that night…
"Where will you go now?" asked Hiccup as he snuggled up under the furs at Dagurs side.
"I will meet with Savage half on the way to Berserker island. It´s time to return home again. I miss little Cloudstorm. Time to look after my little baby how he is doing. But we sure will met again." the Berserker answered and caressed Hiccups arm. In the beginning, the Hooligan did not liked being hold and touched by the older man, but now he found it comforting and reassuring.
"Don't stay too long away, Brother."
"I wont, little one, I wont." Dagur smiled and threaded his fingers though the hair of the smaller male. "Turn around, Hiccup." he said then.
"Why?"
"Just do it."
The smaller male turned so that Dagur faced his back.
Then Hiccup felt Dagur fumbling with his hair from behind.
"What are you doing, Dag?"
"Just hold still for a while." the Berserker said as the Hooligan wanted to turn his head.
Hiccup held still and let Dagur work. He didn't know that the Berserker was using some of his auburn strands to make him a new braid. Then Dagur cut a strand of his red hair and used it to wove it in the braid and when he finished braiding, he knotted all the loose ends together, using his end of the red strand like a thread.
When Hiccup touched the back of his head he could feel the new braid.
"You made me a new one?" he asked surprised.
"Yes. One from me, and the second one is for your little girlfriend to make. Tell her to weave a part of her blonde hair in, like I did, when she will braid a new one for you. Then we two are always with you."
Hiccup turned around, smiled and embraced Dagur.
"Thank you."
"Always at your service, my little freckle."
Later in the night, a mysterious brown monstrous nightmare with golden eyes landed on the roof of the small hut in the woods. Hiccup lay sprawled on the furs in deep sleep. Dagur was snoring lightly at his side.
"The time has come to prepare you for what the Norns had foretold for you, little one." the dragon smiled. Then the form of the dragon changed into a human form. A man with a black short beard and a helmet with two inward curled horns. The stranger walked into the hut and kneeled near the sleeping boy.
"You thought training and protecting dragons was all destiny has chosen for you? Well you are wrong. There is more…" the stranger whispered and held his hand over Hiccups body. A faint glow appeared, the Hooligan began to stir in his sleep.
A moment later the hand pulled away, the glow disappeared.
"The first step is done." the stranger smiled and walked out of the hut. Toothless and Shattermaster were sound asleep, both did not sense the intruder, so were the other dragons. "And you are now under the protection of Loki."
The human changed again into the dragon form and flew into the starry sky.
"Hiccup, where did you get this new braid?" Astrid asked the next day, when Hiccup returned.
"Dagur did it for me. And he said that you should make the second."
The shieldmaid took the small appendage in her hand and examinated it. The strands were neatly braided and a strand of fiery red hair was embedded in it.
"I didn't know that Dagur was so handy. It looks nice. I will do a similar one next to this. And this time, you will get a strand of hair from me too." the Shieldmaid smiled.
"That's what he said. Then I will have always you and my brother with me." Hiccup smiled.
"Where is Dagur now?"
"On his way home to Berserker island. But I am sure that we will meet again soon."
"You two really have become close like real brothers."
"That we have." said Hiccup and smiled. "I never thought when we met again after those years, that he did changed so much. But it was in a good way. I am happy that I now have him at my side too."
The end-for now.
To be continued as nsfw, adult fiction. The next part will have adult themes. If you want to read the second part, it will only be posted on Archive of your own.