Yay.. big battle scene you have all been waiting for. Ok onward and upward. I don't own How To Train Your Dragon or any of its characters… I do own all New Characters. Please R & R at the end and thank you for reading this story.

Chapter 12: A Battle and A Decision

Bundar stood on the cliffs of Gurand waiting for the ship to be ready. He had been forced to come back home to restock supplies. He had sent that Black hearted Pirate to continue searching close to the Meridian of Misery, in hopes of finding a clue as to where they could have landed. That also brought them a little too close to Berk and if she had landed there he would have a reason to plunder Berk and finally take out Stoick once and for all.

Soon Bundar's thoughts were interrupted by someone from the docks. "Sir, the Pirate ship has arrived. He says he has news of where the girl is." He announced quickly. Bundar merely looked out at the ocean for a moment more before heading down to speak to the Pirate.

When Bundar arrived at the docks he was quickly led to the Pirate captain who was waiting on the gang plank at the end of the dock. "Ya hav' word of the girl?" Bundar asked in a deep and warning voice. "Yes I do and you will never believe where she is." The man said with an evil grin. Bundar merely darkened his look not wanting to waste time with the Pirates games. "She's on Berk."

Bundar's eyes widened for only a moment before turning back to his tribe who were awaiting news on the dock. "Ready the Ships! We head ta Berk fer Battle!" he yelled. The pirate hid a sly grin as he turned away from the Viking to ready his ship for the voyage back.

Skullette and Astrid were out in the woods training it was once again late at night but it had been nearly a week since they started training. In that time Skullette had been able to throw an axe at a tree but not enough to get it to stay in the trunk of the tree. Soon the sun was starting to rise into the sky and the girls had to call it quits for the night.

"Not bad Skullette. A little more practice and you'll be better than your brother." Astrid praised her. She grinned at the praise and started to gather her things as Astrid grabbed her own.

They quietly snuck back to the village and went their own ways when they came to the edge of the forest.

It had taken all week but it was finally finished. Hiccup had finished the rider harness earlier in the week but wouldn't show it to him. Saying that it was a surprise and didn't want anyone to see it, but after bugging Hiccup for two days about it he decided to give up seeing as Hiccup was just as stubborn as Skullette and there was no winning that argument without losing something.

"Hey Hiccup, what do you think?" Gunnar asked as he held up the finished saddle.

Hiccup looked up from his sketch before grinning at the finished piece before him. "That looks great Gunnar, I'm sure Skullette and Nightingale will love it." He noticed the sky starting to brighten as he put his things away. "Looks like it's time to head back home before Skullette wakes us up and have us do the dishes again."

"That's the last thing I need right now." Gunnar said quickly putting the saddle away and grabbing their jackets.

They put out the lights and headed back to the house.

Skullette got to the rope placed outside her window before looking around to be sure no one noticed her. Seeing no one she quickly started to make her way up the side of the house. Half way up she noticed movement coming her way. Thinking it was someone waking up extra early to get a head start on chores she hid herself behind the curved house. She couldn't see who it was but not wanting to be caught and asked what she was doing Skullette thought it would be better to hid at the moment. After the footsteps became quiet she continued her climb up the rope and into her room. Making short work of rolling up the rope and hiding it away, she climbed into bed and went to sleep for the short time she had left.

Hiccup and Gunnar soon made it to the top of the hill. Hiccup had thought he saw something as he got closer to the house but blew it off as Toothless or Nightingale moving on the roof. They quietly opened the door and closed it behind them before sneaking up the stairs and into their own beds. Hiccup had to be extra quiet due to his leg and having to sneak past his sister's room.

During the week the village had wrapped their heads around the fact that Skullette was Hiccup's sister and a welcomed part of the Tribe. As for Gunnar, the village and mostly Hiccup learned to deal with his obsession with weapons.

Gunnar had already made it to his room and into bed while Hiccup was just entering his room. As he closed his door and looked to his bed he found both dragons in his room and on Toothless' rock bed.

He stopped in his tracks as he remembered the shadow on the house as he got closer. Not wanting to take any chances he decided to make a round of the house just to be sure no strangers were in the house with them. Slowly opening the door he made it down the stairs and checked every room, including his fathers, if only for a moment. Then feeling satisfied with downstairs being clear, he made back up and did a quick check with Gunnar who was asleep and found nothing wrong.

After making quick work of checking the house he realized that the only room he hadn't checked was Skullette's. Closing Gunnar's door silently, he creped inside Skullette's and took a look around. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Plants and containers in one corner, Nightingale's sleeping rock that both dragons share on occasion and Skullette in her bed on the other side of the room, with a wood closet against the far wall. Nothing seemed out of order as he walked through the room, but as he went past her closet he noticed a piece of rope sticking out. Bending down he opened the door and pulled out a good amount of rope. His mind ran with all different reasons as to why she would have this rope, and not all of them ended well. But being as smart as he is, he didn't want to jump to conclusions and decided to ask her about it in the morning.

He hid the rope back where he found it and finished his round before going back to his own room to get a bit of sleep. Even if that shadow did still bother him, at least he knew it was no danger right now.

Later that same day after everyone had woken up, Gunnar headed out the door for a bit of weapons practice seeing as all the weapons for the upcoming battle where all finished. This left Hiccup and Skullette alone in the house. She was cleaning the dishes from breakfast and Hiccup was feeding the dragons who apparently didn't want to leave each others' sides.

As Hiccup walked back in he couldn't help but see the distant look in his sister's eyes as she washed the dishes. Remembering the rope in her room he tried to think of a conversation starter that didn't sound like he was snooping around her room. Not being able to think of one he decided to try and ask Gunnar about it. Hoping that he might have an idea on the subject.

"I'm going to head out for a bit, I already fed Toothless, Notte, and Nightingale." Hiccup informed Skullette who was too busy doing the dishes to look back at him.

"I'll right, I think I'll go out in a bit to gather some extra ingredients. With this battle coming up we will need all the healing herbs we can get."

Hiccup awkwardly stood there for a moment before shuffling towards the door. "Good, well… um… se-see ya later then." Quickly closing the door behind him he headed out to where he knew Gunnar was training.

Hearing the door shut behind Hiccup, Skullette stopped washing the last dish to take a quick look around. Dad had left for the meeting, Gunnar was out training and her brother was out doing who knows what. Probably out with Astrid if she was lucky. She quickly finished the last dish before leaving it to dry and heading up to her room.

She had been sure to hide her little project from the others, she knew what she was planning was dangerous but it was the only way to ensure that her point was made clear. Closing her bedroom door behind her, she went to her window and closed it. Lighting her candle she went over to her closet and dug past the rope she used to get out and grabbed the pouch she had hidden away.

It was slightly bigger than her hands and it was only half full of some kind of liquid. "A few more and it should be ready." She quickly put it away and grabbed her basket before blowing out the candle, and heading out the door. She was going for herbs and berries, just as she had said.

Gunnar sat on a rock drinking some water from his water pouch. He had just finished training with his crossbow and sword, thinking of ways to go from one to the other with little time in between. When the battle was really here he wouldn't have time to rest till it was all over with.

"Gunnar!" Said man looked up from his pouch to see Hiccup headed his way. He seemed a bit out of breath and a hint of worry in his voice.

Standing up he waved the young man over and offered him his water pouch. Hiccup thanked him and drank quickly. After taking a few deep breaths he calmed down enough to speak. "Last night as we were nearing the house I saw a shadow against the house."

Gunnar stopped him there, "Couldn't that have been Toothless or Nightingale?"

"I thought that at first too, but when I got to my room they were both fast asleep and in such a position I couldn't tell whose wing was whose." Gunnar grew concerned at this point and listened carefully to what Hiccup said next. "So I took a quick look around the house, no one downstairs, and no one in dad's room but him. I then headed upstairs, took a quick check in your room just to see if you had found any intruders. Finding nothing wrong I closed the door and went to Skullette's room."

Gunnar had to stop him once again. "She didn't say anything at breakfast, did something happen?"

Hiccup quickly calmed his fears. "No she's fine. She was asleep but I took a look around her room just to be safe. You never know if someone tried to sneak on to Berk and try to take her. So as I was looking around I noticed something sticking out of her closet." Gunnar leaned in, Skullette was hiding something and Hiccup was about to tell him what it was. "I found that it was a rope. Why would she have a rope in her closet?"

Gunnar pulled away from Hiccup and gave him a look that said, 'You're kidding, right?' before he decided to say what he thought. "Hiccup, what you have here is very understandable." He placed a hand and indicated for Hiccup to come closer, like he was about to tell him a secret. "You have a case that only very few people know about it. Skullette has a rope in her room because maybe it's the one she rides with; but you my friend, your problem is…" He looked around to make sure no one was listening. "Over protective syndrome." He gingerly pulled away from him after that to take a look at the young man's face.

Hiccup thought about this. He's being over protective because he knows what Skullette is planning to do if Bundar gets close to her. Seeing the rope may have made him think the worst when really it was only flying equipment in her closet. "Maybe your right?" he said with a sigh. "Maybe I am just being over protective. Still the sooner we give Skullette her saddle and harness the better I'll start to feel."

The two stood up and started to head back to the village. They needed to get the saddle and harness from the blacksmith shop and back to the house before Skullette got back with her herbs. Along the way they had to get back to what it was that Hiccup saw.

"So what do you think was on the roof?" Hiccup asked still confused as to what he saw.

"It was probably just a Terrible Terror looking for anything left over from the dragon's dinners." Gunnar reassures.

With a relaxing sigh Hiccup agreed, "Yeah, you're probably right."

They finally made it to the shop and grabbed the saddle and the carrier that Hiccup put the harness in. Once they had everything they quickly made their way back to the house before Skullette.

Speaking of the girl, she was currently deep in the woods gathering a few berries and putting them at the bottom of the basket, before heading to another place where she had seen some of the plants that have roots essential to cleaning cuts. She had been out for a while now and decided to take a rest before heading back to the house.

Skullette recalled her journey once again. She knew her plan was the only way to go, but she felt bad about deceiving everyone. Sadly it was the only way to get her point across, if anyone knew her plan Bundar would find out, and he was the one she needed to prove it to.

Her thoughts traveled to better times. Like the past week she got to know the tribe and her family. She knew her father was strong and brave, but he treated everyone equally, and he wanted his children to do the same. Her brother, Hiccup, he was another story. He had told her about when he found Toothless after shooting him out of the sky, and how he had lost his leg. But what surprised her most was how, even though they were miles away on different islands, they were treated much the same. Both disappointments to the village they lived in, and both of their fathers wanting them to stop being different.

This was probably why she was so down about hiding her plan from him most; aside from Nightingale that is. That was the other thing that worried her, how was she going to keep Nightingale safe? She and Toothless have become very close over the time they have been here. How could she take her away from him now?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a movement in front of her. She had taken to keeping a knife on her at all times since training with Astrid. It had been her idea to keep it close in case there was nothing else on hand. Her right hand slowly crept to her left sleeve while she watched the bush in front of her for any sudden movements. Just as she wrapped her hand around her dagger, a Terrible Terror popped out of the bushes followed by two others. Letting go of her dagger she smiled at the small dragons. She watched as they played at her feet for a while before chasing each other off again.

Once they were out of site she stretched before grabbing her basket and heading back home. It wouldn't take her long now that she had a feel of the island.

Hiccup and Gunnar had just finished setting up dinner when Skullette stepped inside. They quickly stood in front of something that she couldn't quite see but knew it was certainly not something that was easy to hide, considering it peaked out in places behind them. "What are you two up to?" she asked curious of their behavior.

The two looked at each other before turning back to her and saying in unison, "Nothing."

She gave them a look that told them she knew what they said wasn't true. Hiccup was first to speak up. "We just wanted to surprise you by making dinner. Gunnar was telling me about, when back on Gurand, he would cook a fish something. What was it again?"

Before Gunnar could reply Skullette stopped him. "I am not buying that for a second. I'm going upstairs for a minute to put my things away and then I'll be back down. When you want to tell me the truth then, maybe I'll listen to you." with that she made her way upstairs and into her room.

Once the door was shut Hiccup and Gunnar uncovered the saddle and basket. They couldn't wait till after dinner to show her now. She had seen them try to hide it. "So, do you want to do the honors? She is your sister." Gunnar said brushing off the saddle one last time.

"No, how about together, you did work on it after all. And besides, you've known her longer." Hiccup said giving him a small grin.

They set it down behind their seats just before they heard Skullette coming back down the stairs. She stopped at the bottom and looked at them as they grinned at her. She hesitantly came closer before looking into the pot in front of them and stirred it a little. "Anything you want to tell me?" she asked.

Gunnar was first to step forward. "We have a confession to make." He announced before Hiccup followed him and spoke next.

"We've been sneaking out at night all week and going to the forge." He said rubbing his back of his neck for a moment.

This got her attention as she looked up at them with wide eyes. "What were you doing at the forge? I didn't think that many weapons needed to be constructed."

Gunnar spoke up at this outspoken thought. "We weren't exactly working on weapons at the forge."

Hiccup continued, "We were making something for you."

Skullette looked from Hiccup to Gunnar and back again before sitting down and listening to the rest of their confession. "For me, what is it?"

The boys head back to where they had hidden the saddle and harness. Having both covered in a tarp they picked it up and brought it over to her. Hiccup was the first to remove a tarp revealing a brown harness much like his own but with a few alterations to it. There was a symbol of a mystery class dragon in the middle of the crossed straps and the crossed straps were slightly wider so as not to slip when she moved.

"Wow Hiccup this is great, but what are the cables on the belt for?" she asked as she took the harness and examined it.

Gunnar removed the last tarp to reveal a saddle much like the one for toothless but it didn't have the stirrups and was designed to be light weight.

Skullette was awe struck. She couldn't find words or even a coherent thing to say. It was magnificent, better than she had ever dreamed of. The only thing she could do was hug her brother and Gunnar at the same time. "Thank you guys, so much, I love it!" she said before letting them go and examining the saddle. It looked much like Hiccup's minus the fin and stirrups of course. Seeing this and discovering that they had been sneaking out to build it for her made her feel guilty about her secret with Astrid. "You know guys; I have a secret to tell to."

Hiccup and Gunnar looked at each other in confusion before looking back at Skullette waiting for her to continue. "You see the past week…" she was interrupted by a knock on the door.

Gunnar, being the closest, answered it. At the entrance stood Astrid who looked a bit out of breath, but before she could speak Skullette pulled her in and showed her the saddle and harness the boys had made for her. "Aren't these great Astrid, the boy's snuck out of the house this past week to make this for me." She said hinting at what she was really trying to get across. "I was just about to tell them what we have been up too." she emphasized seeing how Astrid wasn't following.

Finally a knowing look came across her face before turning to the boys who were even more confused now. "You see Skullette wanted to learn how to fight better and not just long range with her bow and arrows." Astrid started to explain before Skullette finished.

"Which is why I have been sneaking out to secretly train with Astrid in the middle of the night? She's taught me how to throw an axe and fight close combat. I can hold my own if need be." She hoped the boys wouldn't be mad about this but what they did next confused both Astrid and herself.

Hiccup and Gunnar were laughing, hysterically. And when they finally calmed down Gunnar was the first to speak. "Let me guess, you climbed out your window, down a rope and into the woods, right?" he said trying to hold back a laugh, Hiccup was quickly loosing that battle though.

The girls looked at each other before nodding seeing how it was Astrid's idea in the first place. This sent the boys into more laughter before Hiccup could calm down enough to speak "So you were the 'Terrible Terror' we saw last night." This brought on another wave of laughter.

The girls didn't find this very amusing or even remotely funny. Scowling at them seemed to calm them down enough for them to talk normal once again. "We are sorry but Hiccup thought you were a dragon when he saw a shadow move on the roof last night."

Before either could laugh they saw Astrid hand Skullette a lighter and slightly smaller Axe. She took it with a smile before glaring at her brother.

Having seen that look once before, Gunnar leaned down to Hiccup and whispered one word. "Run."

No sooner had the world left his mouth than the young man was out the door and running down the hill Skullette following close behind screaming, "Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, Get back here! How can you mistake your own sister for a Dragon!"

Hiccup was able to yell back a plea of, "It was dark, what else was I supposed to think?!" as he continued running for his life. Hiccup was able to make it to the Blacksmith shop before turning around and smiling. "You won't follow me in here!" he slightly mocked.

Skullette stopped just a yard from the shop glaring at her brother before something out in the sea caught her eyes. Turn to see what it was she felt as though time stopped. Her axe slowly feel from her fingers and on to the ground, her eyes became wide and fearful, her heart started to race and she felt as though she couldn't move. She didn't even see or hear Hiccup come out beside her or hear Gunnar and Astrid come up behind them. It was only when Gunnar spoke did she know they were there but didn't dare move from her spot.

"Bundar." It came out a growl from Gunnar's lips but it was all true. Out in the bay, was Bundar's ship.

It didn't take long to inform Stoick of the other Tribes arrival or for him to make it down to the docks to greet them. Stoick waited for the ship to come into port and allowed them to tie off. Bundar was first to step off and greet the chief. "Stoick the Vast, wha' an honor, that you would allow us to dock in yer harbor." Bundar said sticking his hand out in greeting.

"Bundar the Wise, wha' brings ya to my island? I thought we had an agreement." Stoick took his hand in a firm grip as they measured each other's strength.

"Oh we did Stoick, but it seems somethin' has happened. You see, in the middle of our Dragon trainin' my Wonderful Skullette ran off and I've been all over the sea lookin' fer her. You wouldn't have happened ta see her, have ya?" he loosely explained.

"I heard it differently Bundar, I heard ya were gonna kill her in front of the village. Not to mention tryin' ta marry her off to someone not even rightly fitted ta be Chief." Stoick said folding his arms daring the man before him to say differently.

"If yu're holding her Stoick, it's an act of war." Bundar warned.

Stoick wouldn't stand for being told he was a cause for something. "Skullette landed on my island with her Dragon an' friend. She told me everythin' 'bout ya Bundar; the hel ya put her through. Ya tried to kill MY daughter! Tha' is what nulled our agreement! I will not hand her over ta ya and allow it ta continue! Ya brought this war on yourself, not me. I suggest ya ready yer men Bundar. We'll be waiting."

Bundar growled at him before stepping back on board and commanding his ship back to sea. Just as the ship started to leave dock Bundar called back to him. "I will get wha' I came for Stoick even if it means killing everyone she holds dear!"

Stoick waited for the ship to be out of sight before turning to his villagers and warriors. "Ready the ships and yerselves! We leave at dawn!" everyone cheered before heading back to the village. Stoick took one last look out to sea before heading up to his house where he knew Hiccup, Skullette and Gunnar would be waiting.

In the chief's house Skullette was pacing while Hiccup say at the table thinking up different plans for the battle that was sure to come. Gunnar was leaning against the wall watching Skullette worry herself. "Everything is going to be fine Skully. There's no need to worry."

"I can't help it. Bundar is relentless. He won't let anything come in his way." Skullette said finally ceasing her pacing.

"Don't worry, dad can handle him." As soon as Hiccup allowed the words past his lips, in stormed Stoick.

Everyone jumped at his entrance but soon relaxed seeing who it was. Hiccup was the first one to greet him. "How did it go dad?" He gave Stoick his seat before getting him a cup of mead.

"Not well, He knew she was 'ere. I don't know how he knew bu' he did. I've a'ready given the order to evacuate the village. I want you three an' the others to go with them. We need someone ta protect the children an' the elderly." Stoick watched as his son readied an argument but he stopped it before it could be started. "No son, I know the dragons can help, but right now tha' is our only trump card. We use the dragons as a last resort. We are still Viking's after all." He gave them a half grin in hopes to life their spirits.

"Alright dad, just be sure that you come back." Hiccup said with a determined look on his face.

"We're Viking's. It's an occupational haz'erd." Stoick patted his son's shoulder before turning to his newly re-acquired daughter. He had nothing to say at first but Skullette could tell just by looking in his eyes how proud he was of her for facing against everything and coming back to him as well as something else she couldn't understand. "Ya look jus' like yer mother. I'm proud of ya." He looked back at Hiccup for a moment. "Of both 'a ya. Keep each other safe, I'll be back. Probably." With that he walked out leaving the teens to their jobs.

Skullette was the first to move. "Hiccup ready the dragons, Gunnar gather some supplies, I'm going up to grab the medical supplies as well as my bow and arrow. Either of you need anything?" She asked half way up the stairs.

Hiccup spoke first, 'Book of Dragons' it's under my bed."

Not hearing anything from Gunnar she continued up the stairs, while Hiccup went out to the dragons and Gunnar went about the house to get supplies.

Skullette made it to her room after going to Hiccup's and grapping the book. She quickly went to the corner where her herbs were and started packing her bag first with the books then with her jars of medicines. Once she was done with that she went to her closet grabbing the rope and placed it on top of the jars. Finally she got to the pouch in her closet. Pulling it out, she began her final work with it.

Gunnar had finished putting blankets and dishes into one bag and was now filling another with important supplies such as weapons that that he and Hiccup had brought back with them just for just such an occasion. He kept Hiccup's sword out of it figuring he would want it on him seeing as it would be too troublesome to dig through a bag when it would truly be needed.

It was at this time that Skullette made her way back down the stairs.

"Everything ready?" He asked not bothering to look at her.

"Yes, How does the harness look?" she asked as she stopped in front of him.

Finally done loading the bag he looks up and couldn't help but stare at her. She had the same outfit on but the harness fit her perfect. It kept her chest in place and it didn't move from her body in any way, instead it moved with her body and wouldn't slip. The mystery dragon symbol was placed right in the middle of her chest so that it was at an angle instead of straight like Hiccup's is.

"Looks great." he finally managed to say before Hiccup came in.

"You two ready? We need to head out, Astrid is waiting outside with Stormfly!" Hiccup said in a bit of a hurry.

They nodded, grabbed their bags and weapons before going out to meet up with Astrid and the dragons. Astrid had a bag on her back and her axe on her hip. Stormfly was waiting next to Notte, as the elders and children of the village marched past the chief's house and into the woods.

"So what's the plan Hiccup?" Astrid asked as they mounted their dragons.

The two Haddocks looked out towards the sea as similar thoughts came to mind on how this battle was going to play out. Finally Hiccup answered her, "We wait for the right time to strike. We walk with the others, flying will be too noticeable." They nodded as they followed behind the group of children and elders.

Stoick stood on the ridge of Berk overlooking the harbor. Gobber hobbled up next to him as the sun set in front of them. They could see the ships just in the distance if only just.

"Wha's the plan Stoick?" Gobber asked not taking his eyes off of the horizon.

"Stop Bundar bafore he reaches the village." Stoick announced, anger and determination in his voice. He couldn't stand what Bundar had done to his daughter. After all these years this is how he treated Skullette as if her life was meaningless. Bundar wouldn't get away with it.

Gobber had seen that look once before as they neared the Dragon's nest before Hiccup came to their rescue. "Yu're no' alone Stoick. No one will stand fer what Bundar tried ta do ta Skullette. Granted we di'n't trea' Hiccup much better till he showed us tha' dragon's arn' 'aur enemy."

"Bu' we wouldn' try ta kill him in fron' of 'aur village!" Stoick yelled at him.

Gobber stood his ground as Stoick started to turn his anger on him. "An' that is wha' he is gonna pay fer. We won' let him ge' away with wha' he tried ta do." Gobber explained trying to calm Stoick down.

Stoick turned back to the sea and glared out at the boats waiting for the signal to attack. "He won' live ta see another day." He promised.

Ok, I'm going to leave it at that. Thank you to those that have reviewed so far. I will update soon.