Greeting all!
Yet again the muses have struck me with the order not to sleep and so I have a new chapter for you all. it seems I have to make up for absence with a vengeance now. (it's 4am right now! What am I doing?)
anyway many thanks to all the folks who reviewed the last chapter. this one is for you guys!
As always an comments PM's or reviews are greatly appreciated.
Enjoy!
Last time Hiccup and Toothless enjoyed some much needed rest and revelation
while a group of pirates found themselves with a new captain with a deadly new obsession.
Who will win out?
Read on and find out!
The Return of the Nightfuries
Part 13 – Across the borderline
(1 week later, the Island)
"Looks like it was here sir! You were right."
"Of course I was you sorry little ingrate! Keep searching!"
Eovard the Blackbeard was not your typical ignorant Viking – oh no! – he had learned a long time ago that to defeat your enemy, you had to at least understand your enemy. And in this case that enemy was dragons. And so he had studied everything he could about them. How to read the signs of their presence, tell the size and gender of the lizards by the marks they left and most importantly how to track and take the dam beasts down when the occasion called for it.
They pirate-lord had almost missed it, this pleasant hunk of unspoilt rock that rested just barely on the margins of his maps. After combing the island thoroughly his men had found this alcove with relative ease. The cave looked promising- for a cave- and it bore all signs that a dragon had been living here very recently.
Blackbeard knew from studying Typhoomerangs that the scorch marks on the cave floor was typical dragon behaviour for marking their territory. The piles of fish and boar skeletons in the corner told him the dragon had been feeding off the local wildlife for at least two or three days and had feasted well. They had even found a decent sized pile of dragon dung just down the mountainside that indicated the beast had been there.
All positive signs of a dragon. But this wasn't just any dragon Blackbeard was after and he knew now he was on the right track.
The Pirate-lord smirked darkly as he looked again into his cupped hands at the small pile of pure black dragon scales that had been collected by his men. There was no longer any doubt in the pirate's mind.
Nightfury scales.
"Aye beast, I've found you!" the man chuckled quietly to himself as he tilted the scales to reflect in the afternoon sun.
"Sir!" Flail called, hunched over one of the dark recesses of the cave, "You'd best be seeing this!"
With a few strides Blackbeard was leaning over his first-mate's shoulder trying to see what had caught the man's attention, barking impatiently, "What is it matey? What have you found?"
With slow deliberate movements Flail turned from his place on the floor and stood, bringing with him two pieces of soiled fabric. One was obviously a used bandage, it's once white linen stained with dirt and blood. Intriguing. But what really got the pirate's attention was the other item. For in Flail's hands was a tattered and soggy green tunic. Like the bandages it was torn and covered in dirt and blood.
Eovard took the garment gently in his hands examining the material. It was a small garment, like one made for a child. A rich child as he could tell from the fine quality of the weave, the flawlessly even hue of the green dye not to mention the golden threads that spiralled on the sleeves and made up the hand stitched initials of HHH below the neck line.
Eovard snapped his head to the pile of bones in the other corner and strode over, kicking and clattering them about as if searching for something. After a few moments he ceased his wild shuffling feet, Eovard straightened up and turned to look at his baffled men.
"The bones!" the captain muttered ominously, "They be not there! And that begs the question! If the bones be not here? Then where do they be?"
"What bones captain?" Flail asked sharing a worried glance with his fellow crewmen.
With wild ecstatic eyes Blackbeard held the ruined tunic towards his minions, his voice trembling with anticipation.
"Men!" Blackbeard bellowed, "Get the ships ready to sail! It be looking like this Nightfury is not alone! Ha ha ha ha!"
(Meanwhile in the skies above the archipelago)
It had been a good week for Hiccup.
No longer did he feel lost
The Nightfury had finally revealed where they were going and more importantly why he had been so eager to get there. Hiccup reeled with anticipation as to what they might find.
No longer did he feel loss
It seemed the further he travelled away from Berk, the less he had to rely on his hate of it to sustain him. Oh he would return one day and take his revenge. He hadn't forgotten what they had done to him. However he had other more interesting things to occupy himself for now.
No longer was he hungry
He and Toothless had feasted like kings. Mostly it had been fish but when they were feeling playfully greedy or in the mood for a change, the Nightfury would vanish off into the woods and bring a prize piece of game or Hiccup would sneak into a nearby village and purchase some of the local fare.
No longer was he cold
After enduring many apologies from Toothless for his original frenetic speed, Hiccup savoured the more relaxed pace at which he and the Nightfury flew. The little island hopping technique they had adopted had allowed them to cover an almighty distance in the span of only 5 days. Hiccup had learned to wear more suitable attire as they flew through the cold sea air and at nights he enjoyed snuggling up in the talons of his dragon's warm embrace.
No longer was he in pain
Well mostly. He still had to take daily doses of Myrtle Root to ease his pain but overall he was feeling much better. The slower pace Toothless had set allowed him to spend more hours flying comfortably and refining his operation of the prosthetic tail fin. Every once in a while they would try out new tricks and crazy stunts to break up the monotony of their long flight, much to their collective enjoyment.
And overall the last thing Hiccup felt was regret. Through the long in-flight conversations with his dragon, Hiccup had finally come to realise what Toothless meant about his being shot down representing the best and worst experience of his life. For though the dragon had lost his ability to fly by himself, Toothless had now gained what Hiccup had gained.
A second chance at belonging, a loyal friend, a new life, absent of abuse, torture and ridicule and above all, freedom to fly away from unloving fathers and tyrannical Queens.
"So that's it?!" Hiccup asked amazed "It makes perfect sense now, it's like a beehive! The dragons are the drones and the Queen, she controls them?"
"Indeed my boy" Toothless nodded in time with his wings flapping, "and if any dragon didn't bring food back for the Queen they would be eaten!"
"Then why don't the dragons just fly away like you did bud?"
"Because she is an Alpha!" Toothless muttered bitterly, "we all live under her command, as bitter and twisted as it is. Her word is law, we are little more than slaves…for twenty years I…I was….." the Nightfury trailed off leaving Hiccup to ponder just how difficult it must have been for the remarkable ebony beast being a prisoner in his own body.
"Besides!" Toothless chirped not wanting to hash his out old bitter memories just yet, "not all dragons are fortunate enough to be hauled out of the sky by inventive young Vikings and their machines, only have some sense knocked into them by crashing into a tree!"
"Oh! I did apologize for that didn't I?" Hiccup asked sheepishly crimson tinting his face in embarrassment.
"Why Yes you did Hiccup! many times!" drawled the dragon to keep the mood light.
"Sorry bud" Hiccup said guiltily.
"No need my human!" Toothless declared triumphantly, "It was the impact and my bonding with you that allowed me to remember who I was and where my home is. We Nightfuries have always been a proud race so to fall under the sway of that mountain sized abomination is something I never wish to happen again!"
"And who were you back home?" Hiccup asked curious about the life Toothless had before meeting him.
"I was one of the top warriors of my kind!" the Nightfury roared proudly, "only second to my father who is the Alpha of all Nightfuries, the most dangerous and powerful member of our clan!"
"Dangerous?" Hiccup yelped in uncertainty "as in, like the Queen?!"
"What?" the black dragon answered awkwardly "Oh no! no, no no, Nothing like the queen!…."
Although Hiccup did not possess the Nightfury's 'true-sight' he could quite easily tell his dragon was now tense and hiding something.
"Do I sense a 'but' coming in here bud?" Hiccup drawled sarcastically.
"But….!" Toothless had to pick his words very carefully "…..he is known to be very…firm."
"I see." Hiccup intoned already running his palm down his face, "And let me guess! You two don't really get on very well!"
"You could say that" the dragon muttered in defeat.
"Well this relationship feels eerily familiar!" Hiccup announced with equal amounts of fatigue and sarcasm.
But as Hiccup leaned back to start thinking how he could deal with this new development, he noticed the tranquil sky ahead was marred by a huge wall of dark grey clouds that seemed to reach from sea level to the edge of the atmosphere. From within the shifting mass, flashes of lightening could be seen along with distant rumbles of thunder.
"This!? Not so much!" Hiccup stuttered in worry, "uh….what's going on bud?!"
"We need to pass through the veil, my home lies on the other side!" Toothless intoned narrowing his eyes in concentration.
"Figures we'd have to pass through a wall of lightening and death in order to find the home of the unholy offspring of lightening and death itself!" Hiccup joked in the face of the wall of elemental fury that was now looming over both them, making Hiccup feel like little more than a speck of dust in the wind.
"Hiccup!" Toothless barked firmly in warning, "things are going to get…..a little rough!"
"When do they never?" the Viking boy quipped as he tightened his flight harness to the saddle and leaned down as close as he could to the Nightfury's back.
"HOLD ON MY BOY!" the black dragon exalted "IT'S TIME TO RIDE SOME LIGHTENING!"
With that Hiccup held on for dear life against the shockwave that burst around him as the Nightfury pumped its wings to give one massive bolt of acceleration, gaining altitude and piercing the cloud bank like a sleek black arrow.
(Meanwhile on Berk)
"And so that is why my son is no longer welcome on Berk ever again! Any who sees him must capture him so he can be brought back to answer for his crimes and a proper sentence can be handed down!"
The entire Hairy Hooligan tribe sat dumbfounded and shocked at the wild tale that their chief had just told them. Of course they all knew something monumental had happened a week ago seeing Stoick and his hunting party had returned without Hiccup, under oaths of secrecy not to say anything. The past week had seen a distinct amount of tension building up around the village and now they finally knew reason why.
The Berkians had been told the whole bare truth of the matter and to say they were even more unsettled was the biggest understatement this side of Ragnorok.
"So what do we do Stoick?" Bucket asked giving voice to collective bewilderment of the tribe.
"Simple!" Stoick replied ever so 'stoically', "We prepare for war! A war unlike any other. A war with a Nightfury being led by my son!"
At that the Great Hall erupted with ferocious jeers of protest, anger and terror that took Stoick, Gobber and Spitelout combined several minutes to bring back to order.
"How can we fight a war against the dragons in the nest and your son at the same time?! It's outrageous!" Hoark yelled earning groans of approval.
Stoick still maintaining his calm 'chiefly' demeanour turned to answer the valid question "Firstly…."
"…Ah who cares!" a brash youthful voice interrupted, "so what if useless was able to train a dragon?! He's flown away like the coward he is and he won't come back!..."
Many in the room gulped in fear at the sheers balls Snotlout displayed as he strutted to the front to the Meade hall to stand beside the chief. The kid had guts they all gave him that. However the tribe was pretty sure now was not the time for his boastful antics. But as usual, Snotlout's mouth was now in command and would stop for nothing as he kept on going.
"….. and even if he did return, he'll not be able to face me and my raw Viking awesomeness, especially once I'm all trained up to be chief now he's GUH!….."
'THWACK!'
A wave of gasps washed over the hall as Snotlout's sentence was brutally cut short. The backhanded slap to the face delivered by Stoick catapulted the arrogant boy all the way across the room until he slammed into a nearby Meade barrel.
As the fog lifted from his stunned brain Snotlout fought hard to choke back tears of terror and pain as he saw the vast man that was his chief and uncle advance toward him. Snotlout screamed as he tried to scramble away only to be lifted by the front of his tunic into the air by clenched fists that could easily pop Deadly Nadder heads clean off.
"No no no! What are you doing? Stop! Someone help me!" the bulky teen yelped.
"SHUT UP!" Stoick roared at the teenager, spittle and rage splattering in the Jorgensen boy's face as he whimpered.
"It was because of your stupid actions that we are in this mess! You and your so called friends bullied my son to the point where he would rather side with that black devil than his own family!"
"B-b-b-but it wasn't just me!" Snotlout screeched in agony flailing his arms, pointing at everyone he could see in his line of sight, hoping to direct the chief's ire at someone else, "it was all of them! all of them!"
"Oh I know boy! And they will all suffer, I'm pretty sure Hiccup will make certain of that!" With that Stoick nodded his head to a corner of the room and Snotlout followed his gaze.
There in the shadows sat Astrid with her parents either side of her. The former Shield-maiden was still bound head to toe in bandages, her head bowed, eyes locked to the floor, quietly muttering the four words that had become her own personal mantra. She had been like that all week and only Gothi knew if the girl would ever snap out of it. The elder and mystic had severe doubts.
"Hiccup loved that girl more than anyone on this island and that was what he did to her!" Stoick growled at Snotlout drawing the boy's attention back to his baleful green eyes, "if he can do that to the greatest young Viking Berk has ever seen, what do you think he'll do to cowardly scum like you?"
With that Stoick dropped Snotlout to the floor and ripped the boy's helmet from his head. He looked at the ram horned helm that was the symbol of the child's Viking-ness. Hiccup never wore a helmet. There was never one small enough for him. Not even the one Stoick had crafted for him from Valka's breastplate and now was the only thing left hanging on the wall of Hiccup's bedroom, a testament to his failure as a father. It was true Hiccup was no real Viking, but neither it seemed was the disrespectful wretch that was now quivering at his feet.
Stoick let Snotlout's helmet fall to the floor with a brash 'CLANG' before silencing it with a sickening 'KLURCH!' by slamming his thick boot into it, crushing the headpiece into nothing more than a buckled, worthless scrap of steel.
"DAD! Why are you just standing there?! Help me!" Snotlout called out in desperation to the one man who really should have put a stop to this. Stoick looked to Spitelout in a way that dared him to intervene and see just how far his chief would go. In the end Spitelout merely nodded and turned his head, accepting Snotlout's humiliation as fair recompense for the lifetime of abuse Hiccup had suffered.
Reeling from the shock at what he took as his father's betrayal, Snotlout turned to the stunned audience and yelled, "Someone help me please!"
"Be quiet boy!" Spitelout snapped, drawing his son's attention "take your lumps like a man! Bruises heal, be thankful that's the only mark you receive!"
"But….But I'm the heir now he can't do that to me!"
"Oh you think so!" Stoick growled lowly as he loomed over the trembling boy who now had a distinct wet patch forming in his trousers, "I'll tell you one thing and then tell you no more."
Stoick leaned in and though he whispered, he knew every Viking in the room would hear him.
"YOU. WILL. NEVER. BE. HEIR!"
Leaving the wide-eyed slack-jawed bully on the floor to absorb his decree Stoick turned back to face the rest of his terrified tribesmen resuming the business-like, stone faced façade he usually sported when making difficult decrees.
"My son is gone. A liar, a traitor and a dragon collaborator. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third is no more. He is no longer a member of this tribe, he is no longer a Viking and he is no longer….my son. And my nephew is no longer my heir!"
"So who will be the heir?" Bucket called out from the back.
"A new heir will be found!" Stoick intoned in response.
"What do you mean Stoick? Trial by combat? A grand tournament to see who will be the next chief?" Baldur Hofferson asked, taking his eyes of his traumatised Viking prodigy of a child for the briefest of moments.
"No! I am just as much a cause of this as anyone, so I will be the one to help remedy it."
The hall fell deathly silent as faces of hope and ambition suddenly fell into confusion as they silently begged to know what Stoick planned to do.
"I…I will take new wife and sire new heirs myself! Then we will fortify the Island and prepare for war! Hiccup and his dragon are coming and no matter how long it takes, we will be ready for them! "
And at that hundreds of Viking jaws hit the floor of the Great Hall of Berk!
DUN DUN DUNNNNNN!
hope you guys liked that. three camps are now moving on with their lives.
next time we see what kind of welcome Hiccup and Toothless receive and maybe a little more.
any comments, reviews or PM's are greatly appreciated
Until next time
Take care of yourselves and each other!