Soon, the two dragons were above the village Hiccup once called home and began to descent, and eventually landed in the center allowing Hiccup, who was wearing his helmet, gets off the saddle.
"Welcome back, Hiccup," said Stoick much as Hiccup took off his helmet.
"Hey, dad." greeted Hiccup.
"It's good to see you again, lad," said Gobber as he went up to Hiccup and gave him a hug, which Hiccup returned.
"It's good to see you, too, Gobber," said Hiccup as he pulled himself away from the hug and looked at Stoick. "Dad, we need to talk. I really need to tell you about this, new landI came across."
Gobber looked up from his work as Hiccup began drawing the outline of the saddle on the leather. "Another one!?" the blacksmith exclaimed.
Fishlegs strode into the forge, and for a few moments, Fishlegs was there. The boy was particularly fond of new lands and more importantly, new dragons.
"Any new dragons?" Fishlegs asked excitedly; just what they had expected of the boy.
"We didn't stick around to find out," Hiccup said plainly, looking briefly from his work towards Fishlegs. "These folks weren't particularly friendly. They were very...hostile. Even for people living on their own."
"Oh, really?" Gobber asked, sarcasm very clear in his voice. "Your Night Fury, Razorwhip, and Deadly Nadder didn't bring them cheering to the rooftops?"
Hiccup simply rolled his eyes at his former boss. "Heather wasn't with us, she's still at the Edge. Looking after Hope and the Razorfuries." Hiccup insisted. "And they were not the standard, run-for-the hills hoo-ha I've come to enjoy." He set down the charcoal, turning to face his father. "These guys...were trappers. Dragon trappers."
Silence fell over the forge almost instantly, the mood having changed entirely.
"You should've seen their fort," Astrid said, waving her hands. "All blown apart and stuck in giant spikes of ice! It was weird!"
"I've never seen anything like it," Hiccup said, looking down briefly before lifting his head once again. "And worse of all, they thought I did it!"
"Y'know, you bunch are gonna get yourselves into serious trouble one of these days!" Gobber commented, unscrewing his hammer hand and replacing it with a brush, which he used on his mustache. "Not everyone appreciates your way of life."
"Aye, Gobber's right, son," Stoick said. "Best we keep to our own."
Hiccup groaned.
Stoick pulled a lever, and a mechanical saw started. "Besides," he said, "you have more important uses of your time. And so will we once we make the big announcement!" He said the last word in a sing-song tone of voice.
Hiccup yanked the lever to the saw, shutting it off instantly. He waited for the motion to stop entirely before speaking.
"They are building a dragon army," he said flatly and slowly as if speaking to a five year old. People outside who were eavesdropping on the conversation whispered in hushed, confused tones. "Or...or at least the guy they're working for is," Hiccup corrected himself. "Ah..." He swirled his wrist a few times, trying to remember the name. "Dargo Bluddyfist, or something," Hiccup muttered.
Something changed in Stoick's features the minute HIccup said the name. His eyes darkened, his smile turning into a frown.
"I'll bloody his fist with my face if he tries to take my dragon!" Tuffnut shouted from behind them, making everyone jump.
Ruffnut stepped up beside him, a look of determination on her face. "Or mine!" she agreed.
Tuffnut groaned, his shoulders slumping in annoyance. "Urgh, you're such a moron."
"A beautiful moron," Fishlegs said, almost dreamily.
"Yeah…" Snotlout agreed.
Ruffnut growled in disgust.
Stoick grabbed Hiccup's shoulders, and the boy flinched. "Bludvist," Stoick breathed for clarification. "Drago Bludvist?"
Now Hiccup looked unsettled. His father looked absolutely terrified. "Uh, yeah," he said. Then, suddenly, he glanced up at his father again. "Wait," he said. "You know him?"
The look on Stoick's face said it all, and Hiccup was able to read it instantly.
They were in trouble.
Serious trouble.
-
"GROUND ALL DRAGONS!" Stoick raced down the stairs towards the dragon hangar, shouting as he went. Astrid, and Hiccup raced after the Chief of Berk, shouting and demanding to know what was wrong.
"What!?" Hiccup shouted. "Why!?" He shrieked. It was very unlike her to shriek, but downing all of the dragons.
Moreover, he wanted to know who this Drag-Face Bloody-Whatsicallit whatever his name was, and why Stoick was so worried about about it. If Stoick was worried about it, it was a huge deal. Hiccup's father was hardly worried about anything.
Stoick didn't answer. "SEAL THE GATES!" he yelled instead, waving his hands at villagers who raced to do as he had commanded. "LOWER THE STORM DOORS!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Hiccup cried desperately. "Wait! What is happening!?"
"Come on!" Gobber called to more of the villagers who were standing around doing nothing, obviously wondering the same things Hiccup was. "You heard the man! Lock it down!"
Berkians scrambled to do as they were ordered, turning gates, swinging doors shut, and doing everything required in the lock-down part of the job.
"No dragon or viking sets foot off this island until I give the word!" Stoick shouted.
"Wait!" Hiccup interrupted. He stumbled down the stairs, his prosthetic not doing him any favors. "Just because some guy you know is stirring up trouble in some faraway land!?"
Stoick turned back to face his son, his eyes hard. "Because Drago Bludvist is a madman," he said tensely. "Without conscious, or mercy. And if he's built a dragon army…" Stoick turned away again, shaking his head as he made it down the last few steps, "gods help us all."
Hiccup and Astrid exchanged nervous glances. This wasn't good. This. Was. Not. Good. And Heather was still at the Edge with no idea of any of this.
"Get them into their pens!" Stoick commanded.
"Aye, Stoick!" one of the villagers agreed, turning gears and pulling levers in a frantic haste to do as his Chief had ordered.
"Quickly!" Stoick pressed.
"Dad, wait," Hiccup said, his voice surprisingly calm considering their situation. "Let's ride back out there," Hiccup said once he was sure he got Stoick's attention. "We'll follow those trappers to Drago, and talk some sense into him."
"NO!" Stoick shouted. Heather saw Hiccup jump violently, and she was tempted to do the same. "We fortify the island!" Stoick said.
"But it's our duty to keep the peace!" Hiccup pleaded.
"Peace is over, Hiccup!" Stoick yelled. Hiccup, at this point, looked ready to turn and bolt. Stoick was intimidating. "I must prepare you for war," Stoick said quietly.
"WAR!?" Hiccup blurted. "Dad, if Drago's coming for our dragons, we can't wait around for him to get here! Let's go find him, and change his mind!"
"Some minds won't be changed, Hiccup," Stoick said, his voice surprisingly cracked and quiet, as though he really, truly wanted to listen to his son but at the same time knew that he couldn't. "A Chief protects his own," he finished firmly.
Hiccup stood there, tongue tied, and Stoick turned back around and continued shouting orders. His own is not here, they're all in danger since they're the biggest dragon target.
"SECURE THE STABLE!" he shouted. "LATCH EVERY STALL!"
There was a look in Hiccup's eyes...a sort of distant look that Astrid could see. "Hiccup, don't!" she said in the harshest whisper she could have mustered.
"I have to," Hiccup said without missing a beat. "Heather and Hope need me."
"This way!" Stoick shouted, just around the same time Hiccup mounted their dragons. "Quickly!"
The doors were closing quickly, and Hiccup knew it was now or never.
"HICCUP!" Stoick yelled.
Hiccup flew towards one of the doors, but it sealed shut before they could make their escape. Toothless spun in the opposite direction, towards another rapidly shutting door.
"Come on!" he shouted.
Toothless spun and dove through the gap, ust a split second before the door shut behind them.
"HICCUP!" Stoick shouted in vain, except now, he was fuming. His stubborn child would be in so, so much trouble when he finally managed to drag him back.
-
Heather was back on the Edge humming the same lullaby she used on Garth years ago to Hope as she sleeps in her arms and the baby Razorfuries are playing around next to them letting out small screeches that sounded like Windshear's.
That's when they heard their father's screech come through the air and they all know who it is.
The babies run out of the stalls and see as Hiccup and Toothless come flying in and land.
The babies all run up to their father and tackle him to the ground as Toothless just stood by and took it.
Heather chuckles at the babies and how Toothless just allows it when Windshear screeches for the kids to leave their father alone.
"So, what brings you back so soon?" Heather asks her husband as he removes his mask and she sees his worried look. "That bad?"
He brings her inside and leaves the dragons to play and fills her in on what he knows.
"A dragon army!?" Heather asks as her blood boils with rage, but keeping quiet to not wake Hope. These several years have been nothing but save dragons and there's someone even worse than Viggo out there.
Viggo was at least just catching and selling. This Drago is using dragons.
But these past two years with no danger, it was the best years of their lives. And now they need to get back into their war saddles and bring back the Night Rider and Shadow Rider.
"What's the plan to stop him?" Heather asks, knowing he has a plan.
"First things first, we need to drop Hope off somewhere safe where she won't be hurt." Hiccup tells her and Heather is onboard with that idea.
"How about with Elsa in the Enchanted Forest?" Heather offers and Hiccup sees that's a good idea as any. Five magicial sprits and one being a friend of theirs, she would be safe there.
"Then afterwards, we find and follow the trappers." Hiccup tells her and they call their dragons.
-
Eret's ship glided through the ocean, and Eret stood at the bow of the ship, overlooking the sea.
"Keep your eyes peeled, lads!" he ordered. "With this wind, we'll reach Drago by daybreak, so best we fill this ship up with dragons, and quick! It's no time to be picky!"
"Uh...Eret?" one of the other trappers said, tapping Eret's shoulder, his eyes fixated on the sky.
Eret didn't notice it yet. "Not if we want to keep our-" he started, stopping when he finally looked at the sky. Two dragons flew towards them with three riders mounted on their backs. "Heads!" Eret finished, excitedly. "Off the port quarter! Net 'em, lads! Take 'em down!"
"Up on the left!" another trapper shouted, and then, Eret got a good look at just who the riders were. The same rider from earlier that day and someone new.
He smiled, aiming a net at them. "You're not getting away this time," he said. "FIRE!" Nets flew up towards the dragons, but each one of them missed. "RELOAD!"
"Come on, reload!" another trapper yelled. "Ah, incoming!"
Heather and Hiccup landed their dragons on the deck of the ship, Heather with her axe drawn as Hiccup took off his helmet and tossed his head, smiling smoothly.
"And here I was worried we might turn up empty handed," Eret said.
Heather bared her teeth, ready to attack. All they had to do was wait for Hiccup to give the word, and then-
"Nope," Hiccup said casually. "It's your lucky day." Then, he raised his hands over his head, still smiling casually. "We give up!" he said as he dismounted Toothless. "That's one Night Fury and one Razorwhip-" He grabbed a net from the trappers and threw them over Heather as she dismounted her dragon as well. "And two of the finest Dragon Riders west of Luk Tuk! That oughtta make the boss happy, right?"
He shoved past trappers. "Excuse us," Hiccup said. Heather didn't know what in the world her husband was thinking, but she trusted him. If he was doing this, he must have had a good plan.
Right?
He was Hiccup. He always had a good plan, no matter what the situation was or how crazy the plan seemed. She didn't know what his plan was, exactly, but she knew it was easier to go along than to question him. Because sometimes she just doesn't like the answers.
"After you," he said to Heather, and she stepped down, obviously too confused to ask any more questions.
"I trust you have a plan," Heather whispered to Hiccup before she stepped down as well.
"Always," Hiccup said reassuringly. "I always have a plan."
Heather rolled her eyes. "You and your dramatic flare," she grumbled.
He stepped down the hatch himself. "Toothless, stay," he said, and then, he closed the hatch. "The dragons don't really care for cramped spaces," Hiccup said, his voice echoing, "so they'll just hang out with you. They won't be any trouble."
Dragon Trappers pulled their weapons and swords all around them, and Toothless yelped, baring his teeth along with Windshear getting her tail ready for attack. Hiccup slid the hatch open again and poked his head through it. "Unless you do that!" he said. "You know...wooden boat, big ocean...how's your swimming?"
"Not good," one of the trappers said, his eyes wide as he came to the realization as if it had just occurred to him.
Hiccup lit Inferno, and a burst of flame shot up from it. The trappers jumped at the sight of it, and Hiccup retracted the blade again. "Oops!" he said. "Almost forgot!" He flicked his hair and handed the nearest trapper the weapon. "Can't have armed prisoners!"
"How is this a plan?" Heather whispered. Hiccup simply waved his hand at her. She knew better than to question his methods, really, she did...but it would help if she knew what he was planning at least this time.
One of the trappers took Inferno and held it cautiously, looking it over. He clicked one of the switches, and the pommel of the hilt began expelling green gas.
"Just what ever Dragon Trapper needs!" Hiccup said in a tone that sounded far too cheery. "One end coats the blade in Monstrous Nightmare saliva. The other sprays Hideous Zippleback gas." Hiccup sank back into the hatch, keeping his head down. "All it takes is a spark, and…"
Hiccup looked back at Heather. "Duck," he whispered.
They dove for cover instantly, and just as they did so, an explosion swept over the deck of the ship, followed by a thick smoke cloud. Hiccup looked back up the hatch, smiling in satisfaction.
Oooooh, so that was his plan, Heather thought.
"Oh yeah, there you go!" Hiccup congratulated. The trappers' faces were covered in soot, and they were holding Inferno as if it would kill them all then and there.
Toothless stood up on his hind legs and began pawing at a floating spark in the air like a cat.
"Once they see you as one of their own, even the testiest dragon can be trained," Hiccup said. Toothless bounded over to him, and Hiccup rubbed his head. "Right, bud?"
Eret ran forward and ripped Inferno out of the trapper's hands. "Give me that!" he yelled, and just as soon after, hurled Inferno into the ocean. Windshear spread her wings and flew after it.
"What game are you playing?" Eret growled at Hiccup.
"No game," Hiccup said honestly. "We just want to meet Drago." He says honestly as Windshear returned, holding one end of Inferno. She dropped it at Eret's feet, and he grabbed it and threw it in the opposite direction. Only for Windshear to chase after it once again.
"Why?" Eret asked.
"Because I'm going to change his mind about dragons," Hiccup said firmly.
Eret and his men laughed in unison. Windshear returned, dropping Inferno at Eret's feet once again. Eret's laughs trailed off, and he eyed the dragons in somewhat confusion.
Heather moved up beside Hiccup. "He can be really persuasive when he wants to be, you'd be surprised. He changed an entire island's mind once. One guy shouldn't be too much of a problem for him."
"Exactly," Hiccup said in reply. Toothless nuzzled him, and Hiccup scratched his head. "Once you've earned his loyalty," Hiccup said, "there is nothinga dragon won't do for you."
"Bah!" Eret waved his hand in disbelief. "You won't be changing any minds around here."
"I can change yours," Hiccup said. "Right here, right now." He pushed Toothless' tail lever forward, and the prosthetic tail fin opened. Hiccup rose to a stand, gesturing to his dragon. "Ah, may I?"
Then, something Heather couldn't make out - a blur of red and black dragon scales - swooped down and snatched Hiccup right off the ship. Heather's mind filled with clouded panic, but then, she heard Hiccup shout, "PUT ME DOWN! SNOTLOUT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"
Heather felt a little bit better when she knew that her husband wasn't in immediate danger, but she did need to figure out why his cousin was there, and what he was doing.
Toothless roared and climbed onto the top of the boat, relaxing when he saw who it was. Snotlout looked over at Ruffnut and smirked, oblivious to Hiccup's angry shouting. "See how well I protect and provide?" Snotlout bragged.
Ruffnut growled, sounding more like a dragon than anything. Barf and Belch dodged nets and bolas that shot up at them from the ship with expertise, but that didn't mean the twins were any more thrilled.
Heather went for a trapper, bashing his head with the flat of her axe. He crumpled to the deck of the ship, unconscious in an instant.
Well, that was easy. Heather didn't know what was going on, and why the Berk Riders were here, but she had a pretty good idea. They must have followed Hiccup or even tracked them from the Edge.
Great.
Heather knew they were going to get it. If Stoick got the dragon riders back to Berk, Heather wouldn't have been surprised if he threw them all in the dungeon and kept them locked up.
She just wouldn't let that happen. Hiccup was right. They needed to beat Drago head-on, not wait for Drago to attack. If they did that, there was no way they would even have so much as a chance.
People would die. It would be a slaughter. Innocent lives would be destroyed, families would be broken, and children would run terrified. Maybe even the children would be killed. Even their friends would be in danger. The Defenders of the Wing, Arendelle could be hit, and especially Berk.
Heather bashed another trapper with her axe, her fury rekindled.
"Aaagh!" Tuffnut shouted, anger obvious in his tone. "What is with all the nets!?"
They dodged another one just barely.
"HEY!" Ruffnut protested. "Watch it! That was close…" She froze when she saw Eret, her eyes widening. Heather looked up at her from where she was attacking another trapper, groaning when she saw the look on Ruffnut's face.
She knew that face. The face of somebody in love.
Great.
Now Ruffnut was in love with their enemy.
This day just gets a whole lot better by the minute.
And she was starting to sound more and more like Snotlout.
Heather tuned Ruffnut out and continued fighting. Hiccup pushed off Hookfang and opened the wings of his flightsuit, gliding back towards the ship. Eret aimed his bola launcher right at Hiccup, ready to fire it.
Heather's eyes widened. "Hold your fire!" she shouted, shoving Eret roughly. The net shot through the air, poorly aimed, and Hiccup missed it easily. Heather shoved more trappers away from their posts, threatening each and every one of them with her axe, even when it wasn't necessary.
HIccup grabbed the rope dangling from the top of the ship and swung down, landing on his feet effortlessly and folding the leather wings of his flightsuit back.
"Uh, WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING HERE!?" Hiccup yelled.
"We're here-!" Gobber landed on the ship. "To rescue...you!"
"I don't need to be rescued!" Hiccup shot back.
"And neither do I!" Heather shouted, bashing another trapper as if to prove her point. "We can take care of ourselves."
"ENOUGH!"
The voice made Hiccup and Heather alike tense, and Stoick landed Skullcrusher on the ship. He dismounted, striding towards Hiccup and Heather.
Now they're in trouble.