I walked out of the Great Hall with Hiccup close behind me. I kept walking down the uneven stone stairs. Hiccup caught up to me halfway down.
"Hey. So, do you want to talk about it?" He asked, slowing down and walking beside me.
"We'll talk later. On the way home. Let me get my things from Gobber." I said. Hiccup nodded and turned right to head towards his father's house. I headed towards the town square, to the blacksmith shop. I walked in as Gobber was pounding a new coat of iron on a shield.
"Hey Gobber. Thanks for holding my stuff." I said walking over towards the table where my sword and something new I was working on were sitting.
"No problem. You leaving?" He said with his heavy accent.
"Oh, yeah. I should probably get back."
"Ok. Well just know that Stoick has changed. And he is sorry."
"I know."
"I know you know, but how long until you believe it?" He said, stopping what he was doing. The shield was halfway out of the forge as he turned to me. I let my arms down to my side and glared at him.
"Gobber."
"What? It takes more than a few minutes to forgive someone."
"I will. That's all I'm going to talk about right now. Are you gonna finish your shield?" I guestered to his shield, the side of which was glowing hot red.
"Guah!" Gobber exclaimed as he pulled the shield from the forge and put it back in water.
"Hey, my sword is lighter." I said, weighing it in my hand.
"Oh, yeah I replaced the parts with Gronckle Iron, which is a super light, super resistant metal."
"Oh. Thanks." I said as I left the shop. Hiccup and Toothless were waiting for me in the town square.
"Ready to go?" He said.
"Yes. And we'll talk on the way." I said, securing my sword to my belt and shifting into a Night Fury.
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We flew for about half an hour before Hiccup asked me, "So, why are you upset with my father? It's about your village right?"
"Yeah. I talked to him. He wiped out my village during your war with the Berserkers and the Outcasts." I said, looking back at Hiccup.
"You blame me?"
"No," I scoffed, "I blame Stoick. He got upset with my chief's decision, and decided to act on it."
"Well, your chief was going to align with our enemies, who were very dangerous."
"Well, yeah and I don't agree with it, but Stoick wiped out my entire village. That is unnecessary!" I said, flying slightly faster out of anger.
"I agree. He told me about that in the great hall." He said. "He does regret it and he has changed."
I looked back at Hiccup and Toothless. "I don't have to forgive him." I said. Hiccup nodded sadly. Toothless just looked at me, confused.
"But," I said, slowing down and flying parallel to Toothless, "it's nice to know. It's closure. Even if I don't like the answer, I know it. And that makes me feel better."
"Good. I'm glad you can begin to put this behind you." Hiccup said. I nodded as we crossed into Dragon's Edge waters. I looked towards the lagoon to see Fishlegs, Astrid, Snotlout, and the Twins flying around the cove.
"Hey, what's going on over there?" I said, stopping.
"I don't know." Hiccup said. We flew over to see the rest of the Dragon Riders in a fight with two Scauldrons and a Sea Shocker.
"Woah!" I said as a water blast flew over my head. I dove down, then flew back up to regroup with everyone.
"Hiccup, Jackson! Thank Thor you guys are here!" Astrid said.
"Guys, we have to help this Sea Shocker from the Scauldrons!" Fishlegs yelled. I looked down at the water. The Scauldrons were chasing the Shocker around, trying to corner it.
"They're underwater. I can't get a clear shot!" Astrid said while leaning over Stormfly's side.
"They're in a feeding frenzy. It's too dangerous to get any closer." Hiccup said.
"Too dangerous for..!" I began to shout. "Too dangerous for you guys." I said to myself.
"Huh? What Jackson?" Hiccup asked.
"Hang on, I got this!" I said, shifting into myself and falling out of the sky.
"Jackson!" Hiccup yelled.
"What is he doing?" Snotlout asked.
"I don't know but ten mackerel says he doesn't make it." Ruff wagered.
"Ah, twenty says he only loses an eye!" Tuff said back.
"Knock it off you guys." Hiccup said.
I fell towards the water, going faster and faster. I was spread out in an 'X' shape as I fell, to reduce my speed. At the last second, I pulled my feet underneath me and fell into the water in a straight line. I torpedoed downward underwater, as the Shocker swam right towards me. I grabbed his fin and shifted into a Sea Shocker. Suddenly, I could see underwater, I could breathe again, but it didn't feel like air, it felt like drinking air. I zapped and drew the Scauldrons away from the other Shocker. I swam downwards, faster and faster, until I reached the ocean floor. I quickly shifted into a thunderdrum and swam upwards. I almost crashed into the Scauldrons as they frantically swam downward.
I flew out of the water and flew next to the Riders.
"Jackson! What's going on?" Astrid yelled.
"I drew the Scauldrons down to the floor. We don't have much time, let's get Zipp and Zapp here out to sea." I said. The riders blasted open the last of the cove mouth, which had been closed off, and the Sea Shocker swam back to his pod, where he was safe once again. Everyone began to fly back to the base.
"Zipp and Zapp? Really?" Fishlegs said.
"What? I was just spitballing." I laughed as I landed at the base. "Not my best work."
"Oh, also Jackson, quick warning, it's Loki day, so watch your back." Astrid said with an evil look on her face.
"What- What's that supposed to mean?" I asked. Everyone began walking away. "G-guys? Hiccup? Hello?"
That night, as everyone was getting back at Ruffnut and Tuffnut for Loki-ing them, I kept busy on my own, trying to finish my new project.
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A few days later, as everyone was finishing their breakfast in the clubhouse, a Terror Mail was dropped right into my meal.
"What the- Argh!" I said as eggs and potatoes flew everywhere. Everyone looked around, wondering if anyone was expecting anything. I opened the letter and started reading.
Dragon Riders, I was visiting outcast Island to sell some goods, when I arrived at the strangest scene. The entire island is deserted. I wanted to tell you so you may investigate. It actually began to remind me of a time when I was on the eastern coast of Braykoma. I was only beginning my trade at that time, so I didn't have much expertise, however I still…
It went on like that for a few more pages.
"It's from Johann. He said Outcast Island is suddenly deserted." I said, rolling the paper back up.
"Then what's the rest of that?" Tuffnut asked. I held up the paper, "It's Johann." I said.
"Come on gang. We better check it out." Hiccup said, starting towards Toothless.
"Oh come on! I was enjoying this." Snotlout said, putting down his meal.
We flew to Outcast Island to check it out. We arrived to see the entire island smoking, and empty. We landed to investigate further.
"I don't like it." Ruff muttered.
"Weird. I don't see any arrows or spears." Hiccup said.
"No boulders from catapults." Fishlegs noticed.
"I don't think this was a Dragon Hunter attack." I walked back over towards everyone.
"Well, whoever did this meant business." Astrid walked towards us.
"And where did everybody go?" Fishlegs asked.
"They must've evacuated." I said.
"What could possibly scare the outcasts off their own island?" Fishegs asked.
"Mutton famine?"
"Bed Bugs?" The twins started guessing.
"Johann?" Snotlout joked, leaning on a giant rock.
" I think this has something to do with it." Hiccup gestured to the rock Snotlout was leaning on.
"Snotlout…" I said. He walked forward and turned around. A giant scorch mark was etched into the rock. I noticed a body near some rocks.
"Guys, over here." I said. They walked over to the fallen soldier.
"It looks like he didn't make it." Astrid said.
"Look at this," I held up his arm, "Ghost bolts."
"What?" Hiccup asked.
"Back on my island, we had a name for the marks lightning makes when it strikes humans. It leaves these figures that look like lightning. We called them Ghost bolts... Call." It bothered me that I used the past tense. I wanted to keep my culture alive.
"I've been struck by lightning before. I don't have those." Snotlut said.
"Lightning can range to anywhere from a mild shock, to disorientation, to major injuries, to death." I said.
"Yeah Snotlout, in your case it was definitely disorientation." Tuffnut laughed.
"I was, it knocked me out for several days." Hiccup said. I looked up at him. "I was defending Toothless from Mildew, who was claiming that Thor was angry at him. But it was just the metal."
"Oh, yes! My grandfather always said that Thor has a grudge with Brokkr, the god of Metal. I just figure it's because the metal can absorb the lightning. See, when it strikes wood, or stone, it either damages it or just dissipates. When it strikes metal, it bounces off, often to other metal." I said.
"What makes you the expert on lightning?" Ruffnut asked.
I shrugged. "A hobby. I've always wanted to shift into a Skrill."
"Well you might get that chance." Hiccup said.
"Hiccup, do you think it could be…?" Fishlegs asked. Everyone looked at each other and quickly ran to their dragons and took off.
"Guys? What? A Skrill?" I flew after them.
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"There! That's the one!" Hiccup said as we approached a snowy island. We flew down to a small valley with a giant crack in it. We dismounted our dragons (I shifted) and walked towards the crack. Everyone leaned down and peered into the crevice.
"Yep. The Skrill is gone." Snotlout said.
"That's a good title for a song. I'm gonna work on that when we get home." Tuffnut said.
"How did that happen?" Fishlegs said.
"Shoddy workmanship, I'd say." Tuffnut said.
"Aren't we the ones who sealed him in that big hole?" Ruff asked. I blinked.
"It doesn't matter how it got out. We've got to get it back before it hurts anybody else, or before Dagur gets a hold of it." Hiccup said.
"The question is, where is it heading?" Astrid asked.
"Well, since the Skrill gravitates towards storms to channel its lightning, I'd say it's following that storm heading due south from Outcast Island." I said.
"Exactly. How'd you know that?" Fishlegs said. I shrugged.
"Hey, isn't Berk…? Oh no." Snotlout realized why the Skirll was heading in that direction. Everyone began to mount their dragons again. Hiccup quickly filled me in on the backstory of the Skrill we were chasing.
"You guys froze a Skrill?" I asked as we flew towards Berk.
"Yeah. It was relentless, and we knew it could survive." Hiccup said. I thought to myself as we flew. But there's always another way. I would never do that. It's not much different from the Hunters.
We arrived at Berk to witness the Skrill attacking what looked like a new group of Dragon Riders.
"Hey, look at that. The A-team, already on the case." Astrid said.
"What? A-team? Who-?" I started.
"Yeah, okay, you know, it might be a little early in their dragon riders careers to.." Hiccup trailed off. At that moment, the Skrill released a lightning blast, hitting all the riders but Spitelout. He took the time to gloat, and was hit by lightning, sending him flying towards the town below.
"Dad!" Snotlout dove after him.
"Cover the downed riders!" Hiccup said. We began diving towards the riders and the town to protect it, when Hiccup and Toothless pulled up, staring down the Skrill. I stopped and looked back up at them.
"Toothless? No. What are you doing?" Hiccup yelled. It seemed that Toothless was the one staring down the Skrill. The Skrill bared it's lightning filled mouth, and Toothless charged. "Toothless no!" Hiccup yelled. I quickly flew back up to intercept the shot with my own. The Skrill fired a blast, and Toothless returned. I climbed higher still, as a Night Fury, getting just close enough to move Hiccup and Toothless out of the way if the Skrill managed to hit them. By move, I mean crash into them. The shots hit and exploded, sending everyone flying backwards, shocked by lightning. Hiccup fell off Toothless as they flew towards the ground. I was stunned and shifted back into myself, falling toward the town. I spread into an 'X' shape as a fell, which I found myself doing a lot in my profession. I saw Toothless crash into a building underneath Hiccup. He quickly pulled out his wings and flew towards Stoick and Skullcrusher. I was busy relaxing, and didn't notice Fishlegs next to me.
"Jackson? You going to do something, or…?" Fishlegs chuckled as he free fell while riding Meatlug.
"What? Oh right." I said, snapping out of my thoughts. I attempted to shift into a Monstrous Nightmare, as they have the toughest wings and I could easily slow down. I realized I couldn't.
"Uh, Fishlegs? I can't." I said.
"What do you mean-" He started, but the ground was approaching too fast. I quickly turned myself towards the nearest tree, and right before I hit, I shifted from my 'X' formation into a straight line with my feet below me. I crashed into the tree and hit what felt like every branch on the way down. I finally landed on the ground on my back.
"Oh. Ow." I groaned. I began to walk towards where Skullcrusher landed.
"Yeah, that wasn't my strategy." I caught the end of Hiccup and Stoick's conversation. I hobbled towards the rest of the gang. Snotlout was helping Spitelout towards us. Astrid spotted me and Spitelout.
"Jackson are you ok?" She asked, ignoring Spitelout.
"Do I look that bad?" I chuckled. I was covered in cuts and bruises from the landing, and I hobbled over towards a barrel and sat on it.
"What happened?" Fishlegs asked.
"Well, I tried to shift and couldn't. I was still in shock from the lightning. I'm fine." I said.
"Jackson, you fell from the sky." Hiccup said.
"Well so did my dad." Snotlout said.
"Snotlout, he's a giant viking who fell into a pile of grain." Astrid said. Spitelout began babbling, not being able to speak.
"Ah thanks dad! I'm proud of you too." Snotlout said.
"Well all the huts seem to be in fairly good condition." Fishlegs said.
"All except, uh, well…" I pointed behind Stoick, towards his own house.
"My house!" Stoick yelled.
"Hey, Chief, is the charred look in this year?" Ruff asked.
"I actually happen to think it's trés chic, Chief." Tuff said. "I'm thinking of doing it to our hut back on the Edge. Or at least, Jackson's hut." They chuckled their evil chuckle.
"Hey, you stay away from my house." I said from my barrel.
"Weird that Stoick's house is the only one the Skrill attacked." Astrid said.
"Huh. That could explain why the Skrill went to Outcast Island and then here." Fishlegs said. I caught on too.
"Yeah, it's not randomly attacking. It's looking for me and Toothless." Hiccup said looking at the sky.
"And Outcast Island is the last place it saw you guys, before…" Astrid said.
"Before we lead it into the crevasse and sealed it inside." Hiccup finished her sentence. I wondered how long Astrid and Hiccup had pretended not to be interested in each other.
"Well, Skrills are known to carry grudges." I began to stand up. "And this particular one is looking for revenge after you guys trapped it back in that glacier." I said bitterly. I stretched my arms and brushed leaves and twigs from myself.
"What choice did we have? It was either that or let Dagur have it." Astrid said.
"Why don't you explain that to the Skrill?" I said. Toothless made a low, slow snarl towards the sky.
"Ooh. Relax, bud. We've dealt with the Skrill before, we'll deal with it again." Hiccup said.
"Is it just me, or is Snotlout's dad acting a little more violent and deranged than usual?" Tuff asked, looking towards Spitelout swinging an axe slightly too close to everyone's head as he yelled gibberish.
Snotlout laughed. "Looks like the Skrill isn't the only one out for revenge. Fear not dear father. You will be avenged. We Jorgenson's will have our pound of Skrill flesh. I will make sure of it!" Astrid just stared in disappointment.
"Clearly, the Skrill is coming back to Berk for you and Toothless, and we need to be ready." She said to Hiccup as he climbed on Toothless.
"We're not waiting for it Astrid."
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'You're sure this is the way you want to play it?" Astrid said.
"It's me and Toothless it wants. It's me and Toothless it's gonna get." Hiccup said as he packed up his satchel.
"And Jackson." She said, clearly upset that she was not invited. "Wouldn't it be better if we were all there? It doesn't stand a chance against all of us."
"And it knows that, which is why I don't think it will show up unless it knows it's just me and Toothless. And I can't fight it alone either, so since Jackson can shift into a Changewing, and he doesn't smell like a dragon-" "Not on a good day at least." I interrupted, earning a chuckle from everyone else. "He will hide out and wait to attack."
"All right, guys, you heard the man. Let's saddle up." Astrid sighed.
Everyone flew away, Snotlout and Spitelout lingering after an argument, but eventually left. I shifted into a Changewing and flew around, loosely following Toothless and he and Hiccup flew around the clouds. They began firing into the clouds, illuminating them with purple light with every blast. They kept doing this, until lightning struck in the clouds in front of them, revealing a silhouette of the Skrill.