Chapter 5: Locked up

It was nothing but darkness for what felt like ages, and the feel of being moved while in said darkness was certainly there, but who and how they were moving was beyond Fishlegs.

Then, in almost an instant, Fishlegs's mind returns to him as he begins to smell the oddly familiar smell of prison bars and damp cave walls. Fishlegs opens his eyes and his suspicions got confirmed as he looks around and sees himself along with Snotlout, Ruffnut and Tuffnut, who were still knocked out, in some kind of prison cell.

Fishlegs looks over to the others and nudges them before saying, "Guys. Guys, wake up."

Snotlout groans, "Not yet, Mom, 5 more minutes." And the twins groan some inaudible response.

Fishlegs nudges them harder, "GUYS!"

The other 3 woke up with a startle and look around to see where they are as Tuffnut asks, "Uh…where are we?"

Ruffnut sniffs the air. "Well, we're certainly not in Berserker, Outcast, Dragon Hunter, old Berk or New Berk prison."

Fishlegs walks up to the bars he was behind and knocks on them. "H-hello?"

"Well, I was wondering when you were going to wake up." Said a familiar voice as he turns the corner and gives the 4 people inside gasp in shock.

"Trader Johann?! No way!" Fishlegs comments.

Johann gives a fake chuckle. "Oh, Fishlegs, aren't we way past that whole 'Trader' thing by this point?"

Snotlout bangs on the cell bars and states, "Hey, Johann! You better let us out of here before you regret locking us up in the first place."

Johann lets out another fake chuckle. "If you're referring to your chief coming here and setting you free, I'm afraid that's not going to happen. I have the highest guards on the island on constant patrol and they are not afraid to take her down the moment they see her."

Ruffnut then asks, "What do you want from us?"

Johann replies, "The same thing that I wanted the last time we saw each other 27 years ago, the king of dragons. I know you four know where he is, and I know that, with you all and the queen in my custody, the king will just have to bring himself to me."

They all stare in shock as they hear who he's looking for as Fishlegs asks, "You're looking for Toothless?"

Johann gives a slight chuckle. "That's right, you four were right there when he became an Alpha and were there when he left to live on his own and to rule over all of dragon-kind."

Snotlout clenches his fists. "Even if we did know where The Hidden World was, there's no chance we'd ever tell you!"

Johann replies, "There's no need, my apprentice already found it and should be working up a chart to show me where to go. Well, I suppose I told you enough. Oh, and if you're interested in living, I suggest you four keep your big yaps shut." He then leaves the prison as the four dragon riders were left to wonder exactly what they're going to do.

Half an hour went by, though it felt like 1 hour, and the four of them were just sat in their cell, saying nothing. Ruffnut was cuddled up next to Fishlegs on the left side of the cell while Snotlout sat in the middle and Tuffnut was leaning against the right side.

Fishlegs breaks the silence by saying, "Man, I hope Fishnut is alright."

Snotlout sighs. "I wonder the same thing about Choplout. I know he's got good genes but can he actually handle himself?"

Ruffnut sighs and comments, "You know, it's times like these that I wish Barf & Belch and the other dragons were still living with us."

Tuffnut adds, "I know what you mean." Just then, the sound of dual clattering voices could be heard nearby. "I must be losing it because I think I can actually hear them now."

Then a low-pitched growl could be heard, making Snotlout reply, "Yeah? Well then I must be out of my mind too because I swear I can hear Hookfang's stern voice."

Fishlegs then raises a brow as the sound could be heard again. "Wait…I heard that too."

This gets the four of them to stand and look out of their cell to the other side of the hall and, poking their heads out of the shadows, was a tan Gronckle, a red Monstrous Nightmare and a green Hideous Zippleback, all of which were thrilled to see the four humans on the other side. "No way!" Snotlout nearly yells.

"Barf!" Ruffnut yells, making the Zippleback head on their left smile.

"Belch!" Tuffnut yells, making the Zippleback head on their right shoot a few sparks form his mouth.

"Hookfang!" Snotlout yells, making the Monstrous Nightmare's eyes light up.

"Meatlug!" Fishlegs yells making the Gronckle hang its tongue out in pure joy, then from behind the Gronckle came a smaller Gronckle that looked just like Meatlug. Fishlegs nearly passes out from gasping so hard. "FISHMEAT?! Wow, last time I saw you, you could still fit into Meatlug's mouth!" Fishmeat grunts in joy.

Ruffnut then points out, "Wait, do these guys seem a bit…bigger than last time we saw you."

Tuffnut points out, "Duh, they became Titan Wings. Oh, they're becoming oldies just like us!"

Fishlegs comments, "I thought we'd never see you guys again." Then Fishlegs's joy fades as his smile drops. "Wait…how DID you guys get here?"

"Just a few trophies I picked up recently." Said a deep voice that also pops out of the shadows.

"Doomvist!" Snotlout comments. "I should've known you were behind this."

Doomvist nods. "Indeed you should've. Then again, given your weak son, I'm not surprised that you were so easy to take."

Snotlout bangs his fist on the metal bars. "Hey! You leave Choplout out of this!"

Doomvist nods again. "Anyway, I picked up these pathetic dragons when I captured their queen. You see, after I had already taken care of your chief and her scrawny friend, the Night Fury called for help in the form of his subordinates, of which I was able to capture with my eyes closed. It was strange, though, because I was certain there'd be a Deadly Nadder involved as well."

Tuffnut adds, "You know, I was going to ask if Stormfly was back there. Now I know."

Fishlegs then notices something in the cell next to the dragons, a blue and a purple Zippleback that were just as locked up as the other 3. He put the pieces together quickly, "Of course." He looks back to Doomvist. "That's where you got the fuel for your fire sword, isn't it?"

Doomvist chuckles in response. "Wow, took you long enough to figure that one out too." He pulls out his sword and ignites the blade and points it to Fishlegs's face. "Keep talking and this will be the last thing that you see." Before deactivating it and clipping it to his belt. "I will be back, you can count on that." With that, he walks away.

Fishlegs looks over to the dragons in the other cage, all with depressed looks on their faces, and sighs. "I've wanted to see you guys again so badly ever since you left, but I didn't want it to happen like this."

Ruffnut pats Fishlegs's shoulder. "I feel the same way. We have got to get out of here."

Snotlout asks, "How? These bars are made of dragon-proof material and I don't see any of you with a key lying around."

Tuffnut replies, "I've got a key to my house, but I doubt that will help here."

With that, everyone went back to silence with the riders staring at their dragons and vice versa, wondering just what they're going to do.