Chapter 6: Search for a Lost Man

With Luna and 4 of the original dragon riders in custody, those on New Berk, both human and dragon, knew they needed to work fast and think quickly if they were to ever see their loved ones again.

Zephyr, Astrid, Peston, Fishnut, Choplout, Toothless, Stormfly, Pouncer, Ruffrunner and Dart were all gathered in New Berk's Great Hall where Zephyr had several maps laid out on a large table as she said, "Alright, we have the means, now we just need to figure out where Dad went."

Fishnut points out, "Hold on, I thought we were looking for our families."

Zephyr replies, "Trust me, once we find my Dad, he'll know exactly what to do to not only help free our loved ones, but also to help figure out how to stop the Seekers once and for all, plus Doomvist made it pretty clear that he wants him there. Now, Dad was last seen on a ship leaving Berk's dock and was heading East."

Peston points out, "Yeah, but in the months that he's been gone, he could've turned and gone literally anywhere."

Zephyr sighs. "True…" she slams her fists to the table. "Come on, we have less than 3 days to get to find Dad and get to Collection Island, and every minute we spend thinking about this is just more time that we're wasting!"

Astrid pats Zephyr on the shoulder, "Zephyr, I know you're stressed, and I get it, but we have to focus, otherwise we could end up making the wrong move all together." Toothless grunts a similar response.

Zephyr sighs. "You're right. I just…wish we had a clue or something."

Astrid looks down a bit before reaching into her pocket. "Before your father left, he gave me this." She holds out a piece of paper.

Zephyr unfolds it and it shows a younger Hiccup and Astrid plus a 5 year old Zephyr and an infant wrapped up in a blanket inside Hiccup's arms. The sight of which brought tears to Zehpyr's eyes. "Oh my Thor…I forgot about this photo."

Astrid sighs. "Every time I see that, I am reminded of the amazing time we had before all this stuff with the Seekers began, back when things were much simpler."

Zephyr then looks to the infant in Hiccup's arms and a tear drips down onto its head as she comments, "Nuffink…"

Astrid sighs deeper. "I wish we could get him back too…but he has made his choice, and if that choice means that we're now enemies, then so be it."

Zephyr then turns the piece of parchment over and comments, "Hey…what's this?" She notices part of an outline to an island towards the top right corner plus the letter "D" written on that same corner.

Astrid comments, "Huh, I've actually never seen that before."

Zephyr wipes her tears and replies, "I…I think it's part of a map…are there any more photos like this?"

Astrid thinks for a moment. "Actually…yes! Hiccup did have more of these that he gave to-" her eyes widen as she looks down.

Zephyr asks, "To…who?"

Astrid sighs. "To Fishlegs, Snotlout and the twins."

Zephyr looks back down to the table. "Drat."

There was a moment of silence as everyone tries to figure out just what they were going to do, that was before Choplout slams his fist onto the table. "Then we're going to get them."

Zephyr replies, "Choplout, we can't-"

"NO! This is my dad we're talking about, and if he has the key to finding your dad then we are going to go get them."

Peston adds, "Not to rain on your parade, Choplout, but you're talking about sneaking onto Collection Island and, somehow, taking our stolen people back while somehow leaving the island completely unnoticed. I probably don't need to tell you that the odds of doing so are certainly not in our favor."

Zephyr then looks up. "Not unless we come up with a great plan to get in there!"

All eyes look to Zephyr as Fishnut asks, "Uh…is this one of those metaphor things you've been telling us about?"

Zephyr shakes her head. "Not at all. Look, let's not forget that Luna's life is on the line as well…" Toothless gives a, 'you don't need to remind me' look. "…so, taking back your families could end up costing her life, but all we really need to do is get those photos back so we can get my Dad back!"

Astrid then asks, "Are you sure, Zephyr? I think we need a bit more time to think this through."

Zephyr shakes her head. "I'm afraid we're running out of time as it is. If we're going to take action, then we need to do it as soon as we can." Astrid could see the determination in Zehpyr's eyes, so she chose not to stop her. "Now, of course the fastest way to get to Collection Island is on a dragon, so let's gear up."

Peston then points out, "Uh…what about us?" Fishnut and Choplout had similar questioning looks.

Astrid crosses her arms and replies, "Well, the way I see it, there's three of you and three dragons sitting next to you." The three of them look over to Pouncer, Dart, who were sitting next to them, and Ruffrunner, who was on his front paws, asleep.

Peston comments, "Uh…no offense but I'm not exactly comfortable with the whole…dragon thing." Dart then steps forward and sniffs the three humans a bit. Peston asks, "What is she doing?"

Astrid replies, "I'd say Dart is deciding which one of you she wants."

The blue-eyed Night Light then goes face to face with Peston, locking eyes with him as he holds up his hands. "Uh…listen. You seem nice, but, I'm just not sure-" he was interrupted when Dart closes her eyes and leans in and rests her nose on his left hand, purring like a happy cat. Peston looks to the dragon on his hand and, in that moment, felt something spark in him that he had never felt before. Dart pulls her head away and Peston comments, "…Whoa. So that's what it's like to connect with a dragon."

Astrid comments, "Peston, I'd say you and Dart are going to get along just fine."

Choplout then pushes Fishnut to the side and approaches Pouncer and Ruffrunner. "Alright, listen up you two, I deserve the best and only the best. You two know which amongst you two that is, so I suggest you step forward now!" He pushes out his left hand.

Pouncer looks down to the still sleeping Ruffrunner and steps forward and was about to take up Choplout's offer, but then he pats Choplout on the head with his white tail and walks around him, walking up to Fishnut.

Fishnut takes a step back. "Uh, hold on a minute, I think you-" she, however, was interrupted by Pouncer lifting Fishnut's left hand up with his tail and him leaning in to press his nose onto her open hand. Pouncer's eyes were still open, so Fishnut was able to fully see the green jewels stare right at her, making her see her reflection in his pupils, as Fishnut smiles. "Hey, that IS cool."

Astrid replies, "Pouncer and Fishnut, huh? Quite the combo, I'd say."

Choplout then holds out his arms. "Hey! What about me?" He then feels a nudge on his side as the awakened Ruffrunner sniffs at his pocket and extends his tongue inside Choplout's pocket, pulling out a piece of fish jerky and gobbling it in seconds. Choplout whips around and yells, "HEY! I was saving that! You give it here!" He tries to force Ruffrunner's mouth open with his hands to no avail.

Astrid comments, "Wow, Choplout, it's almost a mirror image of your dad and his dragon."

After a failed attempt to get his snack back, Choplout steps back and shakes his fist. "Why I oughta." He pulls his hand back in an attempt to slap Ruffrunner, but that was interrupted by Ruffrunner slipping back and resting his face on Choplout's open hand.

Once Choplout felt the cold, scaly nose on his hand, he looks back to Ruffrunner and suddenly a wave of calmness rushes over him as he comments, "Huh…you're alright."

Astrid nods to that. "Alright, looks like that much is settled. Now, next question, who is going to ride Toothless?" She asks as Toothless's automatic tail fin did get damaged and they have to temporarily go back to the old, red manual fin.

Zephyr steps up. "I can do it. Dad's shown me how to work this fin, so I think I can do it."

Astrid raises a brow. "You sure? Because it took me at least a week to figure out how to work the fin correctly."

Zephyr nods. "I'm sure, Mom. Besides, don't you want to be on Stormfly just like old times?"

Stormfly rests her head on Astrid's shoulders from the behind and Astrid gives her a scratch. "Well, I suppose. Alright, but don't hesitate to let me know if you want to switch."

Zephyr nods. "Alright, gang, we depart in half an hour, use this time to get whatever you need and maybe get to know your new dragon a little."

After hearing that, Astrid pats Zephyr's shoulder. "You sound just like your father." Zephyr smiles to that.

Everyone starts to go their separate ways, but then Zephyr pulls Peston to the side. "Say, uh, Peston? Earlier, before we almost drowned, you said you wanted to tell me something. What was that?"

Peston's cheeks turn red as he replies, "Uh…does it really matter?"

Zephyr replies, "I mean, we do have a minute."

Peston chuckles a bit. "Oh, uh, it was one of those in-the-moment things that I wasn't really thinking about. That's all there is."

Zephyr raises a brow to that. "Are you sure? Because you can tell me if something is bothering you."

Peston looks around to everything but Zephyr before replying, "Uh…I gotta go introduce myself to Spear."

"Dart." Zephyr corrects him.

Peston nods. "Dart, right. Uh, I'll see you when it's time to leave." With that, he quickly leaves the great hall.

Zephyr shakes her head before looking to Toothless and saying, "Come on, let's do a bit of practicing with that tail." Toothless grunts in confirmation as they head out.