Sorry it took me so long to post this. These last few weeks have been really busy and hectic for me.
Below is a RANT ABOUT RESCUE RIDERS I wrote when news of it first came out and I was first writing this episode: (you can skip if you want)
So, promotion for the new upcoming show, Dragons: Rescue Riders, had recently come out as of when I started writing this (so a couple weeks ago). Well, actually, let me rephrase. The show isn't Dragons: Rescue Riders. No, it's just Rescue Riders. Yeah, the Dragons part shouldn't really be there. It's just to have association with the HTTYD franchise when really this is just another show aimed for pre-schoolers, but with dragons (which by the way barely resemble HTTYD). My sister had it right saying it reminded her of Dragon Tales from when we were little and watching PBS Kids.
Why they decided to take a franchise that's always been targeted for kids ages 7 and up and dumb it down for kids 2-6 is beyond me. I mean, The Lion Guard (spin off of the Lion King), okay I get it, Disney's movies are technically targeted for that age group so that never surprised me when it came out. But Dreamworks, in my opinion, mostly does 7, maybe 6, and up movies (Madagascar, Trolls, Home, and Boss Baby being examples of them targeting a younger demographic of 2 to… I guess you could stretch it to 8). But, you know, HTTYD, Rise of the Guardians, Kung Fu Panda, Shrek, Monsters vs Aliens, Prince of Egypt… they've always been movies that I've thought to be for the ages of 7 and up (although Prince of Egypt can be seen as an exception for all ages). I'm not mentioning Anastasia cause that was actually a Don Bluth movie (I had thought it was a Disney movie for years growing up though). Back on track, Dragons even premiered on Cartoon Network, a network that targets 6 to 11 yr olds. And Race to the Edge? That was targeted for 8-15 yr olds. Why you would all of a sudden aim for kids much lower than these age groups boggles my mind. It's so out of the blue.
As for the concept of the show itself, it's fine. It reminds me of a bunch of fanfictions I've seen floating around, but there's nothing particularly wrong with it. Its fine for a junior show. The animation though is a huge down grade from even what we had in 2012 with Riders of Berk. This is probably due to the younger demographic (bright saturated colors, simple designs), plus a vastly lower given budget for whatever reason.
Needless to say, I'm a bit disappointed, and its clear they just tagged this as a HTTYD spin off just to rake in fans of the original franchise who will most likely probably only give the first episode a watch and then forget it exists. Because, and again this is why this makes no sense. Most, if not all fans (and I'm including newer fans too meaning kids) are above the demographic. It's also been confirmed as non cannon to HTTYD and all associated, so again the Dragons tag is irrelevant.
I just feel like there were so many missed opportunities, like giving us a continuation of Race to the Edge similar to how RttE was a continuation of Defenders of Berk, but it's between the third and second movies letting us see more of Valka, allowing her character to expand… letting us see the beginnings of this "Dragon Utopia" Hiccup's already built at the start of the third movie… Let us get more characterization of these new War Lords that took Drago's place similar to how Krogan, or I guess Johann maybe, took over the Dragon Hunters after Viggo basically went into hiding and lost everything at the end of season 4/beginning of season 5. We only got to see glimpses of these guys in the 3rd movie, so there's so much more room to expand. It's not like we really know who these guys are; they were only the catalyst for Grimmel to come into the picture. So what if they were the main antagonists? Again, we'd get more characterization. We'd get to know more of who these guys are. It's clear at the start of the film the Dragon Riders have been battling against them for some time, rescuing/stealing dragons from them; let us see that. The third movie left so many things a show taking place before it could have expanded upon, and the end of the second movie for that matter too. Like Hiccup and Valka's grieving of Stoick, Hiccup's struggles of being thrust into being chief without his father there to guide and help him, Hiccup and Astrid's progression on their relationship; why did they decide not to get married? …Snotlout's sudden infatuation with Hiccup's mom… I swear this boy goes from girl to girl just like that. Astrid, to Heather, to Mala, to Mindin, to Ruffnut, and then Valka (not to mention Bone Crusher). If you think I'm not playing with this character trait of his in this series at least a little bit you're sorely mistaken.
Anyway, there was so much that could have been given to us, but they just decided not to for this little kids show. Will they decide to in the future? My bets are not, but who knows? With how Dreamworks like to milk its franchises anything's really on the table.
And you know what, hey, maybe this Rescue Riders won't be so bad on its own. I'd be lying if I said I didn't watch Disney Junior shows from time to time. Sofia the First/Elena of Avalor (both have the same creator (at least one of them) + are in the same universe. And are also the best 2-6 yr old shows with great plots and character progression, plus fantastic songs. I swear Elena needs her own official Disney Princess movie), The Lion Guard (On occasion. I just got back into it with season 3. Season 2 lost me), and there's this new one called Fancy Nancy that's pretty cute in a 'I would enjoy watching this with my child' kinda way.
OKAY WOW! That turned out way longer than it was supposed to be. On to this week's episode. Hope you enjoy! :)
Fright of Passage:
Previously―
I am Not a Curse: ...Aric and Astrid. They're… well, they're Hoffersons. They're each focused, strong, and pretty much train every waking moment; I hardly see them do anything else.
Portrait of Hiccup: Aric knew that mindset; he dealt with it on a daily basis with his sister. But while he knew the limits of Astrid, he had no idea with Hiccup.
Race to Fireworm Island: She was laying back on Stormfly and observing and thinking things she hadn't noticed before; she was always too busy training to let herself.
Heather Report Part 1:Her little brother who, even only a year and close to two years younger than her, she'd sworn to protect was falling right into the chocolate scented trap of a Snaptrapper and he wouldn't let her save him.
Heather was now holding Astrid in a head lock, and Astrid was struggling to get her off. She pushed and shoved back, hitting her and prying her off as she said with fury, "Don't you ever come near my family again!"
000
(10 years ago)
Colorful light shined in the night sky, but what should have been a beautiful sight was instead a deadly omen. Panic struck the town, men shouting all throughout.
"Aurvandil's Fire! All Berkians to the safety of your homes!"
"It's too late! The Flightmare is here! The Flightmare is here!"
"Save yourselves! The Flightmare is upon us!"
The Flightmare. It was a bright beast that's light blue glow could be seen for miles. Every ten years it had come to plague Berk, and while her little brother was safe inside, Astrid had snuck out to face the creature along with her brave uncle Finn. With her mother's ax she 'borrowed', Astrid marched forward with confidence on her little face.
"Oh, no you don't, Astrid", her uncle Finn blocked her path.
"But I can do it. I can face that dragon and be brave just like you", Astrid argued.
"No, lass. This is not a battle for you", he said cupping her little cheek, Astrid's big blue eyes pleading that she go with him, but her head nodding in understanding. "Not yet, anyway." And with that, Fearless Finn Hofferson left to face the ferocious Flightmare.
But those were the last words he ever spoke to her.
000
(Present)
Three daggers struck the barrel target , followed by a sword slicing through the air to the next.
"You want some of this! Agh!" Astrid angrily shouted as she sliced the other barrel in half. "That's right, who's next?!"
Hiccup's eyes were a little wide as she witnessed Astrid's rage. She had only just walked in, and Astrid was acting very much... not like Astrid. At least, not the Astrid she was used to seeing.
"I-I'm pretty sure that you― Yep. I-I think you got them. All of them", Hiccup spoke making her presence known.
"Astrid's been killing inanimate objects all day", Fishlegs informed her as she walked up and Astrid resumed her 'killing' spree.
"She must be really wound up about the Flightmare", Hiccup supposed.
"Ha", Snotlout interjected. "Too bad she's wasting her time. When the Flightmare comes, the Hoffersons freeze. Right, Astrid? I mean you are a―" Daggers flew his way, his reflexes telling him to duck. "—Hofferson…" he warily finished, slightly afraid of the seething girl now.
"Okay, okay, let's take a deep breath", Hiccup placated walking between Snotlout and Astrid, her wings unfurling to block sight of him. "Just because Aurvandil's Fire is coming doesn't mean the Flightmare is too."
"Sure it does", Fishlegs of course corrected bringing all attention to him. "Every ten years the sky lights up with Aurvandil's Fire, and when it does, the Flightmare appears! It's spectral glow and banshee like scream are unmistakable."
"You were saying?" Astrid harshly questioned Hiccup.
"Thank you, Fishlegs", Hiccup grumbled. "Your extensive knowledge of the Flightmare is timely, if nothing else."
"I do fancy myself to be Berk's leading authority on the subject; here's a few more fun facts."
"Oh. No. Fishlegs, I don't think―"
"Legend has it…"
"And you're going anyway…"
"...the Flightmare is so terrifying it actually freezes its pray in their tracks."
"Yeah", Snotlout but in again, however no longer having Hiccup's protection. "Just ask Frozen Finn Hofferson. Right, Astrid?" Snotlout laughed.
Astrid wasn't laughing, though. "AHHHHH!" she attacked, grabbing Snotlout by his shirt and shoving him into the ground planting her foot to his face so it was smushed between it and the dirt. "You think it's funny, Snotlout?! You think it's a joke that my family name was ruined by that dragon?!" she pointed her sword at him.
"Well I used to just a couple of minutes ago, but now I can see how it may be upsetting you", Snotlout said from under Astrid's boot.
Tuffnut then came in with a wheel barrow full of apples, Ruffnut following with her arms full of fish. "Hey, have you guys heard? The Flightmare is coming", Tuffnut mentioned.
"Uh, guys, we're really trying not to talk about that", Hiccup moved in between the two dimwits and the girl with a sharp sword.
"Hate to break it to you, but that's the only thing anyone's talking about", Ruffnut said.
"Well, that and Frozen Finn", Tuffnut added.
"Hey! A little sensitivity here!" Snotlout yelled in defense. "Can I get up now?" he then asked.
"Ugh, whatever", Astrid grunted, before removing her foot and running to Stormfly to take off.
Hiccup stared off after her with a sigh, before turning back to everyone else. "So thanks a lot, guys", Hiccup sarcastically told them.
"No problem", Tuffnut answered. "If you don't need us anymore, we gotta go get ready for the end of the world. See ya!" And the two ran into the largest of the old dragon cages.
000
A little later that day, Hiccup went over to the Hofferson household to find Aric. She hadn't seen him all day, and was starting to get worried. If Astrid was a raging mess, she could only imagine what he was like.
However, what she actually found was surprisingly the opposite. When she walked into his room, she found Aric sitting on the bed with an opened up chest beside him. He was holding a little toy sword seeming to be deep in thought. As usual for children's toy swords, the blade was carved from wood and looked to have been left brown. The hilt was painted, though; the grip being red with blue stripes, and the cross guard and pommel painted a lime green. The paint job didn't look old; it wasn't worn or chipped. In fact, it almost looked new.
"Hey", she tentatively said making his head rise noticing her.
"Hey", he just said back.
"How you doing?" she walked further in.
"Could be better", he looked down again with a small shrug.
Quietly, Hiccup sat down on the bed next to him. "Is that from…him?" she asked gesturing to the toy in his hand.
"Yeah", he said solemnly, but a smile lifting on his face. "You know, I don't remember much of him, but I still remember that one Snoggletog morning when he gave this little thing to me. I was probably one of the happiest kids in the world swinging it back and forth…pretending everything was a dragon", he playfully demonstrated, Hiccup smiling as he told the small tale. "How's Astrid?" he then sort of changed the subject after he'd slowly stopped.
"Angry. She flew off from the academy in a fit just a little while ago. An-and it's weird too. She's almost acting like you were when we were all in dragon training."
"That's probably what she flew off to go do", Aric stated fiddling with his toy.
"Train? For what? Alvin?"
"To kill the Flightmare", Aric said turning to her seriously. "Ever since our uncle was taken by that dragon, she's been obsessed with it."
"Why?" Hiccup wondered.
"Revenge. And she thinks it'll restore our family's name. I thought if one of us could win dragon training then our family's honor would be restored and she'd stop the suicide mission… But then you and Toothless came along…and, well…"
"I ruined it", Hiccup finished. Well that explained a few things.
"So. Are we doing this or what?" Aric then suddenly asked putting his old toy into the chest and standing up.
"What?" Hiccup looked to him confused.
Aric just looked down at her like it was obvious.
000
Evening had hit, and both Aric and Hiccup flew over town still trying to find Astrid. They finally spotted her on the outskirts of the forge tightening Stormfly's saddle.
"I don't want to hear it, Aric", Astrid automatically accused when they landed behind her. "I've waited my entire life for this day, and you're not gonna stop me."
"But Astrid, it's a suicide mission", Aric argued hopping off Shadowstar.
"I don't care." She turned facing him. "I'm going after that thing and clearing our family's name once and for all!" Then she turned back around walking off with Stormfly.
Aric was flabbergasted on what to say, when Hiccup decided to intervene.
"Astrid", Hiccup ran to cut her off, "Look, you know no one loves a new and terrifying dragon more than I do."
"Oh yeah, that's helpful", Aric muttered in the background.
"But", Hiccup stressed briefly looking at him. "I need you here to help protect Berk. If that thing does show up, it's going to take all of us to fight it off."
"Not if it never gets here", Astrid rebutted. Hiccup didn't look swayed. "Oh, come on, Hiccup, don't tell me you haven't been dreaming of the Flightmare. Going after it, learning about it, training it…"
"Hey, that's not fair!" Aric decided to but in. "You can't bribe her!"
"You know, guys, dragons isn't the only thing I think about", Hiccup tried saying in her own defense, but the two siblings just looked at her with deadpanned expressions.
"Are you actually saying that to us with a straight face?" Aric voiced.
Hiccup opened her mouth to try and answer that question, but she was then interrupted by Fishlegs.
"Hiccup! I-I did the research you asked for", he ran up.
'Research?' Aric thought accusingly.
"Uh, not now, Fishlegs", Hiccup quietly tried shooing him away, glancing back to him and Astrid every so often.
"But I have the path of the Flightmare right on this map."
Aric crossed his arms. 'Just whose side is she on?!'
"For generations it's gone through the Northern Swamp on the way to the village", Fishlegs continued, Hiccup doing nothing to stop him. "Same route every time. If I could only figure out why, we might be able to stop it."
"Fishlegs, Astrid doesn't want to talk about the Flightmare", Aric harshly voiced hoping he'd get the hint. Fishlegs had a tendency to be oblivious though.
"What are you saying, of course she does", he responded.
"Sure I do", Astrid affirmed.
"See?"
"Ugh", Aric frustratingly grunted.
"So, as I was saying", Fishlegs continued. "If you want to get close to it, you're going to have to be stealthy; virtually invisible in the dark."
"Huh. Kind of like a… Night Fury?" Astrid suggested looking back at Toothless.
"Exactly like a Night Fury", Fishlegs confirmed oblivious to it.
And with that Astrid hopped onto Toothless. "So, when do we leave?" she asked.
"You're not seriously planning on taking her?" Aric questioned Hiccup. Just a moment ago she was trying to stop Astrid from going.
"... Well…" Hiccup drawled off, her hands fidgeting.
"You have got to be kidding me. I thought you were on my side with this?"
"I am", Hiccup defended. "But… If we can figure out a way to stop it from even getting to Berk, then we'll never have to worry about it again. Ten years from now, we could all just enjoy Aurvandil's Fire instead of being afraid of it", she said, but Aric still wasn't swayed in going after that thing.
"Aric", Astrid made him turn back to her. "This is our chance to stop that thing before it can take anyone else from this island. Any more of our family… our friends…? Are you actually willing to pass that up just in an attempt to protect me?" Astrid questioned, and that made Aric pause.
He sighed. "Okay. But we're not engaging it."
"Wouldn't dream of it", Astrid responded, but both Aric and Hiccup knew very well she wasn't telling the truth.
000
Night had approached, and as soon as Aurvandil's Fire came into view the horns blasted.
"Aurvandil's Fire is here! Everyone, get to your homes and stay inside!" Gobber shouted out over the panicked shouts of people from the watch tower he was posted on. "Snotlout", he spotted below walking with Hookfang, "did you not hear what I just said? Get that dragon into its cage, and you into yours!"
"No way", Snotlout protested. "If the Flightmare obliterates us all, then the last face I want to see, besides my own of course, is this one", he held Hookfang's face, snuggling, but it seemed Hookfang wasn't too keen on the action as he then reared back and snapped at Snotlout.
"Hurry up, before the emergency bunker's full", Dagwood said to Hadwin, as they then passed by.
"Are you sure we can get in? I hear it's very exclusive."
"Don't worry, I know people."
"Hey, what was that all about?" Snotlout asked Gobber who had just come down from the watch tower.
"Oh, I'm surprised you didn't know", Gobber responded. "Ruffnut and Tuffnut built an emergency bunker in the academy."
"Emergency bunker… What do you say we check it out?" Snotlout suggested to Hookfang.
"Ah, I wouldn't waste your time. It's been booked up for months."
"Hah. We'll see about that", Snorlout stated, and he walked with Hookfang to the academy.
When he arrived he found Ruffnut punching Tuffnut's jaw, Tuffnut asking if whatever they were talking about was too complicated, but when Snotlout was about to walk passed, Tuff actually had the nerve to block his path.
"Hey, hey, hey! Mister", Tuffnut said authoritatively with crossed arms. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Uh, into the emergency bunker. Duh", Snotlout responded obviously.
"Are you on the list?" Tuff stopped him again, this time with his hand in a stop motion, when he tried approaching.
Snotlout scoffed. "List?"
"Uh, lets see here…" Ruffnut muttered behind the twin blocking his path. "Uh…Snothat…Snotman, Snotnose… Nope. Not on the list", she concluded.
"Sorry", Tuffnut said. "Unless you're friends with Snotman."
"What do you mean sorry?"
"This is an extremely exclusive bunker, my friend", Tuffnut replied all professional like. "We can't just let anyone in. Oh, hey, Gustav", he then greeted casually as the kid walked passed.
"GUSTAV?!" Snotlout exclaimed in disbelief. They were letting that pesky kid who liked to copy him in, but not him?
"Bunker time… hahaha", the kid cheered before high-fiving Ruffnut and walking inside the bunker.
"You're either in or you're out, pal, but you can't stand there", she then told Snotlout sternly before their Zippleback growled and pushed him back.
"Listen, you seem like a nice kid", Tuffnut then said to him. "I'll tell you what I'll do for you. If you want to get into the bunker, maybe you can find us one of these", he brought out a sheet of parchment.
"Ugh", Snotlout groaned in annoyance at what was written on the paper. "You have got to be kidding me."
The twins only snickered to one another. Clearly they were serious.
"Ugh, fine", Snotlout begrudgingly agreed. "Come on, Hookfang." But, just as he was about to walk out, expecting Hookfang to follow, Hookfang instead moved forward into the bunker.
'Why? How? When?!'
"He's on the list", Ruffnut only said in explanation.
"Ugh", Snotlout turned away. "Last time I hold his face", he grumbled as he walked out. He had a stupid chicken to find.
000
Atop Toothless was where Astrid and Aric sat, Aric controlling Toothless' tail fin, while Hiccup flew on her own beside them.
"Okay, we are going to observe the Flightmare, Astrid", Hiccup wanted to make perfectly clear to her. "We are going to see what we can learn about it; try to redirect it. If we can't, we fall back to town. Understand?"
"Sure", Astrid said with a shrug.
"Say the words, I understand Hiccup", Aric stressed.
"Fine… I understand Hiccup", she said, although dryly and with a roll of her eyes.
"Oh. Well that just instills me with confidence", Hiccup sarcastically commented.
"There's the northern swamp", Aric said as they came towards it, before a roar in a new dialect Hiccup had never heard before sounded.
"Who's there?!" it said. "Leave! This is my territory!"
"Eh, sounds like we're getting close", Hiccup warned.
"Good. I can't wait to see this thing", Astrid stated sounding all too eager.
"Uh, you won't have to wait for long", Hiccup said as a blinding blue glow began to rise into view a little worried of what they were up against. Maybe the dragon could be reasoned with? However, then again, her track record at reasoning with new species she knew very little about wasn't the greatest.
"Remember, observe only!" Aric ordered.
The blue glow rose above the mountain, and in its full glory the Flightmare revealed itself blinding everyone with its glow and causing both Hiccup and Toothless to rear back in their flight.
" "AHH!" " the two exclaimed, Hiccup covering her eyes with her hand while Toothless dived away from the blinding light. " "Whoa!" " Aric and Astrid exclaimed too from the dragon's sudden reaction.
Hiccup soon joined them when she opened her eyes again; away from the light and below where Toothless had flown. "Okay", Hiccup drawled. "Well, it certainly lives up to the hype."
"You can say that again", Aric agreed before Astrid jumped off Toothless' back. "Astrid!" he shouted in fear. "What are you doing?!"
"What do you think I'm doing?!" Astrid yelled back up from the ground. "Defending our family's honor! We'll see whose a coward."
"We need to get down there. Now", Aric hurriedly said.
Hiccup agreed. "Come on, bud!" she exclaimed rushing forward, and Aric and Toothless followed.
000
Meanwhile Astrid was running to the Flightmare with her sword raised and ready. This was the moment she'd trained her whole life for. Everything she did, everything she was, for this one moment right now. Finally, no more shame towards her family, no more dishonor to her uncle who had done so much for their tribe, and no more of this accursed dragon haunting her dreams. All of that ended tonight, for tonight her uncle would finally be avenged. Justice would be given at last.
"Leave Berk now and never come back!" she shouted up at the beast gaining it's attention.
Here I am ungodly beast! "Here I am, ungodly beast!"
Fearless Finn Hofferson! "Fearless Astrid Hofferson!"
Come and get me if you dare! "Come and get me if you dare!"
Instead of attack as expected, though, the dragon blasted a stream of some kind of blue mist at her. Astrid decided to swing her sword at it, but as the mist surrounded her it seemed to seep into her skin. She grew cold. So, so very cold. And she soon found that she could no longer move, frozen in place.
000
" "ASTRID!" " both Aric and Hiccup shouted out of fear, and they both rushed in, Toothless roaring at the Flightmare only for it to glow at him as Hiccup continued down to Astrid tackling her still body to the ground just as the Flightmare attempted to strike at her.
Aric and Toothless landed behind the girls, and Aric jumped off for his sister. She was completely frozen; unmoving, and unblinking. It scared him.
They turned back to the Flightmare, and saw it roar about to strike again.
"Okay, gotta go, gotta go!" Hiccup panickly chanted as Aric helped her get Astrid up and onto to Toothless. Then they jumped and flew up into the clouds to hide. They hovered silently for a bit almost afraid to even breathe. Pretty soon the Flightmare's sounds died away, and Hiccup decided to go check. "I think we lost her", Hiccup said as she looked around, and then proceeded to land followed by Aric and Toothless.
After they landed, Aric turned to Astrid still paralyzed behind him. He knew this was a bad idea. He knew that this would happen and he went along with it anyway. Of course Astrid wouldn't listen, and now she was all limp behind him, eyes stuck wide open with fear.
"Astrid… Astrid", he said worriedly shaking her back and forth trying to rouse her back to normal.
Astrid then began to move of her own accord again shaking her head and he internally sighed with relief. "Ugh. What happened?" she asked sounding a little disoriented.
"The Flightmare", Hiccup answered. "It sprayed you with some kind of mist. It paralyzed you."
"It… froze me", Astrid realized.
"I guess the good news is it's only temporary."
"Just long enough for it to strike", Aric added.
"I knew it", Astrid then muttered. "I told you he wasn't afraid of that dragon; he was paralyzed by it!"
At that, Astrid was right. And if that dragon got to Berk it could paralyze someone again. It could all happen again. And Aric knew they couldn't let that happen. Not when they had the chance to stop it.
"Toothless, sky", Aric ordered, and Toothless did so followed by Hiccup.
"Let me guess", Astrid said. "We're falling back to town?"
"Ye―"
"No", Aric interrupted Hiccup.
" "No?" " the girls questioned surprised.
"No. We're following the Flightmare. We are the only ones between that dragon and Berk", he told them.
Hiccup looked surprised, but didn't disapprove. "Alright then", she said instead. "Lead the way."
And with that they raced forward for the Flightmare, following it to a glowing blue river that had them completely stop in their tracks.
"What in the name of Thor?"
000
Within Fishlegs' home, he was standing over a table with maps surrounding him trying to figure out the Flightmare's patterns.
"Why does the Flightmare always take the same route into Berk?" he asked himself having been trying to answer the question for hours. Maybe if he could figure that out, then it'd give them some information on the dragon itself. "It always follows the stream from the northern swamp down into the village", he followed the path of the river. "But why does it follow the water? What is it about that stream…? How can you eat at a time like this?" Fishlegs said to Meatlug who was munching on some rocks.
"What? I got hungry."
That's when it struck him. "Wait. That's it! Meatlug you're a genius!"
"Really? All I did was eat these rocks in the corner", Meatlug pointed out.
"Exactly!" Fishlegs exclaimed happily. "The Flightmare isn't just following the stream. It's following―"
000
"Glowing algae", Hiccup said amazed as they swept passed and over it. She'd heard about it, but never actually seen it before. They landed at the side of the river, Astrid and Aric hopping off Toothless, and they all got a closer look.
Hiccup knelt down sticking her hand in the blue glowing water, finding her hand shimmering blue like Astrid had when paralyzed by the Flightmare's mist. "The glow must be some sort of reaction to Aurvandil's Fire", she concluded looking up at the sky filled with dancing light. "This must be what the Flightmare is following. That's why it always takes the same path down to the village."
"Mm… Not getting it", Astrid said.
"Yeah, what exactly are you saying?" Aric added.
"You ever try to get between Snotlout and a bowl of mutton?" Hiccup answered in a way for them.
"Yeah", Astrid replied.
"That's something you only do once", Aric stated.
"Think of it like that", Hiccup told them.
Hiccup's ears twitched with the sound of something coming, and glancing over her eyes widened at the sight of the Flightmare.
"Get down", she whispered shoving the siblings behind a rock.
The three peaked out, Astrid gasping at the sight of the dragon as she ate the algae from the river.
"I get it", Aric said. "The Flightmare thinks we want its food."
"It attacks because it sees us as a threat to its very survival", Hiccup explained further.
"That doesn't excuse it for what it's done", Astrid still growled turning away.
"Astrid, you don't even know if she's the one who took your uncle", Hiccup pointed out to her.
"Uh, guys?" Aric voiced.
"What now?" Astrid asked irritably.
"Look!"
The girls looked over the rock again, and saw the Flightmare hover over them glowing brightly, before she roared at them angrily.
"THIEVES!" she accused them.
"Quick!" Hiccup exclaimed jumping into the air hovering just above the two Hoffersons. "We need to get up in the air so we can hide!"
"Uh…yeah, don't think that's gonna happen", Aric said pointing behind Hiccup to where they left Toothless, and Hiccup turned to see Toothless eating the Flightmare's algae.
"Ah…Toothless…" Hiccup complained. No wonder the Flightmare suddenly set off.
"What the―Hiccup, what's happening?!" Toothless suddenly roared as he suddenly began to glow a dark violet.
The Flightmare screamed furiously in response to this and dived for Toothless, but before she could get to him, Aric and Astrid mounted him, and got him into the air following Hiccup into the night sky. The Flightmare still chased after them relentlessly.
"Uh, Hiccup, she's right behind us!" Aric called.
"I know! Toothless, to the clouds!" Hiccup responded and raced to the clouds, Toothless following with the help of Aric.
Once they were in the clouds, the Flightmare stopped, her light blue glow stationary on the other side.
"Hey, Hiccup. I'm glowing", Toothless said warbled quietly.
"Yes, I know Toothless. But shh…" Hiccup told him.
"You think we lost her?" Astrid asked, only to be answered when the Flightmare appeared beside them.
"Nope", Aric said, and the four attempted to fly away only to be cut off and blinded by the Flightmare's glow attack. It was so bright, and came with no warning. They had looked straight at it, unable to shield themselves in time before their eyes became assaulted, and Hiccup and Toothless faltered in their flight each falling from the sky.
Toothless crashed first being heavier, Astrid and Aric thrown off, and Hiccup fell unable to right herself too distracted and panicked by her inability to see as air rushed passed her at rapid speed.
"Toothless!" she instinctively screamed.
000
Aric looked up seeing Hiccup falling fast, and he quickly stood up racing towards her. He knew running wouldn't be fast enough though, so he jumped for it and―"Got ya!" he exclaimed―caught her in just the nick of time. They landed on the ground, Aric's knees skidding across the grass, Hiccup held close to his chest with her eyes closed the whole time.
"Aric?" she asked, her eyes blinking rapidly as she tried opening them.
He saw the Flightmare coming at them and Aric dodged out of the way looking back to see it about to fire at Toothless.
"Toothless, roll!" he told him, and the Night Fury did so dodging the blast of mist shot at him.
000
Toothless still couldn't see, his vision filled with spots and blurs, but that didn't stop him from defending Hiccup and her friends. He shot out his plasma one after the other, the Flightmare dodging all his attacks.
The Flightmare roared at him trying to will him into submission, but Toothless roared back unwilling to back down. She wanted him to submit, to plead for her forgiveness, but there was absolutely no way he would ever bow before her.
000
Toothless was in a defensive rage almost out of shots, Aric was protecting Hiccup, and Hiccup was down for the count. That just left Astrid. She knew she had to do something before that Flightmare made another attack. While the Flightmare was busy roaring at Toothless, Astrid made a dash for a large nearby log, and threw it at the Flightmare's head.
It turned to her enraged and leaped into the air after her. Astrid gasped, but quickly rolled out of the way completely dodging the Flightmare.
"Astrid!" Aric called, and Astrid turned seeing him just outside a cave. She ran, but not straight for it. Instead she tumbled, rolling, flipping, and swinging through trees and bushes trying to distract and confuse the Flightmare from her path until she reached the cave of which the Flightmare unknowingly passed right by. Astrid panted as she too breathed a sigh of relief. They lost it.
000
"Is everyone okay?" Hiccup asked. Aric had led her to the cave calling Toothless in before Astrid, and during the attack Hiccup couldn't see a thing. All she heard was roars from Toothless and the Fightmare among Aric and Astrid's voices.
"Yeah", Aric answered. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah", Hiccup answered rubbing and blinking her eyes. "I'll be okay." Her vision had started clearing a little while ago, but her eyes still hurt and blurred from Toothless' glow. Even if it was dim.
"That's good. But why we're we okay, while you and Toothless weren't?" Astrid asked.
"Night Furies have better night vision than humans and most dragons. Bright light is not exactly a friend", Hiccup explained.
"But your fine in the day? And fire light doesn't bother you and Toothless at all", Astrid countered.
"Well, yeah, but… if I accidentally looked into the sun vs if you did, we'd both have the same reaction to look away and close our eyes, but while your eyes can adjust faster ours just… can't", she shrugged.*
"Hey… No don't go", Toothless suddenly grumbled and whined as his violet glow faded away.
"Well, good news is the glow wares off", Aric said, although Toothless seemed to disagree.
Hiccup looked out the cave, and seeing no sign of the Flightmare nearby, gestured back to everyone. "We better get moving", she said, and Aric and Astrid got back onto Toothless. "Let's go!"
"Toothless, sky!" Aric said having him follow Hiccup back into the air. "Okay, so how do we stop the Flightmare before she reaches the village?" he then asked directing the question to Hiccup.
"I thought you had a plan?" Hiccup asked in response, Aric being the one who wanted to stay to stop it.
"You're the one who makes up the good plans?" Aric shrugged.
"He's got a point", Astrid backed him up. "If anyone's got a plan, its you."
Hiccup thought for a moment before seeing something out of the corner of her eye, and essentially doing a double take before turning her head fully. "Fishlegs", she said surprised.
"Fishlegs?" Astrid asked. "How's he gonna help?"
"By bringing you some reinforcements", a voice answered and the siblings turned to see Fishlegs and Meatlug with both Stormfly and Shadowstar.
"Stormfly!" Astrid exclaimed joyfully, before hopping off Toothless' back and onto hers.
"Hey there, girl", Aric said happy to see his dragon too. Then he moved onto Shadowstar letting Hiccup get onto Toothless, and everyone was back with who they belonged.
"Fishlegs, the academy's supposed to be on lockdown", Hiccup chastised.
"I know, but I was following the stream because I think I figured out a way to stop the Flightmare from reaching town", Fishlegs defended in response pointing to the ocean near the forest where the river curved.
"We cut a new channel for the river", Hiccup began to understand.
"And divert the flow of glowing algae out to the sea."
"Exactly. Girls", Hiccup called to the dragons spare Toothless, "I think it's time we do some emergency landscaping."
000
It was ridiculous. Completely idiotic, and something only the twins would make him do. Snotlout had gotten their stupid rainbow colored chicken―scratch that―chickens, but that wasn't enough. As he smelled that delicious yak butter parfait inside, just out of reach, Hookfang feasting on his fish all the while, Tuffnut came out with an entire list of things he had to now get in order to get into their stupid bunker. It took him forever to gather all the items, but finally he'd done the task and now stood as Tuffnut checked to make sure he got everything. Why couldn't they just let him in already?
"...Yak head; check. Yak body; check. Sheep dip; check. Bread for the sheep dip—gotta have that; check. Lingonberry smoothie, shaken, not stirred; check...Hold on. Nobody move", Tuffnut suddenly stopped.
"I don't see it", Ruffnut said thoughtfully.
"Me neither", Tuffnut agreed crossing his arms casually and leaning against the large wagon Snotlout rolled in.
"What? See what?" Snotlout whined on the verge of begging.
" "A sturgeon dressed like Stoick." "
'You have got to be kidding me!' Snotlout's mind practically shouted.
While the twins weren't looking he snuck a sturgeon from the wagon and quickly dressed it with a little helmet and belt.
"AAAHHHAAA!" he shouted jumping around to show them. "That's everything. Now let me in!"
"Yeah, we would love to, Snotlout, really, we would", Tuff started, and Snotlout felt his blood boil. "But you forgot the most important thing on the list."
" "Singing Terrible Terror" ", the twins sung.
"WHAT?! Give me that!" Snotlout yanked the list from Ruffnut's grip. "You just wrote this in!" he yelled.
"No we did not", Tuffnut denied.
"Yes you di―! It's in a different colored ink!" Snotlout pointed out, as the item was written in green rather than black.
"I don't know what you're talking about", Ruffnut denied as well.
"Arguing with bunker management could result in permanent banishment", Tuffnut said. "And that's a lot of big words."
Snotlout scowled, but if he wanted to get in that bunker he supposed he had to do it. "Singing Terrible Terror", he grumbled turning away. "I'll give you singing Terrible Terror… Just wanted yak butter parfait…!"
000
Flying over the river, the four dragon riders caught up with the Flightmare allowing Fishlegs to see it for the very first time.
"A live Flightmare!" he exclaimed excited and amazed. "It's―It's―It's―"
"It's mine", Astrid growled and had Stormfly race to cut the Flightmare off shooting her magnesium fire first before the Flightmare could glow.
"Alright, guys", Hiccup called to everyone else. "Time for us to do what we came here for!"
Toothless and Shadowstar dived with Hiccup and Aric to the edge of the river where it curved creating the nearest proximity to the ocean.
"Toothless!" "Shadowstar!"
" "Plasma blast!" " the two riders gave the order, and the two Furies fired creating a new channel.
While they worked on that firing one after the other to clear the grass, dirt, and rock away, Fishlegs and Meatlug began work at cutting off the old channel, Meatlug letting out her lava to do so. But just as she finished, the Flightmare saw them messing with her river and dived away from Astrid to Fishlegs and Meatlug.
Fishlegs screamed, and the Flightmare shot her mist paralyzing him atop Meatlug. He fell off of her, and Meatlug stood her ground against the Flightmare to protect him.
"Hiccup! Aric! The Flightmare got Fishlegs!" Astrid called to them gaining their attention and Hiccup and Toothless flew back to help.
Stormfly landed in front of the Flightmare, cutting her off from attacking Meatlug, and blasted her magnesium fire. Meanwhile, Toothless grabbed Fishlegs with his claws and flew up with Meatlug placing the boy on her when they were a good distance away. By this time Fishlegs was already coming to.
"Augh… What just happened to me?" he asked.
"The Flightmare. It's mist temporarily paralyzes you", Hiccup answered.
They rejoined with Aric in creating the new channel to the ocean, and Astrid continued to battle it out with the Flightmare. Stormfly was about to shoot her spines, her tail raised and ready, but the Flightmare cut her off when she swung her tail at them flinging Astrid off. Astrid caught herself, using what she knew to land safely, when the Flightmare then went after her. She ran through the trees and rocks, soon finding everyone else.
"Look out!" she shouted to them, and with a hop onto Toothless, they were all up in the air quickly joined by Stormfly.
"Guys we need to keep cutting that channel!" Hiccup said.
"How? The Flightmare's guarding it!" Aric pointed out.
"I think I have a way to distract her", Astrid said jumping down to Stormfly. "The algae! Let's give the Flightmare a taste of her own medicine!"
"Astrid, lead the way", Hiccup said, and Astrid led them to the stream.
"Time for a little midnight snack", Astrid said as Stormfly took a big gulp of the algae in the river.
"Chow down, guys!" Hiccup followed, and Toothless, followed by Shadowstar and Meatlug all drank the water eating the algae. Not too long after, the dragons all began to glow different colors. Stormfly was a yellow-green, Shadowstar a light blue darker than the Flightmare, Toothless was violet again, and Meatlug a lime green.
"I always knew that was her color!" Fishlegs exclaimed. "We're gonna knit you a matching blanket when we get home, Meatlug."
"Can it have our picture on it too?" she asked excitedly.
"Hey, Hiccup, can we bring some home?" Toothless asked. "I want to glow like this forever!"
Hiccup shook her head with amusement. "No, bud. Besides, you sure your not gonna miss being king of the night sky?"
"Okay", Astrid said ready as ever. "It's time to see who the real coward is."
"Couldn't agree more, sis!" Aric shouted over, and Astrid smiled at that.
They flew down to face the Flightmare again, but this time the Flightmare wasn't the one who glowed. Moving closer together, their combined glows caused a similar attack of the Flightmare's that temporarily blinded her.
She roared in pain and turned away, but at every turn she took the Flightmare was met with another rider and their dragon. Each time she would be blinded from the glows that came when they opened their mouths as if about to shoot their flames, and eventually the Flightmare lost control of her flight falling to the earth.
"Alright, let's finish off that channel", Hiccup said, and while the Flightmare was busy, Toothless dive bombed down the stream. With one precise blast, the last of the rocks and dirt were blown away, and a waterfall of fresh water and algae flowed down into the ocean bringing the algae down over the horizon.
000
"Those thieving brats. This isn't worth it", the Flightmare decided. She was off this island. Frantically, she searched for the way her source of sustenance led, and when she found it, she flew as fast as possible. Luckily, her algae went into the ocean again and away from the island. She couldn't have been happier. The farther from those thieving dragons and humans the better.
000
"Hahaha! We did it!" Astrid cheered atop Stormfly as they watched the Flightmare flee.
"Yeah. Now let's get back before anyone notices we're gone", Hiccup responded.
000
Stoick went to check on Gobber, and found his friend had fallen asleep at his post. He supposed he couldn't really blame him; usually the Flightmare came within the first hour of Aurvandil's Fire. But, so far the night had been quiet.
Looking up into the night sky, Stoick then spotted a large glow. That could only mean one thing.
"Gobber!" he exclaimed unsheathing his sword.
"...oh, that yak butter melts in my mouth…" he murmured in his sleep.
"Wake up!"
Very suddenly Gobber jolted awake, the catapult his was supposed to be manning accidentally throwing a boulder into a nearby farm.
"Sorry, Stoick", Gobber said. "I had this dream. You and me―"
"Not another word", Stoick interrupted. There wasn't anytime to loose. "Sound the alarm. The Flightmare is coming."
Promptly, as Stoick ran up to defend his island, Gobber took out a horn and blew it for everyone to hear. Wandering villagers ran into their homes and locked their windows and doors.
"Thor's hammer", Stoick then startled as the glow, or, glows got closer. "There's more than one of 'em!" He adjusted his stance with his sword.
'Where's Hiccup and her riders?' the thought just occurred to him. She should have been there by now wanting to help, relaying a plan to just run them off. And yet she was no where in sight.
"Wait, Stoick!" Gobber said with realization. "Those aren't Flightmares!"
With a second look, the dragons now closer, Stoick saw he was right. It was only Hiccup and her friends. The dragons landed, and both he and Gobber couldn't help but wonder just what in the name of Thor they missed.
"Hiccup", Gobber voiced first. "Slap me in the face. Your dragons are glowing. I must still be dreaming."
"Gobber you're wide awake", his daughter laughed dismounting Toothless. "And…they are glowing. Long story", she said walking up to him. "The good news is, we drove the Flightmare away!" she then exclaimed joyfully.
"You did?" Stoick asked. "Well done, Hiccup", he then praised his daughter, overjoyed, grasping her shoulder. "Well done!"
Hiccup just smiled up at him in response.
"Everyone!" he turned to the town. "You can come out of your homes! The Flightmare is gone for good!"
000
People began to come out from their homes, some happy, some confused, and some just hoping it wasn't too good to be true. Astrid just looked on fondly as she watched the fear erase from everyone's faces, her own family looking to her and Aric with pride. She smiled back.
She then felt an arm around her and turned to see it was Aric giving her the side hug. "What I'm about to say is probably something your only gonna hear once, but, you were right, Astrid. This is much better."
"Eh, excuse me, I have an announcement to make!" Hiccup then announced getting everyone's attention. "We learned a lot about the Flightmare tonight, and I'll explain it all to you! But the most important thing we learned, was that Fearless Finn Hofferson was indeed fearless! Just like all the Hoffersons", she turned back to them.
"Sounds like you did your uncle proud, lass", Gobber said knowing her past obsession.
"Now maybe we can just enjoy Aurvandil's Fire", Stoick said as well, and everyone cheered to that.
Aric let go of her and went to join their family. Astrid just stayed where she was.
They all watched the dancing lights with joy and comfort that the Flightmare was gone and would never terrorize their village again, but as Astrid looked on, her smile began to slowly wane. New thoughts now plagued her mind, and they didn't seem to want to let go.
000
Landing in the square, the twins saw the four glowing dragons and began to get jealous.
"I want a glowing dragon", Tuffnut said.
"Me too!" Ruffnut agreed.
"Put that on Snotlout's list", Tuffnut whispered the two snickering to each other.
000
Finally, Snotlout had gotten the twins' stupid singing Terrible Terror. He entered the academy hoping to just hand them the dragon and go inside, but when he stepped into the academy it was oddly quiet, and there was no light from underneath the door, nor were the twins anywhere in sight. He decided to open the door to the bunker.
"Hello?" he called in. "Hello…! I have your singing Terrible Terror!" he stepped inside showing the dragon, but as he took a look around now, he saw the place had been abandoned. He missed it! No one was there, and absolutely nothing was left. "What? Oh, COME ON!"
All the while the dragon in his arms wouldn't stop singing and making noise. It was seriously getting on his last nerve. "Will you SHUT UP!" he screamed at it. His anger didn't stay though. "I just really wanted that yak butter parfait", he whined.
000
Later that night, Astrid lied in her bed awake. She just couldn't sleep. Ever since the high of defeating the Flightmare ebbed away, she felt… empty. A fire was gone that had fueled her for so long. Fighting no longer had the same edge it once did. Looking back, she realized it only really felt like a game to her. The only reason she took it seriously was because of her lust for vengeance. But now that was all gone. Her job was done. The purpose she created finished. So what was her purpose now? She didn't know. She wasn't even sure what she liked. Fighting was fun and all, but she knew she wasn't a soldier. Not like Aric. As she thought about it, she began to realize she didn't really have an identity. Just who was she? Hiccup had her dragons, Fishlegs had his books, Ruffnut and Tuffnut were just stupid troublemakers, and Snotlout… well she wasn't sure about him, but still, what did she like?
Astrid thought about it for she didn't know how long, but she just couldn't come up with anything good. Nothing that really defined her. Astrid felt lost. For so long her life had been centered on avenging her family and getting their honor back, that she forgot about after. And now, she didn't know.
"Now what?" she whispered to the air hoping someone would answer; that maybe some god would hear her and give her a sign.
No one did.
*Think of it like if you put on night vision goggles and someone suddenly turns on the lights, or in Toothless' case, you're thrown outside into daylight; clear blue skies and all. You'd likely be temporarily 'blinded' (I use the term loosely) and it'd take at least few minutes for your vision to go back to normal.
LITTLE NOTE: I think this series is gonna go on hiatus until the rewrite of I am Not a Curse is done. Then a short episode I came up with for this series, and then Worst in Show. Yeah, I think I'll do that. We'll see. I may change my mind.