Well, I may have been wrong on my original date assumption, but at least I'm still keeping up with my normal schedule. Still though, sorry about that. This one was…harder to write up than I initially thought. Plus the holidays and stuff ate up time, so.
Anyway, back to your regularly scheduled program! ;)
Worst in Show:
As Alvin walked through Berkian caverns, he sneered at the broken shells left on the ground. Behind him, Savage and Mildew trailed, the latter shaking in his boots. This was his idea; his brilliant, fool proof plan, and yet after months Berk still stood. Stepping on one, the egg shell crunching under his boot, Alvin growled under his breath and picked it up.
"Anyone want to tell me what this looks like?!" he looked back to the two buffoons behind him.
"A waste of perfectly good Whispering Death eggs", Savage smartly said.
"This was your plan, Mildew", Alvin sneered at the old man. "Oh, plant the eggs under Berk, ye said", he mocked as he drew nearer, the old coward quickly backing into a stalagmite. "They'll hatch and destroy the village, Alvin. There'll be no one left to get in your way, Alvin."
"Well I don't remember saying all that", Mildew muttered.
"Eh, doesn't really matter now does it", Alvin towered over Mildew, drawing his sword in one fast move.
"Wait! Waitwaitwaitwait!" the old man practically pleaded.
"Why should I?" Alvin questioned, his sword hovering in wait.
After some nonsensical whimpering, Alvin wondering why he was letting the whelp live one more second, Mildew finally spoke words. "Look at the positives, Alvin", he tried to bargain.
"That's not really me strong suit, now is it?"
"Think about it. Uh, when life gives ya fish eggs, what do you do?"
"I take it out on people like you", Alvin raised his sword higher.
"Well yes, that to. Butbutbutbut!" the former Berkian freaked when he advanced to thrust his sword down on him. "You can also make a delicious chowder."
Alvin's sword swung down, Mildew's eyes closing shut, but Alvin purposefully missed, the blunt of his blade hitting the whimpering old man's shoulder. "Eh, I like chowder", he mused.
"Well these tunnels are your chowder", Mildew moved away from his sword. "They'll lead you right into the Berk Dragon Training Academy."
"And what would I do when I get there?"
"Why the better question is, what wouldn't you do. What couldn't you do! Spying, uh…kidnapping, dragon killing?"
"Or…all of the above… Hahaha! I like it!" Alvin laughed. "You're in luck, Mildew! I'm not gonna kill you right now!"
000
Alvin turned and walked on ahead, Mildew breathing a sigh of relief.
"I hate it when he says that", he said.
"Trust me. It's better than when he doesn't say it", Savage countered, before following after Alvin.
Mildew went along too, but that statement from Savage didn't make him feel any better.
000
Snotlout and Hookfang dove to a boat, Snotlout snatching the Viking dummy inside easily.
"Yes Hookfang! Victory loop!" the boy shouted, his victim in his arm.
Hiccup sighed, proven wrong for once. "You know, I hate to admit it, but Snotlout actually looks like he worked on his rescue training." She sat on Toothless beside Aric and Shadowstar atop a sea stack where everyone sat on their dragons as well. Everyone, one by one, was to display their rescue skills they had practiced for the past week, and Hiccup hated to admit it, but it actually seemed as if her mutton head of a cousin actually practiced.
That is until Hookfang decided to take a detour in their victory lap and dive headfirst into the ocean, though.
"HOOKFANG!" Snotlout yelled, his screams cut off when they went under water.
"Uh, lets not get ahead of ourselves", Aric commented.
"AHHHH!" Snotlout could be heard once again as Hookfang sprung from the ocean depths. He landed back to the sea stack, both he and Snotlout soaking wet.
"Another victim, saved", Snotlout still boasted, however, his dummy in one piece. That is until its head tore off, though, landing with a plop onto the ground. "Ah!" he threw the rest of the body down.
"Yeah, you've got the victim part right", Fishlegs sarcastically commented.
Hiccup smirked. She liked this new Fishlegs snarking back at Snotlout. Even he finally had enough of Snotlout pushing him around.
"Shut up, Fishlegs!" Snotlout shot back. "Big deal, so his head fell off. It's not like he's on fire or anything."
That got Hookfang's attention and suddenly he was shooting at the dummy, setting it on fire. Then he hopped onto it, stomping the fire out. Dragons and humans alike stared dumbfounded.
"Idiot", Toothless rumbled rolling his eyes.
"What?" Hookfang asked when he turned back.
"That was your victim!" Stormfly pointed out.
"So? He said fire."
"Actually, if you paid attention to what he said for once, he wanted the opposite", Meatlug corrected.
"Shut up, Meatlug."
"Shut up, Fishlegs", Snotlout said similarly when Fishlegs opened his mouth to speak, a smug look on his face.
"Okay", Hiccup intervened. "Good try, Snotlout. But make sure the victim is completely safe, before doing anything else. Might reduce, eh…" Hiccup stalled looking at the charred decapitated mess of what once was a dummy. "…accidents… So, who wants to go next?"
"I'll go", Aric said, and he and Shadowstar flew off the sea stack. "Alright Shadowstar, you ready? Spines!" Shadowstar shot a row of burrs into the face of the sea stack, and Aric jumped grabbing onto two beside each other. For every couple burrs he climbed, Shadowstar shot a couple more ahead of him. It wasn't long before he reached the top.
"Great work, Aric!" Hiccup praised.
"Great work?" Snotlout interrupted. "Pfft, try lame work. Hello? Flying dragon? Might be a little quicker to get to the top of the sea stack."
"What if your victim is trapped on the side of a cliff, and your dragon can't get you close enough? You ever think of that?" Aric countered as Shadowstar landed behind him.
"Yes! No. Shut up, Aric", Snotlout grumbled.
"Okaaayy…" Hiccup tried to steer back the focus. "So, uh… Astrid, how about you show us your skill?" she decided to call.
Astrid stood beside Stormfly looking meek and nervous. "Um, well, the thing is Hiccup", she started. "I don't really have anything to show. I'm sorry. I…haven't really felt like myself lately", she rubbed her right arm up and down.
"That's okay. You can just show us when your ready", Hiccup told her, and she saw Astrid smile, if only a little. Ever since Aurvandil's Fire weeks ago, Astrid had been acting weird. She was unsure about pretty much everything, and didn't even want to do dare devil stunts anymore; not even with Hiccup. Once when she asked, Astrid declined saying she needed to find something first. Something she never really had. Hiccup didn't exactly know what that meant, and Aric was just as confused. It was worrying for everyone, but especially him. No one had any idea of how to help her; not even her parents. So, for now they just tried to act normal and hope something would change.
"Fishlegs, looks like you're up", Hiccup turned to Fishlegs, and Meatlug rose up high into the air.
"I call this the stop", Fishlegs started, Meatlug stopping in her ascent. "Drop." Meatlug tucked her wings in, dropping like a stone above Snotlout and Hookfang.
"Hey!" Hookfang screeched. He abruptly ran out of the way accidentally bucking Snotlout off.
"Oh no", the boy said laying on the ground and seeing the belly of a Gronckle heading straight for him. "AHHH―"
Meatlug stopped her decent, hovering just over Snotlout's face.
"And hover!" Fishlegs finished.
"I like it, Fishlegs!" Hiccup exclaimed.
"Oh. Come on!" Snotlout butt in from the ground. "That's not rescuing. That's falling."
"Actually, this is falling", Fishlegs responded, and Meatlug stopped her wings plopping flat on Snotlout.
"UGH!" he grunted, the sound muffled. "Hookfang. Rescue", he strained.
"Nope", Hookfang simply stated, and flew off.
"Thank you", the crushed boy said sarcastically.
Next up was the twins, but as the teens waited for the two to fly off, or, do anything, they just sat there on their dragon completely still. Meanwhile, Snotlout pulled himself from Meatlug, a confused look on his face at the twins.
"So…you gonna show us, or…?" Hiccup asked just as confused.
"Uh, we are", Tuffnut said.
"Pretty cool, huh", Ruffnut followed.
"Our rescue skill is not falling off the sea stack. That way, no actual rescue is necessary", Tuff explained.
"Ta-da!" Ruff spread her arms out, but accidentally hit Tuffnut, tumbling him into the ocean. "We're still working out the kinks", she shrugged.
Lastly, it was Hiccup's turn, and for their skill they laid out 'bad Viking' targets on three rocks adjacent to one another. When ready, the two flew in, and on Hiccup's mark, Toothless followed.
"Barrel roll! Multiple blasts!"
The two tucked their wings tight and Toothless rolled as he shot three plasma blasts, each hitting its target. They rounded back, landed, and Hiccup hopped off as everyone awed. Much to Snotlout's annoyance.
"Stop 'ooing'! he yelled. "That's not even a rescue skill!"
"Of course it is", Fishlegs countered. "You always need cover fire during a rescue; everyone knows that. Very impressive, Hiccup" he then praised.
"Hey, Fishlegs. You need some help getting your nose out of Hiccup's―"
"Snotlout!" Hiccup immediately stopped him.
"It's okay, Hiccup. He's just mad because he was dead last in the rescue competition", Fishlegs coolly said. "But, what else new?"
"Uh, guys, this isn't a competition", Hiccup responded, not even realizing they thought it was.
"Uh, yes it is", Tuffnut stated back.
"You know, they say competition is the very essence of life itself", Ruffnut said.
It was quiet after that; no one really sure how to respond, until Astrid spoke up.
"It's true", she said with a voice of astonishment. "Weird that she said it like that, but it's true. It's always a competition."
"What? No", Hiccup shook her head. "We are a team", she turned to everyone. "Everyone has a role. No one person is better, or more important than another."
" " …" "
Fits of laughter ensued.
"You don't really buy that, do you?" Snotlout questioned when done laughing at her.
"I do, actually. Yes", Hiccup's ears twitched. "Do you all really feel the same way Snotlout does?"
"Uh, Hiccup, you ride Toothless. A Night Fury", Fishlegs pointed out. "And the Night Fury is at the top of the charts for intelligence, speed, accuracy, and, well... everything. …No offense, girl", he pet his dragon.
"None taken", Meatlug said.
"Not to mention your part of that super species too", Aric pointed out. "Did you seriously think we wouldn't try to one up all that?"
"Well, you wanna know what I think?" Snotlout voiced.
" " "NO!" " "
"I think…" Snotlout went on anyway, "…we'll never know who the best dragon trainer is. Because, we don't have a level playing field."
"Who even cares?" Toothless crooned.
"I don't know", Hiccup shrugged.
"Hang on a second", Fishlegs then said. "What if we did have a level playing field? What if we could prove once and for all who's got the skills, and who doesn't."
"Trust me, Fishlegs, you don't want that", Snotlout challenged, eyes narrowing.
"Oh, I think I do", Fishlegs accepted, his eyes narrowed as well, and as Hiccup and Toothless looked to each other, suddenly Hiccup wasn't so sure she liked snarky Fishlegs anymore.
000
For what felt to be the hundredth time, Savage climbed onto Mildew's shoulders to check another hole to the outside world. Mildew hated it; he wasn't strong enough to hold Savage's weight, each time struggling to keep standing, but he was forced to be a step stool anyway.
"Well, what do you see?" Alvin asked.
"It's quite dark", Savage reported. "And something keeps swinging into me face." After a moment they heard the sound of yaks. "Oh, well that explains it. Another yak farm."
"What is with you people and your yaks?!" Alvin questioned.
"Don't look at me. I'm a sheep person", Mildew said.
"Hang on", Savage suddenly said. "I-I see something. I think it's the academy."
"How can you be sure?" Alvin asked as Savage hopped down from Mildew's shoulders, finally.
"Well, it's got a sign, with a picture of a dragon on it. …Oh! And, there are kids in there training dragons, so."
Mildew gasped. Finally, his shoulders could rest. "That's it!" he exclaimed happily. "That's the academy!"
"Let's hold off on the victory dance, Mildew", Alvin told him. "I don't celebrate until I make me first kill."
000
After dinner, everyone was supposed to gather in the academy for Fishlegs' plan for a competition. Hiccup was the second to show up, Fishlegs being the first one there of course.
"Hey, Fishlegs", she greeted him first.
"Hey, Hiccup", he replied in kind, standing beside a closed crate. It was filled with the dragons they were going to train. A highly docile species, but also a difficult one to work with. It would take real skill to train one of these dragons; there was no other dragon more perfect for the role of dragon trainee. "I've got this competition all figured out. Snotlout's not gonna have a chance."
As he predicted, Hiccup sighed. "It's not a competition, Fishlegs." Yep, she still couldn't accept that they were competing. He honestly didn't really understand it. Before the academy, they always had trick competitions? Then there was that speed competition going on awhile back between her, Astrid, and Aric? And all Hiccup wanted to do in this year's Thawfest was win. Maybe her loss made her lose her will to compete? He couldn't really remember if she participated in anything competitive after.
Hiccup walked up closer to him, rounding the crate a bit. "Listen, I of all people know how Snotlout has a way of getting under your skin. And I know what it's like to get so caught up in beating him that you lose yourself; forget what really matters. That's why I just want to make sure you're not losing perspective in all of this", she said.
"Don't worry, Hiccup. A little competition isn't gonna hurt anyone. We compete all the time?"
Hiccup didn't look convinced, but pretty soon everyone showed up. Snotlout made a point to stand front and center before the crate, and when Fishlegs opened it up out popped up Terrible Terror heads of all colors.
"Terrible Terrors?" Snotlout questioned with distaste. "This is your level playing field?"
"As a matter of fact, yes", Fishlegs told him. "We'll all choose a Terrible Terror, and have a day to train it. And then we'll find out who's best."
"HAHAHAHAHA! …Oh man… I can't keep a straight face", Snotlout said out of breath, but Fishlegs didn't bat an eye at Snotlout's attempt at mockery.
"I fail to see the humor, Snotlout."
"No, y-you guys, the point of all this is―" Hiccup tried to intervene getting in between him and Snotlout, but Snotlout interrupted as if not hearing.
"You don't have a chance to win this, Fishface", he said. "And you wanna know why? Because there are readers, and there are doers. And while you've got your nose buried in the Book of Dragons, I'm out there kicking names, and taking butts!"
"...I think you meant that the other way around", Aric muttered.
"I mean… Shut up, Aric."
"Guys, come on", Hiccup still stood between them, her arms stretched out. It was like she thought they were going to get into a fist fight and was trying to keep them apart. But this time, Fishlegs didn't need to fight Snotlout physically to win.
"I'll tell you what, Snotlout. Since you're so confident in your dragon training superiority, why don't we make this interesting?"
"Pfft. All ears", Snotlout accepted.
"Losers clean the winner's stall… for a month."
"Done!"
"In", Aric joined.
"Double in", Astrid stated, her old self seeming to peer through.
The twins just snickered and headbutted each other, but that was conformation enough.
"Wait!" Snotlout then suddenly exclaimed. "On one condition."
"Name it", Fishlegs said.
"Hiccup can't participate", he pointed at her. "It's not exactly fair to rest of us, is it; didn't think of that did you, Fishface."
"Actually, I did" Fishlegs countered. "Hiccup, you'll be the judge. You can train a Terror if you want, but you won't be counted as a contestant."
"No one's a contestant", Hiccup stressed, her tail beginning to thrash. "Come on guys, we're not really doing this, are we?"
"You better strap on your helmets. 'Cause this guy right here, he's bringing the pain", Snotlout said, but just as he reached for a yellow Terror, the purple one latched onto his arm with his teeth. "Ah", Snotlout strained in pain. "…Guess I'll take this one. Bringing the pain…" he called back, high pitched, as he walked away.
000
Everyone else took a Terror with no trouble. Fishlegs took the orange-red one, the twins took the two yellow-orange ones, Astrid took the lavender-green one, and Aric took the light blue-purple one. That left Hiccup with the green-dark orange Terror, and she picked him up as everyone left with theirs.
"Remember! Not a competition!" she shouted after them all, but she doubted that even if they heard her, they would listen. She turned to the Terror in her hands. "This is really gonna go bad in a hurry."
The dragon just chirped wordlessly in response.
000
Fishlegs went home after taking his newest trainee. He already had a full schedule planned out. There was no way he could lose. No one was as well planned, nor as well educated on dragons as him.
"Well, trainee, I have quite the rigorous schedule planned for you", he told the Terrible Terror as he placed him on the table. "Step one, we need to name you." Fishlegs took a list of names he compiled, but just as he was about to start, Meatlug came in with a sheep.
"Oh, Fishlegs! I just found the perfect sheep", she said before plopping the sheep onto the table. "Come on, we haven't played all day", she grumbled as she nudged him.
Fishlegs internally sighed. "Sorry, girl. But can't play 'toss the sheep' right now." He picked up the sheep from his desk and dropped it on the floor. Meatlug looked down at it sad, but Fishlegs payed no attention as he got back to his list.
"Alright, I've got it narrowed down to Lars or Van. Maybe, Karsten. Or Slurg?" He gasped. "How 'bout Deathwing? Ooh…that's good; intimidating."
Behind him, Meatlug was insistent, throwing the sheep back and forth as if expecting him to suddenly join the game and catch it. He ignored it at first, but pretty soon the noise of the sheep and it hitting the floor became highly irritating.
"You know you want to", Meatlug said, her tail wagging, when he turned around in his seat.
"No. Meatlug, I can't right now. I'm serious. I've got to work on humiliating Snotlout", he turned back to his Terrible Terror. He still needed to pick a name.
000
Astrid sat outside with Stormfly and Striker. She was supposed to be training Striker, but Astrid had no idea where to start. She gave her a name, but that was about as far as she could get. What to train her to do was the question.
Astrid had been very indecisive lately; she knew it was worrying her friends, but she couldn't help it. She had no sense of who she was anymore; no clue as to what she wanted, and it bled into her creativity of what skills to come up with to show the riders.
"Come on, Astrid, you've got this. Just think", she muttered to herself, Striker in her lap as Stormfly stood beside them.
Stormfly squawked nudging her, followed by Striker's chirps.
"I know, girl", she pet Stormfly's nose. Astrid looked across the street, seeing Fishlegs' door open. He was smart; maybe he could help her. Taking Striker off her lap and onto Stromfly, Astrid stood up and walked over to Fishlegs' house.
"No, Meatlug, stop it! I need to focus!" she heard Fishlegs' voice from inside. It wasn't like Fishlegs to say 'no' to Meatlug? Especially not like that. "I'm gonna crush him in the dragon training competition." And that didn't really sound like Fishlegs either. She knew he'd been acting on edge lately, but he was always so much more reserved; gentle.
"You okay, Fishlegs?" Astrid asked, as she stepped in the door.
"Astrid? Yeah, why?" he asked her almost defensively.
"Well, you just seem different", Astrid told him, stepping inside towards him.
"Please, Astrid. All I want is to give Snotlout what he deserves; if that means I've changed, I don't see it as a bad one. Actually, if anyone's been acting different lately, it's you", Fishlegs' voice changed to the soft gentle tone she was used to. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine", Astrid denied at first wanting to focus on him, but then remembered she did initially come to him for advice. "I just… I'm just a little lost right now, is all", she leaned on the desk. "I don't really know who I am, you know? I'm not really sure I ever knew, and it's making it really hard to come up with things to do."
"Oh. That's it? But, you have so much that makes you who you are", he told her. "You're smart, brave, crazy― in a good way", Fishlegs quickly added when he saw her eye brow raise, her eyes trained on him. "You're extremely skilled in combat, and you're a basically a master of stunts and acrobatics. Aric couldn't even do half the things you can."
"That's because he doesn't try", Astrid smirked. Aric always said she'd kill herself one day, trying the things she did. That's when it hit her, her eyes popping. She stood straight, and faced Fishlegs directly. "Thank you, Fishlegs! I think I know exactly how to train Striker now!"
"I'm glad I could help, but still, don't think you can beat me. Oh-ho, 'cause Deathwing and I?" he turned to his Terror. "We don't plan on losing", Fishlegs said, returning to his more competitive side and tone.
"Deathwing?" Astrid questioned, surprised by the name coming from Fishlegs.
"Or Iggy", he mused. "We're not sure yet. What do you think?"
Astrid lifted her head up higher, her worry for Fishlegs returning, but that's when she noticed Meatlug, the Gronckle laying glumly by the hearth with a sheep. Stormfly walked over to comfort the poor girl, nudging her cheek, but the dragon almost looked heartbroken, not responding to Stormfly's attempts of comfort at all. "Is Meatlug okay?" she decided to ask, but it got an answer she didn't expect.
"Of course she is; why wouldn't she be?" Fishlegs told her offhandedly, a defensive tone surfacing, almost annoyed by her question. It shocked Astrid a bit.
"O-okay… Well, thanks again", Astrid backed, heading for the door. Maybe he was just stressed from Snotlout today? "Come on, girl", she called on Stormfly, and the two left with Striker. She had her own stuff to work out. Figuring out what was wrong with Fishlegs? Maybe he just needed some space.
000
It was two days later when the dragon training competition was going to start, and Meatlug strolled into the academy with her sheep, hoping fifth time would be the charm. Just one game before the competition. Surly Fishlegs would say yes now; Iggy was all trained. She stepped in, Fishlegs right there ahead of her with this Terrible Terror trainee.
"Oh, Iggy, you can do this; you're the best, most... most well-trained dragon ever―Oog", she pushed Fishlegs forward with a nudge. "No, Meatlug. I can't right now", he told her with an annoyed and stern tone. Meatlug's ears drooped down, her growl one of disappointment. She walked off to the side, out of the way, and laid with a plop on the floor. Maybe he'd want to give her the light of day again once the stupid competition was over.
000
"Okay! Time to show off what we've trained our Terrible Terrors to do", Fishlegs announced, his Terrible Terror perched on a barrel. "Why don't you go first, Snotlout?"
"Why don't you go first", Snotlout fired back.
"Fine. I'll go first", Fishlegs shrugged.
"Oh, no you don't! I'll go first!"
"First, second, third? Doesn't matter. 'Cause in the end, you're gonna come in last."
"Whoa, what got into Fishlegs", Aric asked.
"Looks like he finally grew some―"
"Whoa!" Hiccup interrupted Tuffnut. "How 'bout I go first", she stepped up.
"Hmph, fine. Not like you're in this race anyway", Snotlout said.
"Ready Toothless?!" Hiccup called across the academy, her Terror on her left arm.
"Ready!" Toothless bleated back, three wooden ducks, freshly carved by her father, laid out on his right wing.
"You ready, Sharpshot?" she turned to Sharpshot.
"You kidding? More than ready", Sharpshot chirped excitedly.
"Alright. Toothless, now!"
Toothless threw up the three ducks.
"Sharpshot, fire!" Hiccup ordered pointing at the ducks, and Sharpshot jumped up into the air, fired at the three ducks blasting them all, and landed right back onto her arm where he started. "Good job", she praised scratching his chin.
"Not bad", Aric commented, giving a slow clap. "You're starting off the competition with a bang, Hiccup."
"It is not a competition!"
"Not yet it isn't", Fishlegs muttered glaring at Snotlout, Snotlout glaring right back.
Aric stepped forward next, but his Terror was no where in sight. "Well, what to you think?" he said spreading his arms out.
"..." Everyone stared confused.
"What do we think of what?" Snotlout asked.
"My dragon's stealth skills", Aric answered.
"Right. His skill's so stupid, he didn't even show up."
"Or did he?" he crossed his arms.
Next thing anyone knew, Aric's Terror was sitting on Snotlout's helmet.
"Oh, he's good", Tuffnut said taken back when he looked at his sister.
"Yeah", Ruffnut laughed. "Who's good", she asked, before looking up, and seeing the Terror now on her head.
"Sneaky", Tuffnut said. "Then again, he can't do what Butt and Head can do."
"Let me guess", Aric said. "They're gonna run into each other?"
"Ehh! Wrong", Tuffnut exclaimed.
Butt and Head walked in separate directions, then jumped in the air and flew straight into each other.
"They flew into each other", Ruffnut said.
"Totally different."
"Well, as cool as ramming two dragons' heads together is, Striker is the true star here", Astrid voiced as she entered the academy confidently, everyone's attention steered towards her.
"Looks like someone's back to her old self", Aric mused.
"Yep. And this girl here is gonna prove it", Astrid directed to her Terror. She set up a short obstacle course, her trainee sitting at the start very patiently, tilting her head left and right.
000
Alvin, Savage, and Mildew arrived to the academy, overhearing the teens' chatter. They peered through the bars that separated the stands from the arena, ducking low as to not be seen.
"What are they up to", Alvin muttered.
Down below, the blond girl, Astrid, had set up some type of obstacle course, hoops set about in a wayward path throughout the academy. She walked up to a purple and green Terrible Terror.
"Okay, Striker", the Terror looked up at her. "Go!" the blond pointed, and the Terror flew through each hoop, corkscrewing through the last one before landing before the girl once more.
" "Whoa." "
"Oh please", Snotlout exclaimed. "So what? He flies through some hoops."
"You wanna give it a try?" Astrid threatened, Snotlout backing from Astrid's advance.
"Ah, ha…" Alvin mused, interested.
Next, that chubby boy walked up setting crates up, an object laid on each one.
000
"Achem", Fishlegs called attention to himself. Next to him sat a barrel with Iggy sitting on top like a pedestal. "Prepare to be amazed at the smartest little dragon in the archipelago!"
"He used to call me that", Meatlug moaned.
Fishlegs gestured to the barrels behind the teens, everyone looking back and seeing all the different objects on each crate. He shuffled his papers, showing each of the objects drawn on them, then pulled one out with a picture of an apple.
"Iggy, bring me this", he said rather dramatically. Iggy inspected the paper, sniffing it a bit.
"Oh, apple!" He leaped from the barrel, flew for the apple, and gave it to Fishlegs. Just like they practiced.
"Good boy, Iggy! Oh, who's a good little guy", Fishlegs pet, praised, and coddled the Terrible Terror.
"Whatever", Snotlout scoffed storming up. "Lucky guess."
"Okay. You choose one", Fishlegs presented the drawings.
Snotlout snatched them, and after flipping through, chose the bucket. He showed the sheet, then showed it to Iggy.
Iggy looked at it, sniffed at it for a moment, then zoomed to the bucket, dropping it on Snotlout's head.
"Whoa…" Tuffnut awed. "I couldn't do that."
"Big deal!" Snotlout shouted throwing the bucket away. "So he plays fetch."
"Well, what does your Terrible Terror do?" Fishlegs questioned.
"This", Snotlout stated, before opening a crate, and his purple Terrible Terror popping out biting his ankle. "Agggh!" Snotlout groaned in pain as he walked with the little guy attached to him, presenting him before the teens.
"So― so let me get this straight. You trained him to bite you", Fishlegs couldn't stop himself from laughing as he spoke.
"Try and pry him loose. I dare you. Took Gobber all day yesterday to get him off this leg", Snotlout pointed to his bandaged up left leg.
"You're ridiculous", Fishlegs stated. "Just tell them I won, Hiccup."
Hiccup, unsure of what to say, just smiled awkwardly hoping it didn't look like she was cringing. She hadn't even been thinking about who the winner would be.
"You won? Ha!" Snotlout exclaimed.
"Wasn't even close", Fishlegs defended his statement.
"Whoa, whoa, hold on a minute. My Terror's stealthiness is pretty awesome too", Aric said.
"And what about my Terror's trick? Not just anyone can train a Terror to do that in a day", Astrid jumped in as well.
"Astrid, please, teaching one Terror to fly through hoops should have at most taken an hour or two", Fishlegs told Astrid to her astonishment and fury.
"You're the one who gave me the idea!" Astrid yelled.
"And there's no brains involved in teaching a Terror to hide", Fishlegs continued.
Aric scowled.
"Hey! Our trainees ran their heads together at high speed. That takes brains", Ruffnut joined the argument.
"Yeah, really hard rock like brains", Tuffnut backed her up.
"Oh, come on", Fishlegs groaned, and pretty soon everyone started arguing over one another.
000
Meanwhile, as Meatlug sat to the side moping, she suddenly smelled something off; a new scent in the area that wasn't there before. She stood, none of the teens, not even Fishlegs, noticing in their bickering.
"It's like a bear trap", Snotlout said in defense of his Terror's trick.
"It's so obvious I won it!" Fishlegs continued in his rant.
"You're just jealous of my dragon's superior strength!"
"Your dragon didn't do anything?! He bit you!"
Meatlug focused on the scent, however, needing to find out what it was. She followed it out the academy, and up into the stands.
000
Alvin was starting to get annoyed by the kids' insistent bickering, Mildew could see it. It was annoying him too, to be honest. Brats; all of them. That's when he noticed the fat dragon was getting up and sniffing around, making its way towards them.
"Shh, we can't let that dragon see us", he whispered, and he, Savage, and Alvin hid behind a pile of boulders. The plan didn't work for long when they heard the dragon's loud growl and it blast the rocks away. The dragon snarled at them.
"This would be a good time to retreat into the tunnel", Mildew advised.
"Alvin the Treacherous doesn't retreat!" Alvin exclaimed angrily.
"Well then, Alvin the Treacherous is gonna have to explain to Stoick the Vast what he's doing on Berk", Mildew told him, and him and Savage retreated ahead, the dragon letting out a roar.
000
"Guys! Just―" Hiccup was shouting over everyone trying to stop the fighting, but they were all interrupted by a Gronckle's roar. And it wasn't just any Gronckle, or any roar.
"Meatlug?" Fishlegs asked looking around, but she wasn't in the academy. "Meatlug!" he exclaimed worriedly, before he ran for the exit, Toothless leading the way and Hiccup following with the two. They heard shots being fired, Hiccup hearing someone dodging from them. She heard the voice before she saw him.
"This is crazy!" Alvin the Trecherous' voice rang.
Hiccup and Toothless ran faster.
When their eyes caught sight of the scene, Meatlug so close yet so far, she was punched in the nose by Alvin the Treacherous and being muzzled and pushed, being taken away. The three ran as fast as they could, but they were too late.
The Outcasts, Mildew included, jumped into a hole with Meatlug in their clutches. Toothless tried shooting at them to stop them, but it was too late and only served to close up the hole with the boulders that surrounded it.
"Hiccup, they took my Meatlug!" Fishlegs exclaimed trying to pry the rocks away.
"I know Fishlegs, it's alright", Hiccup tried to calm him down. She saw the others running up, their dragons all in tow. Spreading her wings she flew over to them. "Quick", she hovered in front of the dragons. "I need you to blast those rocks away, now!" she said urgently, and the dragons rushed to the hole, landing just a few feet away from it. Hiccup landed before them, the teens catching up, and she gave the signal to fire. At that moment all the dragons fired as much as they could, dust rising from their blasts, but the rocks weren't budging. They were just pushing them in further.
"We're only making it worse!" Fishlegs said over the blasts.
"He's right", Hiccup agreed. "Hold your fire!" she shouted, but they still persisted, not hearing her. "Hold your fire!" Hiccup roared this time, and that got their attention, their dragons stopping.
"Ohhh, what are we gonna do, Hiccup?!" Fishlegs exclaimed in a frightened panic. "Those tunnels go all over the island! H-h-he could be going anywhere!"
"They don't really go all over the island", Tuffnut corrected. "Like, six yak farms…"
"Couple of sheep pens", Ruffnut continued the list.
"Mildew's cabbage field."
" "Gobber's outhouse... Eugh!" "
"And...you know this how?" Hiccup wondered.
"What? We spend a lot of time in those tunnels", Tuffnut said. "It's a tunnel of fun, haha."
"Okay then", Hiccup decided. "We'll have to split up; cover all those places."
She started walking to Toothless, prepared to assign everyone an area, when Tuffnut suddenly said, "Great! Dibs on the beach!" It stopped her, her face one of disbelief. Under her breath, she growled.
"Uh, what beach?" she asked after turning around, presenting a calm expression.
"The tunnel that leads to the secluded beach on the far side of the island. Can't believe you haven't been there! It's white sand; so soft on your little toes."
"Okay?" Hiccup drawled.
"What are we waiting for?!" Fishlegs quickly jumped in. "We know where they're going; lets go! My Meatlug is out there!"
"He's right", Aric agreed. "To your dragons! Now!"
Mounting their dragons, they raced for the beach, Fishlegs riding with Hiccup, and their Terrible Terrors flying beside them. There was nothing there though. Nothing but footprints and a very big drag mark.
"They must have already set sail", Hiccup said aloud, before leading the charge out to sea.
"Oh, if anything happens to my Meatlug I'll never forgive myself!" Fishlegs worried.
"It's not your fault, Fishlegs!" Astrid comforted.
"Sure it is", Tuffnut ruined it, though.
"Tuffnut!" Aric reprimanded.
"What?! It's not my fault! Is it your fault?!" he asked Ruffnut.
"Nope. Not my fault", she replied.
"Yeah, definitely Fishlegs' fault!" Tuffnut concluded. "Sorry!"
"Guys, not helping!" Hiccup called out.
"No, no, no, they're right, Hiccup!" Fishlegs protested. "I ignored the most important thing in my life, because I got so caught up in beating Snotlout!"
"See?! Bad things happen when you try to beat the Snotman!" Snotlout said much to everyone's distaste. "What?! Sometimes the truth is hard to swallow!"
"You tried to warn me, Hiccup. But I didn't listen."
"Fishlegs, we will get her back", Hiccup assured him. "I promise." 'Even if we have to chase that ship all the way to Outcast Island.'
"Hey!" Tuffnut sounded. "If you two girls are done doing each others' hair, there's an Outcast ship we might want to attack!"
Looking to the sea, the ship below them, they dove with Hookfang taking the first shot.
Outcasts took aim, but never got the chance to fire as the twins came in with an attack from Barf and Belch. Gas, spark, out.
"Like shooting yaks in a barrel!" Tuffnut exclaimed.
"Haha! That was fun", Ruffnut reminisced.
Next, Stormfly and Shadowstar came in with their spines, scattering the Outcasts, then finally it was Toothless' turn. He aimed to fire, but Alvin still had one trick up his sleeve.
"Back off! Or I'll run the Gronckle through!" he shouted up at them, his sword pointed at Meatlug, tied down to the ship.
"Hiccup wait! Don't fire!" Fishlegs screamed, and Hiccup signaled Toothless to cease fire. He stopped his blast's charge, and closed his mouth.
"Riders, hold your fire! Fall back", Hiccup ordered. As told, the riders fell back, regrouping, but Fishlegs again protested.
"No! W-we can't just leave her!" he exclaimed.
"Don't worry, Fishlegs", Hiccup assured. "We're not going to."
000
"Where are they?" Alvin growled. It had been a few minutes now, and there was no sight of the Dragon Riders.
"I don't see them? Maybe they aren't coming", Savage suggested.
"Oh, they'll come", Mildew assured.
"He's right", Alvin agreed. "Their sentiment is their weakness", Alvin laughed. "Isn't it, Gronckle?" Oh yes, they would come. And when they do―
BANG!
Alvin was suddenly hit on his head.
000
Savage stood there with his sword in shock. There was a Terrible Terror. Blue. On Alvin's head. Surely he'd understand, right? How the dragon got there in the first place he had no clue. It was just there. Like it just appeared out of nowhere.
Alvin rose with a growl, and Savage panicked.
"Uh, n-now let me explain, Alvin. There was a-a little dragon on your―"
Alvin rose his sword up, but then it was suddenly snatched by another Terror; this time orange. What in Odin's name was going on?! They followed where the orange dragon flew and saw the riders, the pudgy one holding a parchment up.
000
"Yes!" Fishlegs cheered holding Savage's sword.
"I wish I was as smart as that dragon!" Tuffnut said.
"I wish you were as smart as that dragon too", Ruffnut agreed, much to Tuffnut's annoyance.
"Now it's up to Sharpshot!" Hiccup announced. Extending out her arm in the direction of the ship, she signaled Sharpshot to go. He dove onto the ship and fired at the ropes holding Meatlug down, before pulling up and returning to the group. Meatlug freed, she hopped into the air.
"No, you don't!" Mildew shouted rushing forward to bring her back down.
And he very well could, as Sharpshot forgot one rope keeping her from flying away. She was stuck.
"Striker, now!" Astrid sent her Terror, and to stall for time, Striker tripped up the Outcasts, flying through their legs, ending with Mildew who was then knocked out when Butt and Head rammed their heads against his on both sides. The twins laughed, but it was no laughing matter when Meatlug shook the last restraint off, only to be caught again, a rope lassoed around her tail in her second attempt to flee.
"Not so fast", Alvin growled out.
Meatlug pulled, but then Savage joined Alvin in pulling her in, and she was beginning to lose the tug of war.
"Oh, she's not gonna make it!" Fishlegs exclaimed.
"Oh yes she is!" Snotlout proclaimed, sweeping in. Stuck on his neck was his Terror and after cringing at the fact he had to pull him off of himself―that had to hurt―Snotlout launched his Terrible Terror like an arrow to the ship. He flew straight through the rope, chomping through, and Meatlug was freed. She rushed to Fishlegs nuzzling and licking, telling him how much she missed him and almost thought he forgot her.
"Oh, I missed you too!" Fishlegs laughed and cooed.
"Oh yeah! Who's the best dragon trainer now?! AGH!" Snotlout yelled in pain when his Terror attached himself back onto his neck. "Pain…"
Meanwhile, Fishlegs jumped off Toothless and onto Meatlug, hugging and petting her.
"Just one more loose end to tie up", Hiccup muttered. Sharpshot was about to take that as a cue for him to go in again, but Hiccup held her arm in front of Sharpshot telling him to stay back. Instead, she and Toothless dove in. They flew low, just over the sea, closing in on the ship.
"Wait for it…" Hiccup muttered. "Wait for it", she said a little louder, Toothless growling his readiness. "And…" Just a little closer…and…There!
"Now Toothless! Barrel roll! Multiple Blasts!" Hiccup yelled, and with their wings fanned out this time, Toothless barrel rolled firing a barrage of plasma blasts. They spun faster, Toothless' blasts shot quicker, and it caused massive destruction on the ship. Outcasts jumped over board almost instantly, not only from the explosion and fire, but from the ship capsizing as well.
A job well done, Hiccup rejoined the group, and they all headed home, Fishlegs more than overjoyed.
"Oh, baby, we got you back! Oh, Meatlug", he hugged her in his joy.
"We all did", Hiccup emphasized. "Together."
"Guess that competition was worth something", Tuffnut blurted out, however.
"Oh, for the last time, it wasn't a competition!" Hiccup screamed.
Everyone else laughed.
000
Left floating on the remnants of their ship, Alvin scowled. Defeated by Hiccup and her riders again. This pattern was beginning to get old; quickly.
"Ah! Fungus!" Mildew shouted for his stupid sheep; the useless old man finally woke up. Not that he expected him to be any help anyway. "Wha…what happened?"
"Well, I'll give you a hint…" Alvin started. "Your chowder turned back into fish eggs!"
"Shame", Savage commented. "I do love chowder."
"Well, lets look at the positives", Mildew tried to start again, but Alvin knocked the old man out again with a good hit to the face. He wasn't gonna take one more piece of advice from him. Lousy Berkian. Ever since their one success all those months ago, it's been failure after failure; why he still kept him alive was starting become a mystery.
000
Finding Fishlegs at the Academy, Astrid zipped by with a spin or two.
"Hey, Fishlegs", she called down, the boy in question stopping his game of 'toss the sheep' with Meatlug. "Hiccup wants us to do some more training with the Terrors; you coming with?"
"Tell Hiccup 'no can do', Astrid. Meatlug and I have a lot of catching up to do", he said, placing an arm around Meatlug, and as Fishlegs chased his escaped sheep, Astrid smiled. Meatlug was happy, Fishlegs was himself, and Astrid felt like she was finally finding herself too. As she rode off into the sunset, the future was looking bright.