Ooh boy, you have no idea how excited I am for this 2 parter. Time to give you tidbits of information I have no intention of following up on until much later. HAHAHAHA! I love being the writer.
Okay, but seriously, let's do this.
PART 1 GO!
A View to a Skrill Part 1:
Flying North always meant even colder weather, and this time their rescue mission called for them not to fly South, but towards the frozen tundra of the North beneath dark clouds. Aric and Snotlout were the riders chosen to join Hiccup for this mission, the rest of the team back home.
"We're getting pretty far North", Aric remarked as they had flown in the same direction for the past two hours, no boat in sight.
"Bucket and Mulch are two days overdo", Hiccup stressed the situation. "We need to keep searching."
"You don't really think they're up here, though, do you?" Aric asked rubbing his bare arms for warmth. It was in times like these where he envied Hiccup for her long sleeves.
"Can't take the cold, huh, Aric", Snotlout teased.
"No", Aric growled, the boy seriously getting on his nerves these passed couple of hours. "I just don't have a heated seat. Like you do."
"That's right! You don't", Snotlout boasted, Hookfang rubbing it in when he heated up just a bit. "Ah", Snotlout sighed. "Toasty."
"Why did you pick him for this mission again?" Aric asked Hiccup, when she heard voices. There was a glacier up ahead, and from what she could make out, there wasn't just one boat, but two.
"Looks like they're in trouble", she remarked. "Come on, bud!"
Toothless dived down, followed by the others. As they got closer, the danger became clearer as they saw Berserkers board Mulch and Bucket's ship, the two without weapons besides Bucket's bucket and an eel in Mulch's hand. The two seemed to be holding the Berserkers off, but for how much longer? The three especially knew the two were in trouble when Berserkers with crossbows came into the scene. Quickly, Aric decided to take the initiative and swoop in.
"Shadowstar, spine shot!" he ordered, and Shadowstar sent out a sweep of burrs at the cross bow armed Berserkers before they could shoot, the men all ducking away.
"Nice shooting, Aric!" Hiccup praised. "Snotlout, light em up!" she directed.
Snotlout swept in, burning away the plank bridging the Berkian and Berserker ships. Now, it was time to really scare them away.
"Okay, bud. It's our turn", Hiccup muttered, before Toothless dove between the ships and shot a plasma blast that rocked the two apart from one another. That didn't seem to deter the Berserkers though, as they looked up with angry scowls.
"Need a round two?" Aric threatened, Shadowstar opening her mouth to reveal a purple glow, the blast charging with a plasma blast. Toothless followed, and that seemed to do the trick, as the captain yelled, "Retreat! Retreat!" the men scrambling to get the ship moving.
Once the Berserkers had retreated, Hiccup, Aric, and Snotlout all landed, the three on Bucket and Mulch's boat while Hookfang and Shadowstar stayed on the glacier, Toothless watching from the bow of the ship.
"Oh, kids. Great you showed up when ya did", Mulch said gratefully.
"What happened here?" Hiccup asked.
"Well we thought the Berserkers had hit an ice burg, a-and so we came in to help. A-a― They attacked us. Because we saw… It."
Aric and Hiccup looked to each other in confusion and curiosity.
" "It?" " they both asked.
Mulch led them to the glacier to a certain block that looked to have something inside, ice picks and axes strewn about in front of it. Hiccup squinted at the block; the creature looked familiar. She walked close to it, "That looks like―", rubbed off some of the frost, and saw, "―a dragon", Hiccup breathed unbelievably. She stepped back to where Aric and Snotlout stood before the frozen creature.
"Why would Berserkers be trying to dig it out?" Aric asked.
"No idea", Hiccup said, before picking up an ice pick left at her feet. "But I'm gonna find out."
"Ah, great!" Snotlout griped. "Now we have to dig it out?"
"Actually, I have a much better idea", Hiccup responded, looking to Toothless rolling around in the ice and snow.
000
Together, Toothless, Shadowstar, and Hookfang carried the ice block containing the dragon all the way back to Berk and into the academy. Mulch and Bucket were close behind on their ship, and had went to Stoick on the matter of the Berserkers.
"Alright. You brought home a frozen dragon", Astrid stated. "Now what?"
"I say we smash it", Snotlout said.
"I say we blast it", Tuffnut said, he and Ruff climbing on top of the ice block.
"I say we blast it, then smash it", Ruffnut said.
" "Then blast it aga―"
"Again!" Tuffnut yelled over Ruff. "Stop saying what I'm saying, Now!" Tuffnut yelled at her.
"Yeah… That's certainly one approach", Hiccup commented, before approaching the block herself.
"Achem, M'lady, I believe it is actually three approaches", Tuffnut corrected, the twins hopping off the ice.
"Let's just get a better look at this thing. Fishlegs?" Hiccup turned back. "Give me a slow burn."
"With pleasure", Fishlegs said. "Meatlug, lava blast", he requested, and getting up groggily from her nap, Meatlug lumbered over to the ice block, and gave it one small blast. The ice block, now partially melted, gave the ice a clear view to what exactly was inside. Fishlegs and Hiccup came close, their hands on the ice as they looked through.
"Oh man", Fishlegs awed at the privileged sight.
"Is that what I think it is?" Hiccup asked, a tinge of worry in her tone.
"I think so, but I've only seen pictures", Fishlegs was unsure.
"Do you realize how huge this could be, Fishlegs?"
"The word epic comes to mind?"
"I hate it when they get like this", Aric commented, arms crossed.
"I know", Astrid agreed, hands on her hips.
"Don't you just―" Snotlout started, leaning over and placing his elbow on Astrid's shoulder. She quickly shoved him off, roughly pushing him away.
"I should check the book of dragons to be sure of this", Fishlegs continued with Hiccup, the two starting towards the exit.
"Yeah, good idea. If we're right, this could be big trouble", Hiccup agreed, the two practically out the door.
"If someone doesn't start filling me in, I'm getting my ax!" Aric raced after them, leaving Astrid with Snotlout and the twins.
Snotlout opened his mouth, about to say something.
"Wait for me!" she cut him off, running as fast as she could.
000
When Bucket and Mulch had come to him with news of how the Berserkers attacked them, Stoick decided on calling a full council meeting. However, what started out as a civil discussion of what to do, quickly turned into a screaming match of how to retaliate.
"Alright, calm down", Stoick tried to quell.
"This is an act of war!" Mulch argued.
"Let's not jump to conclusions of what this attack means."
"I don't know, Stoick", Gobber said. "Seems pretty cut and dry to me. I mean if you think about it an attack is an attack! Am I right people?!" he added to the shouting, and the collision of voices continued once more much to Stoick's annoyance.
"And thank you, Gobber", he dryly stated.
"Always here to help", Gobber replied, ever oblivious.
The Great Hall's doors opened, and as Hiccup, Aric, and Toothless stepped in, the men quieted.
"I think I know why Dagur's men attacked Bucket and Mulch", Hiccup started as she and her friends walked up to them.
"Go on, dear", Stoick prompted. If his daughter had an answer then maybe he could finally end this dispute.
"We got a better look at the dragon that Bucket and Mulch found in the ice", she continued.
"We found a dragon?" Bucket asked. "Oh, can we keep it?! I've always wanted my own dragon, Mulch."
"Uh, it's a Skrill?" Hiccup rained on his parade, an uncomfortable expression marring her face; the kind she always got when she was worried or nervous.
"Oh. I don't want one of those", Bucket dejectedly commented, the rest of the council shocked and fearful of the revelation.
Taking it into account, Stoick chose his words carefully. "Are you sure about this, Hiccup?" She'd just gotten the men to quiet. He didn't need another fight on his hands.
"Oh we are sure!" Fishlegs exclaimed, he and Astrid suddenly barging in. "Haha!" he plowed into Hiccup and Aric from behind. "Oh, yeah! Oh, yeah, Fishlegs!" he shouted ecstatically, giggling in a sort of high.
"Fishlegs", Astrid muttered over, Book of Dragons in hand.
Fishlegs then seemed to notice where he was and who he was in the presence of, noticeably stalling.
"Eh-he", he chuckled nervously. "Sorry, Chief; that happens sometimes when we discover a new dragon, I-I get a little―"
"Look", Hiccup interrupted, Astrid handing the book to her, a page opened. "That is definitely a Skrill", she affirmed, before showing it to the council.
"And the Skrill is the symbol of the Berserker Tribe", Aric said, his voice one of realization.
000
"My brothers!" Dagur called to his troops. Captain Vorg had just gotten back from his voyage, and he'd come with some exciting, yet irritating news. It was time to let his people know. He stood on the ship Captain Vorg had sailed out on, Vorg at his side, and his Berserker soldiers' eyes on him. "This is a historic day for the Berserker tribe! After many years, and many searches, Captain Vorg…", he emphasized, a sound of annoyance in his tone, as he grabbed and held up Vorg's arm into the air "…has found a Skrill!"
As expected, his men cheered; he let them for a little bit before continuing on.
"It is such a great occasion, I'm willing…", Dagur bent the captain's hand back, a loud crack sounding out, "…to forgive his failure…", he pushed him to the ground, "…to bring it to me", then kicked him for good measure. "Get. Up", Dagur ordered the man. "For years, the Skrill has represented our strength! Our POWER! Our ferocity. As long as…Hiccup", he said with disdain, "And her little dragon club", he gave a roll of his eyes, "have our dragon, we will not rest! We will take the Skrill out of her frail little hands, and destroy that Night Fury together!" he shouted in victorious hope.
As his men cheered, Dagur grinned, thinking of all the horrible ways he could kill that retched Night Fury right in front of Hiccup. How she'd plead for him to wait, or stop. How she'd plead for mercy for the sake of her stupid pet. How tears would fall as he sliced the dragon's head clean off. And how she'd kneel before him in defeat, crushed by him, his little sister back down to where she belonged.
000
The council meeting dismissed, the dragon riders, Gobber, and Stoick all stood outside the Great Hall. The fact that Dagur's men had wanted the Skrill so bad was concerning for Hiccup; especially since their last encounter hadn't gone too well. It was all she could think about.
"Legend has it, its lightning comes from the Skrill's mouth, and thunder from it's― Well, you know", Gobber said, taking Hiccup out from her mullings.
"Remind me never to get behind one", Astrid commented leaning towards Aric.
"That's actually inaccurate", Fishlegs corrected. "According to the Book of Dragons, the Skrill drew lightning from the clouds and redirected it."
"It could use that lightning to hit several targets at once", Hiccup added on, momentarily taking the time to geek out with her friend. "Which is, why it was such a feared dragon."
"It could also store the lightning in it's body and use it later", Fishlegs followed up.
"I've heard enough", her dad stopped their momentary geek out. "We need to get rid of that Skrill. It's just the excuse Dagur needs to go to war."
"You all know I like a good fight as much as the next person, but why not just give it to them? It's just a frozen dragon carcass after all", Gobber asked, and Hiccup was reminded why she was so concerned.
"Actually", Fishlegs hesitantly said. "Because of their internal body temperature, Skrills can stay safely frozen for…decades…"
"And who's guarding it?" Stoick asked, a sense of urgency in his tone.
Hiccup could only stand there. "Uh…"
"Weren't you supposed to watch them?" Aric questioned Astrid.
"Oh, like I was gonna willingly be alone with Snotlout and the Twins", she argued.
Stoick then charged down the steps, a purpose in his stride, and everyone quickly ran to catch up.
"So let me be clear", he said with anger. "This dragon may still be alive, and you left Ruffnut, Tuffnut, and Snotlut to guard it?!"
"Okay, it sounds much worse when you say it like that, b-but it's frozen solid in a block of ice", Hiccup said brightly. "How much damage could it possibly do?" she tried to stay positive.
Fire exploded from the academy, shattering Hiccup's optimism.
Toothless roared panicked, running ahead.
000
The arena filled with smoke, and with the ice block completely destroyed, Snotlout and the Twins, each on their dragon, knew they were in for it this time.
"It's not that bad", Ruffnut tried to brush off.
"Yeah. Maybe Hiccup, won't even notice", Tuffnut added.
"No, she's definitely gonna notice", Snotlout said. After all, who was gonna miss the dangerous new wild dragon growling at them?
"Yeah, for sure. Definitely", Tuffnut switched sides.
Toothless then rushed in, and seeing the new dragon, he reared back a moment before lunging forward. All dragons together, they confronted and cornered the dragon. Backed into a corner with seven dragons and three riders against him, quick as lightning the dragon fled out of the academy and into storm filled clouds. Better, but still not so good.
"I've got a plan", Tuffnut said as they all still stared after the rouge dragon.
"Great!" Ruffnut exclaimed.
"..."
"What is it?" she asked.
"Blame Snotlout."
"Ugh", Hiccup's annoyed groan announced her and their friends' appearance. Stoick and Gobber were with them too.
"Their fault!" Snotlout shouted and pointed at them.
"Hey. He stole our plan", Ruffnut complained.
"I thought I told you guys to leave it alone", Hiccup chastised.
"Actually, my dear forgetful friend", Tuffnut corrected hopping off of Belch. "You said no such think."
"So, actually, if you think about it, this is your fault", Ruffnut added.
000
"Oh, gods", Hiccup muttered. On the one hand, they were right. But on the other hand... Oh who was she kidding, there was no other hand. She left a highly dangerous dormant ice prisoned dragon with three mutton-heads.
Her dad then groaned as well, knelt down and holding a piece of rubble in his hand. Something was on his mind.
"What is it dad?" she prompted.
"When I was lad, my father's father used to sit me on his knee and tell me stories. I thought they were just tales", he said rising.
"Tales about what?" Hiccup asked as her father walked towards her.
"Berserker fleets attacking behind harnessed dragons that brought down lightning from the sky and destroyed everything in their path."
"Y-you don't think the Berserkers could actually control…a Skrill?" Hiccup wondered.
"I didn't anyone could be part dragon? We just can't take the chance", her dad said. And he was right. At this point, anything was possible. "If the Berserkers find that Skrill", he continued, "And know some way to control it―"
"We'll find it, dad", Hiccup interrupted. "I promise."
They set out almost immediately, Hiccup determined to search every inch of the island, granted it didn't fly out to sea.
000
"Any idea what we do after we find it?" Aric said after about three loops around the island.
"We catch it, we tame it, we train it; keep it away from Dagur so he doesn't use it against us."
"Oh yeah, that sounds easy enough", Aric sassed ever so subtly.
"Actually, the Skrill does have some weaknesses", Fishlegs informed. "According to the Book of Dragons, it can't redirect any lightning if its in the water."
"That's a start", Hiccup said, thankful.
"No!" Snotlout exclaimed. "A start would be having any clue where this stupid thing is! We've been circling the island for hours and I'm starving!"
Hiccup rolled her eyes half way, about to brush the complaint away, when the last thing he said made her thoughts light aflame.
"Snotlout, you just said something unintentionally brilliant!"
" "Again?!" " Aric and Astrid both exclaimed shocked.
"Of course I did", Snotlout boasted. "Uh, what was it again?"
"When you wake up in the morning, what's the very first thing you want to do?" Hiccup asked.
"Well, usually I have to―"
"No, after that."
"Oh! Eat."
"Exactly!" Hiccup cemented. "Fishlegs, what is the Skrill's food of choice?"
000
"...and then you fought off the Skrill. With your head", Astrid surmised Silent Sven's signs.
Silent Sven nodded at Astrid's translation.
Heading for the nearest sheep farm, the riders had landed at Silent Sven's; he was already outside when they'd arrived. Long ago, the man had taken a vow a silence, but no one was sure why. He never talked about it.
"Hey. This guy Silent Sven?" Snotlout muttered to Fishlegs. "Remind me not to rustle any more sheep from his farm", he said, suddenly scared by Sven's story. Then, out of nowhere, Sven lunged at him threateningly with his bident. "Hahaha", Snotlout chuckled nervously with his hands raised, leaned back from the pointy object too close to his head.
"Uhhhh, he's silent. Not deaf", Fishlegs said, subtly pushing the bident away from Snotlout. It was pulled away completely though when Aric, ever impatient with this, shoved Snotlout away putting himself in front of Sven.
"Any idea where the Skrill went?" he asked to the point.
Silent Sven shook his head, but then lightning struck out in the clouds, and where there was a storm, a Skrill was likely to be.
000
Taking off for the storm, searching relentlessly for the Skrill, Hiccup became lost in her own head again. Just the thought of Dagur made a flurry of emotions swarm through. Anger, fear, worry… There was no telling what Dagur would do if he got to the Skrill first. What he would do to her, to Toothless, to Berk, to the entire world? Were there limits to his insanity? She wondered if he'd gotten any crazier since Dragon Island. It seemed that every time they met he did.
Lightning flashed, and Hiccup swore she spotted a figure in the clouds.
"Hold up everybody!" she urgently halted everyone. The figure of the Skrill grew closer, it's shadow becoming physical.
"Okay, now what?" Aric prompted.
"Everybody stay back! If the Skrill sees us as just two dragons, maybe it won't attack?" Hiccup theorized, her plan hitching on the detail that the Skrill would view her as a fellow, non-hostile, dragon. Hiccup and Toothless flew ahead, meeting the Skrill halfway. They moved into a glide beside the Skrill, the dragon growling. Clearly he didn't want to show any fear, instead relying on threats to scare them off. Hiccup wasn't going to be scared off, though.
"Hey, there", she started in the sweetest, nicest tone, of Dragonese. That was always a good way to start.
Instead of being surprised, confused, or backing in his hostility in anyway, however, the Skrill instead growled and sparked lightning around himself; a sign to leave while they still had the chance. Nevertheless, Hiccup raised her hand out.
"So, I'm guessing you're pretty hungry. Cranky too, Hiccup continued, her outstretched hand rearing back as more lightning sparked.
"Get. That paw. Away. From me", the dragon growled pointedly.
"Don't worry, I'm just here to help. My friends and I just want to take you back to where its safe. Trust me; if you come with us back to Berk, you'll be much safer than out here."
The Skrill growled, seemingly insulted. "I don't need 'help' from the likes of you. You get one last warning. Go. Away."
Instead of heeding the dragon's warning, however, Hiccup reached her hand to him again. That appeared to be a mistake, though, as before she could croon even a single word, the Skrill freaked out. His body sparked furiously, Hiccup's hand forced to retract, and the dragon rushed forward to appear right in front of her and Toothless.
"I warned you, Night Scales!", the Skrill roared the species name with ferocity and venom.
"Night Scales?" Hiccup wondered aloud.
"HICCUP!" Aric yelled, the Skrill hovering before Hiccup as it collected lightning from the storm clouds. The duo bolted to the left, but the Skrill still fired, now consequently aimed for Aric and Shadowstar.
"ARIC!" Hiccup feared, but Shadowstar thankfully dodged in time protecting him from the attack. Next thing Hiccup knew, a lightning blast was shot at her and she and Toothless had to dodge. The Skrill continued attacking, expending all his fire power at the riders who scattered away.
"Meatlug, drop!" Fishlegs yelled, a blast narrowly missing his head.
Finally, with his his last shot spent, the Skrill retreated, and the air grew calm.
"Annnd stop!" Fishlegs ordered Meatlug, the Gronckle stopping her drop at Hookfang's altitude. "Wow. That was impressive", Fishlegs remarked out of breath.
"Sure. If by impressive you mean TERRIFYING!" Snotlout shouted.
"Toothless, what do you think the Skrill meant by Night Scales? I thought dragons adopted the names Vikings gave them?" Hiccup asked, confused on the name the Skrill called them. As far as she knew, everyone knew the title of the Night Fury.
"Maybe where he was from, humans called Night Furies Night Scales?" Toothless guessed, but Hiccup could tell he was just as perplexed. It was such an on the nose type name; something like a dragon would come up with. But dragons didn't have the concept for naming things? It was why they used the same names humans gave. They just heard what humans called things, and figured that's what it was. He must have just heard it from another people in some far away land; it was the only logical explanation.
Hiccup internally sighed. As much as she would've loved to just leave the Skrill alone, respect his wishes, she couldn't. Not with Dagur out there, and his possible knowledge of how to catch and control a Skrill. It was too much of a risk she wasn't willing to take. It seemed, though, that the Skrill wasn't gonna see to reason. It looked like they'd have to take him back by force. Hiccup didn't like it, but if that was the only way to keep the Skrill from Berserker hands, then so be it.
"Everyone, follow me!" Hiccup called out. "I've got an idea!" Toothless ducked through the clouds, leading the others to fly over the ocean's surface. "I'm gonna dive through the clouds from above, and drive the Skrill down to you guys, so we can all drive it into the water", she informed.
"Got it!" Tuffnut surprisingly said. "…No, I don't", he retracted. "Sorry. Could we go back to the first part about how you're in the cloud? Or is the cloud in you? It-it's all… It's sorta nebulous for me. Like a cloud!"
Hiccup pressed her hand to her temple, feeling a headache coming on. "Just, do what everyone else does", she told him.
"And how exactly are you gonna find the Skrill in that cloud?!" Aric brought up.
"Toothless and I don't need to see to find something. Remember?" Hiccup answered.
"Does that work in clouds?!"
"There's only one way to find out!" Hiccup said, and she motioned Toothless to shoot up. Once high up into the clouds, Toothless then arched and dove. "Toothless now!" Hiccup signaled, and Toothless let out his sonar. The sound bounced back, indicating where the Skrill was, and Toothless fired a plasma blast, purposefully missing as to just herd the Skrill further down towards the sea. Toothless shot several more times, chasing the Skrill down, the Skrill roaring in annoyance and fury.
Hiccup and Toothless chased the Skrill to the others, and with their fire power, together they tried to knock the dragon into the ocean. The Skrill was a strike class dragon though, incredibly fast, dodging every single attack thrown at him.
000
The Lightning Sky Dragon couldn't seem to shake these dragons and humans off of his tail; they were relentless in taking him down, the Night Scale and his part Night Scale thing leading the assault. Why couldn't Night Scales just leave him alone for once?! First that pesky alpha; now this?! He just couldn't catch a break. And to make matters worse, those black dragons had a diverse pack helping them. There was a Spike Tail, a Flame Scale, a Two Head, a Rock Eater, and even another half breed, this one a mix of a Spike Tail and a Night Scale. That was just great. More pretentious, selfish, ignorant, Night Scales to deal with.
They thought they were so high and mighty. 'Help' the little half breed said; like he needed any help. He could take care of himself just fine. Whatever danger there was, it was nothing in the face of his power.
He escaped another blast from the Spike Tail and her human, getting dangerously close to the water.
000
"It's working!" Astrid exclaimed, the Skrill extremely close to the ocean's surface. If one of them could just land a hit, or at least close, the Skrill would definitely be pushed into the water. Astrid spoke too soon, however, when a boulder was suddenly thrown in her direction.
"Stormfly!" she yelled, and Stormfly dodged by looping over it.
"We're under attack!" Aric called, leading a retreat into the clouds.
Hiccup and Fishlegs then had arrows shot at them through the thicket of the clouds, the attacks coming dangerously close. And Snotlout, had to escape a gaining Skrill on Hookfang's tail. Unlike the other's attempts at dodging relentless attacks, however, Snotlout wasn't so successful, getting struck by the Skrill's lightning on his head.
When a null in attacks came, Hiccup flew to a break in the clouds to see who their new foe was. The ships she saw were the last ones she had wished to see. Alvin the Treacherous would have been better.
"Oh no", was all she could say.
"Surprise, surprise, Hiccup!" Dagur the Deranged announced, all too happy with the predicament as he derangedly laughed. "Now, get your dainty little hands off my Skrill!"
Three boulders catapulted towards them to knock them out of the sky, but Hiccup and Toothless turned abruptly around, shooting one before it could hit. Meatlug caught and ate another, the last missing the riders completely.
"Let's get out of range before they reload", Hiccup said, before Meatlug zipped right by.
"Already ahead of you!" Fishlegs called back.
"Let's go bud", Hiccup told Toothless, and with their team behind them, they flew off.
000
Dagur watched with a scowl as Hiccup and her little dragon riding group flew far out of range. What did she have planned?
His thoughts of Hiccup were then rudely interrupted by Captain Vorg, the bumbling idiot laughing. "Hahaha! They're running", Vorg exclaimed as if they'd won.
Dagur slowly turned to him, a deeper, annoyed, scowl on his face. "They're regrouping, you idiot", Dagur restrained himself from full out yelling. "That's it. You're relieved of duty", he then decided, before permanently relieving Vorg by pushing him off the boat.
Now, without all the distractions, Dagur was able to view the magnificence of his Skrill, his soon to be war machine flying in and out of storms clouds.
"My Skrill is glorious", he couldn't help but say out loud. "The legend doesn't do it justice. A dragon that could go head to head with Hiccup and her Night Fury. And, they will both, be mine…"
000
Landing on a lone sea stack, the team seemed to all be there and accounted for. Snotlout was the last to land, Hookfang looking out of breath, and Snotlout's helmet smoking.
"Hey, uh, Snotlout? Are― Are you okay?" Hiccup checked.
"Ha! He's better than okay!" Tuffnut exclaimed. "Did you see that lightning bolt to the head?!"
"Blathershna", Snotlout replied.
"Tuffnut's right. Better than okay", Aric tried to contain his laughter.
"Hogonulau."
"And making more sense than usual", Astrid added.
"Okay. He's out of it", Hiccup said. "So, the rest of us will―"
"Shmegee", Snotlout interrupted.
Hiccup looked at him, unsure of how to react to that. "Snotlout, we have no idea what you're saying!" she finally exclaimed.
"Sure we do", Tuffnut countered. "He said, 'I'm perfectly fine'."
"Shmegee!" Snotlout yelled.
"Said it again. I told them", Tuffnut said. At the lack of a response― Hiccup was beyond confusion at this point―Tuff continued. "What?! I speak post lightning Snotlout."
"How many times has this kid been hit by lightning?!" Hiccup asked.
"Often enough."
"Ehhh, gurgle", Snotlout said.
"Twelve, oh really? Twelve times."
"Lessle! Shrigmal! Freggal!"
"He said, 'Enough talk! Dagur is all mine. And, Tuffnut is the toughest of us all'."
"Ehshablez."
"He implied the last part."
"Ugh…" Hiccup palmed her face with both hands. "Well, you heard the man, Aric. Take Snotlout, Astrid, and Fishlegs and try to keep the Berserker ships occupied. The twins and I, will go after the Skrill. If Dagur gets his hands on it first, we won't stand a chance."
"Be careful", Aric jumped in. "The lightning is attracted to metal, and you two are wearing a lot more of it than the rest of us."
Splitting up, Aric led Astrid, Fishlegs, and Snotlout to Dagur's three ships, distraction their objective.
"Alright girl, let's rock some boats", Aric told Shadowstar, and she cuffed in agreement, before sweeping down with a plasma blast onto the deck of one of the ships. Hookfang, Stormfly and Meatlug all sent fire, lava, burs, and magnesium blasts loose onto the boats.
"Stay on target!" Aric heard Dagur call out orders. "She's tricky, that… Hiccup." He frowned, before Shadowstar fired her burs to Dagur, hitting the mast he ducked behind. Dagur knew this was a trick; that...wasn't good. "Riders, hit them with everything you got", Aric ordered. If Dagur knew this was a distraction, then they'd just have to work harder at distracting him.
000
"Okay, I think I have a way to get the Skrill into the water, but it's super risky", Hiccup said as she and the twins flew between the clouds, coming to one large cloud Hiccup swore she saw the Skrill fly into. She even used her sonar to make sure.
"You, my friend, are speaking our language", Tuffnut said.
"And that's one of the reasons I chose you for this. The other reason…" Hiccup took a breath. This could either go very good, or very bad. "Basically, you're gonna fly blind through the cloud and have Barf let out as much gas as possible. Don't let Belch ignite it, until you get to the other side."
"Feel my heart", Tuffnut placed a hand to his chest. "Because it comes forth, and is bursting through my chest!"
"Hopefully the blast will drive the Skrill out of the cloud to Toothless and I, where we can knock it down with a plasma blast."
"That's a lot of gas. Do have any idea how big a blast that will be?"
"No?"
"Me neither!" Tuffnut said excitedly. "How awesome is this?!" he turned to Ruffnut, and then the two had Barf and Belch zip into the cloud.
Hiccup stopped Toothless, waiting for their cue.
"Hold steady, bud. In just a few moments, that Skrill's gonna come straight out of that cloud, and it'll be up to us to stop it", she said.
"Do you think the twins can do it?" Toothless asked.
"If I know those two, they'll do much more", Hiccup responded confidently.
000
Flying through the cloud, Ruffnut searched for the right place to start; it had to be somewhere closest to where the Skrill was, but not too close. Below, she spotted lightning flash.
"That's it. Let loose", Ruffnut whispered, and Barf let out a stream of gas from his mouth.
On instinct, Belch started to spark, but Tuffnut quickly pulled him back. "Not you, Belch. Not yet. Wait for it… Wait for it…" Tuffnut spoke, waiting for Barf to let out just a little more. Finally, once they reached the end of the cloud, Ruffnut pulled back. Barf's stream stopped, and when the two turned, it was Tuff's turn. "Now!" he exclaimed, and Belch lit the line of gas. It exploded before them in a show of fire and bright light. The twins watched in awe.
They stared in silence, looked to each other, then raised their arms in triumph. " "YEAH!" "
000
The sky lit up with an explosion, and just like she'd thought, the Skrill flew out of the cloud in the thought to save himself.
"Now, bud! Let's go!" Hiccup roared.
Toothless zipped after the dragon, the chase on again.
"You again?!" the Skrill complained having noticed them, but before Toothless could herd him to the ocean again, the Skrill flew up instead.
"He's flying back up!"
"No kidding!" Toothless sassed back, changing their course to follow after him. Gaining speed fast, they began to gain on him.
"Okay, bud. Not too much; just enough to bring him down", Hiccup said, and Toothless fired. The Skrill then turned, shot, and neutralized the plasma blast creating a ball of electricity from it that expanded and dispersed. "Okaaay, that's a new one. Did you know he could do that?"
"No."
"Neither did I. But let's see how he handles this."
Toothless dived for the Skrill, catching up to fly side by side. In succession he fired plasma bolts, and in return, the Skrill shot lightning bolts. Each attack neutralized the other, and they were left in another stale mate as the Skrill fled into the clouds.
Lightning crackled, the sky lit up in sparks, and the Skrill revealed himself coated in a veil of sparking electricity.
"Your kind just doesn't know when to take a hint!" he roared, lightning sparking off his body.
"This is bad", Hiccup muttered.
With a roar, and a stream of lightning that Hiccup and Toothless luckily dodged, the Skrill charged at them.
"This is worse!" Hiccup exclaimed, Toothless flying for their lives. Stream after stream after stream, the Skrill was relentless in his pursuit to shoot them out of the sky. "Clearly, this guy has issues with Night Furies!"
"What gave you that idea?!" Toothless stated, forced to keep Hiccup, and himself, from dying. Again.
"Toothless", Hiccup growled. "Ahh!" she then yelped, a stream nearly hitting her right side. "You did that on purpose!"
000
Dagur wanted to scream. Hiccup's dragon riders were attacking his ships, causing fires on decks, threatening lives, but never sinking or killing any of them. It was infuriating. Especially because Hiccup's stupid plan was working. None of his men were focused on Hiccup and his Skrill anymore; just the decoy dragons and their riders in the need to save their own pathetic lives. What imbeciles!
He grabbed his trusty crossbow, intent on putting an end to this himself. He made his target on the stupid one with the Nightmare; the one shouting gibberish.
"Sir, look!" Vorg's voice caught his attention. He looked back, saw where he was pointing, and looked up. "Well, well, it doesn't look like Hiccup will catch my Skrill either", Dagur said cheerfully, watching as his Skrill attacked and chased Hiccup around like a cat on a mouse.
"Well perhaps we should withdraw. Come back for the Skrill another day", Vorg then requested, when Dagur noticed something. Wasn't he not here before?
"Um, didn't I throw you overboard?" he questioned.
"Well I am an excellent swimmer."
"Oh. Well then. T-tell me Vorg, do you like swimming?" Dagur stepped up to the captain.
"Well, I suppose it's a nice hobby", Vorg answered.
"Good. Good, good, good", Dagur stated, stepping closer, and then throwing Vorg in again. Dagur looked back, his men just standing there staring. "Press on!" he ordered.
000
"Ahh!" Hiccup yelped, ducking from the lightning shot at her head. "Ohhhh, that one made my hair stand up", she commented as she sat back up. "We need a plan, and fast."
Hiccup turned back to see the Skrill gaining up on them, when a fire ball suddenly came out of nowhere, shoving the Skrill away.
"Yoo-hoo! Remember us?!" Tuffnut called, him and Ruffnut flying in to the rescue. "Gas me, Ruff!"
"With pleasure."
Turning onto them, the Skrill in a fit of rage, he attacked and chased after the twins, the twins now flying away from the dragon. It gave Hiccup and Toothless a short reprieve, but now it was their turn to save them.
"Come on, Toothless!" Hiccup exclaimed, and Toothless rushed after them.
Seeing the twins raise two swords into the air, shouting with excitement, Hiccup shook her head. Those two were gonna get themselves killed.
The Skrill charged up.
"Hurry bud!"
Just as the Skrill fired, a stream of lightning heading right for the twins' backs in which Barf and Belch couldn't possibly dodge, Toothless put himself in between the blast and its target. He shot a plasma blast, neutralized the attack, and saved the twins. The shock wave was so fierce, however, it knocked back all three dragons out of the sky.
000
Dagur watched in amazement as Hiccup and her Night Fury got in between the Skrill's lightening and the Zippleback, dispersing the attack with a plasma blast.
Then, he watched as a Night Fury fell towards his ship.
Quick as a Skrill, Dagur hit the deck, feeling the impact of a dragon crashing onto his ship. He opened his eyes, and came to meet the face of the dragon he despised. As well, as the girl who just wouldn't leave his mind at peace.
"Hiccup", he growled out.
The Night Fury hissed at him, teeth bared.
"Sorry about your deck", Hiccup only replied, and then she sped off. "Fall back!" she then ordered her riders.
Dagur watched as Hiccup and her dragon riders fled, Skrill no longer in his sight, and anger filling his veins.
"AHHHRRRRGGGG!" Dagur screamed. He wanted to kill someone. Spotting Vorg trying to climb back on board for a third time, he supposed he would do.
000
Joining with the team, Hiccup looked around. No Skrill, and no twins. "Did anyone see where the Skrill went?" she asked.
"No", Aric shook his head.
"Sorry", Astrid shrugged, no idea either.
Hiccup turned to Fishlegs and Snotlout.
"Nope", Fishlegs answered.
"Norfblort", Snotlout said too.
"Anyone see where the twins ended up?" Fishlegs then asked.
000
Crashing onto a sea stack, Barf and Belch rose with the twins on their back. They were twisted up and soot covered, when in the distance, under the rising sun, they spotted a ship. Barf and Belch unraveled and quickly ducked down.
"Aw, great", Tuffnut griped, watching as the men of the lone ship pulled a dragon from the water. "We do all the work, and the Berserkers get the Skrill anyway."
"And that, is why we don't work. It accomplishes nothing", Ruffnut said.
"Yeah. Hey, wait a minute", Tuffnut noticed the flag of the ship. "That's not the Berserkers! That's Alvin the Treacherous!"
The Outcasts lugged the Skrill onto the boat, tying him up for the journey.
"Why would Alvin want a Skrill?" Ruffnut wondered.
"Why wouldn't he?" Tuffnut answered. "Did you see that thing? He could take out Berk with it."
"Oh, yeah. So… We should do something, right?"
"Eh. ... Yes! Yes we should."
The two sat in thought, wondering their next move, when Tuffnut spoke up.
"Okay. I think we should follow them", he said.
"Okay. And then what?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, okay."
"Yeah. Good point", Ruffnut agreed, and taking off, the four followed Alvin's ship.
= To be continued =
I wanted to do both parts in one chapter. I really did. But Part 1 had taken so long, I didn't want you guys to wait even longer because of part 2. More to come hopefully very soon.