Lots of stuff in this episode. Filled to the brim I believe.
A Tale of Two Dragons:
With the Screaming Death still out there and a threat, Hiccup set up an alarm and drill system should it ever return to Berk's shores. Stoick had given Hiccup permission to test it out with the riders today, and things started off well as the horn was heard all throughout the village. The riders each woke up to it, and they all flew to their posts per instruction. Except for two.
Aric and Shadowstar were flying to the Great Hall as Hiccup had instructed him to do, when out of nowhere, Snotlout barreled his way in with Hookfang, cutting Aric off, and nearly throwing him and his dragon out of the sky.
"SNOTLOUT!" Aric angrily yelled. "What are you doing?!"
"I'm sorry", Snotlout baby talked. "Did I scare your girly little dragon?"
"Outta my way! I have to get to the Great Hall!"
"No you don't", Snotlout argued. "I have to get to the Great Hall. You have to get to the armory."
"Hiccup assigned me the Great Hall yesterday. You heard her", Aric argued right back.
"Tell you what", Snotlout began an offer. "Whoever gets there first―me―gets to guard it."
"Fine by me!" Aric agreed, sure he'd win no problem, when Snotlout threw a handful of cod in his face. "Ah! Snotlout!" The sudden impact spooked Shadowstar, and in turn a few of her burrs were released into the village below. Luckily, no one was hit.
"Haha, Aric, I thought you liked cod!" Snotlout egged Aric on more, and the high strung boy took the bait. He raced Shadowstar for him, Snotlout justifiably frightened as he tried to escape Aric's wrath. Shadowstar was faster than Hookfang though, and it wasn't long before she rammed into Hookfang, the two dragons and riders crash landing directly into the Great Hall.
000
Hiccup and Toothless heard the commotion, and as the ones overseeing the drill they went to check it out. When they landed, all they saw were red, blue, and black blurs crashing into the Great Hall, and people running for their lives to escape the four fighting inside.
Hiccup didn't even have to guess who were fighting. Aric and Snotlout had been getting on each others nerves for years, the animosity growing more apparent as time grew on, particularly during these last few months. But for the past two weeks now in particular, it seemed to have just gotten worse and worse. Granted, she'd been partnering them together more often recently, but they couldn't even be in a room together without getting into some kind of argument or fight anymore. It was getting out of hand. And now, Hiccup could just see her father's face.
000
"When you told me you'd be running a Screaming Death attack drill, I assumed you wouldn't actually try to destroy the entire village!" Stoick yelled. He'd been absolutely fuming since he got word of the destruction caused.
"Uh, technically, Chief, it was just the Great Hall", Fishlegs tried correcting, but Stoick was far from being in the mood. It only took him to narrow his eyes at the boy for him to squirm. "And, I'll let you take it from here", he squeaked.
"Dad, this was supposed to be a practice run, but it just got out of hand", his daughter explained, before directly looking at the two boys responsible for the damage that had been done. "I'm sorry", she then took responsibility, as always.
"Eh, 'sorry' doesn't unburn Silent Sven's chest hair", Gobber said―Silent Sven's chest was still smoking.
"No, it certainly does not", Stoick agreed. "Which brings me, to your punishment..."
000
"Ugh, Mildew's cabbage field", Astrid griped. The look of the field was ghastly, no one to tend to it since Mildew turned Outcast. But the look of it was nothing compared to the smell. It was ten times worse with all the rotten cabbage scattered amongst the abandoned field.
"Okay gang, my dad wants this field cleared for planting by the end of the week", Hiccup relayed. "Aric, Snotlout, you two clear the big boulders on the far end, while―"
"Actually", Snotlout interrupted. "That sounds more like a man's job", he said.
"Hmm, your right", Aric responded. "Better give me Astrid instead."
"Oh boy, here we go again", Astrid forewarned, she and Hiccup having to witness yet another fight between their family members.
"Aric, what do you see when you look over here?" Snotlout questioned, before posing and flexing his muscles.
"I'd tell you, but I'm afraid your fragile ego couldn't take it", Aric answered.
"You see five thousand pounds of boulder crushing splendor", Snotlout answered anyway, hugging Hookfang to his side with one arm.
"Ugh. Just make sure you don't slow me down", Aric dropped it, and went over to Shadowstar to start working.
Hiccup sighed to Astrid, hoping this wouldn't turn into yet another fiasco.
As usual, things started off well. The twins were digging, and eating, dirt with their dragon, Fishlegs was none too sneakily feeding Meatlug the boulders too small to be used for catapults, and Astrid was using Stormfly's tail to dig up the loose soil.
"You see, Toothless", Hiccup started cheerfully. "It's all going perfect..."
"Hey, watch it, half breed!"
"...oh…" That was Hookfang's roar.
"Why don't you watch it, fire hazard?!" Shadowstar roared too.
"How 'bout you tell that overgrown oven to back off from my dragon?!" And…that was Aric's roar.
"Don't say it", Hiccup said flatly.
"Why?! I told you to stay out of my way!" Snotlout shouted back. "This is warrior territory."
"Exactly. So what are you doing here?" Aric questioned, when Hookfang suddenly roared and shot fire at Shadowstar and Aric. Then Shadowstar roared too, before shooting plasma blasts back. They weren't even saying anything; just screaming at each other.
"Oh yeah, that's productive", Hiccup dryly commented, absolutely tired of this fighting. "Toothless, plasma blast?" she requested. Toothless fired one in between the fighting dragons, then proceeded to get in between the two. He leaped off the rock pile she and Toothless had been watching the scene, and landed in the middle of the fighting dragons and riders.
"Stop it. Both of you!" Toothless roared at the two, before he suddenly went crazy himself. He attacked and lunged for both Hookfang and Shadowstar, only held back by Hiccup's pulling on the saddle, a little confused as to why he was lunging and snapping.
"Hookfang, stop!" Snotlout tried pulling Hookfang back too. "Heel!"
"Shadowstar, calm down!" Aric did the same.
"Toothless, come on! We're trying to break up the fight, not win it!" Hiccup tried reasoning, but Toothless wasn't listening. She knew Toothless was as tired of the fighting as she was, but that was no reason to go berserk on them. But that was when Hiccup was too suddenly filled with rage.
000
Fishlegs was beyond perplexed as he watched from where Meatlug hovered beneath him. He had never seen Shadowstar, Toothless, nor Hookfang ever act like this; roaring and lunging, blindly trying to attack one another. Yes, they were all angry and frustrated with each other, but this was excessive. Something was wrong. When Fishlegs saw Hiccup's pupil's slit, he gasped in terror.
"That. Is. ENOUGH!" she shouted, louder than ever thought capable. "EVERYONE TO THE ROCK PILE NOW!" The shock of her outburst seemed to snap everyone out of it enough to fly Hookfang, Shadowstar, and Toothless back to the rock pile. Once there, the dragons seemed calmer, and Hiccup's own eyes returned to normal. Fishlegs sighed in relief; whatever had possibly consumed the dragons, Hiccup seemed to be able to control.
000
When Toothless landed on top of the rock pile, Aric and Shadowstar and Snotlout and Hookfang at the bottom, Hiccup immediately hopped off to get in between the two Viking teens. But she faltered, feeling dizzy all of a sudden, and Toothless caught her with his head.
"Hiccup. You okay?" Toothless crooned with concern.
A hand to her head, Hiccup regained her balance and stood. "Yeah, bud. I'm fine", she crooned in return.
"What is wrong with your dumb dragon?!" Snotlout screamed, marching over to where Aric stood, and Hiccup raced down the hill, her dizzy spell forgotten.
"Guys?" Hiccup tried to intervene, but there was no room to get in between the two.
"My dumb dragon?! Aric shouted. "Your flaming Snotmare was trying to barbecue us!"
"Guys."
"SNOTMARE?!" Snotlout yelled. "SNOTMARE?! I kinda like that."
"You would", Aric said.
"Guys!" Hiccup exclaimed.
"Oh yeah, I would, huh?" Snotlout got into Aric's face.
"Yeah! Yeah you would!" Aric pushed back into Snotlout's face.
"How about I call your dragon ugly!"
"I'll show ya who's ugly!" Aric jabbed a finger into Snotlout's face, but Astrid walked up and placed a calming hand to her brother's back.
Seeing the opportunity, Hiccup tried one more thing. "Guys!" she draconically exclaimed. "Thank you", Hiccup said, the two now quiet. They still glared at each other though. "Now, would someone mind telling me what exactly was going on out there?" she asked, Astrid moving to stand next to her.
"Simple!" Snotlout answered first. "Hookfang and me were just trying to do our job, when Shadowstar went crazy, and started shooting at us!"
"You have got to be kidding!" Aric exclaimed. "Hiccup, Shadowstar and I were doing our job, when this lunatic, and his overgrown fire pit, started torching us!"
"Oh come on!" Snotlout argued. "When have we ever started a fight just for the sake of starting a fight?!"
As everyone looked at him like he was crazy, Astrid rose a finger as if to name all the times.
"Let me rephrase that", he interrupted before she could.
"Never mind", Hiccup cut him off. "Do you two think you can work together, yes or no?" she asked flat out. The two glared at one another, but didn't say no. "Good", Hiccup said, although with more attitude than she'd intended.
Aric and Snotlout just took their dragons and left after that, and Hiccup exasperatingly sighed. "What are we going to do with them?"
"You know, in hindsight, I really shouldn't have told him about Snotlout's proposal to you during the Screaming Death patrol", Astrid commented.
"You told him about that?" Hiccup said. It was no wonder their animosity worsened.
"Don't worry. I'll talk with him", Astrid said, racing towards Stormfly. "As much as I love seeing Snotlout in pain, this is starting to get dangerous." She took off after Aric, and for Thor's sake, Hiccup hoped she could get through to him.
000
Within the background, Fishlegs kept his worries to himself. What happened in the field wasn't natural. He was surprised Hiccup hadn't noticed, but with everything going on, maybe it was understandable. The dragons didn't even seemed phased by what occurred. Perhaps a lapse in memory was a side effect? But that didn't make sense because then they would have been confused. And yet, niether Hiccup, nor Hookfang, Toothless, and Shadowstar were confused. Not that he could tell anyway. With all these valuables, Fishlegs had an idea of what could have caused the dragons to act the way they did, but he wasn't sure. And he didn't want to worry Hiccup yet. If it wasn't what he suspected, then he didn't want to worry her for no reason. She had enough on her plate.
"Come on, Meatlug, we have some research to do", he decided, and he and Meatlug left too.
000
"Don't you think you're overreacting?" Astrid questioned. The orange glow of sunset coming through the windows of their house made Aric look like a raging fire.
"Overreacting?!" Aric shouted. "He tried to fry us?!"
"Hookfang wasn't the only one shooting, you know", Astrid pointed out.
"Shadowstar was only protecting herself. And if Hiccup thinks I'm gonna work with that maniac, she's wrong!"
"Where are you going?!" Astrid exclaimed when her brother turned for the front door.
"To talk to Hiccup!" Aric yelled, before slamming the door open and shut.
"Great", Astrid stated, hands to her hips.
"Astrid, could you come over here?" her mom's voice called from their parent's room.
"Coming, mom", Astrid called back. She headed for the room and saw her mom was sitting in front of an opened chest at the foot of the bed, her long blond hair tied back in a braid that cascaded down her back. "You wanted something?"
"I just couldn't help but notice the little problem you and your friends are having", her mom hinted.
"And a chest full of memorabilia is your way of coping?" Astrid joked.
"A tad, but I think it may also have your answer. Remember this?" her mom held a small painting of Astrid and Aric holding each others weapons.
"Yeah, that was the day I discovered a sword was better than an ax", Astrid recalled as she took a seat beside her mother on the floor.
"Ah, now that was a sight", her dad came in, his arms crossed as he leaned on the door frame. Astrid had always been a natural at swordsmanship, although she hadn't always known that.
Her mom chuckled. "When you were little, you and your brother would fight like cats and dogs", she exaggerated. "Especially when it came time to start your training. Getting through to both of you was one of the hardest tasks your father and I ever accomplished, but all it took was a one simple switch..."
000
After their evening flight, Hiccup and Toothless came home feeling a little bit better, but not by much. Snotlout and Aric just kept invading her mind and it was frustrating her all the more; not even a flight could get them out of her head. As Hiccup was bringing a large basket of fish to Toothless, her dad sat in his chair sharpening his ax.
"So, hun, how are things going in the field?" her dad asked, and Hiccup's brain panicked.
"Oh dad, it couldn't be going any better", she lied. "We're moving like a well oiled catapult." She couldn't let him know she lost control of her team. Again. What kind of leader did that prove her to be? Besides, she knew exactly what her dad wanted, and he wasn't going to get it. She was fine; cool as the ocean breeze. She didn't need his help.
"Really, hmm?" her dad sounded skeptical, a hint of playfulness in his tone. "Because word around the paddock is that Aric and Snotlout are trying to turn the catapult on each other. Again."
"O-Oh", she laughed tensely. "That? It's just a minor, uh, disagreement. You know how they are?" 'Maybe I could fake a yawn and rush upstairs.'
That plan wasn't going to work though, when several knocks pounded the door. For a moment Hiccup's ears flattened, fearing who it might be, until she remembered to play it cool.
"I-in fact", she headed for the door. "I'm sure they've already forgotten about it."
"Let's hope", her dad simply said; it really sounded like he was enjoying this game.
When Hiccup opened the door, it was Aric, and not a moment later he was ranting. "Hiccup, I refuse to work with Snotlout―!"
"Ah, Aric!" Hiccup panicked. "What a beautiful night, let's talk outside", she said all too quickly, and pushed Aric back on the stoop, closing the door behind them. "Uh, didn't we talk this out?" she asked quietly.
"You talked, we listened. As usual. But I'm not going to put Shadowstar in danger by working with that…that…mutton head! Who can't even control his own dragon!"
"Ah", Hiccup panickedly cut in, Aric getting too loud. "Fine-fine, I will deal with it tomorrow. I promise."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
With that settled, Hiccup went back inside with a sigh of relief, when she noticed her father staring at her. He had an expectant look as he slowly continued to move his whet stone over the blade of his ax.
"Yeah so, just…academy business. No big deal", Hiccup tried to not nervelessly lie. She nearly jumped when knocking came to the door again. "Ah, let me grab that", she said, before opening the door to a storming Snotlout.
"Hiccup I―"
"Oh look, a full moon!" she shoved him outside, shutting the door behind her for the second time that night. "You are killing me!" she quietly exclaimed.
"Me?!" Snotlout yelled. So much for being quiet. "Aric has totally lost control of his dragon! Honestly, I don't know what you see in him", he flexed.
Hiccup just stared with a look of 'nice try' written all over her face.
"Never mind. Here's the deal."
"Let me guess; you don't want to work with Aric tomorrow", Hiccup tiredly recited.
"Exactly. Wasn't that easy, Hiccup? Come on, Hookfang", he turned to leave. "Let's go think with our muscles."
Hiccup sighed for the umpteenth time that day and went back inside, when her dad spoke again. "Problem, dear?" he asked.
"Problem?!" Hiccup accidentally freaked. "What problem?" she saved. "No. No, everybody's happy; everything is great."
"Good to hear."
"Yep. Yep. Everything is right as rain."
"If you say so."
"I do. I…say so", she crossed her arms in mock confidence.
Silence followed, and as her dad just sat calmly, looking at her with that knowing yet collected look, Hiccup couldn't take it anymore. He knew it wasn't fine, she knew it wasn't fine. Nothing was fine!
"Okay! You win!" she finally exclaimed. "Snotlout and Aric are driving me completely insane! They're acting like complete mental cases! I actually don't know who's worse? Them, or their dragons?! Imeanatleastwiththeirdragonsyoucanlockthemintheirpensuntiltheybehave!" Everything out, Hiccup was left panting. She hated to admit it, but her dad was right; she really needed to stop bottling up her anger.
"Feel better?" he asked, almost rubbing the fact in.
"A little", Hiccup admitted.
"Alright", her dad stood, getting down to business. "Hiccup, there are three ways to deal with Vikings who aren't getting along."
"I'm all ears", Hiccup perked up her ears.
"Option one: Give them both axes, and let them fight till the end", he held his ax out; his now very sharp ax.
"Yeah, that one seems a tad…permanent. What's option two?"
Turning around, her father switched his ax for a mace. "You give them both maces, and let them fight to the end", he presented. He tossed the weapon into her arms, Hiccup only barely catching it.
"Do I even want to know what option three is?" she asked.
"Oh, it's quite devious. And could have grizzly repercussions. Then again, it could go down like a treat. Odds are about fifty-fifty either way."
"I-I'm listening?"
"You trick them into working together."
That...wasn't such a bad idea. It was certainly better than one and two. In fact, she already had the perfect plan.
000
The following day Hiccup had thankfully given Aric his own station without a Snotlout or Hookfang in sight. Shadowstar dug through the dirt, both dragon and rider peaceful as they worked, until a sound came from the other side of the hill.
"Shh, do you hear that?" he asked Shadowstar. She said something in return and walked them to the hill. Climbing to the top, the ones they heard stood face to face with them.
"Why that little hiccup", Snotlout growled.
"Option three", Aric realized. "Ugh, I should've seen that coming", he muttered, then looked back to Snotlout. "Well, Shadowstar and I are gonna prove we are not the problem, by working with you."
"Pssh. Not as well as we're gonna work with you!" Snotlout responded, and Aric felt confident. Very confident.
000
"I wouldn't believe it if I wasn't seeing it with my own two eyes", Astrid awed at the sight of her brother and Snotlout actually working together. "I was gonna suggest something my mom said, but I guess you've got it covered." She was honestly impressed.
"Guess my dad was right", Hiccup said. "Then again, I did put my own Hiccup spin on it", she began to go off. "See, that's what all great leaders do, Astrid. They take an idea, then they shape it―"
"Uh, Hiccup?" Fishlegs interrupted, bringing their attention to Shadowstar and Hookfang fighting, the two dragons getting so caught up in it that they even threw their riders off.
"Great leaders, are also often proven wrong", Hiccup added.
"Guess it's my plan then?" Astrid followed.
000
Once they'd gotten Hookfang and Shadowstar wrangled and back to Aric and Snotlout, Astrid and Hiccup led them all to the academy. On the way, Astrid told Hiccup about her plan.
"Last night, my mom reminded of when Aric and I were kids. We fought almost all the time, and when we were training with our new weapons, we fought even more. It was practically a constant battle for who had it worse; me with my ax, or Aric with his sword. When my parents switched our weapons, it fixed everything, and ever since then, whenever we'd fight, be it over chores, or toys, they'd switch our roles. I guess it gave us a sort of new appreciation for each other, and it might just be what Aric and Snotlout need right now."
"And given what just happened back there, their dragons too", Hiccup agreed.
When the riders all arrived to the academy, Hiccup and Astrid stood in the middle with Aric and Shadowstar on Astrid's left, and Snotlout and Hookfang on Hiccup's right. Fishlegs and the twins watched from the sidelines.
"Aric, Snotlout, this fighting has gone on long enough", Hiccup announced. "It's gone on so long, in fact, that even your dragons are fighting."
"Is it my fault that me and Hookfang are so in sync?" Snotlout asked.
"But, we've come up with a solution", Astrid continued.
"You both, are going to walk a mile in each others shoes", Hiccup said, and she took Snotlout's arm and dragged him to Shadowstar. "Or in this case, saddles." Then she did the same for Aric, putting him next to Hookfang. "Perfect", she looked to the four of them.
"What? What's perfect?" Aric irritably questioned.
"Surprise, little brother! You four, are swapping partners for the day", Astrid announced. "You can thank mom."
" "What?!" "
"It's a girl dragon!" Snotlout complained, and Shadowstar growled at that.
"At least I don't smell like thirty year old salmon", she warbled.
"If you and Aric can learn to understand each others dragons, then maybe, you can learn to understand each other. And the same goes for your dragons", Hiccup explained.
"This does not work well with my manliness", Snotlout still complained.
"You can take the day off, and just get to know your new best friend."
"Hey", Hiccup turned at Tuffnut's voice. "Does that mean if we start fighting, that we get the day off too? 'Cause we will. Watch!" Ruffnut punched Tuffnut's face, and the two locked themselves in combat, Barf and Belch doing the same. "See?!"
Hiccup had to refrain from rolling her eyes. "Nope", she stated. The four of us and Fishlegs are going to head out to the field and keep working. My dad wants it done in time for planting.
"I want. That day off!" Tuffnut exclaimed anyway, he and Ruffnut continuing to fist fight.
000
The first thing Shadowstar decided to show Snotlout what this 'girl dragon' could do, was to show him just how fast she could be. They zoomed over the seas around Berk, Shadowstar not even flying at top speed.
"Whoa-ho-ho, wow! Snotlout exclaimed, sounding impressed. "Shadowstar, you are one fast dragon! I mean, Hookfang is fast, but, hahaha, you are like crazy fast!"
"Tell me something I don't know", Shadowstar trilled, when they were coming to a particularly large sea stack.
"But fast doesn't mean anything if you can't STOP!" Snotlout pulled on her saddle, and Shadowstar stopped dead on the grass. Her back felt suddenly light, though. She went to the other side of the sea stack, and looked down to see him hanging off the side.
"You okay?" she asked.
"Okay, you can stop on a yak, ha! Crazy…" the boy yelled up; he sounded fine. "Little help?"
To help, Shadowstar grabbed onto the side of the stack with her claws and laid her tail straight out for Snotlout to grab onto. Once he grabbed on, Shadowstar feeling the weight of him on her tail, Shadowstar let go of the wall, hovered in the air with a screaming boy hanging off, and flicked her tail up which tossed him into the air and plopped him onto her saddle.
"Cool, right?" Shadowstar said.
"Wow. Now that, was a cool trick!" he exclaimed. "But don't tell Aric I said that."
000
In the forests, Hookfang flew with Aric. They maneuvered through the trees with ease, and when he thought going left was better than right, Aric didn't yell and fight with him like Snotlout did. Hookfang liked that, and in return listened to Aric's instructions too. Then, the boy landed him in front of the tree.
"So, Snotlout's always bragging about how much firepower you Nightmares have", Aric said.
"The most", Hookfang huffed in a brag.
"Let's see if you can back it up", he challenged, and Hookfang met it by absolutely disintegrating the tree down to nothing but a tiny twig sticking up in the ground with simply his fire breath. "Whoa", Aric seemed to admit. "Incredibly dangerous, but cool."
"Now you know why Snotlout loves it", Hookfang said.
000
"Alright Shadow, you think you can bring the heat, then let's see what you've got!" Snotlout exclaimed, and coming to a large upcoming rock jutting out of the ocean, Shadowstar shot her spines, forming a circle like a target, and then shot a powerful plasma blast to the middle of it, blowing the rock up into a million pieces, all before she flew right passed it. "I gotta say, that's pretty hot."
000
"Okay, wingspan duly noted, not too much flaming", Aric checked off when he and Hookfang got back into the air again. "Tail looks good―TREE!" Aric pulled back on Hookfang's horns, Hookfang extended his wings out to stop their momentum, and then gave one strong flap forward to steady himself. The wing clap resulted in the fallen tree in their way to be fully ripped from it's trunk and flung across the forest. "Whoa! I didn't know you would do that?! Did you know you could do that? I bet Snotlout doesn't know you can do that."
Hookfang sort of barked in reply.
000
"Okay, this is pretty fun!" Snotlout exclaimed as Shadowstar continued to speed through the skies. She skimmed passed the ocean spraying water droplets onto them. "Haha! I could definitely get used to this!" His hand reached to pet Shadowstar, when he hit a spot on her neck. Like a reflex, her tail sprung up, and out of three rock structures that jutted out from the sea, the burr hit the middle rock structure dead center. "Bullseye with a single shot? Bet Aric doesn't know how to do that. Let's do it again!"
Having to only pull on the saddle slightly, Shadowstar flipped over and turned around. Once again they approached the same three structures, the burr Shadowstar shot stuck in the rock face of their new target. Snotlout tapped the spot on her neck again, and Shadowstar's tail flicked up. The burr shot out, and it hit dead center again, breaking the first one as the second one replaced it.
"Aw, stop it! Now you're just showing off! Which is fine by me; I'm all about showing off!"
Shadowstar rumbled at that, and Snotlout interpreted it as some sort of agreement or confirmation.
000
By the end of the day, Hiccup and Astrid went back to the academy for Aric and Snotlout's return. When they saw the two flying in, Hiccup and Astrid looked to each other with sure smiles.
"So…" Hiccup started when the boys landed.
"How was it?" Astrid cut her off in her own excitement.
"Shadowstar flies pretty good", Snotlout hopped off Shadowstar's back nonchalantly. "For a girl. And she does destroy solid rock in like half a second. Which is, cool", he shrugged.
"She does indeed", Hiccup affirmed. "And Aric?"
"I guess Hookfang is pretty powerful", Aric said. "And, he's easy to fly, which is good if you have a little talent."
"Yeah. And I have a little talent", Snotlout said. "Wait."
"And Hookfang? Shadowstar? Anything to add?" Hiccup prompted.
"Snotlout can be pretty fun when he's not bragging about himself", Shadowstar admitted.
"And Aric isn't quite the jerk I thought he was. He's actually a good listener", Hookfang said.
Hiccup nodded to Astrid that it was a success, and the the two smirked to each other victoriously.
"Well", Astrid stepped forward. "It sounds like you both have a better appreciation for each others partners."
"So that means tomorrow, you'll cut each other some slack?" Hiccup asked.
"Yeah, I guess", Aric said.
"Fine", Snotlout crossed his arms.
"I can do that", Shadowstar trilled.
"So can I", Hookfang barked.
"Can we go now?" Snotlout impatiently asked, and without a reply he walked away. Aric left too, and Hiccup and Astrid high-fived a job well done.
000
The next morning, Fishlegs and Meatlug had Hiccup come without Toothless to the field with them. It was all very strange, and Fishlegs wasn't being all that clear on what this was all about. When they landed in Mildew's old field, Hiccup asked again.
"So, what exactly is this all about, Fishlegs? Why wouldn't you let me bring Toothless?"
"Because I'd prefer not to be blown up today", Fishlegs said. "And you seem to be able to control yourself when under it's influence. What happened in the field with Hookfang and Shadowstar, it wasn't normal, Hiccup", Fishlegs explained.
"What are you talking about?"
"I mean, they weren't throwing insults at each other."
"Okay?" Hiccup said uncertainly. "But, that doesn't mean anything? They were just too mad for words", she suggested. She had a hard time believing that something had made the dragons act like they did. If that was the case, then how come she and the dragons didn't pick up on anything being wrong?
"I'm telling you, Hiccup, there's something in the field that made them act that way. I've been doing some research on plants that effect dragons. I looked through the Book of Dragons, Bork's notes, even my botany book, and I think I know the culprit. The only problem is, Meatlug can't seem to sniff it out."
"I've searched everywhere in this area", Meatlug hovered over the area she was referring. "But I can't find the scent." It was also the area where Hookfang and Shadowstar's fights occurred.
"Huh", Hiccup voiced curiously.
"That's where you come in", Fishlegs said. "And we need to find it now. Because, if I'm right, then we're in big trouble."
"Alright, Fighlegs. If you're that sure about this, I'll do it."
Hiccup walked into the site where Hookfang and Shadowstar's recent fights always seemed to happen, Meatlug and Fishlegs behind her. As she sniffed around, all she smelled were scents of animals, dragons, her friends, until she smelled something different.
000
As Hiccup sniffed around, Fishlegs stood behind Meatlug. They were at the edge of what he considered the danger zone, and while he trusted that Hiccup would be able to control herself like before, and she wasn't carrying any weapons, that didn't quell his fears of his friend possibly going into a draconic rampage.
"I smell something", Hiccup then said suddenly, stopping at a certain spot.
"Okay, okay", Fishlegs calmed himself down. Hiccup was talking; that was good. "Can you describe it?" he asked curiously.
"It smells…tangy?" She sniffed the exact spot a little more. "Sour…I think…"
"I knew it", Fishlegs said to himself. There was no questioning what had made the dragons go wild now. That's when Fishlegs noticed that Hiccup had stopped talking. Instead, she stood still and quiet. "Uh, Hiccup?" he hesitantly asked.
Hiccup suddenly turned around, and the roar she made was angry and possessive. Her eyes were slit, and no one could say she looked like herself. She was crouched low, her hands were out and fingers were curled, almost like claws she wasn't afraid to swipe, her tail thrashed behind her side to side, and her wings were spread like dragons did to make themselves look bigger. Hiccup snarled at them, and when they didn't move back, Meatlug instead crouching defensively, Hiccup attacked. She jumped into the air with a roar, her hands she probably thought were claws out in an offensive pose.
Fishlegs coward. "Meatlug!"
To protect both him and Hiccup, Meatlug jumped for Hiccup and caught her midair. Then she flew their snarling and thrashing friend away from the danger site, placing her on the ground far away from it. After a few seconds Hiccup's eyes closed and she shook her head slightly, almost like she was trying to shake a bad headache. Then she was panting, seeming out of breath as her hand went to her head. Her eyes opened, pupils round, and she looked up to Fishlges, eyes wide with fear and confusion.
"What. Was that?" she asked brokenly as she seemed to try and catch her breath.
Meanwhile, Meatlug had dug up the place Hiccup had been standing, and the thorny green menace was revealed.
"That, was Dragon Root", he told her.
Two roars echoed.
000
Meanwhile, back at the academy, another set of dragon riders were on a mission. That night, Aric and Snotlout's dragons had spent it in their pens, and today Aric and Snotlout decided on bringing breakfast. However, to the others' dragon. Unbeknownst to the other, they each snuk up to the academy's entrance, Aric with a salmon, and Snotlout with a cod. As they turned each corner, however, they saw the other, and each treat went behind their backs.
"What are you doing here?" Aric asked.
"Nothing", Snotlout said. "What are you doing here?"
They stood like that for a moment, when Aric's eyes caught sight of the cod Snotlout had been trying, and failing to hide behind his back.
"Is that, cod? Shadowstar's favorite?" Aric questioned. "Did you come to feed my dragon?"
"Psh, no", Snotlout spread his hands out, consequently revealing the fish in one of them. "Maybe… Yeah. Well, what are you doing here?! I smell something fishy", he then accused.
Aric stood quiet, but he knew he'd been caught. "Fine. Maybe I brought Hookfang a little breakfast", he revealed the salmon in his hand.
"He loves breakfast", Snotlout exclaimed. "That was actually, well, nice of you."
' 'Wait a second' ', they each thought.
" "You like my dragon." "
"Don't tell anyone, okay?" Snotlout said, a finger pointed at Aric.
"Deal", Aric tapped the hand pointing with his fist.
They both stepped inside, but when they did, they found there were no dragons to feed. And worst of all, it looked as if they broke out. Both Hookfang and Shadowstar's pens were opened, each torched, Shadowstar's doors mishapened with burrs stuck in them too.
"Our dragons are gone", Aric exclaimed in shock.
000
No one knew where Hiccup and Fishlegs went, but Astrid and the twins were easy to find. They grouped in the academy so the twins and Astrid could see the damage that'd been done.
"We've done a lot of dumb things in our life", Tuffnut said with scrutiny. "But we have never lost a dragon. Not a whole one."
"I am very disappointed in you, young man", Ruffnut directed to Aric.
"Argh!" Aric ran to punch the two mutton heads, when he paused at Astrid's words.
"I'm sure Shadowstar and Hookfang are fine", she said. "They couldn't have gotten far, right?"
"Right. 'Cause it's not like they have wings to fly?" Aric said sarcastically.
"Well where do you think they could have gone?" Astrid said, Aric's bad attitude rubbing off.
"Guys", Hiccup flew in with Toothless. "We have a problem."
000
With Aric behind Astrid, and Snotlout with Hiccup, the riders minus Fishlegs and Meatlug flew off to the field, meeting up with the two who helplessly hovered over the fight. Beneath them, they saw Hookfang and Shadowstar battling each other, firing any and all attacks.
"We need to break this up!" Snotlout immediately said.
"Who knows what they'll do to each other", Aric seemed to agree.
"I'm open to ideas?" Astrid asked her brother.
"Drop me in", he told her, and swooping in behind Shadowstar, Aric jumped off Stormfly.
"Me too", Snotlout told Hiccup, and she and Toothless did the same behind Hookfang, Snotlout jumping off. Hiccup, Astrid, Fishlegs, and the twins, flew in a circle overhead.
"How did this happen?" Astrid wondered.
"It's the Dragon Root in the field", Fishlegs exclaimed in worry.
"Dragon Root?!" Tuffnut exclaimed. "Not Dragon Root?! That is terrible!"
"You don't actually know what Dragon Root is, do you", Hiccup said.
"Not even slightly. Not even the faintest. I mean I think know what dragon means."
"You were saying?" Astrid prompted.
"Dragon Root is like Dragon Nip, only more powerful", Fishlegs explained. "Dragons crave it, but instead of making them happy and calm, it makes them…"
"Want to rip each other apart wing from wing?!" Tuff filled in the blanks.
"Exactly."
"Cool", Ruffnut said.
"Sounds good. Do they have it for people?" Tuffnut asked.
"Trust me, it isn't good", Hiccup burst their bubble.
"Well, we can't just leave Aric and Snotlout down there", Astrid pointed out. "We have to do something."
000
"Shadowstar, calm down; it's me! Everything is okay!" Aric shouted, trying everything he could to get through to his dragon, but it was like he wasn't even there.
Snotlout was trying too, even leaping off a dirt hill to jump onto Hookfang, ultimately missing as Hookfang lunged at Shadowstar. "They're ignoring us!" he said. "How do we get their attention?!"
"Well, I might have an idea", Aric dodged Shadowstar's whipping tail of spikes. "But it's stupid and reckless."
"You had me at stupid!"
Shadowstar tackled Hookfang to the ground, belly exposed, but Hookfang shoved her off, and when the dragons were distanced from each other was when Aric rushed in. It was stupid, and a huge risk, but he jumped in front of Shadowstar and spread his arms out in front of him.
"Shadowstar, if you're gonna attack him, you'll have to go through me", he said.
Snotlout did the same behind him. "Look Hookfang, we both know you could totally kick Shadow's tail, but if you want to try, you have to go through me!"
Before Aric's eyes Shadowstar stopped. She snarled at him, but she didn't attack, and although frightened, Aric bravely placed his hand to Shadowstar's snout. Somehow, someway, that did the trick, and the Shadowstar he knew and loved returned, her eyes wide and crooning to him. "There's my girl."
"Aw, you big knucklehead", he heard Snotlout say, and when Aric looked back, he saw Hookfang back to normal too.
000
"They did it!" Hiccup exclaimed.
"Together", Astrid said surprised.
"Right, now", Hiccup said. "We have to get down there, but none of us can get close to that root without the dragons going nuts." Hiccup certainly didn't want to revisit that state again.
"That's not exactly true, Hiccup", Fishlegs said. "Meatlug didn't go crazy? She couldn't even smell it."
"Maybe Meatlug's rock diet makes her immune to the Dragon Root", Hiccup surmised, before Toothless roared in surprise, dodging a fire ball.
"What are you doing?!" Astrid shouted at the twins.
" "They're out of control!" " they both yelled, before Barf and Belch fired another giant fire ball. Astrid, Hiccup, and Fishlegs all split apart as they dodged it.
"You guys are too close to the Dragon Root! Pull up!" Hiccup exclaimed.
"Pull up?! Are ya crazy?!" Ruffnut responded as she appeared to fight to stay on Barf.
"Yeah! This is awesome!" Tuffnut said too, doing the same.
"We're going for the root!" Fishlegs then called. "Cover us!"
Fishlegs and Meatlug dove for the Dragon Root as Hiccup and Astrid dodged and weaved Barf and Belch's attacks. They tried to keep the dragon's focus on them, but pretty soon they caught sight of Meatlug trying to pull the root out. They fired and Meatlug was forced to jump out of the way.
"This is awesome and scary!" Tuffnut shouted, before Barf and Belch dove for the Dragon Root.
"Toothless!" Hiccup exclaimed, and Toothless fired intercepting Barf and Belch's decent. As Toothless fired another directly at Barch to push them back, Hiccup cringed. "I'm so sorry about this!"
" "We're not!" " the twins said. Barf and Belch fired at Hiccup and Toothless, and as they dodged the blast, Astrid and Stormfly fired their own.
"Hurry, Fishlegs!" Astrid called down.
Meatlug jumped back onto the Dragon Root pulling at it with all the jaw strength she had in her, but it wasn't any use.
"She can't do it by herself!" Fishlegs shouted.
"IN COMING!" Tuffnut screamed, Barf and Belch whizzing passed with a stream of gas.
Snotlout and Aric stood with their dragons watching all this, and it was getting harder to stand back with each second that passed.
"I think we better do something", Snotlout said, and Aric couldn't have agreed more.
"For once, I actually agree with you", he said.
"But if we get too close, our dragons will start fighting again?"
"I think I have an idea to fix that."
"Is it stupid and reckless?!" Snotlout asked.
"Maybe a even a little bit crazy!" Aric assured.
"Loving it!"
Putting the plan to action, Shadowstar flew in and straight through the Zippleback gas before Belch could light it.
"Aric! You are a sight for sore eyes", Fishlegs said, but it wasn't Aric.
"Who are you calling Aric?!" Snotlout exclaimed, the rider soon revealed behind the gas.
"Snotlout? What?! Where's―?
"Looking for me?!" Aric said when Hookfang flew up and over the gas.
"Aric, what are you doing?" Hiccup asked.
"Yeah, I'd like to know that too", Astrid wondered as well.
"We switched dragons again", Aric said. "It's the only way we can keep them from fighting each other."
"He can sniff Dragon Root all day, but Hookfang would never attack Snotlout!" Snotlout said next. "He respects him too much!"
Barf and Belch then dove passed Snotlout, spraying their gas, and Aric stepped into action. "Do it, Hookfang. Wing blast!", he called out, and Hookfang clapped his wings liked they'd discovered in the forest. The force of the wind created knocked the twins and Barf and Belch to the ground in a heap, but the twins didn't seem to mind much as they cheered. Right before passing out.
"What was that?" Snotlout asked.
"Oh. You mean this?!" Aric exclaimed again, and Hookfang did it again, this time blowing away all the left over Zippleback gas, and revealing Meatlug and Fishlegs. Meatlug was hovering in the air, pulling up with all her might, but the Dragon Root was still holding on by one strong root. "Its still stuck!" Aric exclaimed incredulously.
"I'm on it!" Snotlout exclaimed. "Shadowstar, single spine shot!" Planting his hand to the spot on her neck like before, Shadowstar reflexively shot one spine. It was a bullseye, the root slicing in half and releasing the terrible plant. Barf and Belch got up and rushed after it, but Hiccup and Toothless got to them first, Toothless snapping onto their tail before they could get to Meatlug.
"Good job, guys", Hiccup praised Aric and Snotlout. "Fishlegs, can you take it from here?"
"Dragon Root, flying out!" Fishlegs announced, and he and Meatlug flew off to drop that Dragon Root somewhere far far away.
"You guys realize what just happened right?" Astrid questioned her brother and Snotlout as they all hovered together.
"We totally kicked butt!" Snotlout answered.
"Yeah!", Hiccup exclaimed when Toothless joined the three. "And you kicked butt together!"
"That was honestly surprising", Astrid admitted. "I mean, my brother and Snotlout working as a team?"
"Who would've thought?" Hiccup added.
"Heh, not me", Tuffnut said, the twins and Barch back up in the air. "I try not to think."
000
Listening to his friends and sister, Aric realized it was quite the anomaly, but in truth, he also supposed Snotlout wasn't as much of a mutton head as he'd thought. He was still a mutton head, but was also a pretty good teammate. Today at least proved that.
"That was some fancy flying on my dragon", Aric admitted.
"You know how it is. Chicks dig me", Snotlout replied.
"Yeah", Aric chuckled a little. "That must be it."
"Hookfang isn't always the easiest dragon to fly, Aric", Snotlout then said. "I have to admit, I'm impressed."
Aric smiled at that. Who would've thought Snotlout would actually compliment him back? Then again, who would've thought Aric would actually compliment Snotlout?
"So, uh, do you think I can have my dragon back now?" Aric asked.
"Thought you'd never ask."
Together they jumped and switched dragons back with each being back in their own dragons' saddles.
"Good to see you again, girl", Aric pet Shadowstar. "Snotlout wasn't too much trouble, right?"
Shadowstar trilled, which he'd take as a 'no'.
"Ah, miss me?" Snotlout hugged Hookfang with laughter. Looked like he was happy to be back in the saddle too. "We can do something about the girl smell later", he then said, and Aric gave a roll of his eyes, although this time, it was with a small smile too.
000
The Dragon Root dropped into the sea, far from the island, the riders all went back to work in the field. And this time, Aric and Snotlout didn't mind working together. Later that evening, Stoick came by to see the progress made on both accounts, and what he and Hiccup saw as they stood to the side was a sight to behold.
"So, Snotlout", Aric asked as they dug side by side with their dragons. "Can you show me how to do that single spine attack?"
"I don't know if you can handle it", Snotlout lightly replied. "Why don't you show me that wing-clappy thing first, and, then I'll think about."
"Heh. How stupid do you think I am?" Aric said.
"How stupid is there?"
"Option three", Stoick pat Hiccup's shoulder. "Not as exciting as one or two…"
"But sure goes down like a treat", Hiccup finished.
Hope you enjoyed all that. See y'all again next episode.