Hello friends :-D
This little comic tale (5 chapters) came into existence eight months ago but was stuck on a tablet computer in a strange format that was incompatible with MS Word. I finally got around to converting it and getting it ready for publishing. Hope you like.


Beware the Wrath of the Nadder Rider

Chapter 1

The sun rose over Berk, falling gently onto the roofs of houses filled with bleary eyed, hung over Vikings. It would not be an overstatement to say the people of Berk had the biggest, loudest and longest celebrations in the known world (as well as the unknown world and possibly the entire western spiral arm of the galaxy) and the latest of these celebrations had been going on for over a week.

The reason for this latest of record breaking parties was quite simply the first anniversary of the famous Battle of Dragon Island (well it was the anniversary when the celebration started about a week ago). It had now been an entire year during which the Berkian Vikings could laugh, drink and celebrate to their hearts content, without the underlying fear of a possible dragon attack. It also marked the first anniversary of the 'Dragon Slayers of Berk' becoming the 'Dragon Riders of Berk' as well as the first anniversary of (as Fishlegs liked to put it) Hiccup undergoing a 25% reduction in his tally of limbs.

The morning also found the afore mentioned Fishlegs hurrying (almost skipping) through the village towards the chiefs house with a small container in his hands.

"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!" a stern voice barked at the young Gronckle rider.

Fishlegs was not the only one surprised by the firm order and several Vikings with very sore heads soon gave voice to their objection at being roused so early in the morning.

"Oh, g-good morning Astrid; lovely day isn't it?"

"Never mind the pleasantries Fishlegs, where are you going with that package, as if I didn't know?"

"I've got something to show Hiccup; it's a new fuse formula for our explosives project. I've discovered that if you grind sand to a fine powder and cover the Nightmare sweat fuse in it, the fuse burns much slower. That means we won't need to use such long cords when..."

"Yes that's wonderful Fishlegs" Astrid interrupted "but I'm warning you; don't bother Hiccup with any of this today."

"Oh he won't be bothered Astrid, Hiccup loves this kind of..."

"I said NO! UNDERSTAND?"

"I understand Astrid" Fishlegs whimpered as more Vikings began to complain about the noise.

The young man hurried off back towards his home with Meatlug scampering along behind. There was once a time when Fishlegs greatest fear was to invoke the wrath of Snotlout. But these days even the self centred Nightmare rider did not seem anywhere near as scary as he used to be. Astrid on the other hand was now a force of nature to be respected and avoided if possible.

"Did you see that dear brother?"

"I did indeed my observant sibling."

No one in the village could guess precisely what Ruffnut and Tuffnut were doing on the roof of their house, but ever since the introduction of pet dragons to Berk, the pair had certainly spent a lot of their time up there. After the first few weeks of flying around on their Zippleback, Ruff and Tuff discovered that their opportunities for mischief and practical jokes had greatly increased with the addition of a little altitude. As time passed, the twins ended up spending even more and more of their time just sitting on a roof or high rock even when they were not planning an evil deed.

Tuffnut enjoyed observing life in the village from a place where he could remain relatively unnoticed while Ruffnut like to see what the other Vikings were up to, so she could use her knowledge for a little harmless extortion. It is amazing how easy it is to get help with your chores from someone who does not want his wife to know he has been sneaking off to the Great Hall in the afternoons for a few flagons with his friends instead of cutting firewood as he should.

"Looks like Hiccup's got trouble on the way" Ruffnut grinned.

"What makes you think that Sis?"

"Fishlegs was right; Hiccup does like all that gadgety kind of stuff, so it looks kind of like Astrid has decided to punish Hiccup for last night's indiscretion."

"Did I miss something?" Tuffnut scratched the side of his head.

"Obviously; at the feast last night, Hiccup spent a lot of his time dancing... and not with Astrid."

"Okay Sis, spill the beans. What did you see?"

"He was getting very chummy with Little Freya for a start."

"Err... she's eight years old Ruff."

"But when she's sixteen, Hiccup will be... um... twenty five."

"You're mad."

"Well he also tripped the light fantastic with Helga."

"That would have been the metal leg on the polished stone floor."

"And with Brunhilda."

"She's married" Tuffnut exclaimed "and pushing sixty."

"The cad; and there was Olvor."

"I think you're more upset that he didn't dance with you" Tuffnut grinned.

"... … … maybe... but Astrid's defiantly trying to spoil Hiccups day for some reason and I intend to find out why."

"And you're sure about this jealousy angle?"

"Sort of... well... no; but it's a good place to start" Ruffnut decided as she leapt to her feet.


In a way, I'm glad I've got a real HTTYD story to offer while the descendants story gets posted at the same time. Just in case anyone was worried I'd abandoned Hiccup and Astrid (never gonna happen).