To kamada37 - Thank you for both the compliment and the criticism. I hope this chapter is better and you can enjoy.

Berk

Astrid walked into the Great Hall holding her axe closely. The Dragon Master kept his promise. She was home and Berk was still standing. Now her village was going to discuss the recent events from last night. The young Shieldmaiden sat next to her folks who kept an eye on Astrid. She couldn't imagine what her parents felt during her disappearance. When Spitelout stood up, the Vikings were silent. "We have now made enemies with Drago Bludvist and his Northern Alliance along with the Dragon Master and his monsters. I want all defenses armed and ready." the Chief ordered before looking in Astrid's direction. "Astrid, I want to know everything you've learned about the Dragon Master's forces." he added and Astrid stood up remembering the defenses and manpower the Dragon Master had. She told of the Dragon's Edge defenses, the number of dragons, the warship at his disposal, and the unique weapons the man had. The Vikings nodded and whispers about the power the Dragon Master had. Spitelout rubbed his chin as everyone knew that the usual defenses wouldn't stand a chance against the Dragon Master's force. Gobber tapped the Chief's arm and Spitelout sat down. The two talked and Astrid wondered what they were talking about. But it was clear Spitelout was angry at what Gobber had to say. Moments later the two stood up. "Gobber has an idiotic idea for dealing with the new threat."

"Thank you Chief." Gobber replied sarcastically as the Chief sat down. "What does the Dragon Master and Drago have that we don't?" the Blacksmith asked and the Vikings whispered amongst each other. But Astrid understood what he means and fear what he is thinking. "They have dragons. We stand no chance against them. Unless we do something new and crazy. We need to adapt to a new world."

"What ya saying Gobber?" Gustav asked.

"We have dragons in the Arena cages. Perhaps we can force them to fight for us?" Gobber suggested and the Great Hall burst into an uproar. What the Blacksmith suggested was treasonous to the Viking way. Spitelout did nothing while Gobber tried to calm down the Vikings. Astrid stood up on the table gaining the attention of several Vikings.

"Shut up!" Astrid yelled and the Hall turned to silence. "Let Gobber speak." she added before sitting back down. All eyes turned back to Gobber.

"Thank you Astrid." Gobber said before taking a drink of his mead. "If we can get the dragons to fight for us, we might stand a chance to survive the coming war. All I need are volunteers." Gobber added and the Hall turned to whispers. Astrid was the first to stand up.

"I volunteer." Astrid remarked and soon more Vikings volunteered for this crazy plan.

The Dragon's Scale

Hiccup has spent the whole night and morning trying to get Krogan to talk. But the Hunter was holding out no matter how much the Rider questioned him. Now Hiccup was staring at the ceiling in his room onboard the warship. He was home for a little bit, but he was home. He saw his old friends, his people, and those he cared for. But they saw only the 'Dragon Master'. The most hated man in the world. They won't know how much the Dragon Master actually cared for Berk or how much he wished to return home. As he stared at the ceiling, his thoughts turned to a possibility he was given by Throk. To use Berk like the Berserkers. Get them to find Drago's location. The very idea was a deadly one. He doesn't want his home caught in this war, but he fears that they already have.

Berk

Astrid drew in her book as she sat on the docks. Her drawings aren't the same level of skill as Hiccup, but she tried her best. The Berserkers sent word that Dagur was going to visit them to see how the peace negotiations were going. Chief Spitelout had other plans. Many of Berk's warriors were on the docks prepared to deliver the news of what had transpired and force the Berserkers back home. Astrid grabbed her axe when the Berserker ship came into view. If the Berserker Tribe is aligned with the madman who murdered Chief Stoick, then they have no business on Berk. When the Berserkers anchored, none of the Berkians helped them tie their ship to the dock. Chief Dagur got off the boat and stepped onto the dock with a large grin. Gobber stepped forward to greet the Berserker.

"Gobber right. I'm sensing some hostility." Dagur greeted and Gobber aimed his hook hand in the Berserker's face.

"You and your murderous Northern Alliance scum can go off to Hel." Gobber replied and Dagur chuckled.

"What could have happened that brings this out?" Dagur asked.

"The Dragon Master revealed to us the truth about the death of Chief Stoick. That Drago killed him. So get you and your scum out of here." Gobber ordered and Dagur laughed as did his men. Dagur jumped onto his ship and opened a large hatch on the ship. A large dragon unlike anything Berk has seen crawled out. It was a yellow and black monster with three scorpion like tails. The gathered warriors were shocked at the beast under Dagur's control. They prepared themselves for battle against the beast, but Dagur laughed more. He climbed onto the dragon's back and waved at the Berkians.

"Considering you view me as a hostile then I assume you are neutral in this war or he didn't tell you about me." Dagur said as the Berserker ship sailed out. Dagur waved before launching into the sky on the unknown dragon. Astrid was shocked only seeing Dragon Riders belong to one faction. The Dragon Master.

Dragon's Edge

"Where are Drago's forces located?" Hiccup asked a chained Krogan once more. The man just smirked and glared at the Rider. This has been a game to Krogan, but it has been a week and Hiccup needs to break the Hunter. The Rider kneeled in front of the Hunter glaring at him. "Where is Drago?"

"You waste your time Dragon Master. I will never betray my master." Krogan answered and Hiccup stood up leaning on the wall. The Rider stared at the Hunter trying to figure out how to make the man talk. Time was of the essence. If Krogan does not return soon, then Drago may send a fleet against Berk. Hiccup can't let that happen. His only option left was torture. He grabbed Inferno and ignited the blade. "Oh, torture. I didn't think you had it in you Dragon Master."

"Tell me where Drago is." Hiccup ordered and the Hunter chuckled.

"Not even under torture will I betray my master." Krogan replied tempting Hiccup to hurt the Hunter. The Rider looked at the blade and thought of his father. Hiccup retracted the blade and left Krogan knowing that his father wouldn't call Hiccup his son. Heather and Throk greeted the Rider.

"So we have nothing." Throk remarked and Hiccup rubbed his chin.

"But what about Berk. It's clear they don't want to enter this war, but when Krogan doesn't return to Drago, he'll send a fleet and flatten the island." Heather added and Hiccup thought of his home.

"Then we'll have to convince them to side with us. That we'll defend them." Hiccup remarked and Heather looked at him knowing his past with the island.

"And if they refuse?" Throk asked as Hiccup climbed onto Toothless's saddle.

"They won't." Hiccup promised before launching into the air.

Berk

Gobber opened the cage of the Monstrous Nightmare and Astrid raised her shield as the mighty beast fired flames at her. She was the only one to volunteer for Gobber's dragon controlling plan. The Viking watched as the Nightmare climbed around the cage. She gripped the mace in her right hand tight waiting for it to get closer. The Dragon dropped down and when it open its mouth to fire another wave of fire, Astrid smacked its head with the mace. The Nightmare backed up from the blow and ignited the scales on fire. The Viking raised her shield and gripped the mace tighter. Then the sound of the Night Fury echoed around them. The Nightmare looked up while Astrid backed to a pile of crates. But a blast forced her back and when she looked at the Nightmare, she saw the black scale armored Dragon Master and his Night Fury. The man jumped off the unholy offspring and ignited his sword. Astrid expect him to hit the Monstrous Nightmare, but to her surprise, he waved it around. She was stunned to see the Nightmare memorized by the flaming sword. Even more so when the flaming scales were extinguished. The Dragon Master retracted his blade and raised his hand palm out. Both Astrid and Gobber were stunned when the Nightmare put its snout against the Dragon Master's palm. In fury, Astrid bolted up and marched to the Dragon Rider as he scratched the Nightmare's head. The Night Fury let her past but glared at her. When she looked at the Nightmare, she was surprised to see a grin from the monster. But she focused on the Dragon Master.

"I thought you would stay away from Berk." Astrid greeted the man. He turned to her still scratching the Monstrous Nightmare.

"I need to see you Chief. I stopped her to help this poor guy." the Dragon Master replied and Astrid could hear the Nightmare purr.

"You can see the Chief, but your beast will stay here and the Monstrous Nightmare." Gobber remarked and the man shook his head.

"I'm not here to imprison dragons and Toothless would follow me even if I told him to stay." the Dragon Master replied and Astrid was surprised to hear that the Night Fury would disobey his master. But she didn't think much of it as the man stopped scratching and the Monstrous Nightmare flew out of the hole that the Dragon Master made. "Now let's see the Chief."