After all this time, I am finally back with a new entry in this series. I wasn't certain for the longest time on how to continue this. I at first was just going to go right into the second movie, but then Race to the Edge came out and there was so much more to work with. It wasn't until last month that I decided how far I wanted to go with this. I thought about only doing part of Race to the Edge, but the more I thought about it, it only made sense to see it through until the end. So welcome to the first chapter of Trials of the Dragon Trainers.
The village of Berk had changed much over time. The original village and great hall still existed, but now it extended to the sea stack and around more of the edge of the island. Feeding stations for dragons, a windmill, and the beginnings of a very large building were just some of the things that had been added. A Night Fury and his rider flew over the original village and made a loop around the new additions.
"This is Berk. This is Berk II. And so is this. And this also. It's been three whole years since the war with the Berserkers and Berk has changed a lot. But then again so have we.
"Snotlout works at the armory now. Gobber gave him the title of official weapons tester.
"The twins, to absolutely no one's surprise, have decided to dedicate their lives to Loki, the god of pranks. Lucky us.
"And then there's Fishlegs, who has really found his calling; teaching the children of Berk the history of dragons.
"As for Grim, he goes from tribe to tribe, clan to clan, as ambassador of Berk. There's a possibility that Berk II wouldn't exist if it weren't for some of his travels."
It was well into the night as Grim and Deathshriek flew home from their most recent trip around the archipelago. Stoick had put Grim in charge of going over all the treaties they had with their allies. Things with the Berserkers three years ago had left Berk wary of their allies. It was an honest fear with old leaders passing their power to the younger generation. Granted, not all tribes had heirs like Dagur, but they did not want to risk it.
Grim had changed little in the last three years. He had grown taller like the rest of his peers and he wore his hair a little longer. Black and blue were still his colors. His shirt was made of blue dragon scales. Over top was a black dragon scale vest with shoulder armor. Painted in blue on the right shoulder was a curled up Night Fury, the symbol of the dragon academy. His pants were made of black dragon scales as well and his boots were a mix of leather and black dragon scales. His gloves with the retractable dragon claws were black with blue swirls on the backs of the hands, the black dragon talons tipped with Gronkle iron currently tucked away. He still reminded many of some sort of human/dragon hybrid.
Around his neck, under his shirt, was a leather necklace with seven dragon scales acting as a pendant. The scales were from the seven great dragons he and Hiccup had met three years ago: silvery-white, emerald green, deep blue with silver speckles, gold, rainbow, ruby red, and amethyst purple. Hiccup had a set of his own he kept in his room. Both were gifted with magic from the dragons as well, not quite like the abilities the witch in Scotland had given them.
When they were in Scotland, a witch gave Hiccup the ability to walk silently, even with his prosthetic leg while Grim received invisibility. Both were given amulets that allowed them to understand any human language. Few knew about the amulets and the brothers kept the other gifts from the witch a secret, though Grim was once caught when he was on Deathshriek and said that it was because he was on Deathshriek while he was invisible and he wore clothes made from Deathshriek's scales. No one questioned it again.
The gifts of the dragons were mostly of protection and fortune. The abilities allowed the brothers to sense when danger was nearby. They both were also partially immune to poison, venom, and illness. Hiccup had once confessed to Grim that his mind seemed sharper. He had used it to come up with more ideas to help Berk, including several of the plans for Berk II. Grim used the abilities to foil a plan to poison him when he was visiting one of the tribes Berk had a rocky relationship with.
"We're almost home," said Deathshriek.
Grim hummed. He straightened up on Deathshriek and held his arms out. He was trying to get a read on the wind.
"Grim?" Deathshriek asked. "What is it? A storm?"
"No," replied Grim. "Can you smell anything in the wind?"
Deathshriek sniffed the air. "No."
"It feels like something will be waiting for us when we get home," Grim said.
Deathshriek warbled. "I'm not sure I like the sound of that."
The moon was high when they reached Berk. Grim had Deathshriek land at Mildew's old house, which they had converted into a private workspace for Grim. Hiccup had his desk in their room, but there wasn't enough room between two teenage boys and two dragons upstairs for another desk for Grim. The house was mostly storage for the scales and talons Grim collected and the field outside was still used for cabbage and a few other hardy plants that Grim had gathered in his travels. They would get a few hours of sleep and then tell the village they were back.
Deathshriek headed out back while Grim went inside. He picked his way around bags and buckets of supplies. His bed was up in the rafters and he had climb a ladder to get there. Grim curled up, wondering what awaited him come morning. He had a feeling things were going to get very interesting.
When Grim finally got up, it was midmorning. Hiccup would be out with Toothless at this time of day. So instead of going around trying to find Hiccup and Toothless, Grim decided he would visit Stoick first.
He and Deathshriek flew over to their house. They opened the door and found that no one was home.
"Hiccup and Toothless are probably out flying," Grim said.
"Probably?" Deathshriek asked, a smirk in his voice.
"Are out flying," Grim amended. "Stoick's out chiefing. We should surprise them."
Deathshriek got a fire going and Grim checked the pantry for food. Grim started roasting some mutton over the fire and baked a few loaves of simple bread. The mutton and bread were done when Stoick came through the door.
Stoick paused in the doorway and looked at the dining table. "Grim!" he said in shock. "You're back!"
"I got in last night," Grim told him. "We stayed at my workspace."
Stoick closed the door behind him and walked over to the table. Grim plated the mutton and bread for his adoptive father and set it in front of him. He also got a tankard of mead for him as well.
"Sit down, son," Stoick said. "Tell me about your meetings."
"They went well," said Grim, getting himself a plate of food. "All will honor the treaties, I made sure of that."
"Made sure of it?" repeated Stoick. "How did you do that?"
"Word has made it around the archipelago of the war with the Berserkers three years ago," Grim began. "Apparently, there is rumor that Berk has a sorcerer who makes good on his promises."
"Oh?" Stoick raised an eyebrow. "And how accurate is this rumor?"
Grim looked up from his food. "Does it really matter?" he asked with a smirk. "Truth or not, the other clans will think twice before going to war with us."
Stoick contemplated it. It was a good strategy to keep potential enemies wondering about Berk's armies. Vikings knew how to deal with dragons in a battle, centuries of fighting for survival having taught them that. But sorcery was always something Vikings and many others were frightened of.
Grim finished his food and went upstairs with Deathshriek.
The front door opened.
"Hiccup!" called Stoick. "What are you doing home so early?"
Hiccup came through the door. He was dressed similarly to Grim, but only in shades of brown and rusty red and more leather and wool than dragon scales. "Oh, I just, uh, wanted to spend some time with my dear old dad."
Stoick frowned.
"Yeah, we never get to talk anymore, so . . ." Hiccup trailed off, coming to lean against a support post to the house.
Stoick waited for a moment. "All right. What is it?"
"What's what?" asked Hiccup, with a nervous smile. "What is it? C-can't a son spend some quality time with his father?"
"Not this one," said Stoick, motioning with his tankard. "Not usually at least. So let's hear it."
Without anyone hearing him, Grim came back downstairs and saw Hiccup take a seat across from Stoick.
"All right," sighed Hiccup. "Did you know Astrid just joined the Berk guard?"
"I heard that. Good for her." Stoick took a sip from his tankard.
"And the other riders got their different things going on," Hiccup went on.
"What are you saying, son?" asked Stoick.
"I'm saying, I don't know. Maybe it's time for me -."
Hiccup was cut off by the front door flying open. The twins were supporting a bedraggled Johann between them.
"Johann!" Stoick was out of his seat and in front of them in seconds. "What happened to you?"
"Dagur," Johann replied.
Hiccup stood behind his father. "What about Dagur?" he asked darkly.
"He's out," said Johann. "He's more berserk than ever and, from the way he was talking, Hiccup, you and your brother are numbers one and two on his revenge list." The trader let out a pitiful moan.
"If Dagur thinks it will be easy, then he is crazy."
Hiccup jumped and they all turned to see Grim just standing behind Hiccup.
"Then again, he is deranged," Grim finished.
"Grim, you're back!" Hiccup stated, stunned to see his brother.
"And ready to go after Dagur," the dragon speaker announced.
Hiccup turned back to the twins. "Round up the other riders. We're going after Dagur."
The riders met at the academy.
Hiccup had a map of the archipelago pinned up on the wall. "All we got out of Johann before he passed out was this: Dagur escaped from Outcast Island by commandeering his ship. He threw Johann overboard about here." He tapped east of Outcast Island a few miles out to sea.
Snotlout spoke up. "So what you're saying is Dagur could be anywhere by now."
Hiccup turned to face them. "Well, technically, yes."
"Oh, great!" said Snotlout. "Great, great, great! So that just leaves – I don't know, let me think about this – the entire ocean to search! No thank you."
"Master Hiccup." Johann walked over to them.
"Johann, you're awake," said Hiccup.
"And feeling much better, thank you for asking," said Johann. "More importantly, I have more than a strong suspicion of where are nefarious foe may be heading." He chuckled, motioning to the fog bank that surrounded the archipelago.
"Outside the archipelago?" asked Hiccup.
"No, just inside the fog bank on our outer group of islands," replied Johann.
"We've never been that far out before," said Hiccup.
"I have." They turned to Grim. "It was only once, but we turned back before entering the fog bank. It felt wrong out there."
Johann continued. "When Dagur commandeered my precious ship, he also came into possession of a very important map, one that leads to a graveyard of ships hidden in that fog bank."
"Wow," Snotlout said sarcastically with his hands on his hips. "That's the first place I'd go."
"If I may be allowed to finish," Johann tried to say.
"Johann, the last time we allowed you to finish, we ended up on Breakneck Bog," Snotlout interrupted. "So no, no finishing."
"Enough!" Hiccup called over his cousin. "What's so special about the graveyard and why would he go there."
"Well, you see -," Johann chuckled.
"The short version, please," Hiccup cut in.
Johann looked disheartened that he wasn't going to tell them a story. "It's where I store my treasures and wares."
Snotlout and Tuffnut gaped at Johann.
"Wow, concise, to the point," said Tuffnut. "Who knew he had it in him?"
"Which reminds me the first time I was labelled as concise," Johann went off. "He was a young man, very ugly, I actually -."
"Johann," Hiccup interrupted again.
"Yes?"
"Focus. Is there anything else?"
"As a matter of fact, there is one ship you must avoid at all costs," Johann told them. "It's called . . . The Reaper! Riddled with booby traps from stem to stern, I barely made it out with my life the only time I dared venture aboard. Hoo-hoo, wow!"
"Okay, Toothless, let's go," Hiccup told his dragon. He turned to the others. "Unless, of course, any of you can't make time out of your busy schedules to capture a dangerous maniac."
The seven riders were soaring through the sky over the ocean with Hiccup and Toothless in the lead. The six dragons went into a steep dive.
"This is great! Huh, bud?" said Hiccup.
Toothless agreed.
They pulled up.
"It seems like forever since we all flew as a group," said Hiccup. "Let's see how rusty they are. V formation!" Hiccup threw his hands up in a V.
The dragons quickly formed a V behind Toothless.
"Not bad," said Hiccup. He put his hands together. "Diamond formation!"
The dragons changed formation to form a diamond with Stormfly flying above Toothless and Fishlegs flying below.
Tuffnut laughed. "How rusty does this guy think we are?" he asked his twin.
"Uh, guys?" Fishlegs said from underneath them. Barf and Belch were pressed against Fishlegs's back. "A little tight on the diamond, aren't we?"
They went back to flying behind Hiccup in a group instead of a formation.
Hiccup laughed. "Just like old times."
Hookfang lit himself on fire and sped up.
"Five thousand pounds of flaming muscle coming through!" Snotlout shouted to Hiccup.
Hiccup shrugged. "Ever a class act."
It was dark and the moon setting when they reached the fog bank and the ship graveyard.
"I knew it," said Hiccup, looking at the ships. "I knew there was more."
Astrid had Stormfly flying next to Hiccup and Toothless. "Some of these ships, I've never seen anything like them before."
Grim and Deathshriek were flying on Hiccup and Toothless's other side. "Neither have I. Viking and Celtic ships I recognize, but I am uncertain of the others without boarding them."
"Okay," Hiccup called. "Everyone fan out. If you see any trace of Dagur, send a signal."
They all scattered.
Grim and Deathshriek searched their section of the ship graveyard.
Deathshriek warbled uneasily.
"I feel it, too," Grim said. "This place is dangerous."
"I smell something wrong," said Deathshriek. "I smell death and something else."
"Death does not surprise me," Grim said, looking down at a Viking ship with a painted sail he didn't recognize. "With all the rocks around here, Johann is very fortunate and skilled."
"And crazy," Deathshriek added.
Grim hummed in agreement. "One would have to be in his profession."
They met up on a Viking ship after they were finished searching the graveyard.
"No sign of Dagur," Hiccup announced.
"Looks like we got here first," said Astrid. "What's the plan?"
"We wait," Hiccup answered.
"Wa-wai-wait a minute," Fishlegs stuttered. "For how long? This fog really gives Meatlug the willies."
"I agree with Fishlegs," said Grim. "This place was dangerous."
"They're right," said Astrid. "We can't wait here forever."
"Well, we can't just leave Johann's treasures here either," said Hiccup. "Dagur will steal them."
"And use the profits to build new armada," Astrid finished.
"Not if we steal them first," Ruffnut said.
"That is the dumbest idea I've ever heard," Tuffnut told her. "I hereby disown you."
"That is actually a good idea," Grim countered.
"Welcome back to the family," Tuffnut said to Ruffnut.
Hiccup immediately began planning. "Okay, here's the plan: we search the ships, gather up Johann's treasure and take it back to Berk. But keep your eyes open for Dagur. He could show up at any time."
A loud hissing startled everyone.
"What is that?" yelled Astrid.
"Uh, did Dagur's voice change?" Tuffnut asked.
Hiccup and Grim ran to the side of the ship and looked down.
"Eels!" Hiccup yelled. "Everybody, get to your dragons before they get spooked and take off!"
But the dragons were already taking off.
"Hookfang!"
"Stormfly!"
A giant eel threw itself onto the deck. It could easily swallow any of the riders.
Toothless let out a roar.
Hiccup ran over to the Night Fury. "Calm down, bud. It's just a couple of eels." He got on Toothless's back. "Really big, screaming, mean eels."
Toothless flew into the air.
The ship began to tip. Two eels were wrapping themselves around the front of the ship and pulling it down by the figurehead.
"The eels are pulling the ship down!" Fishlegs yelled.
They all lost their balance as the ship tipped and they started sliding for the water.
Snotlout managed to get a grip on something sturdy on the deck. "Fishlegs, grab my foot!"
Fishlegs slid passed and grabbed Snotlout's foot.
"Oh, you ate a full breakfast!" whined Snotlout. The other riders started grabbing each other to keep from falling into the water. "You ate everyone's breakfast!"
"We're gonna live!" Tuffnut cheered.
The ship was almost vertical in the water.
"Hold me!" Astrid managed to get out to Tuffnut, but they lost their grip on each other. "No!" She screamed as she fell into the water.
"Astrid!" yelled Hiccup.
"Most of us are gonna live!" amended Tuffnut.
"Hiccup!" shrieked Astrid just before she hit the water.
Toothless dove down after her.
Ruffnut also started to slip from Grim's grasp. Both twins let out yells when Ruffnut couldn't hold on any longer.
Grim let go of Fishlegs's foot and managed to grab Ruffnut's hand again. He extended his dragon claws and dug them into the deck. Tuffnut had held onto Ruffnut's other hand the entire time and they both were safe.
A moment later, Toothless reappeared in the sky with Hiccup and Astrid. The eels let go and the ship dropped back into the water.
Toothless landed on the deck.
"Thanks, Hiccup," said Astrid, getting off of Toothless's back.
"Pardon me," Snotlout started. "Does anyone else think that Johann could have warned us about – I don't know – the giant screaming eels?"
"Snotlout, would you relax?" asked Hiccup. "The dragons will be back. In the meantime we stick with the plan; we find Johann's treasure. Quietly."
Snotlout scowled and stomped off.
Hiccup sighed and turned around.
Astrid turned as well. "Why are you staring at that ship?" she asked.
"Because I'm thinking of checking it out," Hiccup replied.
"The Reaper?" Astrid asked. "The ship Johann warned us about?"
"Exactly. A ship covered with booby traps from stem to stern. I'm thinking – what is on there they don't want people to find?"
"Not alone, you're not," said Grim. He was looking at The Reaper as well. The sails were ragged, but the image of two swords with their wavy blades painted in red were still visible. Grim couldn't help but be reminded of a skull.
Toothless flew the brothers over to The Reaper's deck. The ship was about three times larger than the average Viking ship with a single pontoon on the port side. There were a few large cages with engravings on the deck. The engravings had a geometric quality to them and most of them looked like triangles of different sizes. Some were even layered upon one another.
"This boat is definitely not from the archipelago," said Hiccup. "These carvings, the design on the sail, I've never seen anything like this. Have you?"
"The closest I've seen to a ship like this is on my last trip to Deltora," Grim answered. "It was a large cargo ship that was also carrying passengers."
The three of them went up to one of the large cages.
"And this metal," Hiccup went on, kneeling down and touching the metal.
Grim knelt down next to Hiccup.
Toothless sniffed it and growled.
"Come on, bud," said Hiccup, touching the dragon's head. "It's just an empty cage."
The three of them yelled when a bird appeared in the cage. It sat in front of them for a brief second before flying off.
"Well?" Toothless asked smartly.
"Now it's an empty cage," Hiccup amended.
Grim sighed and stood up. The sooner they were off this ship the better. Grim's senses were telling him this place was dangerous and they needed to leave.
"Let's see what's below deck," said Hiccup.
"The sooner we leave, the better," Grim told Hiccup. "This place is dangerous."
"We just have to keep an eye out for traps and we'll be fine," Hiccup said. "Where's your sense of adventure?"
"It is not so much of my sense of adventure, it is what my sense of danger is telling me," Grim replied, scanning the deck. "I have learned to trust my instincts and my instincts are telling me we need to leave."
They walked over to a hatch.
"Come on, guys," Hiccup said. "Don't you want to see what's down below?"
Toothless let out a low growl at the hatch. "I don't like the smell of that."
"All right, fine." Hiccup reached down to unlock the hatch. "Guess I'm going alone."
Grim was just about to say that he was going with him when there was a click and Hiccup was suddenly being pulled to the side of the ship.
Toothless ran after him, firing off a plasma blast at the cable around Hiccup's ankle.
Hiccup was still moving with enough of force that he slammed upright into the railing. He caught a glimpse of the anchor just as it splashed into the water below.
Hiccup and Toothless, joined by Grim, were looking over the side.
"Okay," Hiccup called out, "nobody goes to this much trouble unless there's something on this boat that they don't want found."
Hiccup walked back over to the hatch.
Toothless looked over the side of the ship and snorted at the anchor.
Grim just shook his head.
Hiccup opened the hatch and ducked behind his shield. When nothing happened, he peered down.
Grim picked up a discarded lamp and passed it to Hiccup. Hiccup had Toothless light it and held it down.
"Watch your step, guys," Hiccup warned, starting down the ladder.
Grim followed Hiccup down.
Hiccup reached the bottom and there was a snapping sound. "Whoa!"
They all looked down and saw that there was a bear trap around Hiccup's prosthetic leg. The trap had been concealed in the floor.
Hiccup reached down and opened the trap. "One of the benefits of a metal leg, I suppose."
Grim let out a sigh of relief seeing that Hiccup wasn't hurt.
They went down a hallway with Hiccup in the lead, holding the lantern. The hallway opened into a room lined with large cage doors.
"Okay, let's take this nice and – Toothless?" Hiccup said.
Toothless put his head up and sniffed the air. He walked away from the humans and over to one of the doors. He gave several sad warbles.
"Toothless, what's wrong?" Hiccup asked, walking over to him.
The light from the lantern showed the bones of a large animal inside of the cell. Hiccup and Grim glanced at the other cells and saw bones in all of them.
"Dragon bones," whispered Hiccup. He knelt down and petted Toothless's head. "I'm sorry you have to see this, bud."
"These people were no friends of dragons," Grim said darkly, a growl in his voice.
"Let's get out of here," Hiccup said.
They started to cross the room. Hiccup's foot stepped on a loose board and there was a series of ominous clicks.
They whirled around in time to see several arrows coming their way. Toothless let out a yelp and covered them with his wings. When he moved, Hiccup deflected another arrow of his shield.
"Move!" Grim ordered, grabbing Hiccup's arm.
They ran across the room, dodging and deflecting arrows. Once they reached other side of the room, the arrows stopped. They turned and saw a door with gold inlay.
"Commander's quarters," Hiccup stated.
Grim looked at the images in the gold. Skulls were piled on the bottom while something that could resemble breathing fire was above.
"Stay close, bud," Hiccup told Toothless.
"Try not to set off any more traps," Grim muttered.
"Okay, so here's the plan -."
Toothless blasted the door down.
"I like yours better," Hiccup said with a shrug.
Toothless laughed.
They entered the room. Mounted on the walls were dragon skulls. There was a desk and chair at the other end of the room. Sitting in the chair was a set of armor and a dragon skull perched on back of the chair. It looked like there was someone actually sitting in the chair. On the desk was a small cylindrical object.
"What is this thing?" Hiccup asked no one in particular. He went over to the desk to inspect it. One end looked like a dragon head with its mouth open and carvings covering the rest of it. On either end was a lens. "Whatever it is, if it's on this ship, it's no good for dragons. Which means we're not leaving it here for Dagur."
Hiccup set the lantern on the table. The light illuminated the hand and arm of a skeleton.
"Have I ever told you I do not like disturbing the dead?" Grim asked.
"Not that I recall," said Hiccup. He reached down to touch the bones.
Grim's hand snapped out and grabbed Hiccup's wrist. "Let me."
Hiccup took a step back from the desk and motioned for Grim to go ahead.
Grim turned to the bones. "Forgive us," he quietly told the remains. He gently moved the arm aside, keeping the bones intact as much as he could.
Grim inspected the cylinder and the small base it sat on. His senses were telling him there was danger here. "Hiccup, Toothless, start moving to the door. I have a feeling as soon as I move this, a trap is going to go off."
"Okay." Hiccup and Toothless moved back.
Grim put his hands under the ends of the cylinder. He quickly took it from the base. Nothing happened.
"Well, that was easy," said Hiccup.
An axe dropped down from the ceiling on to the desk.
"Giant axe!" Hiccup shouted in surprise. "Let's go!"
They ran out of the room and sharp spikes sprang up from the floor in front of them.
Toothless grabbed Hiccup by the scruff of the neck and Grim jumped onto his back. The Night Fury jumped over the spikes. Hiccup ran out in front with his shield as the arrows started firing at them again. They hurried up the ladder into daylight and slammed the hatch down. Toothless let out a growl and prepared to fire a plasma blast.
"Toothless, hold!" Hiccup ordered.
Grim looked up and saw someone he really didn't want to see.
"Hiccup!" Dagur greeted. "Did you miss me? 'Cause I sure missed you every day for three years. I thought about you."
Dagur was rough looking in his torn clothes and unkempt beard. He had a few more scars than he had when they last met and there was a tattoo on his inner left forearm. He was flanked by two of his men in armor armed with crossbows.
Dagur stepped aside to reveal the other riders trapped in one of the dragon cages.
"Astrid!" Hiccup cried out.
"And you, too, Mr. Night Fury," Dagur added.
Toothless let out a screech.
Hiccup walked across the hatch up to Dagur.
"Sorry, Hiccup," said Astrid. "He got the drop on us while we were searching -."
"Uh, quiet!" Dagur barked at her. "Can't you see that my brother and I are having a moment?"
"I'm not your brother," Hiccup snapped. "And we are definitely not having a moment."
"Oh, well, I was," muttered Dagur. "Look at you! All growed up. And quite the ladies' man, I wager. Hmm?"
"Dagur, what do you want?" Hiccup asked, losing his patience.
"Duh," said Snotlout, flipping some blonde locks that were hanging in his face. "He wants the jewels."
"He's not getting my family jewels," Tuffnut said. "No way! And I'll protect them at all costs! Also, what is with that hair?"
Snotlout laughed and flipped the hair. "It's royal hair, I'll have you know," he bragged.
"Haven't gotten rid of the Greek chorus I see," said Dagur. "Anyway, yes, I'll take the jewels. His, too."
One of Dagur's men reached through the bars and punched Ruffnut in the stomach. She spat out the jewels she was hiding in her mouth.
"Watch it, pal!" she yelled at him.
The man laughed.
Ruffnut spat her remaining jewel into his mouth, making him choke. She crossed her arms and looked at him smugly.
Dagur cringed. "Oops. Thought that was the guy. Never can tell with those two." A coughed up jewel hit Dagur in the face. He ignored it and turned to Grim. "And I'll also take whatever your dragon friend is hiding behind his back."
Toothless began to stalk Dagur.
"Come on, hand it over," Dagur told Grim. He motioned to the men behind them. They turned their crossbows towards the imprisoned riders.
Grim walked around and handed the cylinder over to Dagur.
"You know you're not going to get very far with that thing, right?" Hiccup asked Dagur.
"Oh, boy, here we go," said Dagur. "Must we always do the same dance, Hiccup, you and I?" He threw his arm around Hiccup and pulled him close. "Not that you're not a fabulous dancer."
Toothless growled threateningly. "Let him go."
Dagur's men pointed their crossbows at the dragon.
Hiccup escaped Dagur's grasp and stood in front of Toothless. "Easy, bud. Not yet."
Dagur looked down at Toothless. "That's right, Mr. Night Fury, today is not the day. But it's coming and soon. Now if you excuse me, I've got people to see, army to build, revenge to plot, oh, so much to do in so little time. Isn't this exciting, Hiccup? You must have been so bored over the past three years."
"Yeah, he's got a point about that," Tuffnut said to his twin. "Not enough explosions."
"Alas," Dagur went on, putting his hands on Hiccup's shoulders, "my time here has come to an end. Farewell for now, brother. Until we meet again on the field of battle." He gave Hiccup a hard shove and left, using a ladder to get down to his ship.
Hiccup, Toothless, and Grim ran to the side of the ship after they left. Hiccup then ran over to the cage.
"Forget about us!" Astrid told him "Go after him!"
"What are you waiting for?" Snotlout demanded, blowing the blonde hair out of his face.
"Are you guys sure you're going to be okay?" Hiccup asked.
"We're fine!" Astrid insisted. "Go!"
Grim put his hand on Hiccup's shoulder. "I'll take care of this."
Hiccup nodded. He jumped onto Toothless and they flew off.
Grim turned his attention to the cage. He extended his dragon claws and took a swipe at the lock. The Gronkle iron did very little damage to the metal. Grim stared at the shallow scratches.
"Tough metal," Astrid said in awe.
Grim took a few more swipes.
Snotlout shouted out, "We'll be here all day at this rate!"
"No!" they heard Hiccup yell.
Grim looked up just in time to see a boulder from a catapult arc through the air and smash through the deck of The Reaper. The ship jerked and began to tip forward.
"Hello! We're sinking!" Ruffnut yelled.
"Get us out, Grim!"
"Grim!"
"Hiccup!"
Toothless returned, landing on the mast.
"Move back from the door!" Hiccup yelled.
The others went to the back of the cage and Grim pulled himself around the side.
Toothless jumped down on deck.
"Toothless, plasma blast!" ordered Hiccup.
Toothless fired a plasma blast at the door, but it did nothing.
Fishlegs stared at the red hot mark the blast left. "Dragon proof bars! Fascinating!"
Hiccup inspected the bars. "Whoever built this ship knew what they were doing."
"Even Gronkle iron is doing little," Grim added.
The cage slid across the deck.
"Toothless, now!" Hiccup yelled, moving out of the way.
Toothless began firing plasma blasts at the same spot repeatedly, but it still did nothing.
"We need more firepower," said Hiccup. "Guys, dragon calls!"
The riders called out for their dragons, Grim waiting until last to call for Deathshriek.
A giant eel appeared on top of the cage. Toothless quickly blasted it away.
"Why did it have to be eels?" Snotlout complained.
Toothless jumped up on the cage and started firing at the giant eels that were beginning to swarm.
Hiccup grabbed the door of the cage and pulled desperately at it. "Come on!"
A giant eel jumped up and bit into Hiccup's prosthetic.
Grim heard Hiccup yell and swiped at the eel with his dragon claws.
"Thanks," Hiccup said to Grim. He took off his prosthetic and shoved it between the door and the bars.
The ship was tipped vertical and Hiccup and Grim had to grab the bars to keep from falling into the water. Toothless changed his position so he was on top of the cage.
"Hookfang!" Snotlout shrieked. "Help! I'm important!"
"Stormfly!" Astrid screamed.
"Barf! Belch! Get your butts over here!" shouted Ruffnut.
"Toothless!"
Toothless was watching the giant eels in the water, taking aim at them. He then realized he was out of shots. "No!" He looked up. "Guys!"
Hookfang and Stormfly flew over to Toothless.
Everyone lost their grim on the bars and they slammed into the door. With their combined weight, the door broke open and they all went falling. Once again they had for form a human chain.
Tuffnut was hanging upside down at the end of the chain with Hiccup's prosthetic in his hand. "That was great!"
A giant eel jumped up at his face. Tuffnut let out a yell and smacked another with Hiccup's prosthetic.
Barf and Belch flew down and fried another giant eel.
Tuffnut looked over at the two-headed dragon. "Oh, so now you decide to show up!"
The Zippleback flew under him and he jumped onto Belch's saddle.
The other riders got on their dragons and flew high into the air.
"That was close!" Fishlegs called.
"Hiccup, what are we doing?" Astrid asked.
"You guys go back to Berk," Hiccup told them. "I'm going after Dagur. Whatever that cylinder looking thing is, I know one thing for sure, it shouldn't be in his hands."
The others turned back to Berk and Hiccup and Toothless went in the direction of Dagur's ship. It wasn't long before Toothless noticed something.
"Deathshriek?"
"What is it, bud?" Hiccup asked.
Toothless looked back and saw the blue and black dragon following them.
Hiccup turned around. "Grim? What are you doing? I told you to head back."
"And miss humiliating Dagur?" Grim asked with a smirk.
Hiccup smirked back and shook his head. "If I didn't know better, I would say you like seeing him humiliated. Especially when you're doing it?"
"Me?" Grim said innocently, though there was nothing innocent about the grin on his face. "I'm not sure I know what you're talking about."
Catching up with Dagur didn't take long. The fog hid them very well, but Toothless could find the ship easily.
Dagur was standing on the deck shouting at Savage, holding the mystery object above his head.
Toothless flipped upside down and Hiccup plucked it out of Dagur's hand. The dragon flipped back around.
Hiccup looked down. "Thank you kindly."
Toothless flew off.
Dagur let out a scream of rage.
Hiccup looked over his shoulder and saw a couple arrows heading their way. He had Toothless barrel roll out of the way and kept going. Watching from a safe distance, though with not the best visual, was Grim and Deathshriek. They followed Toothless and headed back to Berk.
"You enjoyed that," said Deathshriek.
"Oh, yes," Grim confirmed. "I love messing up his plans. I wonder how long it's going to take him to figure out that he'll never get away with messing with us."
"He's deranged. Possibly never."
They chuckled and flew home.
The riders took the mystery cylinder to Gobber at his forge. Gobber tried to pry it open with his hand and his hook, straining loudly.
"Have you ever seen anything like this Dragon Eye before?" Hiccup asked Gobber.
"Dragon Eye?" Tuffnut asked. "How do you know it's called a Dragon Eye?
"Because I named it," Hiccup said matter-of-factly.
"Whoa," laughed Snotlout. "Aren't we supposed to vote on stuff like that?"
"Fine," said Hiccup. "All in favor say 'Dragon Eye'."
"Dragon Eye," the riders called out, raising their hands.
Snotlout looked unimpressed. "Just wanted to make sure we voted."
Gobber was still trying to open it.
"Can you open it, Gobber?" Astrid asked.
Gobber paused. "Ha-ha! Can I open it? I once opened a five hundred year old giant clam at the bottom of the ocean with my bare hook. Can I open it? Ha! I think it's going to be – huh. Ah-ha!"
He gave the Dragon Eye a twist and a dart shot out. It hit Tuffnut in the chest.
"Ugh! What is that?" Tuffnut asked. He slurred his next words and fell down on his face.
Ruffnut laughed at her twin's misfortune.
"Well, that was . . . something," said Gobber. "I think. Maybe. . ." He attacked the Dragon Eye with his hook again.
"Gobber, maybe you should -," Hiccup started, putting his hands up.
"Trust me!" said Gobber.
Green gas spewed from the Dragon Eye.
Tuffnut got to his feet as the gas reached him. "S'all right, I'm okay. I got hit with something, but now. . ." He sniffed the gas. "No, scratch that." He fell in a heap and convulsed.
The other riders surrounded him.
"Yeah, I'm thinking we should probably go get Gothi," said Hiccup.
They took Tuffnut to Gothi's hut. The old medicine woman whipped up a concoction and shoved it down Tuffnut's throat. He stopped convulsing almost immediately.
He moved his jaw. "My teeth are itching." Tuffnut scratched at his teeth. "My teeth are itchy!"
Gothi wrote something in the dirt with her staff.
Gobber leaned over to interpret. "She says that's a good sign, means it's working."
Tuffnut continued to scratch at his teeth vigorously.
"Thank you, Gothi," said Hiccup, stepping up to her. "We really appreciate this."
Gobber started at the Dragon Eye again, giving it a whack.
Gothi looked at the Dragon Eye, her eyes widening in recognition. She turned away in horror.
"Gothi, are you okay?" Hiccup asked.
"What is it?" asked Grim.
Gothi held out her arm. Above her arm wrap was the scarring of three puncture marks. Each puncture was larger than the last.
Grim was certain it was a dragon bite, but he had never come across a dragon with teeth like that.
Gothi pointed to her scar before she quickly left.
"Gothi," Hiccup called after her. "Her scar. It matches the keyhole."
"Yeah, and it looked like a dragon bite to me," said Fishlegs.
Gobber whacked the Dragon Eye on a post. "Oh, it is. But she doesn't like to talk about it."
"She doesn't like to talk about anything," Fishlegs pointed out.
"Oh! That's why she writes in the dirt with her stick," said Tuffnut, still trying to get relief for his teeth. "I thought it was just like her thing."
"Yeah, like Snotlout being a woman repellant," said Ruffnut.
"Maybe we can use the stick to itch the teeth," said Tuffnut.
Hiccup, Fishlegs, and Grim began to leave.
"Where are you going?" asked Gobber.
"After her," said Hiccup. "We have to find out what kind of dragon made that scar. It could be the key to opening the Dragon Eye."
"Hold on," said Gobber, crossing his arms. "I have ways of making her talk. Heh, well, scribble, anyway."
In the evening, Gobber, Hiccup, Grim, and Fishlegs arrived back at Gothi's hut. Gobber brought with him a huge pot of something. He set it down in front of Gothi and took the lid off.
"It's the old bat's weakness," he said.
Gothi's eyes widened when she realized what was in the pot.
"Isn't it? Come on. You know you can't resist Gobber's homemade yak noodle soup."
Gothi clearly wanted it.
Minutes later, she had the pot upended over her head to get the last drops out.
"Ho-ho, she downed that like a yak in a heatwave," Fishlegs said to Hiccup. He thought about what he said. "That makes sense, right?"
Gothi threw the pot aside and got in her chair. Gobber walked up to her and put his hands on his hips, proud his bribe worked.
"Now, tell us about this bite mark," said Hiccup.
Gothi got her staff out and started writing.
"'I was a turkey neck'," Gobber started to read.
Gothi hit him in the head with her staff.
"Ow! 'Teenager'. Sorry. 'I had a longing to climb Glacier Island to find pure glacier water, known for its healing properties. So I went with two vegetables'-."
Gothi whacked him again.
"Ow! 'Vikings'! Sorry! I'm a bit rusty. 'We had only been at the summit for a few hours when we were hit by a terrible snow storm. That's when it attacked. It was vicious, relentless, and impossible to see in the whiteout – the Snow Wraith. It attacked me and threw me into a snowbank, but it left me after that. I'll never know why it never finished me off that day. I left knowing only one thing: that I never wanted to smooch that dragon again'. Smooch that-?"
Gothi hit him a third time.
"Ow! 'See'! 'Never wanted to see it again'. You know your drawing isn't what it used to be, old woman," said Gobber.
Gothi pulled her staff back again to hit him.
"But your swing - as strong as ever!" Gobber quickly told her.
Hiccup cut in before Gobber could say something else. "Gothi, a tooth from the Snow Wraith is the key to unlocking the Dragon Eye. You have to help us find it."
Gothi thought for a moment before making a quick symbol in the dirt. She looked at Gobber, wanting him to translate.
"I can't say that to him!" cried Gobber. "He's the chief's son."
Gothi cleared the dirt and started drawing again.
"She says no way she's ever going back and besides Berk needs her," said Gobber. "It's true. She's the best healer we've got."
"Gobber can cover for you," said Hiccup.
"Huh? Oh, well, of course I can," Gobber said uncertainly. "I've watch Gothi work so many times I know this place like the back of my hand!" He held up his hook. He quickly put it down and put up his hand.
Gothi wasn't pleased with the idea.
"You remember the viciousness of the Snow Wraith," said Hiccup. "I get that. But you also remember how it was to be my age and explore, to need to see what else was out there, to get answers to questions you haven't even asked yet."
Hiccup picked up the Dragon Eye. "This will help me do all of that, but only . . . only if you help me unlock it."
This seemed to persuade Gothi. She smiled and gave her staff a solid tap on the ground.
Hiccup and Grim walked back to their house.
"I think that went well," said Hiccup.
"It went very well," said Grim. "It seems nostalgia is a good way to persuade Gothi, along with Gobber's yak noodle soup. I had a speech regarding village duty and helping us gain knowledge about dragons we may come across in the future."
"Have you ever heard of the Snow Wraith?" asked Hiccup.
"No, but I may know it by another name," said Grim. "Dragons do not refer themselves the same as human do."
"Do you think you'll be able to talk to it?" Hiccup asked.
"It depends on how agreeable it is," said Grim. "Dragonese is universal. The only difference in it really is dialect. If you are thinking about asking me to go up to it and ask nicely for a tooth, I am not sure if it will simply hand it over."
"It couldn't hurt to ask," said Hiccup.
Grim gave him a sideways glance. "We will see what tomorrow brings."
The riders left early for Glacier Island. They flew for several hours before the island was in sight.
"Look at the size of that island," said Hiccup.
"The Book of Dragons mentions the Snow Wraith, but doesn't have any information on it," said Fishlegs. "Can you believe this? A brand new dragon! It's been so long I forgotten what this feeling is."
Next to him, the twins and their dragon glared at him, Barf and Belch making disgruntled warbles.
"Sorry," said Fishlegs. "Excited about the new dragon."
"You mean the dragon that single handedly wiped out Gothi's entire search party?" Astrid said.
Fishlegs's mood fell a little. "That would be correct, but so worth the long flight."
"Speak for yourself!" snapped Snotlout. "Your neck hair's not covered in old lady drool!"
Gothi was sitting behind Snotlout. She was sleeping against his back and snoring loudly.
"Okay, here we are!" Astrid announced.
"Oh, thank Thor," said Hiccup, seeing they had arrived.
The dragons landed at the top of the island.
Snotlout got off of Hookfang and held his hand out for Gothi. She went to take it, but he quickly pulled it away, causing Gothi to fall into the snow.
"Oh! Yak hands!" Snotlout cried in feigned distress. "I am so sorry. Are you okay?" He laughed.
Gothi got to her feet and used her staff to hook Snotlout's foot and sent him into the snow.
"Fair enough!" said Snotlout.
"You know, we should bring her along more often," quipped Astrid.
Grim looked at his adoptive cousin disapprovingly.
Gothi looked around the area, pacing around. She picked up a couple pieces of ice before putting them down. She turned to the riders and shrugged.
"Great! Just great!" groused Snotlout. "She's got nothing. Someone else is wearing that bag of bones home. She's all knees and elbows."
A strong wind picked up and snowflakes swirled in the air. Fishlegs was trying block the wind using Meatlug, but he was blown over. Meatlug grabbed the back of his shirt to keep him from sliding across the ice. The other dragons hunkered down against the wind.
Snotlout rubbed his arms and shivered. "Can we please do something? My mouth is starting to freeze shut!"
"Don't get our hopes up," Astrid shot back.
"Well, then we should work fast to find this Snow Wraith because we're not leaving until we do," said Hiccup.
"Let's split up to cover more ground," suggested Astrid.
"Good idea," Hiccup agreed. "Dragon call if you come across anything."
Snotlout perked up. "Quick, Hookfang, before she see us." Snotlout spun around to see Gothi already in Hookfang's saddle. She tapped the saddle, smirking. "Hi, we were just talking about you."
Grim climbed onto Deathshriek's back. The Baleful Banshee let out a low sound.
"What is it?" Grim asked.
"Do you feel like we're being watched?" Deathshriek asked quietly.
"No." Grim looked around, but all he could see was white snow.
"Perhaps I am just on edge."
"Maybe." Grim took another look around before Deathshriek took off.
An hour later, everyone returned.
"Anybody find anything?" Hiccup asked.
"All we found was some scattered yak bones," said Ruffnut.
"I didn't see anything," Fishlegs stuttered. "But I had this weird feeling something watching me."
"Oh, I had a weird feeling, too," Snotlout said. "Like this old lady was stuck on my back."
Gothi pulled herself around Snotlout's shoulder.
"Ah, two heads!" Tuffnut cried.
Belch growled.
"Oh, sorry, guys." He gave the head he was riding a pat. "One you two it works. I've seen it before, used to it."
Astrid walked over to Hiccup, holding herself. She looked up at the sky. The snow was beginning to thicken and the wind was picking up again.
"Hiccup, maybe we should get out of here," she said. "That looks like a huge storm."
"No, we should dig in here and wait for the Snow Wraith to show itself," said Hiccup. "Remember, it likes to attack when you can't see it."
"Great," Fishlegs complained. "Just great."
Grim watched the sky, feeling the cold wind on his face. "Hiccup! We need to find shelter."
"We can set up the tents," Hiccup started to say.
"The tents will do no good," said Grim. "The wind is only going to get stronger. We need to find a cave."
"No, we need to be out in the open for the Snow Wraith," argued Hiccup.
"Hiccup, the tooth will be worthless if we freeze to death!" Grim yelled, gesturing to the increasingly foul weather.
No one got the chance to say anything else because Grim went flying through the air. He fell into the snow and rolled.
"Grim!" Deathshriek roared. He ran over to his rider. Grim was sprawled out, stunned. Deathshriek was quick to get over him and shield him from whatever just attacked.
"It's the Snow Wraith!" Fishlegs yelled in terror.
"Hold your ground!" Hiccup shouted over the wind. "And fire back!"
"Fire back where?" asked Astrid. "We can't see it!"
Something large moved close to Hiccup and Toothless.
"Actually, you know what – take cover!" Hiccup ordered.
Everyone scattered.
Snotlout was hit by something and sent airborne. He landed in a snowdrift and was buried.
Hiccup and Toothless, who were close by, were also covered in falling snow. Hiccup shook himself and saw it.
The Snow Wraith was pure white with large wings, a short neck, a bulky body, a rounded head with a thick, short, rounded horn on its nose and another horn jutting from its chin. It had an under bite and spines went around its head, with several long ones that looked like eyebrows. Its tail was tapered from its body and had spines on it as well. It raised itself up on its two legs and roared.
The Snow Wraith stalked over to Snotlout, sniffing. It roared in his face and sniffed again. It turned and left him alone.
"Toothless, warning shot!" Hiccup ordered.
Toothless fired off a plasma blast next to the Snow Wraith. The Snow Wraith turned and roared at them. Hookfang and Stormfly fired as well. The Snow Wraith flew at them.
"Cease fire!" Hiccup shouted when a flame hit the snowdrift he and Toothless were buried in. "Cease fire!"
The Snow Wraith flew at Stormfly, knocking her over and sending Astrid tumbling over the edge of a cliff. She managed to dig her hands and feet in to keep herself from falling to her death.
"Stormfly!" she cried.
Stormfly was quick to spread the spines on her tail and slam it into the ice next to Astrid. Astrid began to climb her dragon's tail like a ladder.
Hiccup and Toothless dug themselves out of the snowdrift.
"All right, I've had just about enough of this dragon, bud," Hiccup told Toothless. "Do your thing."
Toothless let out a sonic roar, searching for the Snow Wraith in the snow. It hit the Snow Wraith and stunned it.
"Toothless, now! Multiple blasts!"
The Snow Wraith dodged the plasma blasts, but hit the snow and ice around the flying dragon. Some pieces of ice fell and hit the Snow Wraith. The Snow Wraith had enough and flew up and out of sight.
"Hey, it's gone," said Hiccup. "Everybody okay? Everybody here?"
Astrid climbed over the edge.
The twins stepped up to him.
"What do you mean by 'here'?" Ruffnut demanded to know.
"I've a question, Hiccup," said Snotlout, coming up behind him. "What exactly is your plan to get a Snow Wraith tooth? Take it out of one of our dead bodies?"
"If all goes well, it'll be Ruffnut's dead body and the Wraith, too," said Tuffnut.
"Or it might be Grim's," said Fishlegs. He pointed over to the rider in question.
Grim was walking slowly over to them with Deathshriek and Gothi.
"Are you okay?" Hiccup asked.
"I will live," he replied, holding his middle. "But I rather not do that again."
Gothi stepped forward and started writing in the snow.
Fishlegs interpreted. "She says we should have left when we had the chance."
The Snow Wraith roared, the sound echoing around them.
The storm passed quickly and the riders were huddled around their dragons.
"Okay, that thing was gnarly," said Snotlout.
"Astrid, are you okay?" Hiccup asked.
"Yep, barely," she shivered.
"Hiccup, you know I want a shot at this as badly as you do," said Fishlegs. "But maybe we should get out of here. We're just sitting ducks in the storm."
"Wait-wait-wait a minute," said Hiccup. "What did you say?"
"He said we're sitting ducks," said Snotlout. "And for once, I agree."
Hiccup turned around and looked at the snow. "Sitting ducks, yes! Yes, yes! That's exactly what we need to be."
"Excuse me?" Astrid cried.
"What if we can make the Snow Wraith think it sees when we're not here?" Hiccup asked.
"You can make yourself invisible?" Tuffnut asked. He turned to Ruffnut. "Why does he get all cool stuff? I used to just sit here with you as a sister."
"Would you two be quiet for ten seconds?" Snotlout demanded.
"Tuff's not that far off," said Hiccup. "Look the Snow Wraith didn't have any trouble seeing us until Snotlout got buried in the snow. And Gothi said it couldn't find her when she fell into a snow bank. I think that's because it sees body heat in the same way Toothless can find things with sound. We'll use this to our advantage to confuse it. Then while it's distracted we'll net it and get that tooth."
"And you're sure it'll work?" asked Astrid.
"We-eh," Hiccup replied.
Astrid sighed. "Of course not."
"I hate you!" Snotlout declared. "You know that."
"Yes, I am aware of that," said Hiccup. "All right, gang, let's get to work."
They quickly made dummies out of sticks and cloth and stuck them out in the clearing they had been attack. They then found a cave to hide in. And it was just in time as the next storm blew in.
"Pretty good," said Hiccup, admiring their handiwork. "Now if I'm right, when we light these on fire, the Snow Wraith will think they're us and attack. Then we'll have the drop on it."
"Wait-wait-wait!" Snotlout cried. "Look at how realistically gorgeous my statue is. I can't in good conscious send that into flames."
The wind blew the head off the crude dummy off.
"I'll work through the pain and do it for you," Astrid told him.
"Wow!" said Snotlout. "You'd do that for me, Astrid."
"All right, Toothless, light them up," said Hiccup.
Toothless hopped to the front and fired off two blasts. The dummies were engulfed in flames.
Snotlout took off his helmet in respect and mourning. "Somewhere in the world, a silent tear was just cried."
"Yes. Yours," Grim grunted.
A couple of the dragons snickered.
They waited for several moments, but there was no sign of the Snow Wraith.
Fishlegs spoke up. "Hiccup, I don't know if this-."
"Wait, look!" Hiccup interrupted.
The Snow Wraith swooped in to scan the fires.
"Okay," said Hiccup. "The next time it comes in, we go."
The Snow Wraith attacked the headless dummy.
"Oh-ho-ho, no, you did not!" Snotlout said angrily, putting his helmet back on.
Hookfang set himself on fire.
Ice rained down on Toothless. He looked up and saw the cave ceiling ready to collapse.
"Look out!" Toothless grabbed Hiccup and jumped outside.
Deathshriek didn't hesitate and hit Grim with his tail, sending the teen tumbling after Hiccup and Toothless. The snow and ice caused a cave-in, separating Hiccup, Grim, and Toothless from the other.
Toothless rolled over and opened his wings. Hiccup sat up on Toothless's belly.
"Thanks, bud."
"Watch out!" Grim yelled.
The Snow Wraith flew in for an attack, but they quickly got down and avoided it.
"If it can see our body heat, then we are way too easy a target out here," said Hiccup.
The three moved to the fires to disguise themselves from the Snow Wraith.
"This should even the odds a little," said Hiccup. "It won't be able to make us out in heat of these fires."
"Try not to move so much," Grim said. "It'll discern us."
"Think you can talk to it?" Hiccup asked.
"We are beyond talking," said Grim. "Not only have we trespassed, it thinks we're prey."
"Oh. Great. Do your thing, bud. It's up to us to get that tooth."
Toothless began firing sonic roars to try to find the Snow Wraith in the storm.
"Easy, bud," Hiccup said. "Where is he? Keep going."
Toothless resumed firing sonic roars.
"Keep going, keep going," Hiccup continued.
There was a roar behind them. They spun around to see the Snow Wraith. At the same time, Gothi charged the white dragon, holding her staff high.
"Gothi, no!" Hiccup yelled.
Gothi paid no attention to him. She started hitting the Snow Wraith in the head and face repeatedly. The Snow Wraith bit into her staff and shook her.
"Toothless, plasma blast!" Hiccup ordered. "And careful not to hit the crazy little woman with the staff!"
Toothless hit the Snow Wraith.
The Snow Wraith threw Gothi in the snow and turn to the Night Fury. A fireball hit it in the face.
Toothless turned and saw Snotlout and a flaming Hookfang in front of the cave.
"Oh, yeah! That's right!" Snotlout yelled. "Snotlout got us out of the snow."
"Yeah and you're also the one who got us buried in it to begin with," said Astrid.
"Eh, details," said Snotlout.
The riders hurried to help. The dragons forced the Snow Wraith back from the humans and surrounded it.
"Okay, we have him surrounded," said Hiccup. "Let's get that tooth!"
The Snow Wraith roared again and flew straight up, disappearing in the blowing snow.
"No!" Hiccup yelled. "We can't lose him."
"Actually, he lost us," corrected Tuffnut.
"Hiccup, we should get out here while we can," said Astrid.
"Not yet," said Hiccup. "This isn't over."
Gothi walked over to Hiccup and tapped him on the arm.
"Not now, Gothi, in a minute," he said. "Gang, we came here for a Snow Wraith tooth."
Gothi interrupted him.
"I said in a minute, Gothi," said Hiccup. "And we won't leave here without -."
Grim gripped his brother's head and turned it in Gothi's direction. She was holding up her staff, a Snow Wraith tooth lodged in it.
"Oh, a tooth," Hiccup said absently before it dawned on him. "A tooth!"
"Now it would be most appreciated if we could go home," Grim said.
The sun was setting when they returned to Berk and spoke to Gobber.
"So Gobber, how was it being Gothi?" asked Hiccup.
"Well, I didn't get to wallop anybody with my staff," said Gobber. "But -."
"Gobber, Gobber!" a Viking called, running towards them. It was a man named Agnar. "I must have more of that potion you made me earlier.
"So it cured your stomach ailments, did it?" said Gobber.
Agnar lurched and threw up.
"Far from it!" he said happily, despite the fact he just threw up. "But it did cure something else. It's made my hair grow back!" He took his helmet off to show off the single strand of hair sticking straight up.
"Hey, congrats, Agnar," said Snotlout, hitting his shoulder. "You look so -."
Agnar threw up again.
"Good," Snotlout finished, disgusted.
"Well, at least you only got one of the side effects," said Gobber.
Agnar straightened up and there was a horrible smell. The others gagged and coughed.
"Gobber, whip up some more of that potion for him," said Hiccup.
"Ah, well, it was very complicated and I'm retired," said Gobber. "Gothi, why don't you take this one?"
Gothi hit Gobber with her staff. She walked away with Agnar, heading up to her hut to help him.
"You really have no idea what was in that potion, do you?" Hiccup said.
"No, not a drop," replied Gobber. "But here's your key." He handed the Snow Wraith tooth to Hiccup.
Hiccup inserted it into the keyhole of the Dragon Eye. It clicked in place and he gave it a turn. They wait for several seconds.
"We almost died for that?" Snotlout snapped.
Hiccup picked up the Dragon Eye. "There's got to be more to it than this. It just doesn't make any sense."
"Welcome to my world, sister," said Tuffnut. "Nothing makes sense and you got itchy teeth." He scratched at his teeth.
Later in the brothers' shared room, Hiccup was still messing with the Dragon Eye.
"All right, that's it. I'm calling it a night," he announced with a yawn. He set the Dragon Eye on the desk. "Maybe tomorrow. Fresh eyes."
Toothless went over to his slab and started heating it up to sleep on.
Hiccup was just about to get into bed when he noticed something glowing from the Dragon Eye. He looked over and saw Toothless still heating his slab with his fire. Hiccup got up and got the Dragon Eye and the stool.
"Toothless, come here."
He set the stool down and looked down the Dragon Eye.
Toothless gave it a sniff.
"What is it, Hiccup?" Grim asked, getting up from his bed.
"What's going on, Hiccup?" Toothless warbled. "Did you figure it out?"
"He must have figured out something," said Deathshriek, shuffling over to see what was happening.
Hiccup put the Dragon Eye down on the stool, the head facing the wall. "Do that again, bud. Give me a low flame."
"Okay," Toothless replied.
He moved so he was lined up with the end of the Dragon Eye and opened his mouth to let out a small light. When he closed it, the Dragon Eye was glowing from the head end. In the same purple light as Toothless's plasma blast was writing and pictures of dragons being projected on the wall.
"Whoa," breathed Hiccup. "This changes everything."
And there is the first chapter. Can I let you in on a little something? I haven't watched passed the first season of Race to the Edge or seen HTTYD 3, so don't tell me anything! I want to try something different with my writing style when I get to the next season. I'll be back with a new chapter later this month, I hope. I've decided to work on three stories at once and that may be a mistake as one story usually takes precedence over the rest. I'll try to do one update a month so things don't take forever like they did last time.
