One Day Later
Hiccup watched as the Twins bonded with a Hideous Zippleback. Astrid was an excellent teacher for the two destructive Vikings. He smiled thinking of how much she helped. He wondered what would have happened to them if he stayed back on Berk instead of leaving. But he didn't think much when he saw a distraught Dagur rush to the Rider. "What is it Dagur?"
"My second in command, Savage just took over my tribe and allied himself with the Hunters!" Dagur yelled and Hiccup knew Viggo was trying to lure him out. Berserker Island could have been a useful landing point for Hiccup's forces and now that Dagur was off island to discuss an attack, Viggo wanted to force Hiccup's hand.
"Don't worry Dagur. We'll stop Savage and the Hunters." Hiccup tried to reassure the Berserker.
"How?" Dagur asked and the Rider explained that he'll send two Riders to scout the island and figure out what all is going on there. Dagur looked at Hiccup remembering C Team and so he was still skeptical.
"Don't worry Dagur. We'll do everything we can for your island." Hiccup promised and Dagur nodded. Viggo might be adding more to Hiccup's plate, but the Dragon Rider wasn't going to let it stop him.
One Day Later
"There's Berserker Island." Astrid reported to Gustav, the Twins, Thrain, Gunni, Regin, and Aron. Hiccup would have been here if it weren't for the fact he was planning the assault on Drago's forces.
"I thought Berserker Island would have more catapults." Tuffnut remarked.
"And burned down buildings." Ruffnut added as the Riders looked down with their spyglasses.
"Looks like two Hunter ships docked. Guess Viggo doesn't care for the Berserkers as much as he does for Berk." Gustav remarked.
"Don't tell Dagur that." Gunni replied as Astrid turned to the sea and saw a small fleet sailing to Berserker Island.
"Problem." Astrid reported and the Riders turned to see a fleet of thirteen ships.
"I think Viggo is pulling in everything for whatever he has planned." Regin remarked and Astrid feared for Berk. Her home was caught in the middle of a dangerous fight.
Later That Day
"You're not planning on helping Dagur?" Heather asked as she entered the Great Hall. Hiccup was studying a map of Berserker Island with little tokens on it to symbolize its defenses, buildings, and ships. Heather never like the idea of having Dagur's help, but now he has nothing as she did for years.
"I am and you're not going to talk me out of it." Hiccup answered and she slammed her fist on the table.
"Dagur is a bloodthirsty killer!" she remarked and Hiccup looked at his friend.
"Heather, ever since Dagur came into the picture, you've proven that you let your feelings cloud your judgment and I can't let you fly like this." Hiccup said and Heather's eyes widen. "Which is why, until you can prove to me that you won't let your emotions blind you to what is at stake, you're grounded."
"You can't do this!" Heather yelled as she shoved the map and tokens off the table.
"Then prove to me that I can trust you to lead Auxiliary Team into battle. Train Dagur how to fly on a Gronckle." Hiccup replied and Heather's mouth dropped.
"You want him to ride a dragon?" Heather asked shocked at what Hiccup wanted.
"It's a Gronckle. A relatively harmless dragon. Teach him and prove to me that you won't let your feelings cloud your judgment." Hiccup ordered and Heather walked out furious at the Viking.
Hiccup picked up the map and tokens knowing that Heather probably hated him now. But it was a hard decision he had to make. He put them on the table as Toothless jumped in joy seeing Cloudjumper. Valka was let down with ease from the Stormcutter. She walked over to her son and Hiccup explained what happened. The two hugged and he smiled. No matter how many times they hugged or talk, he still couldn't believe that his mother was with him. She looked down at him.
"I am proud of you." Valka said as the hug ended. Hiccup looked at the map of Berserker Island seeing a small test of the assault of Drago's fleet.
"Thanks." Hiccup replied as Valka walked around the table feeling the wood.
"If your father could see you now." Valka remarked and Hiccup shrugged.
"He would be disappointed with me. Leading dragons into battle." he replied and Valker put her hand on his shoulder.
"Stoick is a man with a fierce hatred of dragons, but he would be proud to see you leading good people into battle. That is one thing Stoick respects. Leadership." she said and Hiccup smirked a little getting some comfort from her words.
Elsewhere
Heather landed outside of Thrain's hut where Dagur was staying. She looked at Windshear who snuggled her head at the Rider. Heather pet her dragon thinking how much she was going to handle this. Her hatred for Dagur was great, but Hiccup made it clear that she would be grounded if she didn't teach him. She walked to the door and knocked. Thrain greeted her and she saw Dagur trying to pet a Shadow, but it growled at him so he pulled his hand back.
"I need to talk to Dagur alone." Heather said and Thrain raised an eyebrow. He looked at Dagur who nodded.
"I'll be right outside." Thrain said as he and Shadow left the hut while Heather walked in. The two were silent for several moments before Heather broke the silence.
"Hiccup wants me to teach you how to ride a dragon." she reported and Dagur was stunned. "Tomorrow morning we'll begin." she added before leaving him alone.
One Day Later
"So what am I getting? A Monstrous Nightmare? A Skrill? No a Night Fury?" Dagur yelled in excitement as he, Heather, and Windshear walked through the woods. When they stopped, Heather whistled and the bushes rustle and Dagur was still exited. "Here comes Shattermaster!" he yelled with a smile before a green Gronckle revealed itself. "Is this my dragon's lunch?"
"No. This is Shattermaster." Heather answered with a smirk.
"It's a Gronckle." Dagur remarked.
"Good job, you know what a Dragon he is." Heather said and Dagur turned around with his arms folded.
"I am not riding on that. It's beneath me." Dagur remarked and Heather rolled her eyes. She suspected this would happen.
"If it's beneath you, then climb on its back." Heather ordered and Dagur being himself tried to do it, but failed twice.
"Oh come on! Why won't you let me on you?" Dagur yelled and Heather handed Dagur a fish.
"He needs to trust you. Feed him a fish." Heather ordered and he walked to the dragon with the fish extended away from him. The Gronckle sniffed the fish and growled.
"What is it doing now?" Dagur asked.
"Do you have a weapon on you?" Heather asked and Dagur nodded. "Toss it."
"What?" he yelled and Heather repeated herself. Dagur pulled out a sword and tossed it, but the Gronckle still growled. The Berserker tossed two daggers, a mace, and another sword. The Gronckle stopped growling and walked to Dagur. It accepted the fish and ate it. "What now?"
"Extend your hand out, palm facing the dragon." Heather said and Dagur did as ordered. The Gronckle sniffed Dagur's hand and Heather saw that her brother was nervous. But he calmed down when the Dragon snout touched the Berserker's hand. Dagur spent the next few moments scratching the Gronckle.
"Thanks sis." Dagur remarked and Heather was silent. She watched as her brother showed kindness to the dragon and wondered why the Gronckle trusted him. But she still couldn't help but remember everything. "I am truly sorry for all the mistakes I made. If I could change everything, I would."
"Just bond with Shattermaster. I'll be back." Heather ordered as she and Windshear launched into the air.
"So how is Dagur doing?" Hiccup asked as Heather entered the Forge. She folded her arms as she leaned on the wall.
"Better than expected." she answered with a soft voice.
"Something wrong?" Hiccup asked.
"No." she answered and Hiccup could tell it was a lie. But he let it go. "I better go get a saddle." she added before searching for a few moments and left with a Gronckle saddle. Hiccup gave a sigh of relief knowing that Dagur was doing well.
One Day Later
Heather watched as Dagur held onto his saddle. The Riders flew above the ocean while Dagur learned how to fly. She had to admit that her brother was a quick learner. He was flying like any other Rider. So she decide to make him complete the obstacle course. While his time wasn't the fastest, he still did a good job. After a few hours of drills, Hiccup and Toothless swapped in cutting the training off. "I see Dagur is a Dragon Rider."
"Yeah." Heather replied catching his smirk.
"Any news on Berserker Island?" Dagur asked petting Shattermaster.
"No, but we are planning a raid on the Hunters that are on the island." Hiccup answered.
"I'm joining and there is nothing you can say that'll change my mind." Dagur remarked and Heather eyed her brother with doubt. "It's my home, my people. There is no way in Hel that I'll let Savage keep it."
"I wasn't going to try to talk you out of it. But A Team is to remain on the Edge. Everyone else is heading for Berserker as a practice run." Hiccup replied and Heather Dagur's eyes widen.
"For the attack on this Drago guy?" Dagur asked and Hiccup nodded.
"Hiccup can I talk to you for a moment." Heather asked before looking at Dagur. "In private."
"Yeah." Hiccup answered and the two Riders flew a distance away from Dagur.
"Are you crazy?" Heather asked sharply. "Dagur only had a dragon for a day and we still can't trust him yet."
"Heather look at them." Hiccup said and the two turned to see the Berserker scratch the ecstatic Gronckle. "I only see bonds like that for a few Riders. You included."
"But what if all of this was a trick?" Heather asked.
"Then you can tell me that I was wrong." Hiccup answered before flying off. Heather turned to her brother and flew next to him.
"Do anything against the Riders and I end you." Heather promised before flying away with Dagur behind her.
Later
Hiccup and the Dragon Riders flew above the clouds waiting for his orders. He gave them their targets and they lit the modified bombs. They glided down and Hiccup looked at the men and women he was leading to battle. It frightened him knowing that he may be leading them to Valhalla. He already lost several Riders and Dragons in this fight. He landed on the bottom of a sea stack. Hiccup and Toothless dug up a hole and put the barrel of Monstrous Nightmare Gel in it. The Rider spotted the rest of the Riders flying back into the air. The plan was going perfectly and Hiccup got back on Toothless. They launched into the air and regroup with his friends. After several minutes of patient waiting, the bombs went off and the sea stacks collapsed. Either blocking the ships in or dropping onto the ships smashing them into splinters. The Dragon Riders dove down firing at the Hunter ships sinking them before flying off to safety. The Practice Run was a success in Hiccup's mind and he felt better for the coming battle.
Three Days Later
Stoick watched as Viggo inspected the damage at Berserker Island. The Chief knew this was his son's doing, but he couldn't believe it still. Hiccup the once disastrous Viking was a brilliant commander. The sense of pride for his son continued to grow and at the same time, he felt shame for his feelings toward a Dragon Rider. When Viggo reached Stoick, Gobber, Ryker, and Savage the Hunter smiled to the confusion of the Vikings. "Well friends, Hiccup's latest battle teaches us a valuable play."
"And how does getting my island attacked teach us anything?" Savage asked sharply and Ryker unsheathed his sword.
"Watch your tone with my brother Savage." Ryker warned and Gobber looked at Stoick.
"What did you learn Viggo?" Stoick asked seeing nothing of use.
"I believe Hiccup is planning a massive attack, but this was just a test run of what is to come." Viggo remarked before pointing to where the sea stacks once stood. "My forces are heading to Berk where the sea stacks aren't in the position for an attack like this. Which means he has a different target. A more fierce target."
"What if you're wrong? This could be only for Berserker Island." Gobber asked and Stoick agreed with his friend.
"Because I'm not Hiccup's only enemy and that enemy has a stronghold with mountains of ice protecting his fleet. I believe he is Hiccup's next target." Viggo answered and Stoick raised an eyebrow.
"So who is this target?" Savage asked and Viggo smirked.
"Drago Bludvist." Viggo answered and both Berkians were shocked. "This gives us both time and an opportunity. We must use both to our advantage." Viggo added and the brothers disappeared to the ship leaving Stoick to wondered what his son was doing.
