Asher's heading through the forest, sprinting his way through it and barely avoiding some of Bloom's traps - some of which he didn't actually know about, despite having been going in here for three years now.

Snotlout is right behind him, and wasn't so lucky for some of the traps - like this latest one, another vine snare that he's dangling from by both ankles.

Asher gets him down, almost ready to leave him to get himself down at this point. As it is, the only reason Snotlout's even there instead of lying on the ground in pain back in the Great Hall is because Asher said he thought he might know where Bloom would go on the island and Snotlout jumped at the chance to find her.

A few of the villagers said they saw a strange hooded figure running through the village as fast as a Speed Stinger into the forest - though only near the end of the village for some reason - which Asher was grateful for since it meant he didn't have to explain how he knew where to go. Because somehow, he seriously doubts he'd get out of Bloom learning he's read her diary alive.

They get to Raven's Point, and find all those dragons that were freed in the medium-sized cove Asher discovered shortly after Bloom left, and a pile of manacles and arrowheads on the ground. Snotlout gasps quietly, which alerts every dragon to their presence - but it's when he takes a step and activates another of Bloom's old snares that he's in full view of them all, once more hanging by an ankle upside down with a familiar scowl settling on his face. Most of the dragons look like they want to kill him on the spot, despite being thinner and weaker than any dragon they've ever seen before. The Light Fury, Nadder, and Monstrous Nightmare that were helping her, on the other hand, just look amused.

Asher groans, then comes out with his hands up - it's over a dozen dragons…against him and an upside-down Snotlout. They've lost already, and they aren't even fighting yet. Besides, Bloom's the one with all the weapons…and they can bet she isn't willing to share.

Snotlout yells "Just how many snares, nets, and detours do you have out here?!"

Bloom smirks, then says "Enough to keep the village from finding me. Though, that's one of the old traps."

Asher gets confused, and takes a step to the side while looking around, asking "What do you mean 'old traps' - oh." He gets swept up in a vine net, ending up hanging from a tree branch - with no way out, this time, as he's already hopelessly tangled in the netting.

"That's one of the new ones. Set up in the last five minutes around here. Why follow me out here? And how'd you even know I'd come here?"

Snotlout starts struggling, yelling "Bloom! Get us down from here!"

"Hm, what's the word I'm looking for? …right, no." She puts a hand in her pouch of grass, and comes out with a handful of it - when she puts that hand to a nearby Gronckle's nose, it instantly relaxes. She gets it to roll over like that, much to Asher and Snotlout's utter shock.

Asher whispers "This…this is how you did it all. In Training…"

"Oh, look, you finally figured it out. Yes, Asher, I never hurt any of those dragons. Just like I'm not hurting these dragons, I happen to be healing them." They see several scars on the Gronckle's belly, but it moans in utter bliss as she runs a hand over them and they…start disappearing. Like they were never there to begin with. As she heals the Gronckle, little plants start cropping up around her feet - it's honestly freaking Snotlout and Asher out a bit, but Bloom and all the dragons seem perfectly calm about the detail. Maybe they just don't notice it - or that Bloom's glowing orange.

When she gets to an emerald-green Nadder with scars along its back legs and wings, it growls at her and raises its spikes - Bloom blinks for a second, then starts whistling. A light, bouncing tune that calms the dragon down after a few moments. Bloom keeps whistling like that, walking around the Nadder with one hand on its side so it knows she's there while the other eases up a wing to get under it. By the time Bloom's finished, the dragon's lost its scars and its hostile attitude towards Bloom.

The Monstrous Nightmare and Nadder from the ring walk over, and the Nadder stars at Asher in curiosity while the Nightmare looks more amused by Snotlout's attempts at freeing himself than anything else. Asher whispers "Uh…hi…"

The Nadder almost squawks - a sound he didn't know a dragon could make until right that second - as Bloom calls over "I'm sure you two remember Stormfly. You both tried to kill her during several Training sessions. As for Hookfang, I think meeting him might be branded into the villagers' minds. Yep, that's the one, Stormfly. Greatest Warrior on Berk, and all. Block of indifferent ice and stubbornness Asher Hofferson."

Asher nervously calls over "So why is…wait, you named them?!"

"No, they already had their names. I just asked what they were."

She downs a Zippelback with a twisting gesture of her fingers, and Snotlout incredulously asks "Seriously? The Zippleback just fell down because you stretched your fingers and twisted your wrist?"

Bloom calls over "What a shame it won't work on humans." As the two boys watch, she deftly dodges most of the scared dragons' attacks as they lash out at her - she scratches some under the chin, pins a Monstrous Nightmare's horns to the ground in a feat of strength they didn't think she was capable of… a good three feet off the ground, using the trunk of a nearby tree to leverage her body. Catches Nadder Spines as they're shot at her with ease, not even blinking or hesitating. Even uses that instrument of hers to calm a Nadder down. Brightfire, as Bloom obviously calls her Light Fury, intervenes once or twice when she thinks Bloom's about to get hurt, but otherwise seems content to sit curled up around three Terrible Terrors and watch.

Asher finally gets his nerve up, a bit more of a feat with Stormfly watching him with those golden yellow eyes that are half-dilated, and asks "So, Bloom, where are you going?"

Bloom doesn't even look back at him, just says "I'm taking these dragons and we're heading back to the Edge tomorrow. 'Bout damn time we left the area anyway."

Snotlout snorts, and asks "The Edge? Of what, the world?"

"Might as well be, to you all." She starts humming to one of the dragons when it glares at Snotlout, then picks up a twig on the ground and starts drawing in the dirt. "Guys, find the island that looks like this. If you get lost, don't go to this one, there's a Death Song there - it'll trap you in amber, then eat you alive. Only reason we got out of there is because I can play that flute. And I sorta knocked him out by accident when I panicked and blasted him. Hey, don't give me that look, it was an accident and he was trying to eat us all! These two islands are allies of ours, the Defenders of the Wing on this island, called Caldera Cay, and the Wingmaidens on Wingmaiden Island. The area's a two-day flight east out of here if we start in the morning…we'd better get going. We can stay on Dragon Island for the night, then head out in the morning after your healed more and have some food. It should still be safe from any Vikings, fog or no fog."

She swipes at the dirt, erasing the drawings she made - but not before Asher got a quick glimpse of them. Though, he doesn't know which island is which, or where they are.

Bloom climbs onto Brightfire, and says "Let's go, everyone. Long flight back home. Let's get everyone something to eat."

Snotlout starts struggling at once, right up until Hookfang whacks him with his tail. Asher, on the other hand, feels…something. Something alien in his thoughts. It's only a brush, but somehow he's convinced…it's Stormfly. Somehow, he just knows. Its curious, but leaves after a moment nonetheless. They all take off, and then Bloom calls out "Skyshot, let 'em down!" Two quick bursts of fire later, and they're landing hard on the ground.

Snotlout rubs his head, then says "Ouch. She's changed…a lot."

Asher nods, and says "It's going to be hard to find her. A two-day flight east could be two weeks by ship. If not more, since dragons don't exactly need to take detours."


Gobber's singing away in his Forge, ecstatic at the knowledge that Bloom's still alive - this is the best news he's had since that note with the leather. And Stoick seems to know where this 'Dragon Island' is from Bloom's comment about the fog - it's the nest. Bloom took the dragons to the nest. And then is leaving the next morning - so, they've got no chance of catching up to her there.

And then Gothi gives them a warning - a prophecy, translated by Gobber. They need to get Bloom to come back, else Berk won't survive the next winter. No explanation why, and no advice for how to convince her to come back to an island she clearly hates.

Wonderful.

Johann gets to Berk about two days after Bloom's appearance and disappearance - only to find the place a veritable hive of activity. Stoick asks him what's east of the Archipelago - to Stoick's utter shock, quite a lot. Johann pulls out a map, and says "There's dozens of other islands out past the borders of the Archipelago, Chief Stoick. The Northern Markets are a hub of activity, you can meet just about anyone there - especially those of a more shady business."

"What about someone who works with dragons?"

Johann blinks, then asks "Works with dragons…how?"

"That's what we thou-"

"You misunderstand me, Stoick. In what way do they work with them? There are a few groups that have something to do with them. The Dragon Hunters being the biggest, most influential…and most ruthless group in the area."

"We're looking for a girl in a war with those Hunters."

Johann pales at once, then says "Your talking about the Dragon Tamer. She made a name for herself starting three years ago by being able to pacify any dragon. And again, when she beat a man unconscious after thoroughly breaking his arm for laying a hand on her dragon. The Dragon Hunters got interested in her quickly. Particularly her Light Fury. She's hated them with an ever-growing passion ever since."

"We could tell. She made an unexpected stop at Berk. As did these Dragon Hunters."

"Ah, them. They're ruthless, Stoick. They've been trying to track down any way to hurt the Dragon Tamer because she's interfering with their profits, so I've heard. Lately, they've been trying to find out where she might've lived, where her family is if she has one. Likely to use them against her. Last I heard, they had a lead. But she once told me she had no family to call her own but the dragons, as the village she grew up in disowned her and would've banished her." Johann shrugs, and straightens up some of his wares so they don't fall over.

Stoick sighs, then says "Their lead was solid. They've been trying to disrupt Berk's trade lately. Until the Dragon Tamer, as you call her, interfered."

Johann openly gapes at the news, asking "She's from Berk?! Last I knew, you were at war with the dragons until it inexplicably stopped! One rumor said a tyrannical queen was killed and the dragons she controlled were freed, but nobody knows how that could've happened. Of course, there's rumors about the Dragon Tamer being the cause of that."

Stoick nods, then says "Bloom. The Dragon Tamer is Bloom. If the Dragon Tamer has leather armor with patches of different dragon scales on it, extraordinary healing abilities, can manipulate fire, has an assortment of dragon-based weapons, a hood and cloth mask."

Johann gapes at Stoick in utter shock, then asks "Bloom?! Your daughter, Bloom? Is that why she disappeared?!"

Stoick nods, then Johann says "Now it makes sense when she said she'd been disowned. Refused to say who did it." If she ever thinks I'm the one that told them where to find her... The very thought makes him shiver with dread. He can only hope she's in a forgiving mood if - or maybe when - it happens.

Stoick looks away, then says "I was a stubborn fool. I know that now. Bloom's every bit as stubborn as me, though - and she hasn't forgotten any of it, apparently."

Johann hastily shakes his head, and says "Your former daughter's turned into a very dangerous person, Stoick. If she doesn't want to be found, you're going to have one Hel of a time trying to do so." So dangerous that he's completely given up on the King of Dragons. He values his life more than what may or may not be a big myth - and if she ever found out the detail that he used to be somewhat allied with a group like the Dragon Hunters before she made a name for herself, there's no doubt in his mind she'd kill him and feed him to a carnivorous dragon without a second's hesitation.

Stoick sighs, and says "I have to try, Johann. She's…I messed up. I know I did. I want to fix it. She hates us. You didn't see her two days ago, Johann. The coldness in her eyes and voice, the way she spoke to us, what she said - she resented Berk, and it turned to hatred. I…I have to at least try to fix this."

"Stoick, it may be three years too late to fix your mistakes when it comes to her. I happen to know full well how she feels about her former tribe, I've met her since she became the Dragon Tamer. She told me that she has nobody to call her own but the dragons who took her in, no friends or family but them. Her village - Berk, apparently - wanted nothing to do with her until she left. All her words, not mine. But, if you insist…I can draw you a map of the area she's usually in. I don't know the specific island she lives on, as she's always found me on the open waters or at the Northern Markets, but I do know she's got allies. The Defenders of the Wing, the Wingmaidens…the dragons themselves. They must recognize that she's trying to help them, wild as they are, and…they like her. For whatever reason, she can calm all but the most aggressive of dragons. She's got a gift, Stoick. And she happily chose that gift over the people that shunned her."

Johann just shrugs at their flinches, and says "I'm a businessman, my good Vikings. And, right now, I'm telling the stark truth. She may well not want to see anyone from this island. My advice for reaching her area…head east. Past the ship graveyard. And whatever you do, don't go to this island."

He taps one he's finished drawing, and Tuffnut asks "Why not? Is there a super-deadly dragon there?"

Johann deadpans "Yes, there is. It'll trap you in unbreakable amber, then eat you live in mere minutes. It takes about ten for a Gronckle to be finished off. A person…maybe one."

Even the twins gulp at that - they get that they'd take…twenty seconds tops.

"Oh, and…if you find young Bloom, don't tell her I'm the one you heard all this from. She made me swear to never tell any tales of her to Berk. Which makes much more sense now, honestly. You might try going to the Northern Markets, everyone passes through them eventually and she has quite the reputation there. You're sure to hear some stories about her." Some fantastical, terrible, unbelievable stories. Especially after that business with the bounty nobody could collect. Stories that I've no doubt she's content to let get ever more wild and unbelievable. Her being a demon, for instance.


AN: Hey, everyone! Jeez, i sorta dropped off the radar with updates. In my defense, its my last year of college. So, yeah, I'm just a little busy. Anyway, here's the next chapter! I've sorta scrambled up the timeline a little when it comes to the first few seasons of RTTE. So, um, yeah, it isn't particularly close to canon. Just thought I'd warn you now. The biggest changes for the RTTE part? Heather was never a spy, Dagur was never part of the Hunters, Johann's not a bad guy anymore...and, oh yeah, Bloom's in a guerrilla war with the Dragon Hunters and is doing great.

Oh, and Slueth, Sabo, and Skyshot are three Terrors she found and raised. They help her in raids while she makes a big, flashy distraction that takes the Hunters' attentions. Guess how, its really not that complicated. Think about that episode where the younger teens tried to raise Terrors to see who was the best Rider. Enjoy! More chapters coming soon! I think I'm gonna quit promising update schedules when I clearly can't keep them at the moment, though.

PS. Been thinking about rewriting 'Bloom in Asgard' - it was my first fanfiction, and I really think my writing has improved a lot. Plus, its been nearly five years since I started writing it. What do you think? Should I? Because, honestly, looking back on it...some of the scenes I thought up while in high school kinda make me want to cringe. A bit like that scene in Frozen 2, where Elsa does exactly that at the sight of herself singing.