Chapter 16

For the next several hours, the two nightfuries have been continuously connected together as the Draco's Beriah slowly started to dissipate from the air and the dragons systems. As they slowly gained back their self awareness, Astrid was finally able to take her hands off her ears and turn to face them. She had a massive blush on her cheeks from the events but was able to eat the fish and bread the crew threw in every so often since the first sailing. "So," Astrid said taking a bite of her bread. "That is what Draco's Beriah does to dragons huh?"

Azora, while still panting, said, "Yes Astrid." She looked over at Toothless as he got off of her as he finally was drained of all his energy. "This is what it does." She laid down slowly onto the floor.

"And I hate it." Toothless growled as he collapsed alongside Azora. "It isn't natural to make two dragon's mate constantly."

Astrid nodded seriously. "It isn't right of them to do this to you." She said ripping another piece of bread off with her teeth.

"There isn't much we can do about it though." Azora sighed accepting what was to come. "Let us just hope that papa and Hiccup will be able to find us before anything else happens."

"They will Azora," Toothless said. "They won't rest until we are safe."

Astrid frowned in thought. "I just wonder why it is taking them this long to find us in the first place. They should have arrived by now to the ship."

Azora and Toothless both looked down in thought as well before Azora said, "Let us just try and get some rest. We need to be up in strength for the trip ahead."

"No matter how much we may hate it, we need to wait for our rescue." Toothless said looking at his and Azora's tail. "They might have not taken our fins away this time, but they have the advantage of the Draco's Beriah and the threat of taking your life if we even try to escape here, Astrid."

Astrid nodded and leaned back against the wall. "And just think," she laughed quietly. "Maybe if we are lucky, this king will have the sense to let us go after seeing the army Stoick and Hiccup will bring to get us back."

Azora and Toothless huffed in disbelief but a slight smile was shared all around.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"What do you mean there is no trace of them?!" Maaran roared in anger at the dragons that were sent out to find any trace of the pirates.

"There just isn't any scent or markings of them even being here Maaran." Anthia said. "It's like they just fell of the face of the world."

Maaran growled louder and louder and he started to pace back and forth in the center of the village where they all gathered to send out search teams. "This is impossible! I know of no human that can wipe their own traces so well that even the best of trackers cannot even find them."

Hiccup stood to the side silently trying to think of a solution when his father sighed quietly next to him. "I do know of one way that this pirate could have hidden all traces of his presence." Stoick said in a solemn voice.

Maaran whipped around to look at him intensely. "How?!" He ordered.

"It is a new invention of recent years that could be hidden in the gas that they used on us. It is known as Ala Jaysdht, or the Fragrance of Nothing." Stoick put his hand to his chin. "It was outlawed in our village along with all our allies' villages. It was deemed to dangerous to use as it hid our enemies a bit too well."

Maaran huffed. "Well, it seems like not everyone got the idea that is was outlawed."

Hiccup sighed. "The only idea I have is go the direction we found them heading in last and go from there." He shrugged as his father and Maaran looked at him. "It's the best chance we have and it is at least something we have a lead on."

Maaran looked down and nodded. "Very well."

Anthia whistled to get the other dragons attention. "You heard the Chief's son! Start the search in the direction we saw the pirates last! Report back once you see them but keep an eye on them at all times!"

"Make sure they do not see you coming though." Maaran ordered in a booming voice. "We need the element of surprise this time."

The dragons of Berk all nodded before taking off leaving only a select few on the ground along with Maaran, Hiccup, Stoick, and Anthia. "Why are you not going with them?" Hiccup asked as his dad walked to their hut.

"Because if this King is collecting Nightfuries…I would be at a disadvantage if he has an army of them."

Hiccup gulped at the implications.

\/\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Astrid yawned as she awoke in the dark room and groaned as her stomach rebelled at the rocking of the ship but willed herself not to get sick. The heard some shuffling around and shortly after felt the smooth scales of one of the nightfuries. "Thanks." She whispered as she leaned against the scales.

"You are welcome." The voice of Azora came.

"What are you doing awake?" Astrid asked.

"Toothless and I can't sleep in this place very long. Too much of a danger of that human doing something."

"Toothless is awake too?"

"He is but he is tuning us out for the time being as he just needs some time to process things."

"And you don't?"

Azora laughed sadly. "Of course I do but," her voice faded. "If I get too deep into processing things I will lose myself in the process like I did a long time ago."

Astrid was intrigued but let it slide as Azora trailed off. "Well, what do you think we should do?"

"What do you mean?"

"Once we arrive at this so-called Kings place."

Azora was quiet for a bit but then said quietly, "I plan on trying to save you and Toothless." Azora growled lowly as Astrid gasped. "Do not say a word against it. I don't even know how I'd be doing it."

Astrid grew angry but couldn't do much against Azora's decision. For all she knew, any plan they came up with would be a moot point by the time they got to the destination. "Does Toothless know what you plan?"

"Yes. And he put up quite an argument about it during the time you slept."

"Rightfully so!"

"Hush Astrid." Azora growled as Astrid's voice echoed. "We do not want that human barging in here this late."

Astrid lowered her voice. "We are not abandoning you Azora. Toothless and I will stay with you know matter the consequences."

"I know."

Astrid tried hard to glare at Azora but the darkness made it impossible and soon, she was back to sleep.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Azora saw Astrid fall back to sleep and sighed loudly as she got up and back over to Toothless. "I told her." Azora said.

"Astrid blew up in your face about it too." Toothless huffed angrily as he glared at the floor. "Can you not understand that neither I nor Astrid will ever abandon you? No matter the plan you come up with, we will not leave your side to deal with this monster alone."

Azora didn't respond to him as it would only end up in another argument and she was too exhausted to even consider arguing. Her stomach clenched painfully signifying that she and her babies were hungry and needed nourishment. "I'm sorry Toothless."

"For what?" He asked as he glanced up at her. "Not your fault this human is an atrocious being that likes to torment dragons."

Azora shook her head and sighed. No matter what it seemed, these two will still be here for her during this troubling time. "I wonder when they'll feed us."

"You hungry?"

"Yeah. Not like we fed before getting taken away from our home."

Toothless fully looked at her in surprise. "Our home?"

Azora blinked at him as his expression turned curious. "Yes. I suppose I got used to it enough that I consider it my own home as well as yours." She stated looking away.

Toothless blinked before chuckling. "That's wonderful!"

Suddenly a huge bang came from the doorway, startling Astrid awake and making Toothless and Azora tense up. As the banging continued, the door opened revealing Ragnok and 3 other humans behind him in the dimly lit hall with two wooden barrels. Ragnok and the others entered the room making Toothless and Azora shuffle away back towards Astrid.

Ragnok smiled his gruesome smile and said, "Ah my young furies. Nothing to fear for now as I have brought you food to keep you healthy and well kept for the young that grow within."

Toothless growled as Ragnok stepped forward towards them, ignoring the barrels that were placed in the room off to the side. He knew something was off about Ragnok as he kept glancing over at Astrid in seemed like lustful curiosity and stepped in front of her, hiding her from Ragnok's view.

"Oh don't worry young fury. I won't do her any harm but…" he snapped his fingers and immediately the men that were in the room brought out whips. "I do need to borrow her."

Azora roared at him in anger as she stood in front of both Toothless and Astrid, her eyes blazing with a deep fire of anger. "She says to go to the Den Helder." Astrid spoke with hatred.

"Oh she does does she?" Ragnok said. "Well then, I have a compromise." He said not even flinching at the snarls he received and came up quickly of a lie. "I will take Azora with me with Astrid in order for my work to be done and if you cooperate, I will let one of you send a message to your tribe."

Astrid looked even more suspicious as she studied Ragnok now that there was enough light to see him. "Why would you take that risk?" She asked.

Ragnok looked right at her not even blinking as a lie came easily from his mouth. "Because while I admire our king, I do want to see him fight and not just laze about in his castle. I want to see the bloodshed that will be spilt over this young female here. And I have much more to gain from this than just money." He cackled nastily. "I will have my kings crown."

Astrid grew quiet and looked at Azora who never even looked at her as she said, "I will go with you Astrid."

"You can't Azora!" Toothless growled as she turned to look at him. "I will go!" He barked.

"Though I cannot understand dragons," Ragnok interrupted making everyone turn their attention back to him. "This requires only the female presence. A male would make this worse."

Azora and Astrid looked at each other then at Toothless. "What will happen if we go? What is this for?" Azora asked and Astrid repeated the question.

Ragnok grinned even larger. "I have a baby dragon and though old enough for fish, it will not respond to us feeding it. We usually have the mother in with babies but this hatchling was alone." He looked evilly at Azora. "It needs a mother and a human who it will trust."

Azora looked startled at the mention of a baby dragon being here. Astrid stood up and she, along with Azora hugged Toothless. "We will be back." Azora said.

Toothless snarled at Ragnok before saying, "I will be right here. Don't let him get into your minds though."

Azora nodded before getting up and heading towards the door with Astrid right beside her. As the men piled out, Toothless saw Azora's eyes one last time glistening with sadness and then, she was gone.

/\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Astrid and Azora walked with the pirates through the bowels of the ship until they came to another door and Ragnok opened it letting the girls go in first. As they went in the door loudly shut behind them and they turned around quickly banging at the door and yelling out profanities before lights were suddenly lit up around them. They stopped their futile attempt to get out and froze as a laugh echoed around the room.

Azora froze as she heard a dragon growl with the human laugh. "Astrid," she gulped. "I fear this was not the room of a baby dragon."

Astrid snorted, "You think?"

Slowly they turned back around and promptly fell into defensive positions as they laid their eyes upon the one Ragnok called king and the huge shadow behind him. "Well, well, well." The king said as he stepped more into the light. The shadow behind him did the same and Azora immediately felt the world stop. The shadow was of a nightfury but this one was bigger than her papa by a few inches, had scars on almost every part of his body, and his eyes were of a blood orange color that only showed lustful want in them as he looked upon her.

"What do you want with us?" Astrid demanded making the king laugh.

"Young females are so predictable." He started to say as he sat down on the floor. "They always fall for the baby trick."

"Answer my question you scum!"

Azora grew frightened as the king's eyes flashed in rage and stepped in front of Astrid. "What I want is what any male wants."

Astrid growled in frustration. "That is not an answer."

"You should do well in respecting your betters young shield maiden." The king said as the nightfury beside him started to step forward. "My dear Alarka Druas might not take kindly to the disrespect."

Azora growled lowly. "Astrid, calm down." She ordered.

Astrid whipped her head around to stare at her friend bewildered at her order. "What do you mean stand down?! He is not answering us."

Azora looked at Astrid and glared at her in pure anger. "This is not a fight I can win Astrid. The dragon over there is probably as old as papa and I could never beat him in a real fight. If I can't win against papa, I have absolutely no chance with this monster."

Astrid growled in anger but did as was told. "He still needs to answer my question."

"Your friend is smart young shield maiden." The king said.

Astrid looked at him. "You understand her?"

"Of course. Alarka gave me the power long ago." He stood. "I admit it's been lonely speaking only to him but now," he smiled at her. "I found the perfect future queen."

Azora snarled and stepped forward as Astrid went to attack but was blocked. "I will not be chained to you, you despicable being." Astrid said confidently.

"Then I have an offer." The king said. "A trade if you will."

"A trade?" Azora and Astrid asked at the same time eyeing the two before them cautiously.

"One of you come with me now, and I will allow Ragnok to release one of you and the male back to your tribe." The king said.

Astrid glared at him. "Never." She said.

Azora glanced at Astrid quickly before hitting her hard on the back of her head with her tail making her fall unconscious onto the ship floor. "I will go with you only if you allow them to go free first." She said looking into the kings eyes. "I want to see them both go free before I go with you first though." She demanded. "I will do what you want if you allow me that."

The king looked at his dragon and nodded. "Very well young dragoness." The king walked forward and picked up Astrid. "The male is already unconscious and ready." He stopped and looked at Azora. "I will ask why you decided this."

Azora glared at him and said, "Because you would never have let Toothless and Astrid live once we arrived to your castle." She glared at him. "The fact that you know most likely that me mating another while being already mated makes me more susceptible to you while being with Toothless would make me free to do what I will. You would either kill him once we got to your castle in order for your dragon to mate me or make him forcefully mate me in front of Toothless. Neither of which I will allow Toothless to witness."

The king smirked. "You are a smart one dragoness." He conceded as he looked at her blue eyes. "You are right of course. Plus returning them will only make my victory sweeter when they try and rescue you only to find you lost of your own will and mind."

Azora lowered her head as the door opened revealing Ragnok and his men carrying an unconscious Toothless. She followed the king and Ragnok to the top deck and winced slightly as the sun hit her eyes. She blinked the uncomfortable feeling away and looked to where they were taking Toothless and Astrid. There was a little boat that was on the side of the ship and Astrid's form was placed in it followed by Toothless'. "May I say goodbye to them first?" Azora whispered as she felt her prosthetic being ripped off and thrown in the boat.

The king glanced down to her and nodded. "One minute and then you will return down to Alarka." He ordered before stepping back from the boat.

Azora went up to the boat and laid her head on Toothless' whispering, "Follow the song of my heart…my Aashna." She then tapped into her dragon magic and quickly sent him the direction in which she was headed before standing back.

The boat was then lowered into the waters and she watched at they drifted off until there was nothing to be seen. The king then ordered her down into the bowels of the ship and she did so without a fight. She knew her fate for the time being.