Chapter 2

Hiccup, Eret, and Heather found themselves as the best of friends, Eret acting as the older brother to Hiccup when times got tough but Hiccup acting as the leader of their group.

3 years into there journey going around traveling to islands meeting new people they found windshear and Heather and windshear made a bond immediately.

Hiccup realized that it was the same dragon from Dragos ship he had released. A bit after that they met Bonecrusher and soon they were all riding dragons.

At first, they just wanted to help people and explore there new found freedom and in return, if the people could give them some food and water and maybe some money for there services then it would be accepted but not required. Eventually, people were coming in search of the mysteries mercenary dragon riders from all around and Hiccup and his friends decided that their time of travel was over. But they weren't done riding dragons!

They reasoned that if some people thought they where already mercenaries which they were already very good at they could spread the word that dragons and humans could co-exist.

The island they settled down on was small and had a trading port which was perfect for them. they soon moved to the town and called the island there home and earned a fearsome reputation as some of the most effective mercenaries around. People on the island were terrified of the man who rode upon a night fury and his entourage of dragon riders but soon learned that he was only there to work, eat, sleep and take care of his dragon.

The island that they were on soon went from a small port to a large trading hub of trade comers and mercenaries looking for work. The island was soon full but the best part was that none of them minded toothless or the other dragons his friend's road, they would mostly just leave them alone. Granted they were more scared of what the mercenaries would do to them then the Dragons. Hiccup, Eret and Heather spent their gold that they earn making a large house big enough for 3 dragons and 3 people. When they decided they were getting into the mercenary business they wanted a name that reflected who they were.

The Dragon guild syndicate.

5 years after Drago died

"Get up!" Yelled Astrid as she picked up a young warrior on the ground "shield wall!" as more raiders crashed into them Astrid looked on as men, women, and steel clashed.

"Snotlout make sure our flank is secure!"

"Ma'am there coming back for another attack." Yelled another warrior.

"We'll stop them here. we can't let them get to berk!." Yelled Astrid

Suddenly a large man rushed throw and broke threw the line, throwing men down in his path. Astrid saw this and yelled "every one advance!"

She soon charged at the man and he drew his sword, he swung but she blocks with her ax. She then countered by hitting the man in the groin and the man stumbled.

she then swung her ax but before she could two men came at her she blocked one but the other was able to tackle her on the ground she soon tried to reach for her knife as the man tried to choke her but before she could the man who attacked her had a sword in his side. She saw her friend ruff. she stood their, sword in her foe blood on her face as she pulled the sword from the man's body. She then went to help her up but before she was up everything went dark

"Astrid"

"Astrid"

"Astrid!"

Astrid awoke she saw Fishlegs standing over her

"Astrid you're awake oh thank thor"

Astrid sat up. Fishlegs put his hands on her back helping her"What happened?" asked her

"During the battle with the raiders, you were hit in the back of the head." Answered Fishlegs

"Did we win"

"The got to the gold storages but we stopped them before they got too much"

"How long was I out?"

"A few days"

"Dammit. How many people did we lose?"

"We lost some good people, some houses got burned down and we're running out of gold and food is running low. We can't withstand more attacks like that for much longer"

"Agreed"

"There is good news, if we can last another 3 months then the harvest will be ready."

"If we last that long". She said

Berk had been in a state turmoil since Drago had died. Many of the people in Drago's army suddenly had no job. Many of them went on to raiding tribes and other lands. Berk in the last year had been raided 12 times. Something had to be done.

"Astrid im final glad your feeling better," said Spitelout

"Im glad im feeling better chief." She replied

"Astrid, there is something I need you to do," Spitelout said

Spitelout was a good chief, he cared and wanted to protect the people but he was tired and from everything that was happening he had every reason to be tired.

"We're losing this fight and if they come back they may overrun us. im not sure if we can do this alone. I decided to uses the funds that we have left and hire mercenaries to help."

"Chief you can't be serious we barely have any gold as it is. what makes you think that it will be enough to buy a good enough mercenary to save us?"

"I don't but we have to try, its all we can do. The only reason I suggest it is because I heard of specialized mercenaries, they ride on dragons if we enlist there help they may save us."

People on dragons... Astrid had heard of these strange warriors but never met them apparent there leader was a man atop a night fury with old ties to Drago Bludvist.

"Chief the idea is not a bad one but even if we did find them do we really want to hire people directly associated with Drago Bludvist?! The man who killed your brother."

"If it where up to me I would hang every man who killed my brother and my nephew but if they can help us then I could give a damn if they worked with him!"

Astrid went stiff she realized that he was doing his best and that he was right and that if there where people out there who could save them then they should disregard their association with Drago

"Your right what can I do?" she asked.

"Your a great warrior and very reliable I can think of no better person to send to hire them," he said looking at her

Astrid looked shooked. She thought that he would choose his son

She asks him " why me, why not Snotlout"

Spitelout replied, " my son is not the best at following throw with his missions, you, however, are fearless and brave and loyal I know I can trust you."

"How can I refuse."

"Great, you leave tomorrow. Take two other people with you and half of the gold in the treasure and when you find the mercenary tells him that you have a job and that you're willing to pay a high price. Tell them what is happening and what you need and that if they help they will get the rest of the gold once the job is done."

"And what if we don't have enough?" Astrid asked

"Then you tell him we can offer other things."

"Can we offer other things?"

"We will think of something to give them"

"I won't let you down chief." Said Astrid

The next day Astrid was ready to go in search of these great warriors. She had decided to bring Fishlegs and Ruffnut. They learn that there was an island where all the mercenaries hung out. If they where to find these dragon riders then they would most likely be there.

"Uh, can someone please explain that to me one more time," ruff said.

"Fishlegs please tell ruff that we are traveling to this island to find Dragonriders to help us fight off these raiders," Astrid said annoyingly

"And what's to stop the raiders from robbing us while we're at sea," asked ruff.

"the luck of Odin" the luck of Oden

4 days later

"let's get wasted!"

Hiccup yelled, while simultaneously buying drinks for an entire bar usually, Heather would step in at this point and stop him. but today was a special occasion, it's his birthday and the birthday boy gets to go all out. of course when he goes all out and this has happened before it usually ends in Hiccup going into a bar getting extremely drunk starting a bar fight getting kicked outside beaten up by 15 men putting up a good fight and able to beat back the 15 men before finally passing out in a boar pit. Eret, of course, would make sure that his younger friend would not get into too much trouble or danger while intoxicated who at that amount was completely acceptable for this smaller human.

he would also celebrate with toothless during this day. after this would happen he would go to toothless and fly around town and then fall asleep somewhere under a tree, this is not an isolated incident as he was notorious for doing this after his birthday.

When Astrid got off the boat she tied it down and pay the harbormaster to watch the ship as she left Ruffnut and Fishlegs to keep watch over it as well. she then made her way into town to find the person she was looking for.

when she got into town and she had seen things that she had never seen before, trinkets that had been from places that are never been spoken in her language. she finally overheard some large men talking about how they were going to go celebrate with the other guys down at the great bar. she thought that she would start there.

As she made her way to the bar she saw shady people all around her. she thought they were looking at her though they didn't really give her a second thought which was kind of reassuring. she had left the gold with her friends and finally made her way to what looks like it said great bar. once inside she heard a man yell "let's get wasted!"

just a common drunkard she thought

She soon found herself a table and someone came over and asked her what she was drinking "just some mead"

she soon got her drink and the girl who gave it to her said it was on the house.

as she slowly sipped on it she looked around seeing if she could spot a large fearsome warrior. one who had seen many conquests and had been in many great battles.

this was a bar full of mercenaries, he would have been kind of hard to spot, She thought. Astrid watched as she saw other people enjoying their drinks talking about jobs that they did and jobs that they were thinking about doing some were standard protection others were things that she couldn't think of such as murder. She didn't like to think that she was in such a place, eventually, she saw the person who was drinking mead as though it was water in a small cup spill some on a group of large men. they all stood up angrily and he looked at them

"Hello there fellows"

as he slowly stumbled backward he bumped into a man who turned around to see him and five more men stood up to see him. he had knocked over a tray of drinks on to them as well.

Astrid didn't need to be an expert to know what was about to happen. she was interested though she might step in to try to save his life. at least if they were going to kill him she didn't like death though she had taken a life. she did feel sorry for this man as they drag them outside a dark-haired woman in a taler muscular man slowly followed.

Astrid did as well. The men through the smaller person on the ground and create a circle around him one person moved into attack and as she was about to intervene when suddenly the person's punch was countered by the smaller person who used the momentum to bring the other person down on the floor he then uses his foot to hit the man in the jaw and knocking him out.

he stumbles a little but catches his balance and looks around. the rest of the men go to attack him and so young fighter pulls out a knife one of the opponents tries to throw a punch at him but is blocked and is sliced in the stomach while at the same time two from behind try to tackle him from behind and is stop when the younger opponent turns around and uses his foot but to hit one of them and the other person he takes his knife and puts it in the arm of the other he tries to pull it out but it gets stuck eventually the other man grabs him and throws him on the ground and start kicking him and punching them Astrid is about to intervene when suddenly the dark-haired girl who'd followed him output her hand in front of her and tells her.

"This is what happens, I tell him every time"

then the tall muscular man said "we have a running bet to see how long it will take before this happens didn't even take 40 minutes"

the men soon stopped as Heather pulled out a double ax that Astrid never saw before. she then walked over to the mercenaries and told them "I'll give you each one gold if you pick him up and follow me"

they all looked at her but surprisingly did as they were told they followed her and follow them to a large boar pit. once they were there the dark-haired girl said " please toss him in there"

the mercenaries did as they were told the dark-haired girl pulled out a large sack of coin and started to pay each man one golden coin. the dark-haired girl looked down at the man in the boar pit and then looked over to Astrid

" don't feel bad for him he knew this was going to happen"

Astrid had no response. she just looked at her and the dark-haired girl said to her "where my manners hi I'm Heather"

Astrid looked at her and said "I'm...ah...Astrid nice to meet you"

"Astrid this is Eret son of Eret come on let me buy you a drink," said the dark-haired girl.

As they made their way back to the bar Astrid asked her "Why did you stop me from helping him?"

Heather replied "he does this every birthday or every celebration. that man spends some of his money and literally almost like sun work he gets drunk knocks over drinks people get mad, they take him outside he puts up a good fight but eventually loses because he's drunk he then gets beat up really badly and gets thrown into a boar pit I tried to tell him not to do it but today he told me not to and I am not allowed to stop him"

"Why are you not allowed to stop him today," she asked?

"Number 1 because it's his birthday and number 2 he's my boss"

"that small tiny person is your boss," Astrid said in astonishment

"he's not that small and yes he is my boss well leader boss is kind of a touchy subject for us but yes leader"

Astrid then asked "and what is it that you do"

"we're mercenaries, you know muscle for hire, you got a problem we'll fix it,"

"really you two don't seem like mercenaries and he definitely does not seem like a mercenary"

" well I didn't start out as mercenaries but we kind of slowly became that way" she explained

"you mind sharing how"

"Sure Eret be a dear and get us some drinks please and thankyou. me and that guy who is currently face planted in a boar pit well...we were slaves"

Astrid heard this, she didn't really know of slavery she had not witnessed it or been around it. never the less she had heard stories of slaves and they all were sad there for it wasn't really something that she supported

" one day my friend, the one in the boar pit decided that he wasn't going to be a slave anymore and escaped and took me with him. one of the guards wear we were being held found out about our escape plan and instead of telling our masters he decided to help us "

"What happened to that guard," Astrid asked?

" you just met him. Eret son of Eret was that guard and he's helped me and that boar pit smothered man ever since, and so we escaped it was very risky though we had to kill our master"

" if your boss is such a good fighter then how come he lost," Astrid asked?

"I mean he did just chug like 15 meads and face 15 guys and defeat four of them I would say that's not a complete defeat," said the other girl

Astrid had to agree with her, that was a lot of alcohol for such a small person soon eret came back and had three drinks and he sat down as well.

"Astrid, where are you from," the buff man asked?

" I'm from a small village call berk"

as soon as she said this he looked up and so did Heather and Astrid noticed this

" have you heard of it?"

"yes that I have, "eret said to her

Eret soon asked "how come you made it to a place like this it's very long ways away"

Astrid looked at him "I'm here to hire mercenaries my village has been attacked by raiders and I need to hire strong warriors to protect us. we won't make it very much longer"

Heather looked up

"We are for hire"

Astrid smiled "thanks but I'm looking for a particular type of mercenary"

"What kind of mercenary would that be"

"I'm looking for the mercenaries who called themselves the dragon guild syndicate"

Heather looked up and then Eret and then said to her "oh you're looking for the Dragonriders huh, whos leader tamed a night fury and is a master tactician and has seen hundreds of battles"

"your looking for the man with a flaming sword and has a personal relationship with lightning and death its self" eret said immediately after

Astrid's eyes opened up "you've heard of them? where can I find them I need to speak with them immediately I wish to hire their services I can offer them much gold"

Heather then looked at Eret with a smile on her face " Sorry but their boss is out of commission right now"

Astrid looked Heather "what do you mean how do you know that?"

Heather then said to her with a big smile on her face "he's the one in the boar pit" unable to contain their laughter heather and eret both let out a belly of waves of laughter

Astrid's eyes widened with horror as she quickly got up from the table and rushed out of the bar running towards the boar pit she could hear Heather and Eret laughing in the background as she made her way to the boar pit she saw that no one was in there.

she looked around frantically " no no no no! I had him you were right here and I had you and I let you get attacked."

After being beaten up and thrown into a poor pit Hiccup had only one thought in his mind. who was that girl who watched him get beat? as soon as he woke up in a boar pit he felt in his pockets then realized he left the gold with Heather. then he thought to himself, dammit I'm in a boar pit I owe Heather I lost the bet. as he slowly got up he realized how many bruises he had on him though they were nothing compared to what he had been subjected to before.

he realizes that one of his ribs was broken. a cold reminder he thought to himself. he slowly got up and made his way to the exit of the boar pit and climbed out and walk over to a dark alleyway in the mid square.

he somehow found his way home, he usually does. he went into his room and found toothless sleeping on his fire pit. he thought to himself, right where I left you. he notices something interesting earlier as he was getting pummeled by 15 men 11 men if you exclude the people he was able to dispatch.

he saw someone standing with his friends Eret and Heather a blonde-haired girl around the same size as Heather as he was getting beat it looked as though she was going to intervene although Heather stopped her, I would have done it too. He made himself laugh at this and made himself a small bath and he had toothless heat it up for him. he took off his prosthetic and set it to the side and he got in.

while he was taking his bath he couldn't help but think why would that girl want to intervene no one around here does that. you don't do that and as he was getting out he dried himself off and went to lay down. He thought she seemed interesting