Let's go see how Hiccup and Toothless are doing, shall we?
Chapter 7—Switched Identities
Still locked up in the Outcast prison, Hiccup was using the plate they'd left when giving her dinner, surprisingly caring to keep her fed, trying to wedge it between the door like a crowbar. Unfortunately, it was proving to be no use.
"Ugh! No good. Got any ideas, bud?" she asked turning to him.
"How did you escape the last time you were here?"
"I tricked the guard by saying I'd do what Alvin said, but I doubt that's gonna work here, Toothless."
"Any dragons in need of help?" they then heard a little dragon chirp, and Hiccup turned back to see a green Terrible Terror outside the cell.
"Sharpshot! What are you doing here?"
"I saw those humans take you, and decided to follow you here. Sorry it took so long for me to sneak in", Sharpshot replied crawling into the cell to Hiccup and Toothless.
With Sharpshot now here, Hiccup's mind began racing with ideas, the little dragon's help crucial. Looking back at the cot at the back of the cell she saw the white blanket, and looking back at the small dragon climbing onto her, Hiccup was pretty sure she'd just come up with the perfect trick.
With Sharpshot now on her arm, Hiccup went to the cot, took the sheet, and covered the Terror with it looking to Toothless with a smile and a few nods very pleased with herself. Toothless didn't understand where she was going cocking his head to the side in confusion.
"Hey! I happen to know you've got a five of hearts!" Bjorn accused as he and Bjarte played cards in another section of the underground prison.
"What do you mean, 'you know'?"
"I saw it!"
"You mean you cheated!"
"Yeah! I-I mean no."
"Help! Help!" the two Outcasts then heard the heiress call. "Please, help me!"
The two ran down the prison halls to where the Berkian heir's cell was but they didn't see anything in the dark cage except for the girl cowering in fear.
"Yes, your highness?" Bjorn asked.
"What is it?" Bjarte asked.
If anything happened to her, they were Whispering Death bait.
"Oh, please, hurry! I'm far too weak and helpless to defend myself against it!" the girl cried out.
Quickly, Bjarte took out the key and unlocked the cell coming in to see what was the matter, when they found a ghost inside.
"Ah-ha-aha! GHOST!" Bjorn screamed.
000
"Get it! Quick!" Hiccup pleaded further as Sharpshot flew around acting as a ghost.
"You're older, you get it!" the dumber of the two yelled pushing his partner in front.
"You're closer! You get it!" the other one yelled back pushing his partner back in front.
As the two did that, Hiccup and Toothless had slipped by, and then once out, Hiccup whistled. Sharpshot stopped the act and revealed it all to be a trick shaking off the blanket and flying to her landing on her shoulders. The Outcasts turned surprised for a moment, and then ran for her. It only resulted in one being hit hard in the face with a metal plate, and the other to be kicked back when Hiccup spun hitting him in the gut with her surprisingly strong tail. The two were pushed back into the cell and, before the two could get to her again, Toothless fired at the door closing it and momentarily locking the stunned Vikings in.
"Who knew a plate and a blanket could be so useful?" Hiccup chimed before throwing the plate aside. "Well, this was fun boys, but I've got an island to get back to", she then said, and ran off down the halls and out the prison, hopping onto Toothless outside, and taking to the air. Behind her, she could see the Outcasts on the ground, one waving goodbye dumbly before the other smacked him upside the head. Hiccup smirked for a moment before turning forward and setting her sights for Berk.
"Down there, girl", Aric said, seeing Alvin outside where the prisons were. He was knocking on the door furiously. Aric and Shadowstar landed behind one of the many rock formations that inhabited the island and watched as an Outcast fearfully opened the door.
"Ah, Chief! Uh, I assure you, everything is fine. Finefinefinefine, just fine. So, see you soon." The Outcast tried closing the door, but Alvin stopped the door with his hand and shoved it open followed by the Outcast solider.
They went inside, leaving the door open, and Aric followed with stealth as they walked through the prison.
000
Shadowstar stayed behind at the rock formation waiting for her rider. With one call or shout she'd be there at his side; she was ready for anything...
Except for that bola that suddenly wrapped around her knocking her down with a roar of surprise and panic.
"Well, look what we got here", an Outcast said, another coming up behind him, both looking quite proud of themselves.
"There's only one rider that has this kind of dragon", the other said, and Shadowstar knew they were in trouble.
"Aric, please hurry up and get those two out."
000
Hiding behind a wall, Aric peaked around to where Alvin stopped at a green tinted cell.
"How did she escape?!" Alvin asked fiercely.
"Who?"
"Who? The girl, you moron! You had one job! Watch Stoick's girl and make sure she doesn't escape! And what do you do? You let her escape!"
"Ah, no, sir. The girl is here, uh, see?" the Outcast nervously defended directing to the dark cell. "Eh, sleeping! Isn't that right, Hiccup?"
"Uh, yes. I'm… sleeping", another voice trying to imitate a woman sounded.
"Now, Chief, you wouldn't want to wake her up, would you? Wouldn't want her to know you were in on this, right?"
"Oh, I'm sure she'll be very understanding", Alvin said not buying the act. He opened the door to the cell and entered with his torch. Now, Aric could see a large man under a blanket thinking he was fooling anyone.
"Who interrupts my slipper?"
"Slumber, you bonehead", the first Outcast muttered over.
"Slumber! Right. I knew that."
"Get out of there!" Alvin roared taking the sheet away. "I can figure out how the girl escaped you fools! But why didn't she tell Stoick she'd been captured? Hmm… something's odd. If I ever want to rule Berk I'm gonna have to solve this princess puzzle first."
"Rule Berk?" Aric muttered. "I knew it." But what did stopping the wedding have to do with that? He decided to figure it out later. First he had to find Hiccup, who was likely on her way to Berk, and warn Stoick. He backed away about to sneak out, when he backed into someone who then roughly grabbed him.
"Hey, Alvin! Looks like we have a little Berkian snitch with us", the man said pushing Aric into view of the three Outcasts.
"What does cancelling the wedding get you, Alvin?! What are you planning?!" Aric demanded. If he was gonna be caught he'd at least like some answers for when he got to Shadowstar and escaped.
"You're supposed to be the clever detective…" Alvin said menacingly strolling up to him, before Aric felt a hard hit to the back of his head causing him to crumple to the ground and lose consciousness. "…you figure it out."
Hiccup, Sharpshot, and Toothless flew on with Berk in their sights, the cold air of the night chilling Hiccup to the bone. Even with it only being fall, it was still freezing; especially without the sun.
"Come on, bud. We're almost there", she encouraged, but just as they were about to fly onto the island a sentry stopped them.
"Hault! Who goes there?!" he called to them.
"What? It's me! Hiccup!" Hiccup said not understanding why she wasn't allowed passage onto her home. Maybe he just couldn't see her clearly yet. Flying forward, she had Toothless land in front of him. "See? It's just me."
"Ha! Very nice disguise, but you're not fooling anyone. Hiccup Haddock was just seen going home with her father."
"What?! And did this, Hiccup happen to also have a Night Fury?" Hiccup questioned gesturing to Toothless.
He looked to the Night Fury in question, but still didn't falter. "I'm warning ya girl. Either you tell me who you are and state your business, or leave."
"But, Halvor, come on, it's me? I don't know who this impostor is, but I can guarantee you, that they are no Hiccup Haddock."
"State your business or leave, girl, now! Or there will be trouble!" Halvor then threatened pointing his spear at her making Hiccup stumble back. Stunned by what was happening, and not having much of a choice, she mounted on Toothless again and left. She couldn't understand it. Who was this impostor? It didn't make any sense. Her thoughts went to Alva. If she could show them that there could be a look alike amongst them then she could go to her father and expose the impostor. But the only way she could do that was if she had proof; a way to convince the sentries. And Alva was the perfect example.
A few hours later, she finally made it to the Northern Markets and Toothless landed in an area near a tavern. With Sharpshot still astride her shoulders, Hiccup was about to go in search for where Lady Brenna's shop could have been, when the woman herself, unbeknownst to Hiccup, came out of the tavern laughing joyfully. She stopped when she saw Hiccup.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I'm sorry?" Hiccup asked confused as to why this woman who she'd never met would ask her that.
"Not another word", the woman than reprimanded. "You're coming with me!" she then sternly said grabbing onto Hiccup's arm and dragging her along.
They soon arrived to a seamstress' shop, and Hiccup was starting to piece together this may have been Lady Brenna. She was almost happy at her stroke of luck, until she was taken to the back room where the woman scolded Alva's possible co-worker. The young woman was swamped in fabrics, dresses left and right coating the room.
"Not done yet?" Lady Brenna questioned. "Why, if you weren't such a… lazy cow, those dresses would be finished by now."
"How…dare you", Hiccup declared unable to believe she would treat her hard workers like that.
"How dare I—?" the woman turned stunned. "H-H-How dare I?! Just who do you think you are?!"
"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the third, daughter and heir of Chief Stoick the Vast of Berk" she answered fully and firmly. She rarely used her full name and title, but for this she felt it to be necessary. This woman had no right to treat her workers this way, and she wanted to make sure the woman knew who she was talking to. The woman only laughed at her.
"Oh, that's a hoot!" Lady Brenna laughed. "You've got to change a lot more than your hair and scales to look like the daughter of Stoick the Vast. Why me and the heiress are close personal friends."
"Oh, really…"
"Now shut up, and get back to work!" Lady Brenna then barked at her.
"I'm warning you, if you're going to treat your seamstresses this way, I'll make sure everyone knows it. Trust me, you won't be making another sale", Hiccup threatened.
"You're warning me?!" the woman questioned in disbelief. "Well we'll see your attitude change by morning", she said marching passed Hiccup and to the door. "You're not coming out 'till every dress is finished, Alva!" Lady Brenna than slammed the door shut.
"Alva?" Hiccup muttered, before running to the door finding it was locked. She banged on it in frustration. "Ugh, locked in again."
"Alva? That is you, isn't it?" the seamstress behind her asked, and Hiccup replied with a simple shake of her head.
"I was actually hoping to come here and find Alva."
"Why Alva left this morning with a fellow from Berk. She hasn't returned since."
Hiccup thought for a moment, her eyes searching. "What did they look like? Do know the dragon they had? Did you see?"
"I didn't see what the man looked like, but I did see the dragon they went off on. It was some hybrid of some sort."
"It wasn't a cross between a Nadder and a Night Fury, was it?"
"Yes, now that you mention it, it did appear to be."
"Aric. But why? Why not just tell Dagur I was captured? And speaking of which, if what that Outcast said was true, why hadn't someone come to rescue me yet? None of this makes sense!" Hiccup lamented.
"So, now what?" Toothless warbled.
She looked to Sharpshot again. "We send a message to Berk." Finding some parchment and writing a note telling Aric where she was and to come find her, Hiccup attached it to her Terror. "Alright, Sharpshot. It's all up to you now. Take this to Aric. When he reads the note, he'll come here.
"You can count on me!" Sharpshot chirped, and he flew out a small window for Berk.
"Now all we do is wait."