Hey, you guys! I hope you enjoyed the first few chapters and thank you for the lovely reviews! They meant the world to me! Things are going to get a bit interesting towards the end... Enjoy!
Hiccup and Toothless landed easily enough and made their way to the dragon academy where Fishlegs was in the middle of Dragon training.
He smiled and waved," How's everything going, Fishlegs?"
Fishlegs turned around and grinned," Not too bad, I think we're making real progress today!"
He nodded and looked around seeing a good number of people and even some younger children and adolescents as well. He didn't see everyone though and he asked," Where's everyone else?"
"Snotlout went with his Dad," Fishlegs said," He's started his training as future second-in-command."
Hiccup nodded understanding. It seemed like his uncle had the same idea as his dad for him and his cousin, and Fishlegs continued sheepishly," The twins are around here...somewhere..."
Hiccup sighed and ran a hand through his hair," Of course they are..."
Fishlegs tried to be reassuring," I'm sure they'll be back, you know how they are."
"I do, but that doesn't mean that they should be slacking off either," he retorted firmly.
Fishlegs frowned a bit but then remembered something," Your dad came by, and said to tell you to go find him when you got back."
"Chief training?" Hiccup guessed.
Fishlegs nodded," Yeah, I think you're going to be pretty busy from now on."
Hiccup nodded tiredly and then asked," Will you be okay here by yourself?"
Fishlegs waved him off," Of course."
He smiled thankfully and with one last once over of the academy, he was off to find his dad.
Astrid headed home as it grew colder and Sneaky didn't even need to be told to get inside the basket, much to her dismay, and she shook her head wryly and didn't say anything.
Hallberta quickly ushered her in and lead her towards the fireplace," Let's warm you up a bit, lass."
She smiled gratefully," I'm fine, but thank you, Hallberta."
She waved her off and returned into the kitchen and Astrid took this opportunity to hide Sneaky. She took him out and just said," Go."
He was immediately gone and by the time Hallberta returned not even she knew where the little dragon was. Hallberta walked over to her and smiled kindly," Are you going to want to eat with us, dear?"
She nodded immediately and said," Yes, please."
She smiled even wider and wrapped a comforting arm around her," Let's go then."
Astrid entered the kitchen where the rest of the staff greeted her warmly. She sat down next to Hallberta who served her a generous serving of chicken broth. A generous serving she wasn't normally allowed to indulge herself with due to the fact that her future husband would never want her if she were fat. She'd forgotten what it was to have a full serving and the feeling of being full itself that it was almost dizzying.
She tried to ignore the sympathetic looks everyone was giving her and did her best to join in on the conversations. They took the hint and the rest of dinner went by pretty well.
Astrid insisted on helping with the dishes, much to everyone's protests. She didn't care and said," Father isn't going to be away forever, and if you keep spoiling me, I'll have to pay for it later."
Hallberta only patted her cheek," Oh, lass, you shouldn't listen to everything your father says-"
"Why?" Astrid demanded.
"Because you don't need to, dear," she said," You don't need to do exactly as he says to get a husband. Anyone would be crazy not to want to marry you."
"Well then they all must be insane," Astrid deadpanned before she caught herself and she mentally berated herself for her little slip up.
Hallberta didn't seem to notice or chose not to and only said reassuringly," You're young yet, lass, you still have plenty of time to enjoy yourself before you settle down."
"Enjoy myself where?" she demanded thinking of the confining walls around her that separated her from the rest of the world taunting her as she watched from afar on top of the cliff," There isn't anywhere to go. Father only expects one thing from me, and I still manage to screw that up."
They finished the dishes and Hallberta comfortingly lead her upstairs and got her bath ready," You haven't screwed anything up, and even if you had...I'm sure the Master would understand."
She gave her a look," Yeah, right."
Hallberta shrugged and let her bathe in peace and as soon as the door closed Sneaky appeared, obviously proud of himself. He perched on the edge of the bathtub and Astrid sighed having hoped to not deal with any more problems for a while.
Sneaky seemed oblivious to her worry and just stared around the small room. Astrid stared at him and finally said," You're going to have to go back, you know?"
He looked at her blankly and she huffed," You can't stay here, and the minute he comes back you're going with him."
He tilted his head to the side and she side submerging herself in the water and Hallberta came in not long after. Sneaky was already long gone, and was probably hiding somewhere in her room.
Astrid dried her hair and got ready for bed and Hallberta kindly reminded her," Sleep as late as you want, lass. We'll be fine."
Astrid didn't bother to protest already knowing she was too used to waking up early anyways. Sleeping in was now virtually impossible for her, but she would enjoy going outside. As soon as Hallberta left, Sneaky once again appeared out of nowhere and made himself comfortable on Astrid's bed and curled up near her. She would never admit that he was pretty comforting, and that she almost wished she didn't have to send him back.
Hiccup had spent the day shadowing his dad, who was thrilled that he was finally getting a chance to truly show him what being chief was all about. He and Snotlout did their best to get through their respective father's enthusiasm, but to no avail.
He loved Berk, and he loved the people, but he couldn't see himself ever running it himself. Especially not with Snotlout as second in command. It didn't seem real, and he was thankful when it was almost time to go home.
Just as the they were about to go a ship was seen in the distance and they were surprised to see that it was Trader Johann. He looked at his dad questioningly and he nodded and they mounted their dragons and met Johann halfway.
They jumped down and greeted him. He greeted them in return, but he got straight to the point and said," I have some bad news."
"What is it, Johann?" Stoick asked.
"On my recent travels, I ran into some friends of mine," he began," They told me some rather upsetting news that worried me, and I hurried to inform you, Stoick."
"What did they say," Hiccup pressed.
"They said that there are dragon trappers not that far away," he said," They're capturing as many dragons as possible and-"
"That isn't especially concerning," Stoick said frowning," Not everyone has made peace with the dragons. That's normal."
"Yes, but you don't understand, Stoick," he pressed," They are building a dragon army...or at least the guy they're working for..."
"Who is he?" Stoick demanded serious now.
"Drago Bludvist," Johann said terrified.
At the mention of that name Stoick's eyes narrowed and his expression turned grim and he switched into chief mode automatically," Thank you, Johan."
He turned to Hiccup and said gruffly," Come on, son, we have to round all dragons, seal the gates, lower the storm doors, and protect Berk for what's coming."
"But what are you talking about, Dad?" Hiccup exclaimed incredulously," Why? Who is this guy? Why do this just because some guy you know is causing trouble in some far off land?"
"Because this is no ordinary man, Hiccup," he said," He's a madman without conscience or mercy and if he's built a dragon army...God's help us all..."
Hiccup blinked up as his dad mounted Skullcrusher and raced back to the shores of Berk. He didn't know what was wrong, but if it was enough to concern Dad, then he truly feared for whatever was coming next.
He thanked Johann, and was about to mount Toothless when he turned," Do you know where this guy is?"
After giving him simple directions, Hiccup was left with the feeling that he knew where it was, but couldn't quite put his finger on it. He brushed it off and went after his dad, and waved goodbye to Johann.
He and Toothless flew as fast as ever and caught up with Stoick just as he was giving orders to shut the gates and doors. He turned to see his mom just taking everything calmly and equally as grimly and his dad, and he was more lost than ever.
"Dad!" he exclaimed," We can't just take this sitting down and in hiding! If we go after him and try to talk some sense into him, we can-"
"No," he refused," we have to protect our own and fortify the island!"
"But what about the peace?!"
"It's over!" he shot back," It's time to prepare for war..."
"But what about everything we've accomplished in that last couple of years?" he demanded," Was it all for nothing?"
"No, but some people can't be reasoned with," he said," Berk is what you need to worry about."
Hiccup wanted to protest but then looked around at the franticness and chaos and he realized," A chief protects his own..."
Stoick nodded firmly," Exactly."
And he was off leaving Hiccup to be swept away in the caos wondering just what was going to happen next.
Astrid had spent the entire week trying and failing to help the staff. She woke up to find Sneaky still curled up into her side and she petted him absent mindedly. She got up, and got dressed as usual. He woke up not long after and she made her way downstairs leaving him to his own devices.
Once downstairs, she found that her breakfast was already out for her. She sat down by herself and ate her food, and wondered what she would be doing today. Hallberta, obviously didn't want her doing any real work, but she didn't like the feeling of being idle. She enjoyed being productive as much as exploring but she just wished there was another way.
Housework was not the ideal choice, but it was all she had, and all she knew. What else was there? Sneaky curled around by her legs and she almost jumped in surprise. She gave him a look, which he ignored, and then she sighed. She picked up her dishes, and made her way towards the kitchen. She washed them and then was about to do something when a note caught her eye.
It read:
Don't you dare try anything, lass. You are to go outside and enjoy yourself! You will continue to do so until your father returns, and none of us will accept anything less...
Have fun!
- Hallberta
She rolled her eyes, but smiled warmly. Hallberta truly did care about her, and she knew better than to argue with her this early in the morning. She also knew even better to not argue after an entire week of doing so already. She knew how to pick her battles, and this was not worth it.
So she picked up Sneaky, and raced outside. She had just made it to the cliff when a familiar figure approached her and this time she wasn't surprised.
...
Hiccup emerged out of the bushes and approached Astrid calmly, and she faced him with no fear evident anymore. He took this as a good sign and was about to speak when she beat him to it and pointed to the Terrible Terror," Take him with you."
He cocked his head in confusion," Um, what?"
She sighed tiredly," He's nice and everything, but he's much more trouble than he's worth. I can't keep him here."
"He's not going anywhere," he said shaking his head," I sent him here to help you-"
"I don't need your help," she retorted surprisingly fiercely.
"Maybe you don't think so right now," he amended," but you have no idea what's going on right now. You could be in serious danger, and I would feel better knowing I at least did this."
"Why would I be in danger?" she asked confused.
He hesitated before turning completely serious, " Before that can you tell me who is in charge of this place?"
She hesitated and stood her ground," Why?"
"Because," he said," my village received some rather pressing news and I need to know if it's true or not."
"What news would that be?"
It involves the dragons and an upcoming war," he said bluntly.
Her eyes widened in surprise shock and she stepped back a little," But what would that have to do with who's in charge here?"
Nothing," he said," if that person isn't responsible for anything."
She glared at him stubbornly," We have nothing to do with this!"
"I'm not saying you are," he answered calmly trying to make himself as harmless as possible," It's just that the person who gave us the information gave me directions and I ended up here."
She stayed silent and he continued," If you could just tell me the name of who's in charge then I'll be on my way."
She frowned but then asked," Who are you looking for then?"
"A guy by the name Drago Bludvist," he said.
She took a frightened step back and shook her head slightly disbelieving. he was worried she was going to pass out and reached forward to steady her," Hey, what's wrong? What did I say?"
She shook her head slightly and took a shaky breath before whispering," He's my father..."
Hiccups eyes widened and he stared at her praying to the gods above that he hadn't heard her correctly.
Uh oh...things are getting interesting, huh?;)