Astrid's POV
A flock of birds passes the large bay windows of the Dragons Edge tower that I'm currently staring through. The city of Berk could be seen till the horizon. It's cold gray skyscrapers littering the skyline.
Today was my first day on the job, and I would be the new leader of a superhero group, which keeps this city safe from the clutches of evil. Their previous leader Razor retired, wanting a peaceful civilian life.
The tower was their home base, providing all a superhero's needs. State of the art training rooms, the most sophisticated communications technology, and the best security system ever created are a few of the features this tower boasts. From this moment forward it would also be my new home.
My name is Astrid Hofferson, bonded to the Deadly Nadder Stormfly. My superhero alias is Lady Lancer. Newly appointed leader of the Riders, and combat specialist.
The team I would be leading consisted of four other teens. A big nerdy boy named Fishlegs Ingerman, who was bonded with a Gronckle named Meatlug. He was mostly our communications, and computer specialist so he did little field work. His superhero alias was The Crusher.
Next there were the twins Ruffnut, and Tuffnut Thornston, also known as Trick and Treat. They were bonded with a Hideous Zippleback named Barf and Belch, and they were the explosions, and weapons experts in the group.
Last but not least was my second in command Snotlout Jorgenson, self proclaimed ladies man, and the muscle of the team. His bonded dragon was a Monstrous Nightmare named Hookfang, and his alias was Fire-gnat. I honestly laughed so hard when I heard that.
We work under Mayor Haddock, together with the police to keep the city safe.
Suddenly the alarms began blearing, and I make my way towards the central hub.
"What have we got?" I ask Fishlegs who was pulling up various video feeds.
"It looks like intense lightning activity downtown." Fishlegs answers causing the others to groan in frustration.
"Him again." Snotlout grumbles.
I give Snotlout a questioning look, and he begins to elaborate. "It's just The Deranged Spark. Nothing to worry about." Snotlout says with exasperation.
"The Deranged Spark is a Strike class villain. How is that not something to worry about." I look at Snotlout with astonishment. Those bonded to Strike class dragons are considered the most powerful. A criminal being bonded to a Strike class dragon makes him all the more dangerous.
"It's the second, no third time this week the guy has shown up. All he wants to do is impress his idol." Ruffnut remarks offhandedly.
"His idol?" I question.
"The Phantom. Berk's most elusive villain. He has the strongest dragon ever seen, and plays by his own set of rules." Ruffnut elaborates. "Deranged, and every other villain or small time crook idolizes him."
"Hold on guys, I'm getting a news feed." Fishlegs says as he puts it on the monitor.
"This is Eret Eretson reporting live from downtown Berk, as thunder, and lightning have manifested out of nowhere. From behind me you see that The Deranged Spark has once again appeared. As we zoom in, we can see his hostage tied to a wooden pole on a building roof."
Upon hearing this the other teens in the room let out groans of annoyance.
"He's got a hostage now. How can this not be serious." I ground out.
"Relax Astrid. I highly doubt that that particular hostage needs any help from us." Tuffnut remarks not taking his eyes away from the screen.
"I can't believe you guys. There is a civilian in need." I yell, and rush out of the room, while calling for Stormfly to lend me her powers.
Transformed into a humanoid draconian version of myself I take off from the roof of the tower heading straight for downtown Berk.
It takes less than two minutes flying at high speed to reach my destination. As the villain comes into view I shoot a spike at him to get his attention.
"The Deranged Spark I presume." I say while hovering in the air.
"Oh my, you must be the famous Lady Lancer." Deranged says happily catching me off guard. "So nice to meet a new super."
"Eh, okay." I say a little hesitant. "Stop whatever scheme your plotting, and let the hostage go." I tell him.
"Now now don't be a spoilsport." He tuts at me. "I'm sure with my latest scheme I will surely get Phantom's attention."
"Why would you want his attention?" I ask.
"What self respecting villain wouldn't want his attention!" Deranged exclaims. "He's the villain of villains, a genius, and he has the strongest, and deadliest bonded dragon ever. The offspring of lightning and death itself." Deranged continues to rant, electricity sparking from his hands.
"Besides it's not like you can do anything. I'm the one who holds all the cards. I have the hostage." Deranged says, and gestures to the roof of the building.
I look, and see the wooden pole. The ropes that held the hostage lay on the roof, cut to pieces. I lift my eyebrow, and ask Deranged "What hostage?"
The villain looks back, and upon seeing no hostage groans out in annoyance. "Not again." He mumbles, and flies around the building. I follow behind, not wanting to lose the villain from sight.
On the side of the building on the fire escape I spot a lone figure climbing down. A transparent green Terror was curled around his neck. Deranged flies closer to the man, and I ready a spike in order to defend the civilian.
But Deranged surprises me when he lets out an annoyed groan, and asks "Seriously Hiccup, can't you be a good hostage for once, and stay put?"
"I have better things to do." Hiccup replies. "Like apologize to the lady who I apparently stood up due to you kidnapping me."
"Oh come one. You're the 'damsel' in distress. You escaping without the help of the hero is against the hostage/villain code of conduct. You didn't even give a shriek of terror!" Deranged says while huffing.
Hiccup who had stopped on one of the fire escape platforms pinches his brows in exasperation. "Listen here Sparky." He says completely unafraid of the villain. "This is the third time this week that I've been kidnapped by you. First was during a blind date my friend set up, then it was during a picnic date, and now you snatch me before I could even meet the girl. You are the freaking reason I'm still single!" He now shouts at the villain who hovers back a step.
"Hiccup, listen I know you're upset." Deranged begins, but Hiccup cuts him off.
"Upset doesn't begin to describe it Sparky." Hiccup grounds out.
"Look, I'll treat you to dinner, if you can be a good hostage." Deranged pleads.
"So basically you'd take me out to dinner if I play the damsel in distress so that Lady Lancer over there can save me, while you try to impress your crush with a spectacular battle?" Hiccup asks dryly. "Do you even know how weird this conversation has gotten! I'm going home to try to salvage my love life." Hiccup says, and descents the last pair of stairs.
Deranged turns to me now. "Look could we reschedule?" He asks. "I got a stubborn hostage to convince."
I nod numbly not really comprehending what exactly happened tonight. "Hey!" Deranged yelled from a few feet away catching my attention. "Do you think chocolates would work?" He asks. I simply raise an eyebrow, and shrug. 'Yup, most definitely the weirdest villain encounter ever.' I think to myself.
Once I'm back in the tower I head towards the common room. Stormfly was happily walking besides me. As I enter I saw the others relaxing on the couches. "I see you met Hiccup." Ruffnut says, and pops a strawberry in her mouth.
"Yes." I say carefully. Suddenly the occupants of the room burst out in laughter. "I told you that that particular hostage didn't need any help." Tuffnut says between fits of laughter.
"My cousin was probably his usual sarcastic self." Snotlout mumbles.
"Wait, Hiccup is your cousin?" I ask.
"Well yeah he's uncle Stoick's son, but he cut all ties with the family five years ago." Snotlout elaborates. "For whatever reason he's Deranged's favorite hostage, but he never needs a super to escape."
"I think Deranged thought that if he kidnapped the mayor's son that his idol would notice him. Guess he didn't count on a sarcastic smartass who wasn't afraid of him." Ruffnut laughs.
"He also probably hasn't figured out that Phantom won't pay him any attention when he has a hostage." Fishlegs tells me.
"How come?" I ask, becoming intrigued.
"Phantom has his own moral code. His plans are weird, but they get the job done, he's a brilliant strategist, and he never takes hostages. In fact he is pretty much against it. Especially when women, and children are involved." Fishlegs explains. "We have absolutely no information on his identity. You'd think that someone who has a Night Fury as a bonded dragon would be easy to find, it's the only Night Fury recorded in the last 300 years, but not even a paper trail. We've only ever caught the dragon on camera in its bonded state."
"Hmmm." I mumble out loud, catching the attention of the others.
"What are you thinking Astrid?" Ruffnut asks from her beanbag chair.
"Our dragons chose us for a reason. Strike class dragons are even more critical in their choosing." I say getting nods from the others. "I wonder what that dragon saw in Phantom to choose him."
