"Heave! Heave!" several men yelled while 'heaving' on a particularly large rope as Captain Scott talked with the Riders.

"Ye seem to be lookin like the old Vestenmennavenjar, though even those rascals have had powder for a hundred years now!" said Scott.

"The who's-a-what-a?" asked Heather

"The Vesten-men-naven-jar" said Scott, enunciating the word "This be north of even their lands however."

"So" asked Hiccup, changing the topic "Where are you from? And what do you do?"

"Well" said Scott "First question first, I'm from the Glamour Isles, the Highland Marches to be more precise. Me and the crew of the Grace are what you might call 'Free Traders'"

"Pirates" coughed a nearby crewman

A few awkward moments passed until Scott growled "Phil!" beneath his breath and the sailor beat a hasty retreat.

"Well" said Captain Scott "Uh, you all don't seem too alarmed to be on a pirate ship?"

"Not really" said Hiccup "People think our people are as good as pirates most times and we've kinda gotten used to it."

"Well, then" said Scott "Pirates, free traders, call us what ya like!"

A momentary pause came before another sailor, female and clad in a revealing blouse and layered skirt, yet armed to the teeth. Came running up to Scott and said "We're on approach to an island Capt'n!"

"Thank you Abigale." Scott said, then turned back to the Dragon Riders, quickly turning back to the retreating woman and yelling "Abigale!"

The woman was instantly back in-front of them "Yes Capt'n!"

"At ease." Said Captain Scott, the woman visibly relaxing "Dragon Riders, this be Abigale Douglas of Carleon, me fine First Mistress (Female First Mate), also me wife."

The woman nodded and shook hands with the Dragon Riders saying "Pleasure to meet ya all." then turned to Captain Scott and said "Want me to call over the other officers, Capt'n?"

"Why, fine idea love!" exclaimed Scott and Abigale was soon collecting various well dressed men and another woman from around the ship, as Captain Scott said they would all meet in his Cabin.

The Dragon Riders entered a sumptuously adorned cabin at the rear of the ship, where there was a small door to a privy, a small door to a sleeping cubby, and a massive table taking up half the room, with huge glass windows framing the back of the room.

As soon as the riders came through one door, another door on the opposite end of the wall swung open and several people strutted in.

"Ah, me fine mates!" said Scott as the last officer to walk in closed the door.

One of the ship's officers, a large man wearing a dark blue coat and three-cornered hat, said "Captain, have we picked up some passengers? Or are they new recruits?"

"Neither, and both" said Scott before adding, addressing the Dragon Riders "This be James 'Earl' Jones, me navigator from Grinolet, in Avalon."

"Then we have Father Diego Andrea Roi de la Campeche" Scott paused to breathe while the man, dressed in all red with gold edging, and with an upside down Thor's hammer-like object dangling from his neck, pressed his palms together and bowed.

"We also have Adrian Friedrich Damaske, me Master-at-Arms from Wische, in ol' Eisen" The man looked a bit standoffish and dressed all in black. He gave the riders a curt nod.

"Mr. Ambroise de Toille, Ex-Musketeer from Montaigne, he be me Quartermaster." Referencing a man dressed in an almost sickeningly fancy coat and enormous blue hat.

"And finally Mrs. Angelina Gallili, from the country of Vodacce." The woman addressed wore a white shirt and tight black leather vest, her thin sword swinging at her hip.

Each seemed as polite as the next to meet the Dragon Riders, they all shook hands, laughed when Astrid kicked Snotlout for trying to show off his muscles, and seemed genuinely interested in the Dragons… except Adrian, who seemed a little afraid and angry at the "Drachen".

Before Hiccup could attempt to allay Adrian's fear and anger, a sailor came in and said "Cuse' me, me'lords and 'ladies but we be approchin land, and the ship headed towards us don't exactly look friendly."

All Hiccup did was to slap a hand to his face and whisper "Dad…"

Everyone got out onto the deck, where Stoick could be seen, with customary scowl, just pulling up alongside the ship.

"Who are ye!" yelled Stoick "And why are ya'll in Berkian waters!"

Just before Scott shouted back Hiccup yelled "Dad!"

"Hiccup!?" shouted Stoick, then resuming a furious demeanor shouting "Did you kidnap my son!"

Again preempting Scott, Hiccup shouted back "No, Dad! We're on here willingly! They just want to dock, then we'll all talk."

Stoick's fury drained away, he yelled back "Well alright! We'll lead you into the harbor."

Scott nodded, and Hiccup relayed that that was fine.

As Stoick's longship pulled out in front Scott said "You all seem like fine people, if you ever are seekin adventure, you got a spot here in me crew! Oh… by the way!"

Scott pulled something out of his coat, wrapped in paper.

"Me men found this on the other ship, with a note sayin keep away the Dragon Riders, believe it to be yours."

Hiccup received the item and unwrapped it to reveal… "The Dragon Eye! Thank's!"

Not focusing on the Dragon eye however, Astrid said "Excuse us." And pulled the other Riders into a huddle.

"What's up Astrid?" whispered Hiccup

"Are any of you thinking what I'm thinking?" she said

"No, not really… unless it's chicken based" said Tuffnut

Astrid sighed and said "I'm thinking we don't go back to Dragon's Edge, that we join Captain Scott's crew for a time, we'd have an adventure now that Viggo's toast."

Fishlegs gasped, Hiccup however seemed to be considering it and said "Why don't we talk to the Captain about how long we could join for before coming back."

"Captain Scott!" shouted Hiccup, breaking the huddle

"Aye, laddie!" said Scott

"If we decided to join your crew and see the world, how long before we could come home?" asked Hiccup

Captain Scott looked to be in thought for several seconds till he said "Bout' a year or two, then we could go too far places an back, wouldn't probably be longer than twenty- five months".

That seemed to be an acceptable length of time, and after nods from all of the other Riders Hiccup said "Well if my dad agrees, then we'll take you up on your offer!"

"Wonderful!" said Scott jubilantly

Will Stoick agree, however?