A/N: So next chapter. Kind of struggled a bit with the scene of Valka controlling the dragons. No matter how much I tried I couldn't get it the way I was hoping. It was like my mind went blank. Hopefully you'll all enjoy it though. And don't forget to review.

Chapter 8

When Hiccup reached the docks he found the place in chaos, with dragons flying and rushing around everywhere and a few of the newly repaired boats on fire. Snotlout was standing on the wooden walk way, soaking wet and looking a little charred, while the twins stood laughing a few feet away. "What exactly happened?" Hiccup asked.

"It seemed that a few Terrible Terrors were playing around and a few of the other dragons started to join in and somehow everything went up in flames," Spitelout answered.

"And what happened to Snotlout?"

"Do you really want to know?"

"Now that you've said that I'm not sure I do. Just please tell me someone is or was organizing buckets to put this out."

"Snotlout was. Then he ended up hanging from a mast, caught on fire when Hookfang got him down and ended up in the ocean."

Hiccup face palmed, then took a breath, ready to start giving orders. "Right, I'll start getting buckets together to put this fire out," he said. "Find my mom because I'm going to need some help getting these dragons under control."

"What about Toothless? He's the Alpha, can't he help keep them under control?" Spitelout asked.

"He's still with the eggs. And the new baby. I can't get him to move. So I'm going to need as much help as I can get."

Spitelout rushed off to find Valka, while Hiccup rushed down the walk way to start getting everyone organized. As soon as they saw him, the twins stopped laughing. "Don't ask," Snotlout said.

"You're dad already told me," Hiccup said.

"It was Belch and Barf's fault."

"They were only trying to help," Tuffnut shot back.

"I really don't care who's fault it is," Hiccup said. "Just get some buckets and get this fire put out before we lose any more ships."

"Yes Chief," Snotlout and the twins said before they mounted their dragons and flew off to refill the buckets they already had. Eret landed on the walk way on Skullcrusher, and jumped down while Hiccup continued to give orders, getting both villagers and dragons away from the flames and organizing buckets of water. When Hiccup saw him he rushed over.

"Eret, how good are you at rounding up dragons? And I mean nicely," Hiccup said.

"Completely rubbish to be honest," Eret replied. "Being nice to dragons wasn't really on top of my list of priorities during my trapper days."

"Not exactly what I wanted to hear. I need as much help as I can get getting these dragons under control while Toothless is out of action."

"Well I'll do what I can."

Valka came flying overhead on Cloudjumper, her staff in hand and already rounding the dragons up as she flew round with the speed and grace that managed to always amaze the two Viking men who were watching underneath. "Eret get me up there," Hiccup said unclipping Inferno from his belt and turned the flame sword on. Eret climbed back onto Skullcrusher and held out a hand to help Hiccup on. They flew up into the air and took the other side as they gathered the dragons together. "Mom, lead them to the academy," Hiccup ordered. "They should be safe there for the moment."

Below the other dragon riders-Fishlegs now having joined them on Meatlug-flew overhead with buckets to dump water on the fire, while other villagers were on the ground with buckets. The place looked a calmer now the dragons were rushing around causing more havoc. Valka lead the way to the Dragon Academy, while Eret and Hiccup brought up the rear. Once all the dragons were settled into the academy and calm, Hiccup turned Inferno off and ordered Eret to take him back to the docks. Valka went with them and when they landed much of the fire had died down. "How much damage?" Hiccup asked as Fishlegs, Snotlout and the twins joined them on the walk way and everyone had dismounted their dragons.

"Lost about half of the ships," Snotlout replied. "Two by sinking."

"How'd this happen anyway?" Fishlegs asked.

"Because the Alpha is too busy with his new babies to keep the rest of the dragons under control."

"It was an accident," Hiccup said. "It's not like Toothless can be everywhere at once anyway."

"We need an acting Alpha."

"You can't have an acting Alpha," Ruffnut said. "Can you?"

"Looks like they might need someone to keep them under control for some of the time," Valka said.

"Well I vote for Valka and Cloudjumper," Eret said.

"That's not a bad idea," Hiccup said. "The dragons listen to them already."

"Well it won't be for long," Valka said. The other dragon riders agreed to have Valka and Cloudjumper take charge of the dragons for a while and with the decision made, Valka flew off on Cloudjumper to deal with the dragons in the academy. Hiccup started to give orders to deal with the sunken boats and the repairs to the others, wanting it sorted before the sun fully went down so he could get back to Astrid and the dragon eggs.

It was already dark by the time Hiccup got back to Astrid's house to see her standing outside the stables. "You were a long time," she said. "What happened?"

"Some dragons accidently set some of the ships on fire," Hiccup answered. "Sunk two. So tomorrow it's back to repairing ships. How's the baby dragon?"

"Still not standing. And I'm getting a little worried about Stormfly and Toothless not wanting to leave. Think tomorrow we really will need to persuade them to take some time away for a flight."

"Yeah. Really could have done with Toothless down at the docks earlier. If mom hadn't been there to help round the dragons up it would've been a lot harder to get things under control."

"It won't be for much longer."

"I know." Hiccup looked into the stables, to see Toothless helping to feed the baby, while Stormfly slept. "Listen, can I stay tonight?" he asked looking back at Astrid. "In case anything happens with the baby."

"Of course," Astrid answered. "Come on, I've already made you dinner. Hopefully it's edible. And hasn't gone cold." Hiccup took Astrid's hand and led her back to the house, hoping there wasn't going to be any more problems that would take him away from the woman he loved for a second time that evening.