Kara raised the bolt on the Monstrous Nightmare's pen.
"If you're planning on getting eaten, I'd definitely go with the Gronckle." Fishlegs said. Hiccup turned to see his fellow recruits, watching him with folded arms. Tuffnut stepped forward with a scowl.
"You were wise to seek help from the world's most deadly weapon." Tuffnut said proudly. He looked to the others. "It's me."
"You wish." Kara said, smirking devilishly. They were surprised at the sight of her razor sharp teeth. Why hadn't they noticed before?
"I love this plan." Snotlout said.
"I didn't..." Hiccup trailed off.
"You're crazy." She smirked, sultry. "I like that."
Kara grabbed her forehead and pushed her back.
"So? What is the plan?" Kara asked, grabbing his hand supportively. Hiccup smiles, glowing in the support of his friends.
Hiccup stepped back from the door, drawing the Monstrous Nightmare out of its cave. It snorted, stepping into the ring, calmed by Hiccup's outstretched hand - focused on him. The teens were bewildered, awed. Snotlout nervously reached for a spear laying near his foot. Kara stopped him.
"Uh-uh." Kara said, kicking it far from his reach. Hiccup slowed to a stop in front of the teens, with the Nightmare inches from his outstretched hand. He reached over and grabbed Snotlout's trembling hand.
"Wait! What are you..."
"Relax. It's okay... it's okay." Hiccup replaced his outstretched hand with Snotlout's, putting him in control of the massive beast. The Nightmare snorted, but remained calm. Snotlout, by contrast, chuckled nervously - it was at once terrifying and amazing. The others watched, spellbound. Hiccup turned and walked away.
"Where are you going?!" Snotlout yelled. Hiccup pulled a bundle of rope from a supply box.
"You're going to need something to help you hold on." The teens eyed each other apprehensively, and looked up to reveal... All the dragons standing in the ring, facing the teens expectantly.
"Hey, what about you and Kara?" Astrid asked. "Toothless isn't here so..."
"Don't worry about it, I've got it covered." Kara said. Hiccup looked to her, shocked.
"Are you really going to?" He asked. She grinned.
"They would've found out eventually." She said. She backed away from the others and closed her eyes. Her tattoo's began to glow and detached, swirling around her. When the light cleared, Kara roared, a mighty Banshee once more. Hiccup grinned and mounted, holding onto her neck tightly. The others stared, shocked.
"Yeah, my girlfriends a dragon. Let's go!"
Hiccup saw the gargantuan dragon firing up to blast his father, and frowned.
"Kara, I wish you could talk right now." He said. She purred in response, trying to comfort him.
The Red Death remained focused on Stoick - this is it. It reared back and inhaled. Gas began to amass, when... BAM! A blast exploded against the back of The Red Death's head. It turned distracted, as... a Nadder and a Banshee punched through the flames, banking across the sky. Followed by a Monstrous Nightmare, a Zippleback, and a Gronckle. They rolled in unison, revealing the recruits riding on their backs. Hiccup led on Kara, with Astrid following close behind. Gobber and Stoick watched, slack-jawed, in awe.
"Ruff, Tuff, watch your backs! Move Fishlegs!" The monster shook off the blast and snapped in their wake. Hiccup directed his squadron out of harm's way. They climbed out of reach and circled each other.
"Look at us, we're on a dragon! We're on dragons, all of us!" Tuff laughed.
"Up, let's move it!" Hiccup ordered. The dragons climbed past the Red Death. Hiccup slid off Kara's back and onto Astrid's Nadder. On the ground, Gobber hobbled over to Stoick.
"Every bit the boar-headed, stubborn Viking you ever were." Stoick was speechless. "Wait, is that a Banshee?"
In the air, the group circled over the dragon's head.
"Fishlegs, break it down." Hiccup said.
"Okay. Heavily armored skull and tail made for bashing and crushing. Steer clear of both. Small eyes, large nostrils. Relies on hearing and smell." Fishlegs reported.
"Okay. Lout, Legs, hang in its blind spot. Make some noise, keep it confused. Kara, help out with your screams. Ruff, Tuff, find out if it has a shot limit. Make it mad." Hiccup said.
"That's my specialty."
"Since when? Everyone knows I'm more irritating. See." He began making irritating sounds. Kara snorted.
"Just do what I told you. I'll be back as soon as I can." Hiccup said.
"Don't worry, we got it covered!"
"Yeah!" Hiccup and Astrid peeled away. The teens banked and dove toward the monster, splitting up. The Twins raced alongside the monster's head, taunting it.
"Troll!" Tuff sneered.
"Butt Elf!" Ruff yelled.
"Bride of Grendel!" The Red Death unloaded a spray of fire at the twins. They barely dodged it. Fishlegs and Snotlout hung behind its eyes, banging away at their shields, making a racket. The Red Death opened all six of its eyes, spotting them.
"Uh, this thing doesn't have a blind spot." Fishlegs said nervously. Kara landed on its head and began glowing. But she only transformed halfway. She was covered head to toe in scales. Her skin underneath was black. She tied her hair back and stretched her wings.
"Then make one." She said.
Hiccup and Astrid were searching for Toothless. Hiccup spotted him among the burning ships.
"There!" He steered the Nadder over the deck and handed Astrid the reins. He lined up his jump... and hopped off, guarding his face from the flames. He landed on the burning deck. "Go help the others!"
She and the Nadder took off. Hiccup fought his way to Toothless. He unbuckled the muzzle. Toothless shrieked.
"Okay, hold on. Hold on." He went to work on the chains.
Kara hovered over the massive dragons head, shouting to Snotlout and Fishlegs.
"Make some noise!" She called. They clanged their weapons against their shields, making the monster wince.
"It's working." The huge beast starts to sway its head dizzily.
"Yeah! It's working. The noise was also confusing the Gronckle and the Monstrous Nightmare. Both dragons lost their bearings. The Red Death thrashed, knocking Snotlout off of his dragon and onto the monster's gigantic head. Snotlout bounced across the top and came to a stop just shy of the hundred foot drop.
"Agghh!" He yelled. Kara grabbed him and pulled him onto its head. Fishlegs' Gronckle went down in a spin of confusion.
"I've lost power on the Gronckle. Snotlout! Kara! Do something!" Fishlegs shouted. He hurled Snotlout his hammer. The Gronkle crashed and skidded to a stop...
"Ouch." Kara remarked, cringing at the sight.
"I'm okay!" ... then flipped over, crushing Fishlegs. "Less okay."
Snotlout eyed the Red Death's gigantic, veiny eyes. He raised the hammer...
"I can't miss!" He said... and hammered the monster's eyes, playing whack-a-mole. Kara began laughing. "What's wrong buddy, got something in your eye?"
Astrid flew by on her Nadder, catching Snotlout in all his heroics.
"Yeah! You're the Viking!" Snotlout grinned, finally vindicated in her eyes. In his distraction, he was thrown and landed heavily on one of the Red Death's spines - clinging precariously. A close call.
"Whoa!" He yelped. Kara helped him back up. Kara then clapped her hands over his ears and screamed. The Red Death blinked rapidly, shaking its head. Kara held Snotlout so he wouldn't fly off.