Chapter Sixteen

A/N: So I was watching some re-runs of Defenders of Berk...saw Dagur in one of them...then got irrationally mad at him because of this fanfic! XD Then again, I'm pretty bad at mixing up canon with fanfics...I don't know why. LOL!

Also, we're nearing the climax! So buckle yourselves in and hold on tight! (While keeping all hands and feet inside the car at all times, thank you.) XD

A cold ocean mist hisses across the desk of Stoick's ship. It's already early morning but the sky is still nearly pitch black from the storm clouds that are still brewing overhead. Thunder rumbles in the distance. A fitting backdrop, Stoick muses as they grow closer to the Berserker ships. There are three of them in total. Not exactly an armed fleet... Stoick wonders what Dagur is up to this time, approaching him with so few men.

As if to answer his silent question, Dagur himself strolls to the bow of the ship. He has a blood stained bandage around his head, as well as a few scratches on his face from where he fell after Astrid hit him. He offers Stoick a polite smile.

But, obviously, Stoick is not in the mood for pleasantries. "Dagur!" He barks. "I oughta' cut you down right here and now for hurting my son!"

"Oh man!" The Berserker's chief lets out a childish groan and plants his hands on his hips. "Hiccup's still alive?! Gods! Doesn't that brat ever die?!" He shakes his head and turns to his men, saying something in a quiet voice. One that Stoick can't hear. Immediately, the other Berserkers disappear below deck. Only then does Dagur turn back to Stoick. "And here I thought you'd come here to avenge his death."

"He's tougher than he looks." Stoick assures him.

"That's not saying a lot." Dagur retorts, smirking.

Berk's leader shakes his head at the other man's humorous attitude. As if this all just a joke. A game. "What are you after, Dagur?" He demands. "You can't win! Not after we retrieved the Book of Dragons!"

"Hmph." Dagur rolls his eyes. "I came here to tell you that I change my mind."

"Excuse me?"

"I don't want to fight you, Stoick. You're absolutely right. I know we're no match for your dragons." Dagur is still grinning though, a knowing twinkle in his malachite-colored eyes. "There's only one thing I still want from Berk."

"And that is...?" Stoick asks, suspiciously.

"Oh, don't worry." Dagur snickers as he folds his arms behind himself. "My men are already on their way to retrieve it..."

What...? Then it hits him. All the color drains from Stoick's face when he realizes what he means by that. His men are already heading to Berk...and he's all the way out here, miles into the ocean. The island is more or less defenseless, save the twenty or so men he left behind. No...this was all a trap... Stoick whips around, jabbing a hurried finger to the captain. "Turn around! We need to get home! NOW!"

"Uh, yes Sir!"

When Stoick turns back to Dagur, the Berserker's chief is smiling at him. As if he's a helpless fly caught in a spider's web. "I'll kill you yet, Dagur...!" Stoick growls as they pull away. But first I have to go save my son!

CRASH!

"Huh, wha...?!" Astrid sputters as she snaps awake. She hadn't even realized she was so tired until she dozed off. Apparently, watching your best friend almost die is pretty taxing stuff... Go figure. But, in all seriousness, what was that sound...? She sits up and turns around, gazing sleepily around the room.

Toothless is awake now, too. He had fallen asleep long before her and is now staring down the steps, a dangerous look on his face. He doesn't growl just yet...but he looks suspicious, nonetheless.

Seeing his uneasiness, Astrid stands up. "What the matter, boy?" She asks him. "Is someone here?" Her first thought is that Gobber has come over to check on Hiccup...but Toothless knows Gobber's scent. He wouldn't be so worked up if it were just the friendly blacksmith.

The Night Fury lowers into a threatening stance and snarls, quietly. But instead of going toward the door, he backs up. Fanning open his wings, he spreads them over Hiccup's body, creating a living shield of sorts.

Astrid can hear the high-pitched humming in the dragon's throat as he prepares his plasma blast, coupled with the neon purple glow that shines from his mouth. This time, Toothless isn't messing around. If someone comes through that door, he's going to shoot them.

"Toothless, relax." She tells him, even though she's also feeling on edge. "It's probably nothing." With a quick motion of her hand, she tells him to stay with Hiccup while she goes and checks it out... Keeping her footsteps quiet, she sneaks down the stairs and to the front door. She hears nothing when she presses her ear to the door.

Astrid glances around the room for a weapon to take with her. Then she remembers who's house she's in. Stoick is pretty good at keeping axes and swords of every possible shape and size practically mounted on the wall. She grabs the first one she sees and goes back to the door, quietly easing it open.

She takes a step outside and-

CRASH!

Astrid nearly screams as the Gronckle buzzes by, clumsily slamming into a tree a few feet from the Haddock house. She drops her tense shoulders and stares at, bewildered and also feeling a little silly. It was just a Gronckle... She groans and shakes her head. I should have known...

Spinning around, she laughs at herself before reaching out to open the door.

Wait...

Open it? Her hand freezes as a chill rolls up her spine. Wait just a second... She is sure she left it open... How did it close? As her heart begins to thrum a little faster, she grabs the handle and pulls. The sick feeling from before returns when the door only jolts a little in its spot. It doesn't open...

Jerking at it again, it still doesn't open. The door is locked...

"Oh gods..." Astrid lifts her foot, kicking it as hard as she can. It barely budges. "HICCUP!" She screams. "HICCUP, WAKE UP!"

As soon as Toothless hears Astrid go outside, he gets a very bad feeling. That ominous chill in the air only grows once he hears the crash again and then the door closes. He hears the lock clicking into place...and then footsteps. Two pairs of them. He tenses as the footsteps grow closer, reaching the bottom of the staircase.

"Toothless...?" An unfamiliar voice asks. "Are you here, buddy?"

He growls in response, slightly disturbed hearing the unknown intruder using his name, as well as his nickname.

"Don't worry." He continues. "We're not gonna hurt you..."

But, obviously, Toothless isn't buying it. His protective instincts kick into over drive and he backs up, closer to Hiccup. He hisses, furiously. Warning them not to come any closer. Vaguely, he wonders where Astrid went and why she isn't here, helping him to keep Hiccup safe. But, instantly, his thoughts are tugged back into focus when something suddenly flies up the staircase.

Toothless roars at the unknown objects and immediately lets loose a plasma blast. The tiny packet lands, harmlessly to the floor. Its charred remains smoldering and smoking a little.

He hesitates. What was that?

"HICCUP!" Astrid screams from outside. "HICCUP WAKE UP!"

It's while Toothless is distracted by his friend's desperate cries, that the smoke from the packet hits him. He sniffs, sensing the familiar odor. Huh, funny...it smells just like. His eyes grow wide for a moment. Dragon nip...? Toothless's mind clouds over as he sinks to the floor. So much dragon nip...it actually makes him feel weak and dizzy, as if he's been drugged. Which, in a way, with his super-sensative nose, he has been. Stars flash in his vision as the world goes dark...