"And then I will enter Viggo's tent. Toothless will disarm him from any weapon. I will run over to the table and grab hold of the Dragon Eye, saying to Viggo: 'I'll take that.'" Hiccup told everyone. Right now Hiccup had gathered all the Dragon Riders, The A Team and the Berserkers (Heather and Dagur) to the Great Hall on Berk to go through the plan of getting the Dragon Eye.
"Wait, 'I'll take that'? Seriously that's the best you could come up with?" Tuffnut asked. "This is your moment, H. Books will be written about it, children will act it out. Some adults will act it out but it wont be as cute as the children. You need a killer catchphrase. One line that will withstand the test of time. As the sands and the oceans pass, your words will remain. I mean you just defeated one of the toughest, most ruthless villains in the world."
"Lets face it, everyone thoughts were way smarter than you." Ruffnut said.
"Really, everyone?" Hiccup asked sounding slightly annoyed.
"Well there's no hard data but if you had to guess..." Tuffnut told him.
"Okay, I'll tell you what I'll work on something cool to say to him when I take him down. Happy?" Hiccup asked the twins.
"Na ah ah." Tuffnut said as he stuck his index finger up and made a shaking motion on it. Au contraire, mon frere. We," gesturing himself and Ruffnut, "will come up with something better for you to say to him when you take him down. Trust us, we got ya." The twins then began to walk out of the meeting and out of the great hall. Once they were out Hiccup sighed.
"Okay, any more questions or complaints?" Hiccup asked as he looked around the hall.
"I have one." Astrid said. Hiccup looked over to Astrid, who was sitting at a table nearest to Hiccup. She still wore the bandages over her eyes, but it wasn't permanent. She was allowed to take them off but only every so often. The potion and herbs that Gothi make for Astrid goes on her eyes, and it is painful, which is why she has to wear the bandages over her eyes. There still wasn't any improvement but Hiccup was always by her side.
"Yes, Astrid?" Hiccup asked his 'secret' girlfriend. That's right. They haven't told anyone about their relationship yet and found it hard to keep it a secret at times, with the Twins always barging into rooms, and Fishlegs flying around all the time. One time Snotlout almost caught the pair in Hiccup's hut when he went running in screaming that the twins were trying to set his hut on fire. Astrid had to hide under his bed till Hiccup got back in case anyone saw her exit his hut.
"Well, its just that the A team have a job, Dagur and Heather have a job, even Snotlout and the Twins have a serious job," Astrid pointed out.
"Hey, I find that offensive." Snotlout told her, but she ignored him.
"I just don't know what I'm supposed to do on the mission." She told him as she walked over to him and stopped in front of him.
"Well that's because its simple. Your not going on this mission." Hiccup told her.
"What?!" Astrid yelled. "What do you mean I'm not going on this mission?"
"Astrid, its too dangerous. If 1 hunter finds out you can't see... I can't risk it." Hiccup told her.
"I'm okay, Hiccup. You know I've gotten better with my senses. And I know when something is wrong when I'm on Stormfly. We're getting there." Astrid told him.
"No, Astrid, I am putting my foot down." Hiccup told her. Astrid raised her eyebrows through the bandages.
"Remember last time that happened?" Astrid asked, reminding him of what happened when he argued to her about going out to find their dragons after a storm.
"I don't think I've every seen Astrid so mad at Hiccup before." Snotlout whispered to Fishlegs.
"And besides you need as many riders as possible." Astrid pointed out.
"She makes a good point Hiccup. We do need as many riders as possible." Fishlegs told him.
"He's right Hiccup, and besides I think she'll be okay." Heather told Hiccup. Hiccup sighed and turned to face his father.
"She wouldn't suggest it if she didn't think she could handle it, son." Stoick told his son. Hiccup rolled his eyes.
"Oh, fine, but your with me an till we reach the tent, then your with my dad and Gobber." Hiccup told her. Astrid smiled with triumph before walking away from him.
xxx
"Ahh now that's what I call a plan." Stoick said to Hiccup as they walked down the stair from the great hall. Stoick nodded to his son before walking down the rest of the stair. Hiccup went to wave to his father but was quickly grabbed by the arm and pulled off the stairs and instead next to them, by Astrid. Either she really has got better with her senses or his foot has just got louder.
"You did it." She said to him before giving him a big hug. Hiccup wrapped his arms round her for a couple of seconds before pulling away from each other. "I'm really proud of you."
"Well most of those ideas were yours. I couldn't of done it without you." He told her as he leaned back against the stairs wall. Astrid walked towards him and leaned slightly to her right with her right hand hand to feel for the wall so she could lean on it.
"We make quite the team, huh?" Astrid said.
"I certainly think so." Hiccup told her.
"I know that tone of voice, what's wrong?" Astrid asked him.
'When did she get so good at reading me?' Hiccup thought to himself. "Nothings wrong." He told her. "Its just, well, Tuffs right this is huge. Viggo and Berk, The Edge and my dad. Putting his trust in me. If the mission fails we could lose the Dragon Eye forever and that could mean the end of the dragons and they could be hunted to extinction and-" Astrid cut him off but placing a finger on his lips.
"But they won't be," She told him as she moved her hand onto his chest, "because this mission will not fail."
"And then there's this project Shellfire thing, I mean what?" Hiccup said trying to figure everything out. Astrid then grabbed held of his shoulders with her hands.
"Hiccup, stop. You spent months this. Its gonna work." Astrid told him.
"Well I'm still not happy with you coming on this mission. Its way to dangerous." Hiccup said.
"So are all the other missions we've done since then." Astrid pointed out.
"Those were destroying hunter ships missions, this is a don't get captured or killed mission." Hiccup told her.
"Again, same with the destroying hunter ships. Don't get captured or killed." Astrid pointed out again. Hiccup sighed.
"Just promise me you won't leave my side." Hiccup said to her.
"I wouldn't have it any other way." She told him. Hiccup smiled at her, both slowly moving into to kiss each other when-
"Oh. My. Thor!" Hiccup looked up into the sky while Astrid stiffened slightly. Fishlegs was looking down on them from Meatlug. The pair quickly pulled away from each other trying to act casual. "What are you too- wait. I know. Its so obvious!"
"It is?" Hiccup and Astrid said in unison, both sounding slightly nervous.
"Of course! You are disusing where to hide the Dragon Eye once we get it back." Hiccup and Astrid stayed quiet both having a nervous smile on their face. "Well Meatlug and I are way ahead of you, aren't we girl? We've got hiding places inside out hiding places." Hiccup and Astrid nodded to him, still not speaking. "Well I'm going to give Meatlug some Andesite. Helps her sleep when she's this excited. Carry on you too." Fishlegs said giving them both a small salute with his left hand before flying off. The couple waited a couple of seconds to speak.
"He gone?" Astrid asked.
"He's gone." Hiccup told her. They both then let out their air they didn't realise they were holding.
"That was close." Astrid told him.
"Yeah, wait what?" Hiccup asked, not understanding what she meant. "Why do we care if they know about us?"
"I mean we don't, I guess. It's all so new I just want to share it with you right now, you know?" Astrid said to him. When Hiccup didn't reply she know he was slightly confused. "Look we'll tell everyone I just want the time to be right."
"Yeah, I get it. This isn't the time. We can't take a chance on anyone doing anything different. Including us." Hiccup said has he placed his hand out for a hand shake. Through the bandages you could see Astrid's eyebrows come together as she moved slightly closer to him, lifting up her right hand and moving it forward. She quickly felt his arm and move down to his hand. Realising what he wanted she shook her head before pulling him towards her and placing her lip on his. Hiccup was shocked by this reaction for a second before recovering and kissing her back.
Astrid soon pulled away and began to walk away from him and over to Stormfly, who was originally playing with Toothless, was now sitting by the end of the stairs waiting for her rider. With her hands out in front of her she slowly made her way up onto her dragons back. "Did you seriously think I would leave here with just a hand shake?" Astrid asked Hiccup playfully before taking off into the skies.
Hiccup watched Astrid fly off with Stormfly, worried that something would happen. He know now that Astrid may be blind for life she could easily get hurt flying, but that never stopped her and it never will. Toothless made his way over to his rider letting out small cry. Hiccup scratched his best friends head and looked but up to the sky. "Yeah I know. She's something else, huh bud?" He said as he climbed onto his dragons back and took of into the skies.
xxx
It was now night and the mission began. The Dragon Riders, along with the A Team and Berserkers were flying towards Viggo's island. Astrid no longer had her bandages over her eyes so it gave her a slight advantage to the Dragon Hunters not finding out she was blind.
Hiccup was leading the group when Ruffnut and Tuffnut flew over to him. "Okay we've been giving this a lot of thought and here's what we have so far." Ruffnut told him. The twins then flew the two dragons head over and under each other so they switched sides, Tuffnut now next to Hiccup.
"'Is that an axe in your face or are you just happy to see me?'" Tuffnut catchphrase Hiccup, who did not look amused. "No? Okay, not a problem." The twins then swapped round again.
"'Viggo, this is going to hurt you a lot more its gonna hurt me.'" Ruffnut said. Again, Hiccup didn't look amused. They switched once again.
"'Goodnight and good...luck.' Wait, no, no." Tuffnut said realising he went wrong.
"Give it a rest will you?!" Snotlout yelled over to the twins.
"We didn't say you were involved in this, Snotlout." Tuffnut pointed out.
"Although that line wasn't half bad. 'Give it a rest will you Viggo?!'" Ruffnut catchphrased.
"Oh for the love of, ugh." Hiccup groaned. "Riders ready! Just like we practised." Each of the groups then flew out to their sections. But once arriving they found that the plan actually needed. The island was a wreck.
"What a rip off!" Snotlout yelled.
"Looks like someone beat us too it." Fishlegs said as he looked around at the broken tables and weapons.
"The question is: who?" Stoick said. Hiccup landed, Astrid right behind him. The pair began to walk towards Viggo's tent. Once at the entrance Hiccup placed a hand on Astrid's shoulder, telling her to wait there. When entering the tent he found that the hole place was trashed.
"I'll help the other's search the island." Stoick said before taking off with Skullcrusher. Hiccup didn't answer him but instead walked further into the tent. Astrid walked in with him, but stood further away from him, trying to imagine what the placed looked like.
Hiccup walked over to the table where the Maces and Talons board game sat. Getting frustrated he kicked the table over. "Oh Thor! Ahhh!" With a hard kick the table flew over along with the board game. Astrid heard this and jumped slightly. "What is it going to take to catch this guy?!"
"Hiccup..." Astrid said softly. Before anything else could be said a piece of the game fell to the ground, but mad a loud thump. Astrid imminently heard this, and wasn't sure if Hiccup had heard it himself. "Hiccup."
"I know, stay back." Hiccup told her as he walked over to where the game piece had fallen, over a large sheet, and hand signalled for Toothless to come over. Toothless sniffed the area and growled. Hiccup took this as a bad sign and quickly pulled the sheet away, revealing a trapped door. He quickly lifted it up and looked inside. Before he could come to sense as to what it was Toothless loaded up a Plasma Blast.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold your fire." Hiccup ordered.
"What is it Hiccup?" Astrid said as she quickly made her way over to him. As Astrid approached Hiccup she head a voice.
"I never imagined these words would come out of this mouth, but my dear Hiccup, I am overjoyed to see you." It was Viggo.
xxx
Viggo was now sitting on a stool in the middle of the room with the riders all surrounding him. Hiccup made sure Astrid was right behind him and far from Viggo's grips. "What happened here? Viggo where's the Dragon Eye?"
Before Viggo could reply Stoick came barging in. "You come after my son, you come after my home, you get to deal with me!" Stoick grabbed hold of Viggo by the neck and lifted him up into the air.
"Dad, wait!" Hiccup yelled, trying to calm down his father. "Revenge isn't a plan. Remember." Hiccup said, reminding what he and his father hand talked about a few months back on the week of the Midnight Sun.
"That was for you. For me, it goes down a treat." Stoick told his son.
"Let Viggo speak." Hiccup said. Stoick looked at his son before looking back at the hunter and releasing him from his grip, making the hunter gasp for air. Stoick then left the riders to do their interrogation. After catching his breath Viggo began to speak.
"Ryker's lost all sense of reason." Viggo told the group. "He unfortunately managed to sway the soft minds of the Dragon Hunters. My brother has turned them against their leader."
"And that right there is why I'd rather have a sister any day of the week." Tuffnut commented. Ruffnut nodded and held her hand up in the air for an high five but Tuffnut shook his head. "Uh-huh. Not you, obviously, but, a different sis."
"Ryker's plan, as simple-minded as it it, is to wipe out the riders and all your allies." Viggo told Hiccup.
"Yeah, how is that any different from every other bad guy?" Hiccup asked.
"And defeated! Yeah." Fishlegs reminded them.
"The difference, my dear Hiccup, is project Shell Fire. You too remember that, don't you?" Viggo asked as he looked over to the twins. The twins then walked over to the villain, Ruffnut getting in his face first.
"Just remember, if Viggo, you go." Ruffnut said pointing to herself and then Viggo. She then moved away from Viggo and let Tuffnut take her place.
"Right. It's your day to burn, and we're the torch with the fire that burns!" Tuffnut yelled in Viggo's face before walking away with his sister. Viggo then turned to Hiccup.
"I'm sorry. Did I miss something?" Hiccup didn't answer him but turned to the twins.
"Guy's, guys, maybe not now." He told them before turning back to Viggo. "What is project Shell Fire? We know its some sort of weapon. Is it a boat? A dragon?"
"In due time, I will divulge all." Viggo told him. "Project Shell Fire, the location is on the Dragon Eye. But only if you help me stop my brother and send me on my way."
"Yak dung!" Snotlout coughed. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I had something in my lying throat!" He yelled over to Viggo.
"Snotlout is right." Fishlegs said. "We shouldn't trust Viggo."
"Agreed." Viggo said. "Trusting me is, shall we say, a stretch. As a show of good faith, I will tell you where and when my brother will strike next. Give you time to save your allies, which he systematically intends to destroy. The next attack is on the Defenders of the wing. Followed by the Outcasts, Bererkers, and Berk itself, in no particular order. While Ryker is no tactical genius, he still manages to hold some things close to the vest."
Hiccup turned and faced the riders and nodded to them to move out of the tent. He walked over to Astrid and knocked her on the shoulder slightly, signally her to move out of the tent. Astrid obeyed and turned around walking out.
"Time is of the essence. It is the ability to make expedition decisions that saves lives." Viggo said before having the curtain closed on him.
"There is no way we're believing one word this guy says." Astrid said to Hiccup while pointing to the tent.
"Well we can't just ignore it. Astrid, there are too many lives at stake." Hiccup told her. Stoick then placed his hand on his sons shoulder.
"Agreed. Gobber and I will take the auxiliary riders back to Berk. Just in case." Stoick said.
"Heather, Dagur," Hiccup said as he looked over to the Berserker siblings, "go make sure Berserker Island ready." They both nodded before walking off. Hiccup then looked over to the riders. "We're gonna check on the Defenders of the Wing."
"And what about Viggo?" Astrid asked.
"Well I guess he's coming with us." Hiccup told her. "There's no other way, Astrid." Astrid looked like she wanted to protest but stayed quiet.
xxx
Once arriving on the island Throk took Viggo away into the prison underground. Hiccup watched the scene as Mala approached him. "Hiccup Haddock, I am going to assume that there is a sane reason that you would even think about bringing this man to our home."
"Mala, I don't trust him either, but if what he says is true you could be in grave danger." Hiccup told her.
"It isn't only the Defenders of the Wing I am concerned with." Mala told him. "There is something we must protect at all coasts."
Minutes later the Riders and Mala were standing by a small lava pit, while Fishlegs was running over to them. "Oh! It hatched?! It hatched!" Fishlegs announced as he looked at the baby Eruptodon.
"A few weeks past." Mala told him. "He must be protected and must keep his hunger satiated. He's too young and frail to survive anything else."
Then just as Mala finished her sentence a massive blue glowing rock crashed down behind them, sending dirt and small rock pieces everywhere. Then it was followed by another, and another and many more.
"Oh, you mean something like that?!" Snotlout screamed. The rocks continued to fall down upon them. Astrid began to looked around, trying to understand what was happening.
"Hiccup! Are we being attack?!" Astrid yelled, hoping Hiccup was still in the area.
"I'm not sure!" Hiccup yelled back over to her. Another rock fell towards them but was luckily blasted in the air by Toothless.
"Hiccup!" Hiccup quickly turned around to face Fishlegs next to the baby Eruptodon . "We need to get the baby Eruptodon out of here!"
"Yes, please." Mala begged.
"Fishlegs, go." Hiccup told his friend. Fishlegs nodded and picked up the baby Eruptodon and climbed on Meatlug before flying off. Hiccup watched his friend fly way with the baby dragon.
"Believe me now, Hiccup?" Viggo asked from his prison.
"Not even remotely." Hiccup told him. He then turned to Mala and Throk. "Mala, Throk, you and your men keep Viggo locked down. We're gonna fly into the attack and find the source. Astrid," Hiccup then turned around to see her sitting on Stormfly ready to take off. "I want you to go with the other villages and get to safety."
"No way, I'm going with you." Astrid told him before taking off into the sky.
"Ugh, why doesn't she ever listen to me?" Hiccup muttered as he jumped onto Toothless and took off. As the riders flew in the sky they tried their best to dodge the rocks flying towards them.
"I mean, not that we're one's to complain about totally awesome situation, but hey Hiccup, why are we doing this?" Tuffnut called over to Hiccup as he dodge the flying blue rocks.
"We have to find the source. The only way to is to fly towards it." Hiccup told them. More and more rocks continued to fly their way. Astrid was going well at dodging them with her hearing and Stormfly leading her, when suddenly a rock wen't flying towards her. Stormfly was just able to dodge it, but caused Astrid to lose her balance and fall over the the edge slightly, body being held up by her hands holding onto the saddle.
"Astrid!" Hiccup yelled over to her as he made his way over to her. Astrid groaned slightly and she pulled herself back up onto the saddle and back into position.
"I'm okay." She called out. Hiccup sighed and shook his head.
"Astrid that's it, go back and get to safety." He ordered.
"I though you said we would put them aside?" Astrid asked, hoping he would know what she was talking about, which he did.
"Astrid there is no way you should be out here in your condition." Hiccup told her.
"My condition? Did you really just- Hiccup right ahead!" Astrid suddenly screamed. Hiccup looked in front of him to see a rock coming right up in front of him. He and Toothless quickly reacted and circled round it, dodging it.
"Hiccup, that was way too close. Maybe you should go back, guard Viggo." Astrid called over to him. Hiccup then flew closer to her.
"Astrid, no, we talked about this." Hiccup told her. "We can't risk anyone thinking-"
"Thinking what?" Snotlout asked wanting to know what the pair had been talking about.
"Nothing!" Astrid and Hiccup said in unison. Snotlout was taken back by their sudden burst.
"Whoa, take it easy, Hiccstrid." Snotlout told the pair. The secret couple choose to ignore him and carried on flying. Hiccup really wanted for Astrid to go back but he knew that she wouldn't have it, and its like he told her, it has to be business as usual. But that wouldn't stop him from worrying.
The riders soon made it out of the clouds and quickly saw a couple of boats in front of them. "There. Down there. Two ships." The riders then made their way towards the ships and began to fire. Once both the ships were destroyed they quickly saw that it wasn't the ships making the rocks. Fishlegs looked around and saw were the rocks were coming from.
"Behind the sea stack!" Fishlegs yelled and he pointed towards it. Hiccup looked over and saw that he was right.
"Cover us!" Hiccup yelled as he and Fishlegs quickly flew over to the sea stack together and flew separately around it, only to find that there was nothing or no one there.
xxx
The riders were soon back on the Island, to find the prison door open, and Viggo not inside. "He escaped?" Hiccup said in shock.
"The explosions allowed him to slip away. I have failed you." Throk told them.
"You sure did, Throkman." Snotlout told him. "Hey, I would be looking for a new gig if I were you, or a new head." Snotlout said with a laugh.
"I can't believe I fell for it. What was I thinking?" Hiccup said to himself.
"Now there's a good question." Snotlout said. "I personally wouldn't have done-"
"Snotlout, don't." Astrid warned him with her hands on her hips.
"No, no, no, its alright." Hiccup told her. "We can't focus on Viggo right now anyway. We need to get back to the edge. We don't know were the next attack could happen. Of course you and your tribe are welcome to come with us." Hiccup said and he walked over to Mala and Throk.
"No. We must defend our home. But I do have a favour to ask. I fear that the baby Eruptodon will not be safe here." Mala looked over to the baby, which was with Fishlegs and Meatlug, feeding it lava that Meatlug produced for it.
"Don't worry, Mala. Meatlug and I were made for this." Fishlegs told her. "We're gonna keep this little guy safe no matter what." Mala smiled and nodded to him before looking back at Hiccup.
"Send a Terror mail if you need us." Hiccup told Mala as he climbed onto Toothless. He and the other riders then took off back to the Edge.
xxx
Back on the edge Hiccup and Astrid were in Hiccups hut going through a plan. Astrid still didn't have the bandages over her eyes.
"The problem is that we've been thinking like Viggo. We have to start thinking like Ryker." Hiccup said as he looked down at the map while Astrid stood next to him.
"Good luck with that." Astrid told him. Hiccup carried on looking at the map for a few more seconds before looking over to Astrid.
"Listen, I want to apologise about earlier. I shouldn't have said that to you." Hiccup said as he turned his body so he was facing Astrid.
"No, no you were right. My condition can put me in big danger sometimes, and I know that I can't always be there in battle." Astrid said to her boyfriend. "But, I just worry about you and I feel useless if I'm not there with you."
"Hey," Hiccup said as he placed his hands on Astrid's shoulders, "you are not useless, Astrid. Just think, you saved me and Toothless earlier just with your hearing. I mean, there is no way I could do something like that."
"I just want you to understand that I'm not always going to listen to you when we're out there. There are going to be times when I do disobey and times when I will listen. Just promise me that you won't carry on arguing if I don't listen." Astrid said.
"I can't promise you that, if I think the situation is getting out of hand then you need to promise me that you won't argue and listen." Hiccup said to Astrid, though she didn't answer. "Astrid, we have to put our personal feelings aside and accept the risks. We can only protect each other to a point. Live we've been doing for years."
"No, I know. Your right. I did lose my head." Astrid told him.
"It is nice to know you care though." Hiccup said to her with a smile.
"If you don't know that by now then..." Astrid began to say but stopped when she felt Hiccup's breath get close to her face. She slowly moved forward, ready to place her lip on his when suddenly Hiccup's door swung open.
"Ha!" Hiccup and Astrid quickly pulled away to see the Twins standing at the door, though Astrid knew from the voice. Tuffnut began to laugh slightly. "'Looks like she's got the mace and I've got the talons. So, Viggo, it's game over. And haven't even-'"
"Tuffnut!" Hiccup and Astrid yelled in unison.
"Yeah, you're right." Tuffnut said. "I would have the mace. You know, not her. I mean everyone knows I'm a mace man. Guilty as charged, mace man at heart. Good lookin' out H." The twins then ran off together.
"They're gone?" Astrid asked.
"They're gone." Hiccup told her. Astrid rolled her eyes before facing Hiccup.
"Can we ever get any privacy?" She asked him. Hiccup laughed.
"It would have to be the middle of the night, or a far away land for that to happen." Hiccup told her. Astrid laughed. "Okay, lets assume Viggo is telling the truth. If your Ryker which ally do you hit next?"
"I have a good idea." Astrid told him as she turned her body so she was facing the table where the map laid. She placed her hands on the map on either side. She then slowly moved her hands so they were coming close to the centre. She stopped and moved them down slightly till they were next to a island. She removed one hand and and left a finger on the map. Hiccup smiled and placed his hand over her's moving it onto the island.
"Outcast Island." They said in unison.
"All right, when do we leave?" Astrid asked him.
"In a couple of hours. The dragons need a bit of rest. Where as you need to get you bandages on." Hiccup told her. Astrid groaned.
"Ugh, I know what that means." She said as she began to walked out of Hiccups hut, with him following.
"Its not that bad." He told her.
"Yeah, you try having to put a potion on your eye balls twice a day." Astrid told him. Hiccup gave her a sad smile before leading her over to their dragons, who were sitting outside of the hut.
"Come one, it will be over before you know it." He told her.
xxx
It was now dark out and the Dragon Riders were all hovering over the ocean floor, next to the archipelago. "Not that I don't love hanging out with you guys, but how does hovering over an empty ocean do us any good?" Snotlout complained.
"They can't reach the archipelago without passing through the Straits of Baldur." Astrid told him, who wan't wearing her bandages again. She took them of just as they were leaving for the attack.
"And when they do, they'll come through us." Hiccup said as he looking through his spy glass.
"Hey, Hoff. Hey, question for you." Tuffnut called over to Astrid. "Which of these two do you like best?"
"'My name is Hiccup Haddock. Submit or be filleted where you stand and fed to my favourite Yak.' Or..." Ruffnut said as she gestured Tuffnut.
"'Oh, you want a battle, Viggo? Well, how about I give you a war instead? Its bigger and there's more fighting.'" Astrid just gave them a blank look.
"Hiccup doesn't even have a favourite yak." Astrid pointed out.
"What about Yakkity?" Ruffnut asked.
"That's my yak, pal." Snotlout told them. "Yakkity Jorgenson."
"And by the way we don't want a war guys." Hiccup told them before looking back through his spy glass. He then saw something. "Hunter ship! Due south."
"Is that a white flag?" Snotlout asked.
"Uh, yeah it is." Hiccup told him. "But that's not the widest part."
"What do you mean Hiccup?" Astrid asked. "Who's on the ship?"
"Its Ryker waving the white flag." Hiccup told her.
xxx
The riders soon found themselves on the Hunter's ship, listening to Ryker's side of the story. "Funny. That's the exact same story Viggo told us," Hiccup told Ryker, "but he said your the one who flipped." Ryker laughed.
"Oh yeah? Then where is he?" Ryker asked. Hiccup looked over to Astrid who looked over in the direction Hiccup was standing in. "Let me ask you this. Between myself and Viggo, who has more of an interest in you, Hiccup?" Hiccup narrowed his eyes, know the answer. "Exactly. It's Viggo who's lost his mind. It's Viggo who came up and built the Shell Fire. It's Viggo who wants a war. But it's Ryker who has the Dragon Eye."
"Great. Where is it?" Hiccup asked.
"Ohh, don't worry. Its safely Hidden." Ryker told him. "Think about it. If Viggo had the Shell Fire and the Dragon Eye, what would he do? He'd set you up. Which is that's exactly what's my beloved brother is doing." The Dragon Riders all exchanged looks at each other.
"Oh, that's great." Snotlout said. "Another lunatic Dragon Hunter that we can't trust." Hiccup looked over to Astrid, but something imminently caught his eye.
"The Shell Fire!" He quickly ran over to the edge of the boat to see it attacking a island. Astrid went right to his side.
"But where is it attacking?" Astrid asked. Hiccup tool out his map and looked.
"Berserk." Hiccup said. Astrid gasped.
"We have to help them." She said before quickly running away from the edge and over to where she was originally standing, where Stormfly was kneeling down ready for Astrid to climb onto her back.
"Help who?" Snotlout asked with confusion.
"Heather and Dagur." Astrid told them before taking off into the sky. The other riders quickly began to climb onto their dragons and get ready to take off.
"Berserker Island, now!" Hiccup called out as he climbed onto Toothless.
"You see, Hiccup?" Ryker said. "That attack proves what I've been saying. Bring me Viggo, and I will give you what you want. Otherwise I disappear for good, along with the Dragon Eye." Hiccup glared at him before taking of into the sky. He quickly catched up with the other rider and soon saw two more heading their way.
"Brother!" Dagur yelled.
"Hiccup! It came at us out of nowhere!" Heather told him. Before Hiccup could say anything the riders quickly had to dodge the blue rocks flying down towards them.
"Hiccup, staying together won't help. We need to split up." Astrid told him.
"Your right. Your with me." Hiccup told her. "You guys go with Heather and Dagur. Save who you can and meet us back at the edge."
"And where are you too going?" Snotlout asked, sounding slightly suspicious.
"To find out whatever this Shell Fire is, and stop it. Once and for all." Hiccup told them before fly of, Astrid right behind him. Everyone nodded before flying off into their own direction.
"Astrid stay close. The minute I feel this is too much for you, go back." Hiccup told her.
"Not an option, Hiccup. Your stuck with me." Astrid told him as she dodge a rock. Hiccup, wanting to argue with her, decided to stay quiet about it this once.
"Faster bud! We need to close the distance before it can disappear." Hiccup told his dragon as they flew faster. The couple carried on trying to dodge the rocks the best they could, and finally go close to the source.
"I see something." Hiccup told over to Astrid. "It looks like a ship." Hiccup quickly began to fly down, trying to get a closer look when suddenly a creature emerged from the water, lifting the ship up slightly, and shot three rocks out from its mouth. "What is that?"
"Hiccup, what's happening?" Astrid asked.
"The Shell Fire isn't and ship or a dragon. Its both!" Hiccup yelled over to Astrid. "He's weaponized a dragon, Astrid!"
The hunters must of seen the two Dragon Riders because suddenly the Shell Fire turned and and entered the water.
"Hiccup, what just happened?" Astrid asked.
"The dragon took the ship under water. That's why its so hard to find." Hiccup told her.
"We need to get back to the edge and regroup." Astrid told him.
"Agreed." The couple turned the dragons round and headed back to the edge.
xxx
"Tidal class for sure. If I had to guess, Titan Wing." Hiccup told the group. Everyone had gathered back at the Club House to go through everything that had happened that night. "Bigger than a Submaripper. Long range firing capabilities."
"Tital Class dragons don't attack humans. They just don't. Its not in their nature." Fishlegs told Hiccup as the baby Eruptodon and Meatlug played in front of him. "They're forcing it to do that."
"I know they are, Fishlegs." Hiccup told him.
"Subjugation." Tuffnut said. Everyone in the club house looked at him in shock, including dragons. "What. I listen and learn, people. That's the word, right? No?" Ruffnut slapped her forehead. Hiccup turned away from Tuffnut and over to the Berserker siblings.
"Dagur, Heather, I'm sorry about Berserker Island. We all are." Hiccup told them.
"At least we managed to save most of our people, but to rebuild..." Heather began to say but ended up sighing.
"I've been trying really hard to manage my anger Hiccup. But Viggo, he's got to go." Dagur told his 'brother'.
"Hey, that's my line!" Snotlout said from the other side of the club house with Hookfang.
"Sorry, Snothat." Dagur said, not sounding very apologetic. Snotlout glared at him before looking over to Hookfang who was laughing.
"What are you looking at? No laughing." Snotlout told his dragon.
"So, what's our next move?" Astrid asked Hiccup, as she sat on the table facing Hiccup. Hiccup shook his head and moved away from her.
"I don't know." Astrid jumped down and followed the sound of Hiccup's footsteps. "The only thing I do know is that we've got to find Viggo soon or Ryker and the Dragon Eye could be gone for good."
"Good luck with that. What do you think Viggo's gonna do?" Snotlout asked. "Walk in here and turn himself in?"
"Not helping Snotlout." Fishlegs told him.
"Maybe Ryker will give us more time." Astrid suggested.
"I highly doubt that." Hiccup told her. Hiccup grunted in frustration. Astrid approached him and placed her hands on his arm. "I need to clear my head."
"I'll hold things together while your gone." Astrid told him. "Take your time. We'll be fine." Hiccup smiled to her and secretly without anyone seeing took hold on her hand and gave it a squeeze since he couldn't kiss her and she could see him smile at her. As Hiccup and Toothless walked away Astrid's smile dropped and her face became concerned. She may not have sight anymore but that doesn't mean she can't read him.
Astrid sighed before walking away from the door entry and over to Stormfly who was laying down on the floor. She felt around for the saddle and quickly found her pouch. Taking it off the saddle she made her way over to the corner of the room and sat down on a stool. She open up the bag and took out a vile and a bandage. She placed them on her lap and took the bag and placed on the floor next to her, only to hear the vile drop onto the floor.
Sighing in frustration she got down on her knees and quickly felt around for the vile, but couldn't find it. She began to get more and more frustrated to the point she wanted to scream. Just as she felt like she was going to she felt a pair on hands on her arms. "Who's-"
"Its Heather." Astrid sighed as Heather lead her back onto the stool. As she sat down Heather picked up the vile Astrid had dropped, along with her bandage. She looked at the vile and then to Astrid. "What do I need to do?"
"Just pass them to me, I can do it." Astrid told her friend.
"Astrid, let me help." Heather told her. Astrid sighed.
"Pour half of the potion into my eyes till its empty. Half and half." Astrid instructed her. Heather nodded.
"Okay." Heather said. She opened the vile.
"Is everyone still in here?" Astrid asked.
"No, Fishlegs took them outside. Properly knew what you were going to do and didn't want anyone to see it." Heather told her.
"No one ever has except for Hiccup." Astrid told her. "He helps me put it on when I can't, or when he's in the room."
"Sounds like something a friend would do." Heather told her. Astrid smiled.
"Yeah you could say that." Astrid said. Heather smiled before looking down and the vile and opening up the lid. She took a breath.
"You ready?" Heather asked her. Astrid nodded and leaned her head back. Heather stood up and walked behind her.
"Once done take the bandage and wrap it round my eyes multiple times. Do it as quickly as possible." Astrid told her. "Also, hold my eye open. I'll close it otherwise."
"Okay, here we go." Heather told her. She moved her left hand and place her index finger above the eye and her middle finger underneath it, opening the eye as wide as possible. She slowly tilted the vile to the side, and the liquid made its way into Astrid eye.
Astrid began to groan and breath a bit faster than before. She made a fist with her hands as her eye began to sting slightly. "Okay, okay. All done. Doing the next one now." Heather told her. She moved her hand over to Astrid's right eye and began to same process again. Very quickly the vile was empty. Heather moved her hand away from Astrid's eye, allowing her to close it like she did the first one. She then took the bandage and placed it over her eyes and began to wrap it round her head. Astrid sighed.
"I need to sit up straight." Astrid told her.
"Wait, are you allowed to when doing this?" Heather asked her.
"Yes." Astrid answered. Heather nodded before helping her friend sit up. Once Astrid was sitting up straight Heather found it easier to wrap the bandages round.
"Is it always that bad?" Heather asked her.
"The first time was the worst. After Gothi told us that I might not see she said that this potion might help with the healing. She laid me down, Hiccup was right by my side, and began to pour the potion into my eye. It hurt so bad the first time that Hiccup apparently nearly had a heart attack. The pain got easier every time I had to take it, but its always there." Astrid told her.
"At least you have Hiccup told help you through it." Heather pointed out. Astrid smiled.
"Yeah I know." Astrid whispered.
"Astrid, you know that Fishlegs and I talk, right?" Heather said she finished tying the bandages together.
"Oh? What about?" Astrid asked, trying to sound as innocent as possible.
"Oh, you know. Dragons, islands, friends sneaking around and kissing outside the great hall." Heather told her.
"And what friends and you talking about?" Astrid asked.
"Astrid, come on. I want detail, when did this start?" Heather asked her as she grabbed a stool and sat down in front of her.
"Actually, when this happened." Astrid told her. "Right after finding out Hiccup and I went to the stables and sat down. We got to talking and then we kissed."
"What were you talking about?" Heather asked.
"Why he didn't kiss me in the forest in the forest the day I lost my sight." Astrid told her.
"Oh, and why didn't he?" Heather asked. Astrid smiled and blushed very slightly.
"He said he wanted it to be perfect, cause that's how he always imagined it being." Astrid told her. Heather's smile widened.
"What did I tell you? I knew you both would get together." Heather told her.
"Yeah, yeah, no need to rub it in my face." Astrid told her best friend. Heather laughed.
"So why keep it a secret?" Heather asked her.
"Well, because its so new I guess I just want to spend the time with him first." Astrid told her.
"Kinda hard when you have the kind of friends you have." Heather said to her. Astrid laughed.
"Trust me, you don't know that half of it."