Berk
Life on Berk has been Hel for Astrid Hofferson and the rest of the Hooligan Tribe. It all started when Chief Stoick left for a meeting of Chiefs. A mysterious man attacked the chiefs killing them with dragons. None survived. Then the Chieftess was taken by dragons leaving Hiccup Haddock alone. The Berk Council took control of the tribe until Hiccup was of age. Unfortunately for Berk, that never came to be. One day, after years of being bullied and belittered by Berk for his shortcomings. He vanished. Gobber led the search parties, but no one ever could find Hiccup. So the Council chose a new Chief to lead Berk. Unfortunately, that was Spitelout. Astrid disliked him for encouraging the bullying and she hated his son Snotlout even more. Astrid herself felt responsible for Hiccup vanishing. She tried to protect him as much as she could since he was going to be the next Chief and he was an orphan. There were days when she herself considered leaving Berk. But she stayed for her parents and because of the rumors Trader Johann reported about. A man who rides a Night Fury. At first, no one believe it, but Bucket and Mulch confirmed it after a Pod of Scauldrons attacked the fisherman. But the Night Fury rider swapped in collecting the Tidal Dragons. No one knew who this rider is, but he was given the name Dragon Master.
Today would be an important day for Berk. Dagur the Deranged will be here for a peace negotiation to try and bring Berk into an Alliance from the North. Gobber placed Astrid in charge of keeping the Twins in check. Everyone was in the Great Hall waiting for Dagur to show up the Alliance representative. Spitelout was sitting at the Chief's table with his arrogant son Snotlout to his side. Gobber was to the Chief's other side. Astrid stayed with the Twins pulling them back to the table whenever they tried to run off. Everyone prepared themselves for a fight when the Great Hall doors opened revealing the Berserker Chief, his men, and a strange man next to Dagur.
"I see Berk is still a small island with annoying proud people ready for a fight." Dagur greeted and Astrid pulled Tuffnut down.
"Good to see you as well Dagur." Spitelout replied as he stood up. "Now who is your friend of yours?"
"I am Krogan of the Northern Alliance. My master wishes to extend his alliance with many of the Viking Tribes in this Archepeligo to further his conquest of the world." Krogan remarked stepping forward. "The ships I brought with me are nothing but a small fraction of the fleet Drago Bludvist has built." the man added and whispers echoed around the Great Hall. Before the meeting, Astrid only saw a glimpse of the fleet from a distance. Eight large ships, unlike anything she has ever seen.
"Really, from what I hear that Dragon Master has been shredding your ships to pieces." Gobber remarked and Krogan glared at the old blacksmith. Astrid grinned knowing that the Dragon Master has indeed been attacking the Northern Alliance with more outlandish rumors.
"The Dragon Master and his Riders are indeed our greatest enemy." Krogan replied confirming the outlandish rumors. "Which is why we are recruiting more and more allies to aid us in the fight."
"Well while you guys negotiate, I have Chief duties back home to attend to. So good luck and try to start a war. I would like the fight." Dagur remarked before leaving the Great Hall.
"So what is it that you and your master Drago want from Berk?" Spitelout asked and Astrid prepared herself for the Chief to make a stupid decision.
"He wants to use your port as a supply line and a shipyard. Any warriors you can spare would also be nice." Krogan answered as he walked to the Chief's table. "You would profit greatly from this agreement."
"Well, I guess we'll need to negotiate the prices and how to make it happen." Spitelout remarked with a smirk. While the two men negotiated, the rest of Berk left the hall and Astrid went to the woods. She remembered when Hiccup passed by her training area on his way to who knows where. She always wondered what to him. She didn't treat him well, but she was better than most of Berk. She sat next to the tree where she almost threw an axe in but stopped when she saw Hiccup carrying strange things off. She grabbed a book from her bag and opened it. It was filled with pictures Hiccup drew. After he vanished, she and Gobber packed up his things where she discovered a hard truth. Hiccup Haddock had a crush on her. This book was filled with pictures of Astrid. Well drawn pictures of not just Astrid's face, but her being a warrior facing off Vikings and Dragons. She felt like an idiot for not noticing, but she should have figured. He was always trying to impress Berk with his inventions causing a disaster, but he would always look at Astrid. The thought of it made her even depressed. So should have done something before he vanished. She might have been able to keep him on Berk. He would be Chief. He may have changed the island for the better.
Elsewhere
Dagur watched the skies while his men sailed the ship. Most of the Northern Alliance would be watching out for the Dragon Master waiting for him to attack, but not Dagur. Yes, he was watching for a Dragon, but not the Master. He was watching for his sister, the Dragon Master's second in command and privately the Berserker's second in command as well. Dagur was a spy for the Dragon Master who he met once, but he was tasked with getting into Drago's good graces. From there the Berserker will report to Heather where the massive fleet was located and where their King of Dragons was. When Berk was a distance away, a Razorwhipe came in sight and Dagur smirked. Heather and Windshear landed on the ship gracefully. Heather jumped down and the brother and sister hugged each other.
"So what you got for me today brother?" Heather asked.
"I showed Krogan to the island of Berk. Either peace is being forged or there is a fight I'm missing." Dagur answered and Heather laughed at her brother's humor.
"Berk?" Heather asked.
"Yeah. Figure they could use the help since their heir vanished." Dagur answered and Heather climbed onto Whinshear. "Hey wait, aren't we going to hang out?"
"When you get back to Berserker Island I will, but the Dragon Master needs to hear about this." Heather replied before launching into the sky leaving a puzzled Dagur.
Dragon's Edge
"One of Viggo's convoys was attacked by Ashjorn's crew. They recovered a large shipment of Deadly Nadder Shards, Gronckle Iron, and Dragon Root." Captain Throk reported pointing to the map near Eel Island. Hiccup put a small piece shaped like Viggo's Hunter ships there. For the past three years, Hiccup has been trying to find Drago's fleet for many reasons. One is for the dragons, two is because Drago is a madman, but the most important reason for all of it is because Drago is responsible for killing his father. When Hiccup left Berk five years ago, he enjoyed one year of peace, studying, and new friends. Then he met Viggo and his Hunters. From there Hiccup learned much about the Northern Alliance. When Hiccup discovered that Drago was the mastermind and the killer of Stoick the Vast, it became Hiccup's mission to find the man who ruined his life. But his mission is difficult. The hunters don't use the same directions and they burned all their maps to avoid them falling into Hiccup's hands. The Riders tried to follow, but Drago's dragons cost Hiccup good people. All he knew is that the madman was far North.
"Okay then, I assume Ashjorn is getting the shipment to the Berserkers?" Hiccup asked seeing that Dagur was the closest ally in the area.
"Yeah. From there, Asny will deliver the shipment to the Edge." Commander Hegg Hrutson added and the Hall's doors were opened revealing Heather.
"Heather? I thought you were going to spend the next two days with your brother?" Hiccup asked.
"We need to talk." Heather answered and Hiccup turned to his commanders.
"I'll be right back." Hiccup said before walking with Heather with Windshear and Toothless behind. "What's wrong?"
"Dagur brought Drago's forces to Berk." Heather answered and Hiccup's heart skipped a beat. Only Heather knew of Hiccup's origins and the memories flooded the Rider's mind. Hiccup leaned on the balcony overlooking the Edge. The Edge had large huts around it for visiting Riders and their dragons, sailors, equipment, and stables for the Dragons to land on. The defenses surrounded the cliffs overlooking the cove. Crossbows, ballistaes, catapults, and towers. If Drago attacked, he would face Hel. Hiccup built the Edge to protect the dragons and was now using it to hunt down Drago. Now Berk was threatened with war. "What should we do?" Heather asked and Toothless nudged Hiccup's arm. The Rider jumped onto Toothless's saddle and switch his metal peg leg into flight mode.
"Take over the meeting for me. I need to fly." Hiccup ordered and Heather nodded. Hiccup and Toothless launched into the sky gaining attitude. The wind blew against Hiccup's face. He left his flight helmet at the Great Hall leaving his skin exposed to the elements. Hiccup remembered fifteen years of bullying and mocky from the people of Berk. Yet he loved his home. He left to protect Toothless. Every day he missed his home. He missed Gobber who was a father to Hiccup. He missed Astrid who saved his butt a few times. He missed the beautiful valkyrie. Hiccup just flew in the air remembering Astrid. Before he knew it, the sun was setting and he flew back to his hut. When he entered the hut, Hiccup walked over to his desk while Toothless lay in his spot. Hiccup opened a book revealing drawings of Berk, the people, dragons, and many of Astrid. Hiccup looked at the drawings of Astrid wanting to make sure she is safe. He can't let Astrid get caught in the crossfire of his Riders.
Hello every one, here is a story that's been playing in my head. First off, I will be testing an idea while doing this one, so expect something coming from me within the coming weeks. This is in preparation for a modern HTTYD story. Testing to see if it works. More at a different point. Now if someone leaves a review I will leave a remark at the end of the next chapter. To answer any questions and to thank the review. So please leave reviews. They do help. Also onto the final thing for today. Ukraine is still under siege by an evil tyrant and his little empire. To my Russian readers please call for an end to this war. Ukraine isn't going to stop fighting nor will Russia conquer them. This war will last decades if Putin continues this path. To my Ukrainian readers, stand strong. Russia is crumbling. Their military has been burned by your brave soldiers and the world is turning against Russia cutting off many ties with them. To my other readers, do all you can to help. I write in support of Ukraine because that is all I am able to do. Whatever you are great at, do it to support Ukraine. They need all the support they can get. Glory to Ukraine.