The Dragon Rule
Eret's men pulled the small catch of dragons onto the deck. This was his first time on Drago's flagship in the icy stronghold. Everything was cold to Eret. The design of the vessel, the air, and the men glared at him. It was terrifying. If he makes one mistake, he's a deadman. At the bow of the large warship, he saw a dragon cloaked man standing near the edge. Eret saw his cold breath slow as he walked closer. One soldier walked to the man's side. He whispered something to the man before retreating silently. When Eret and his crew were motioned to stop, he did. The man on the ship's bow turned to face the Dragon Trapper. He walked down closer to the Trapper. When the scarred man stood a foot away from Eret, the man smirked. "How many?"
"I brought you three Deadly Nadders, a Hotburple, one Monstrous Nightmare, and six Stormcutters." Eret answered with a nervous smile as Drago inspected the catch.
"I ordered twenty dragons. This is eleven." Drago remarked and Eret chuckled nervously.
"Dragon Rider raids were harsh this time." Eret replied and Drago grabbed him by the throat.
"Unacceptable." Drago said coldly as a soldier brought an iron furnace onboard. He shoved Eret into the arms of several warriors who removed his tunic and coats revealing his bare chest. Drago grabbed an iron branding rod from the furnace's flames. Eret was forced down on his knees as Drago walked with the glowing rod. The man thrust the rod onto Eret's chest and he screamed from the pain. But just as it began, it ended. Eret looked down to see the symbol of the Northern Alliance burned on his chest. "Never bring me a shipment less than what I ask." Drago warned as he walked away to the bow of the ship. The soldiers let the Trapper go and his crew pulled him up, hurrying back to the ship.
Berk
Hiccup looked at his village from the edge of a cliff. It was still amazing no matter how long he looks at it. But the Holmgang was over and he needs to return to the Dragon's Edge. Yet he hasn't. This is his home. Everyone he knew grew up. So much changed and he wants to help them. He helped Astrid train Stormfly. She was in the woods training the dragon to fight on command. He smiled knowing that out of everyone on Berk, she would understand dragons better than anyone. Yet she refuses to fly on the Nadder. Then an idea came into the young man's head. He jumped onto Toothless's saddle and the two glided down to the village. They landed next to the Forge and Hiccup jumped off the saddle. He walked inside his old home to see Gobber working on a new axe.
"Hello." Hiccup greeted and Gobber turned his head.
"What do you need Dragon Master?" he asked.
"I was wondering if I could use you Forge. I'll pay for the materials I use. I just need to make something." Hiccup answered sliding his fingers on the sword holder.
"As long as you stay out of the back, it's alright." Gobber said and Hiccup grabbed leather, wood, and metal nut and bolts. The Rider went over to a table to make a saddle for a Deadly Nadder. He worked on it for hours earning remarks and questions from Gobber. Hiccup enjoyed the time with his old friend and closet thing to a father. Even if they were working on different items. When the saddle was finished, Gobber examined it despite Hiccup's protests. He was worried the old Blacksmith would see it as his work, exposing the secret. "I don't make saddles often, but this is fine work." Gobber admitted handing the saddle to Hiccup.
"Thanks." Hiccup said as he left the Forge. Before he took off on Toothless, he turned to his old friend seeing him work on new swords. Out of everyone on Berk, he couldn't wait to tell Gobber the truth. Hiccup took off and flew to the woods to find Astrid sitting against a tree reading a book and Stormfly sitting next to her. When he and Toothless landed, he jumped off and both dragons began to play.
"What is it now?" Astrid asked not evening moving her head. As he got closer, he recognized the book as one of his drawing books.
"I came with a gift." Hiccup answered trying not to look at the book. She looked up closing the book. He held the saddle in between him and her.
"What part of no do you not understand?" she asked.
"Tell me something, how do you view Stormfly?" Hiccup asked lowering the saddle.
"A fierce, loyal, stubborn, strong Deadly Nadder." Astrid answered.
"So you don't see Stormfly as a sword?" he asked raising an eyebrow though she can't see it. Her silence answered the question. "Dragons aren't weapons. They are just like us. They feel fear, joy, sadness, pain, and Stormfly's bond with you shows me that she is just like you." he added earning more silence. He tossed the saddle to her side. "Fly on her. The feeling is unlike anything you will experience." he added before extending his hand out. "Trust me." he finished and she accepted the hand. Hiccup pulled her up. He helped her get the saddle on Stormfly before helping her up.
"You sure this is safe?" Astrid asked nervously as Hiccup climbed onto Toothless's saddle.
"Relax. If anything happens Stormfly will catch you." he answered.
"This is a bad idea." she whispered.
"Want to know how my first flight went?" Hiccup asked and Astrid nodded. "The first time I replaced Toothless's tailfin, he swung me off into a pond and he crashed soon after. The first time I used a saddle we almost crashed into a mountain, woods, and the sea."
"So what you're saying is that this can't be as bad as those." she remarked and he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Yeah, not our greatest moment. But we got it handled, didn't we bud?" he replied and Toothless groaned remembering the flights. "Let's try flying a few feet before we try a real flight." he added before he and Toothless flew above the ground for a few moments. They landed and turned to Astrid. "Just tell Stormfly to fly and she'll do it. Once she gets used to it, she'll be able to fly without command." he added and Astrid pet the Nadder's head.
"Okay then. Stormfly, fly." Astrid ordered and the Nadder flapped its wings lifting up several feet. Hiccup taught her how to steer and other commands that the Nadder will know before she landed on the ground safely.
"See was that so hard?" he asked and she shot him a glare. She jumped off the saddle to his surprise.
"That's enough flying for now." she remarked and Hiccup jumped off.
"Well, at least you got in the air." Hiccup replied and Astrid stopped and turned to him.
"Have you met a young man name Hiccup?" she asked and he was shocked. This was the first time someone mention his name in front of him.
"Hiccup? Pretty unique name." he answered leaning on a tree while the dragons played together. "Who is he?"
"Hiccup is an old friend of mine. He disappeared some years ago. Some think he's dead, but I really hope not." she remarked rubbing her arm. She was clearly hurt that Hiccup vanished and he felt some guilt.
"I'll admit the name sounds familiar." Hiccup admitted seeing hope fill her eyes. "I'll find out if he came by the Edge when I return."
"Thanks." Astrid replied before walking away with Stormfly following. Toothless nudged Hiccup's arm and he scratched his friend's head.
"I don't know if I can keep lying to them bud." Hiccup said before jumping on the saddle. They took off heading back to the Edge.
It has been three days since the Dragon Master returned to his outpost leaving Berk with only a few Terrible Terrors for something called Terror Mail. Everyone understood the concept which is why Berk chose Astrid to keep them. At first, she was nervous, but now she kinda likes them. Her folks did not, but they were patient with the new idea. Today she was in the woods just walking and thinking. Drago forces haven't been sighted since Krogan and she was worried. The Dragon master warned that the madman would send a fleet after them if the servant didn't report to his master. Berk was ready and the Berserkers relieved weapons, unlike anything Astrid has seen. All require dragons to make. She was excited to use the new weapons as did the rest of Berk, but when Gobber examined the weapons, only Astrid was able to catch his expression. It was like he saw a ghost. She tried to figure out what was wrong, but he locked himself in the Forge. Astrid wondered what could make the old blacksmith scared like that.
When she arrived at the entrance of the Cove to find the shield Hiccup took from the Forge all those many years ago. Her fingers slid across the moss that grew on it over the years. A painful reminder of what Berk lost. But there was hope. The Dragon Master might have at least heard of Hiccup. Astrid ducked under the shield and entered the Cove. She hasn't been here in a few months and the air was a fresh reminder of Hiccup. As she scanned the area, she saw a collapsed tent. In reaction, she gripped her axe and walked towards the tent. Stormfly followed but didn't make a threatening sound. Astrid searched the tent to find nothing. The tent was fresh, maybe days. Which means it belonged to the Dragon Master. This is where he stayed while on Berk, but the Cove isn't the most secured place for a Dragon Rider on Berk. Why would he be here instead of a sea stack or Raven Point? Astrid knew something else was going on Berk and she need to know what.
Dragon's Edge
"Eret's here." a soldier reported as Hiccup was eating his lunch. The Rider stopped and rushed out with Toothless right behind him. Eret landed at the Great Hall where a crowd was gathering and Hiccup ran to see what happened. Eret never comes to the Edge, so he must have big news. When Hiccup arrived to see the spy jumping off his Rumblehorn, the Rider couldn't wait to hear what he has.
"Eret, is everything alright?" Hiccup asked first and Eret nodded.
"Just a small scar." he answered and Hiccup knew that Drago must have tortured the spy.
"What happened?" Hiccup asked concerned.
"Drago branded me with his damn symbol. Hurt like Hel, but I'll live." Eret answered proving Drago's inhumanity. "But I know where he is."
"Then let's get everyone ready for a fight." Hiccup said to the cheers of the warriors.
Berk
When Astrid arrived at the Forge, she knocked on the door politely to no reply. She waited a few moments before knocking again in vain. For the third time, she banged on the door trying to get Gobber's attention. She waited but the stubborn Blacksmith did not answer. Astrid walked to a window and slid her axe in. She slammed the blade into the lock until it broke. The Viking opened the window and climbed inside to see the Forge in working order. She walked to the back where Gobber was staring at Hiccup's old designs.
"Gobber?" she asked concerned.
"That man knows Hiccup." he said and Astrid stood to his side.
"I talk to the Dragon Master about Hiccup before he left. He said it sounded familiar." Astrid remarked and Gobber stood up.
"Hiccup made those weapons." he answered surprising her. If that is true then the Dragon Master lied about knowing Hiccup. "I should have seen it sooner. I wouldn't doubt that Hiccup made that Dragon Master's sword, shield, armor, everything." he added as he leaned on the old desk. Astrid ran out of the Forge and climbed onto the saddle on Stormfly. They walked over the cliffside and the Viking took a deep breath before they fell off the cliff. Stormfly's wings caught the wind. Astrid held on close to the dragon as they flew in the wind and gained attitude. Moments later, Astrid relax and saw Berk growing smaller. The cold wind blew past her, yet it didn't bother her. It relaxed her. When the two reached the clouds, Astrid raised her left hand touching the cold damp clouds. It was unlike anything she has ever done. But she had to focus. The Dragon Master lied to Astrid's face. He needs to answer for that and she needs to find out where Hiccup is.
The Dragon Rule
"Eret was seen flying on a Rumblehorn." a soldier reported to Drago Bludvist as he stared down at his Alpha. For years the man has learned how to control the beasts. With that power, his might grew further than any warlord in the world. But with that, he had to suspect his men of betrayal. Eret has always given Drago the number needed for a shipment and even then the dragons he gave are less than splendid. So the man made a trap for the Trapper.
"Is he dead?" Drago asked coldly.
"No. He escaped, but his men are." the soldier answered and Drago turned to the man.
"He escaped?" Drago asked as he walked toward the soldier.
"Yes." the man replied fearful. Drago stood tall over the soldier and before the unsuspecting man knew, Drago whacked the man's head with his staff forcing him down. Drago raised the staff before impaling the soldier with it. The other soldiers cowered at the display.
"Move the fleet to the Mountain. We will bring the challenger to the Alpha." Drago ordered before removing the staff.
Hello, I have good and bad news. Good news, the problem I had with reviews is fixed. For some reason, they weren't showing on my end, but it is fixed. Now the bad news. I may be losing internet this week but I might not, so if you don't hear from me, then you know why. Anyways I hope you enjoyed this chapter and have a good day.