Author's note: As promised here's the next chapter. Thank you to those who have favorite and followed this and my other stories. I only ask that you review my chapters and tell me what you think.
I don't own How to Train Your Dragon, only Hicca (female Hiccup), Asher (male Astrid), Bones (Boneknapper), Serpentina (Grapple Grounder), Mist (Scauldron), Blazer (Monstrous Nightmare), and Etch (Whispering Death).
"..." Human p.o.v.
"..." Dragon p.o.v.
'...' Human thought.
'...' Dragon thought.
On with the chapter. Be sure to leave a review when you finish.
Chapter 17: Breakneck Bog
'Everybody has lost something they thought they couldn't live without. Sometimes to find it again you have to be willing to do anything-even look fear right in the eye. Just make sure you don't blink.'
Stoick, Gobber, and Hicca embark on a search for Trader Johann as Johann is overdue to its annual visiting to Berk.
"Where is he? He's been late before, but never this late." Stoick says flying on Thornado with Gobber behind him.
"Are you sure Trader Johann even has it?" Gobber asks.
"I'm sure. I heard from Jorgensen, who heard from Stevenson the Shepherd, who talked to Toldstadt the Fisherman, who said he saw Johann put it on his boat himself." Stoick says making Gobber raise an eyebrow.
"Well, it doesn't get any more sure than that." Gobber says not sounding to sure himself.
"You know, it might help if I actually knew what we are looking for." Hicca says to her father.
"We're looking for Johann. That's all you need to know." Stoick says to his daughter.
"Man these guys are heavy." Thornado says.
After hours, Stoick decides to turn back to Berk, and is upset.
"Not to worry, old friend. It'll arrive safely and in good time." Gobber says patting Stoick shoulder.
"Okay, sweetie. I'm are going on a little field trip with Bones." Hicca says.
"Oh, sounds like fun. Can I come." Toothless asks.
In the morning, as she prepares supplies in the satchel attached to Bones with Toothless watching.
"Okay Bones, since you're going with her I want you to take extra care of her. Got it." Toothless says to his brother.
"Don't worry. She won't get a scratch on her beautiful skin." Bones says.
"Aww, you both are so sweet." Hicca says scratching her dragons' chins. "Okeydokey. We'll start in the west islands and work our way back." She says but then senses two dragons behind her. "Oh no." She whispers knowing who it is.
"Back from where?" Asher asks hopping off Blazer's saddle with Stormfly standing beside her brother.
"Uh, j-just a quick spin around the island." Hicca says trying to lie.
"Uh-huh. Quick spin, huh?" Asher says reaching into the satchel and the large salmon and water container. "With enough food to feed Snotlout's whole family?" He says.
"Did I hear my name?" Snotlout asks running over after entering the academy. "Ooh, do I see a salmon?" She asks taking the fish from Asher as well as the water.
"All right, look, if you must know…" Hicca begins to say.
"And we must…" Asher says to his crush.
"Mmm, mmm!" Snotlout says continuing to eat the salmon, loudly.
"I'm going to do something for my father." Hicca says looking at them but they don't look satisfied. "Okay, okay. Trader Johann is bringing something for him. Something important. And he should have been here by now." She says.
"You're not trading this fish, are you? Because it's delicious!" Snotlout says but Hookfang snatches it from his rider.
"You're right. It is delicious." Hookfang says eating the fish.
"Hey." Snotlout says snapping her fingers signaling for Hookfang to return it.
Hookfang the retches up the remainder of the salmon in hand which she eats after shaking off the dragon saliva.
"When do we leave?" Asher asks.
"I need to go alone. If we all disappear, my daddy will get suspicious. That's why I'm leaving Bones, Serpentina, Mist, and Etch behind as well." Hicca says.
"Go alone? You without us?" Snotlout asks laughing her head off. "Like you could handle anything if we weren't there to bail you-" She begins to say before choking. "Help me-oof!" She says as Asher punches her in the gut causing the fish head lodged in her throat to come out. "Out." She says with strain.
"All-all right. Fine. You two can come, but that's it. Don't even tell the others. Heed my warning. I am serious." Hicca says.
Later as Hicca was flying through the air on Bones' saddle but wasn't looking too pleased.
"Hey, Hicca?" Tuffnut calls out making Hicca look to her left to see both the twins and Fishlegs. "Snotlout told us there'll be salmon, and I love lox." He says.
"I'm pretty sure I said, "Don't tell the others."" Hicca says looking to her right.
"And I'm pretty sure I didn't listen to you." Snotlout says mockingly.
"Hicca, aren't you always saying it's better when we work as a team?" Fishlegs asks.
"Yeah, next time I say that, just slap me in the face." Hicca says.
"I'll do it right now." Ruffnut says to her best friend.
"She will. And she slaps like a guy. It's awesome. Watch." Tuffnut says leaning closer to his sister as she slaps him. "Aah!" He says in slight pain. "Yeah." He says.
"Hey, look!" Asher says pointing towards the ocean below.
"I can't see anything through the tears." Tuffnut says still feeling the effects of the slap.
Floating on a piece of driftwood was a man seemingly unconscious.
"Is that…Johann?" Hicca asks.
"I thought he had a bigger boat than that." Snotlout says.
"Come on, gang. Let's check that out." Hicca says as she and Bones dive down grabbing Johann off the driftwood and head for the closest island.
As soon as Johann regains consciousness, he is deeply traumatized of what happened to him.
"The fog. The fog." Trader Johann keeps repeating.
"Johann, where is your ship?" Hicca asks.
"No idea. All I know is one minute I was sailing in a perfectly calm sea, the wind at my back. And the next thing I know, my entire ship is pulled out from under me, and I'm shark bait!" Trader Johann yells.
"I don't understand." Hicca says handing him a large fish.
"I do, I was three days late and trying to make up time, and I got too close." Trader Johann says.
"Too close to what?" Fishlegs asks.
"Too close to…Breakneck Bog." Trader Johann says.
"Breakneck Bog." The teens say together.
"Many a ship has sailed into its waters. Few have returned." Fishlegs says.
"My grandfather has told me it's pirates." Asher says.
"That's ridiculous. Everyone knows it's haunted by a Fog Monster." Snotlout says.
"Fog Monster?" Fishlegs asks.
"The legend says the Fog Monster makes this really creepy moan." Tuffnut says moaning creepily. "Then he surrounds you and scrapes the skin off your bones." He says making Fishlegs shriek. "And then he scrapes the bones off of whatever's under those." He says.
"And then it drops the bones from the sky." Ruffnut says.
"Yes, yes, it's true, what he says. It-it surrounded me." Trader Johann says.
"See? Fog Monster. Pirates." Snotlout says chuckling. "Stupid grandfather." She says as Asher glares at the girl.
"Johann, we have to find your ship. There's something on it for my father." Hicca says.
"Yes, yes, yes, there was. But it wasn't for your father. It was for you." Trader Johann says.
"For me? From who?" Hicca asks confused.
"He didn't tell you? It was from your mother." Trader Johann says making Hicca's eyes widen in shock.
"My mother?" Hicca asks.
"That's impossible." Asher says.
"What is it?" Hicca asks.
"I have no idea, lass. I just know it's in a large chest with the Berk crest on it." Trader Johann says.
"I have to find it. Take us back there. You show us where you were when you lost your ship." Hicca says.
"NO! No, I won't! You can't make me! I have a knife in my boot." Trader Johann says whimpering as Tuffnut elbows his sister and they both chuckle. "I don't have a knife in my boot. But no more fog, please." Trader Johann begs.
"All right, just tell me how I can find Breakneck Bog." Hicca says.
"Head due East. There's a group of islands in the shape of a man's hand. Breakneck Bog is the thumb." Trader Johann says holding up his thumb.
"Snotlout, you and the twins take him back to Berk." Hicca says.
"Back to Berk? With this clown and those clowns?" Snotlout asks complaining.
"Would you look at him? You don't have any choice. And if anything happens, you'll be glad you have them with you." Hicca says as the twins smirk and Tuffnut chuckles.
"Question. What are the rest of us doing?" Fishlegs asks.
"We're going to Breakneck Bog." Hicca says making Fishlegs whimper.
Later the three riders take off into the air as Fishlegs has Meatlug fly next to Hicca and Bones.
"What if I gave you something from my mother? Or I could give you my mother. You know you love her crab cakes." Fishlegs says trying to bribe the girl.
"The fog. The fog!" Asher says making Fishlegs yelp and the boy laughs.
"That's so funny." Stormfly says.
"No that's just mean." Meatlug says to the Deadly Nadder.
"Tears, Asher? Is that what want to see?" Fishlegs asks.
"Look. There it is." Hicca says pointing to the group of islands in the shape of a hand.
"Breakneck Bog." Fishlegs says.
The three then head straight towards the thumb-shaped island.
Meanwhile, the Twins and Snotlout, who reluctantly accepts her assignment but admits it to be lame, escorts the frightened Johann back to Berk.
"Still waiting on that salmon." Tuffnut says.
"This job is lame. And so are you. Stop crying." Snotlout says as she makes Hookfang take off and they fly in Berk's direction with the twins following on Barf and Belch.
Meanwhile, Hicca, Asher and Fishlegs have flown all over the island and has no success to find Johann's ship, not even its remains.
"I don't get it. We flew all around the island. No boat." Hicca says holding onto Bones' bone armor.
"Not even the remains of a boat." Asher says gripping Stormfly's horns.
"You know who would take a boat? A Fog Monster." Fishlegs says but then hears moaning causing Bones to roar ready to protect Hicca.
"Settle down, buddy." Hicca says petting Bones' head while Meatlug growls.
"It's okay, Meatlug. It's okay." Fishlegs says rubbing Meatlug's face as Stormfly growls too.
"What was that?" Asher asks.
"Only one way to find out." Hicca says as she has Bones walking into the forest with Asher having Stormfly follow.
"Wait a minute. You don't go towards the weird, scary sound." Fishlegs says not making Meatlug move.
"Yeah, we do. We always do." Asher says real quick before continuing forward..
"I hate that about us." Fishlegs says before going forward.
A few minutes later the riders dismount their dragons and walk along side them until Fishlegs stumbles onto a bone and hears it crack. When she looks down she sees hundreds of leftover bones.
"Ugh, bones. That's just perfect." Fishlegs says.
As Asher walks on, Stormfly becomes cautious and then manages to pull Asher away from being crushed by a plummeting anchor. Hicca runs over to see if her crush is okay and the two look up to see what the anchor was attached to.
"Wow." Asher says looking up still being held by his shirt in Stormfly's mouth. "Trader Johann's ship." He says.
"Wow. He really got off course." Hicca says as Fishlegs walks up beside her.
"Fog Monster." Fishlegs says as Hicca and Asher glare at the girl.
The riders then mount their dragons as they fly up to the ship and attempt to land on the ship only for the dragons to pull away and just hover there.
"Stormfly!" Asher shouts.
"They're afraid. And they're dragons. So we should ask ourselves, what are we doing?" Fishlegs asks.
"That boat's not gonna hold them. We have to jump down and send the dragons below." Hicca says.
"Great. That's just perfect." Fishlegs says rolling her eyes.
Hicca hops off Bones' saddle and lands perfectly on the ship along with Asher but Fishlegs wasn't so lucky.
"Oof!" Fishlegs grunts after landing on her back.
"Bones. Ground." Hicca says while also using hand signals.
"You got it, Hicca. Stormfly, Meatlug, follow me." Bones says diving downward.
"Right behind you." Stormfly says.
"Wait for me." Meatlug says.
"Stay where you can hear mommy!" Fishlegs says.
"Okay, so let's just find this thing and get out of here. We're looking for a chest with the Berk crest on it." Hicca says but then a large bone falls onto the ship making Fishlegs gasp.
"Care to explain that?" Fishlegs asks and a second later more bones fall from the sky.
"Below deck!" Asher yells shielding his head like the girls as they run below.
"Ah, it's just a little…bone shower. And it passed." Hicca says after hearing the clattering stop.
"Bone shower. So I'm the only one who thinks that's weird?" Fishlegs asks.
"Um…" Asher tries to say while raising his hand.
"Eh, okay, it's a little weird." Hicca says standing up but then hears scraping.
"So is that." Fishlegs whispers.
"Okay, let's just start looking for the chest and quickly. That really doesn't sound like friendly scraping." Hicca says.
As they look around the scraping gets louder but then Fishlegs sees a human skeleton arm and hand touch her shoulder causing to emit a loud shriek and runs around before stopping in front of Hicca.
"Fishlegs, I found it." Hicca says holding a large chest in her arms.
"Oh, oh, thank Thor. There was a hand. No skin. All scraped off." Fishlegs says but then hears heavy footsteps and moaning.
"It's coming after us!" Asher shouts.
"Hide! In there!" Hicca says spotting the storage room.
"Nobody…breathe." Hicca whispers.
"I just want you to know, I love you guys." Fishlegs says after seeing something trying to open the door.
Once the door opens they scream but shock to discover it was only the twins and Snotlout making fun of them.
"Hey, guys. Need a hand?" Tuffnut asks holding the skeleton arm out at them.
"UGH!" Asher yells as he smacks Tuffnut repeatedly with the skeleton arm.
"Agh! Ow! Ow! Ruffnut, do something!" Tuffnut yells to his sister only for her to take the arm and smack him repeatedly too. "Ow! Ow! Ahh!" He yells.
"All right, all right, break it up, you guys." Hicca says.
"YEOUCH! Ow! Ow!" Tuffnut yells in pain but Asher takes the arm and hit him one last time. "Ouch!" He groans.
"So let me get this straight. This was all you. The bones, the scraping?" Hicca asks.
"That's right. And this was all you. "Ooh! Ahh! Eek!"" Snotlout says mockingly.
"Actually, most of that was me." Fishlegs admits.
"Okay. Why-why would you do that? What were you thinking?" Hicca asks.
"That I was gonna make you pay for sticking me with Trader Johann." Snotlout says.
"Where is he?" Hicca asks not seeing Trader Johann anywhere.
"Don't worry about him. He's fine." Snotlout says remembering that she and the twins left him on a rock in the ocean.
"Just so you know, I'm not going to forget this." Asher says smacking the girl in the stomach with the skeleton arm. "And what's with that stupid necklace?" He asks.
"You likey? Yeah, just a little something I found on deck. I can grab one for you if you want." Snotlout says but then Trader Johann's boat begins to rock back and forth, then suddenly falls out of the tree, and crashes to the ground.
"Everybody okay?" Hicca asks but the a monstrous roar is heard. "Run!" She yells and attempts to get to the deck but fog suddenly appears at the stairs.
"Just so you know, this fog, not us." Snotlout says as the fog surrounds them.
"Okay, I'll admit. Starting to come around on the fog monster theory." Hicca says as the fog fills the entire room causing the teens to scream and when it starts to clear Fishlegs is still screaming and on Snotlout's back.
"Hi." Fishlegs says but is pushed off by Snotlout.
"We're alive. Right?" Ruffnut asks as her brother pinches her. "Ow!" She says and punches him.
"Oof!" Tuffnut says in pain.
"Can we please just get out of here?" Asher asks.
"Wait. The chest, it-it's gone. I just had it." Hicca says noticing the chest has disappeared.
"Too bad, so sad. See you back at Berk." Tuffnut says as he, Ruffnut, Snotlout, and Fishlegs climb to the upper deck and get off the boat running back to their dragons.
"Oof!" Fishlegs yells after falling on her back, again. "Meatlug, oh! Oh, I missed you, Meatlug. Don't worry, Mommy's taking you home." Fishlegs says as she and the other riders minus Hicca and Asher mount their dragons and Bones climbs onto the boat.
"You guys go on. I have to find that chest." Hicca says to them.
"Do what you gotta do. See you when we see you." Snotlout says.
"Hold on, you guys. That chest is from her mom." Asher says standing next to Hicca on deck.
"Yeah, touching story. Gotta go." Tuffnut says while Ruffnut starts to rethink her decision considering Hicca is her best friend.
"Put yourself in her shoes." Asher says.
"Shoe." Snotlout corrects him.
"Ugh, what if it was your mother?" Asher asks making the riders pause and think about it, and then they return back to the ship.
"I hate you." Snotlout says pointing at Asher. "And this does not mean we're really friends." She says to Hicca.
"Thank you, guys. I mean it. Now let's go find that fog monster." Hicca says.
Moments later, after a struggling search through a mist they find the fog monster.
"There it is!" Asher calls out spotting the fog monster.
"Is it just me, or does fog not move like this at all?" Hicca asks after observing the fog monster move in a very unusual way.
As the riders were about to catch up to the fog monster it suddenly splits in two.
"There's two of them!" Snotlout yells.
"Asher!" Hicca yells pointing to her right.
"On it!" Asher shouts back as he, Snotlout, and the twins head right while Hicca and Fishlegs go left.
The girls follow their monster into a chasm and the other riders show up a second later.
"We lost it." Hicca says.
"So did we." Asher says.
"Uh, it didn't lose us." Tuffnut says pointing ahead to see the fog monster coming right at them and surround them causing the dragons to roar with unease.
"Settle down, buddy." Hicca says trying to calm her Boneknapper down but suddenly they all flap their wings and lift themselves into the air.
"What are they doing?" Ruffnut asks no one in particular.
"They're leaving us." Tuffnut says.
"I knew Hookfang never liked me." Snotlout says.
"We're not leaving." Hookfang says.
"Just watch." Bones says as they start flapping their wings causing the fog to start being blow away.
"They said they're not going anywhere. Look." Hicca says pointing as the fog vanishes to reveal dozens small dragons.
"They're dragons." Asher says.
"Yeah. Angry ones." Snotlout says looking around to see the chasm filled with the small dragons.
The small dragons were approximately the same size as a Terrible Terror (maybe a little larger), and are entirely gray. They're heads and mouths are as big as they're body, and it has no discernible neck. They have short, stubby legs and a wingspan equivalent to over twice they're body length though some look like they're bodies are longer than they're wingspan. They're tails are long, thin, and very spiky.
"Oh, look on the bright side, Fishlegs. No fog monster." Hicca says.
"I feel so much better now." Fishlegs says quivering in slight fear.
"What are those things?" Ruffnut asks.
"They're like smoky dragon-pirates without the eye-patches." Tuffnut says.
"Smothering Smokebreath dragons." Fishlegs says making everyone look at her. "What?" She asks.
"You knew about these things?" Snotlout asks pointing at the dragons.
"Well, I've read about them. I didn't believe they actually existed." Fishlegs says.
"So you went with fog monster instead?" Asher asks with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Guys, can we please talk about this later? What else did the book say?" Hicca asks Fishlegs.
"They hide themselves in a veil of smoke." Fishlegs says listing the characteristics on her fingers. "They're very territorial and, uh…I forget the third thing." She says after a long pause.
The Smothering Smokebreaths start flying at them. Hicca quickly mounts Bones and he fires fireballs at the small dragons but they were really quick. Asher uses his axe to block one of the dragons that has its mouth on the axe handle. Stormfly blast a stream of fire at the dragon causing it to fly away. Hookfang ducks his head a Smokebreath flies over him and releases his own stream of fire at the dragons in an arc. Tuffnut was being lifted into the air by two Smokebreaths but Barf and Belch grab his legs doing more damage than help. Hookfang and Meatlug try to make a break out of the chasm but are quickly downed by the small fast dragons.
"There's too many of them. Let's fall back." Hicca says.
"Um, fall back where?" Tuffnut asks.
"Give us a fire line!" Hicca shouts pointing forward.
"Don't have to ask us twice." Tuffnut says as Ruffnut has Barf release his gas and Tuffnut makes Belch ignite it causing a big explosion to occur making the Smokebreaths scatter as the riders quickly make their way out of the chasm and land near the edge of it.
"What are we doing? Why are we still here?" Fishlegs asks.
"I can't leave here without that chest." Hicca says with determination.
"You don't even know if they have it!" Snotlout says but then they see more Smothering Smokebreaths carrying the large anchor into a cave in the chasm.
"I have a pretty good idea. Let's get a closer look." Hicca says.
Later the riders were spying on the cave and see three Smokebreaths fly into the cave.
"Fishlegs? Anything more you'd like to share?" Hicca asks still looking at the cave.
"Unfortunately yes. That third thing. The Smothering Smokebreaths build their nest out of metallic objects." Fishlegs says.
"That doesn't sound too cozy…or does it?" Tuffnut asks.
"It's not supposed to be. They do it to defend against attacks by bigger Dragons." Fishlegs says.
"I wish I could see in there." Hicca says clinching her fist.
"Yeah, you do." Tuffnut says snickering looking through the spyglass backwards.
"Where did you get that?" Hicca asks after seeing the spyglass.
"Duh, from the ship or whatever that was in the tree." Tuffnut says but Ruffnut snatches it from her brother and hands it to Hicca.
"Thanks, Ruff." Hicca says and looks through the spyglass to see the Smokebreaths using their fire to wielding the metal objects. "They're melding them all together. The chest! It's in there. We've get to get them away from that pile of loot." She says.
"Maybe we can lure them away." Asher says.
"With what?" Hicca asks but then they hear Snotlout whistling.
"Shiny." Snotlout says polishing her necklace but then sees everyone looking at her grinning making her blink and then chuckle. "What?" She asks and looks at her necklace and realizes what they're thinking. "No! No way! I got a better idea, let's use your leg to get them out. It's made of metal" Snotlout says.
"Snotlout, we've been over this. I need this prosthetic leg to walk." Hicca says angrily.
"Well I need my shiny necklace." Snotlout counters.
"Oh for the love of Thor. You said you could get another…ahh!" Hicca screams as something grabs her foot and drags her away.
"Hicca!" Everyone shouts as they try to grab and help her but weren't quick enough.
Bones hears his rider scream and lands in the path of her being dragged.
"Hicca, grab hold!" Bones shouts as Hicca wraps her arms around Bones' leg and he pulls her away from whatever grabbed her, which turned out to be a lone Smothering Smokebreath.
"It's another Smokebreath." Asher says running to Hicca's side along with everyone else.
"A lone one at that." Fishlegs says.
The Smokebreath then starts growling at the riders and dragons and gets into a defensive stance.
"It's a male and he's saying that's his metal." Bones says to Hicca.
Hicca looks at the little dragon and scoots closer to him causing him to growl as she holds out her right hand.
"It's okay, it's okay." Hicca says is a soothing voice causing the Smokebreath to crawl to the girl and press his snout against her palm. "Good boy." She says scratching his face making him purr.
"That feels nice." The Smokebreath says leaning into the scratching.
"I'm glad." Hicca says causing the dragon to stare at her.
"You just understood me." The Smokebreath says in shock.
"Now what's this about "your metal"?" Hicca asks.
"That bent metal piece there is something I need to build my nest since those jerks in there are greedy." The Smokebreath says.
"So you're all alone?" Hicca asks.
"Yeah, been that way for years. And with them always getting their hands on every piece of metal they can find, it's been tough." The Smokebreath says.
"Well this piece of metal if a replacement for the foot I lost a while back. I need it to walk." Hicca explains to the small dragon.
"Oh I'm sorry. I didn't know." The Smokebreath apologizes.
"I know, how about you come with me and be part of my dragon herd. You won't have to worry about making a nest to defend yourself and you'll be well taken care of, plus you'll have a new family. One that'll always help you." Hicca says.
"That's right, three sisters, plus me and another brother." Bones explains.
"So what do you say?" Hicca asks as the riders just stare a bit wide eyed at what's happening while the Smokebreath stares at Hicca and Bones for a good solid minute.
"Aw what the heck. Not like I got anything going for me here." The Smokebreath says.
"Great, now all you need is a name and I think I have the perfect one considering how you grabbed my leg before. How do you like the name Grabble?" Hicca asks.
"Grabble? I like it." Grabble says flying into Hicca's arms as she giggles hugging her newest dragon while Bones watches with amusement at his rider's happiness.
"So, just like that, she now has six dragons?" Tuffnut asks.
"Looks like it." Fishlegs says.
"That's Hicca for you. Always full of surprises." Ruffnut says about her best friend.
"Okay now Hicca, I'm glad you got a new dragon but let's get back to retrieving that chest." Asher says.
"You're right Asher. Okay let's get to work." Hicca says with Grabble on her left shoulder with his tail draped across her right shoulder as they all look back at Snotlout who is clutching her metal necklace.
A few minutes later Snotlout was standing on a rock in front of the Smothering Smokebreaths' cave with her necklace extended off to the side.
"Here, dragons! Got something for you! Over here! Come get it. I'm gonna make Hicca eat that chest." Snotlout grips as see watches the Smokebreaths come for her.
"Quickly! Quickly! Those things will be done with Snotlout any second now." Hicca says now sitting on Bones' saddle with Grabble still on her shoulder and flies in with Asher and Stormfly.
"Uh…nice dragons." Snotlout says as the Smokebreaths surround her in a veil of smoke and then scratching is heard. "Ah! Ooh! Watch it! Not there! Hey!" She yells and when the Smokebreaths leave Snotlout is gone too.
Inside the cave Hicca is climbing up the pile of metal loot trying to get to the chest while Fishlegs looks behind them to see the Smokebreaths returning.
"Um, guys, they're coming!" Fishlegs shouts as the Smokebreath enter the cave.
"Hicca, look out!" Asher shouts as Stormfly and Meatlug get into defense position.
"Bones! Grabble!" Hicca shouts as she grabs the chest and Grabble growls at the other Smokebreaths while Bones uses his wings to blow the smoke away.
Hicca then climbs onto the saddle and spots the opening as Bones takes off as Grabble flies beside them.
"Hicca, don't leave me!" Snotlout yells and then screams when two Smokebreaths start melding her necklace to the pile.
"Oh, great. Fireball." Hicca says.
"Heads up." Bones says and fires two small fireballs at the dragons scaring them off and freeing Snotlout in the process.
"Oh, yeah!" Snotlout cheers flexing her muscles before getting onto the saddle behind Hicca.
The riders and dragons then fly out of the cave with the Smokebreaths behind them and one of them snapping at Snotlout trying to get the necklace.
"Snotlout, would you leave the necklace?" Hicca asks.
"No, it's my shiny!" Snotlout shouts.
"Well, it's you or your shiny." Hicca says as Snotlout thinks for a moment before finally releasing the necklace to the Smokebreaths.
"Hookfang!" Snotlout calls to her dragon. "Aah! Ugh!" She screams as he flips her into her saddle.
"Anything you have that's metal, throw it at them." Asher says as they all get rid of their metal objects causing the smoke cloud to get smaller and smaller.
"We did it!" Snotlout yells after looking behind her to see the Smokebreaths weren't following.
"Hicca!"Asher yells as he sees a Smokebreath grab Hicca metal leg.
Hicca screams as she struggles to hold onto her dragon's saddle. Grabble then flies forward and does and upward 180 before flying right at the Smokebreath.
"Let go of her!" Grabble yells as he rams his fellow Smokebreath as it flies away.
"You will not haunt my dreams! Because I'll never sleep again." Fishlegs says as she and the riders leave Breakneck Bog.
Hours later at Berk, Snotlout and the Twins' dragons help Johann's severely damaged ship to be carefully land down to the harbor as it undergoes repairs.
"All right, all right, that's it. A little to the left." Stoick says standing on the dock with Gobber on his left and Trader Johann on his right.
"We're going to have to clear the forest to fix that boat." Gobber says looking at Trader Johann's ship.
"We're glad you're safe, Johann. Is there anything else we can do for you?" Stoick asks.
"Yes, just give me five minutes alone with the three who dropped me back in the ocean!" Trader Johann yells angrily at Snotlout and the twins.
Moments later, Stoick and Hicca were in their house with the chest on the table in front of them.
"Go ahead. Open it." Stoick says to his daughter.
Hicca looks at her father for a moment and he nods at her. She then places her hands on the chest and hesitates for a second before she finally opens the chest to reveal it was full of doll-stitched dragon dolls and a beautiful metal flute on top.
"I remember these." Hicca says picking up a doll-stitched Scauldron and the flute.
"Aye. You should. Your mother made them for you when you were just a baby. She spent days going through the Book of Dragons and stitched a doll of every dragon species in the book. Scared you half to death. You didn't sleep for a week." Stoick says.
"What? I was afraid of dragons?" Hicca asks as Toothless and Grabble sniff the doll.
"Oh, terrified. She also made you that flute and tried to play you a song while making one of the dolls dance but it didn't help. One day, we were out fishing and you packed the flute and all the dolls into the chest and tossed them into the sea." Stoick says.
"How did you find them?" Hicca asks.
"Well, the chest showed up in a fishing net. Trader Johann got it in trade and contacted me." Stoick explains.
"I was so little when mom…you know. I was starting to get afraid that I'd forget her. But now…I love them." Hicca says to her father.
"Ah, Hicca. It would make your mother very, very happy to finally hear that." Stoick says.
"It looks like every species is here except for…" Hicca begins to say.
"The Night Fury." Stoick finishes his daughter's sentence. "Well she never seen one before." He says.
"Well then I'll have to make it. Good thing I've got the perfect model for it." Hicca says scratching Toothless' chin making him purr in delight.
Later Hicca is in her dragon stable and gives her dragons their own dragon stitched doll and leans against Etch as Hicca places the flute to her lips while her dragons gather around as she begins to play a song.
'Most people are afraid of things because they don't understand them. For me, it was dragons. Then one day that changed, and my greatest fear became my best friends.'
Author's Note: Hope you all liked this chapter. Gem of a Different Color will be out this week or next. Stay tuned and be sure to review any chapters you haven't yet.
Hicca's Dragons: Toothless (Night Fury), Bones (Boneknapper), Serpentina (Grapple Grounder), Mist (Scauldron), Etch (Whispering Death), and Grabble (Smothering Smokebreath).
Asher's Dragons: Stormfly (Deadly Nadder), and Blazer (Monstrous Nightmare).