Merida and Astrid practiced for hours. The sun hung low in the sky, and the two girls were now sitting across from each other on the ground. A shadow covered their clearing and Toothless landed next to Bonnie. Hiccup climbed off of the dark reptile.
"What-" he stopped, jaw slack.
"Wha'?"
"Did you think we'd kill each other?" Astrid asked, her head cocked to the side.
"Actually…"
"Oh ye of little faith." Merida said, shaking her head. Hiccup just stood there looking at the two girls.
"So, you're friends now?"
"I guess you could say that."
"We're not dropin' sheep on each other." Merida turned to Astrid and smirked.
"That one really was an accident. Snotlout was being an ass." She held her hands up in a defensive motion which pulled a snort from Merida's throat. Hiccup sighed and he ran his hand through his shaggy hair.
"What am I going to do now that you're friends?" He muttered under his breath. Merida climbed onto Bonnie and offered Astrid a hand. Astrid climbed onto Bonnie and smiled at Hiccup.
"A don' know. But let's have fun with et." Merida shot off into the sky, leaving a flabbergasted Hiccup in her wake. He let out a huge sigh and thrust his arms down to his side in exasperation.
"Odin's tit."
A month had passed since Hiccup and Merida's return. Since then, Merida had been training Bonnie, learning how to ride her, and practicing her skills. At the moment, Hiccup was out riding Toothless, and she had gotten bored of watching the children try and train the Terrible Terrors. She snuck out behind Stoick's chair and around the edges of the arena, hiding behind shields and barrels. She finally made it out of the arena and to the hut. Bonnie was perched on the rooftop, neck turned to the sun and feathers standing at attention. Her eyes were closed, but when she heard the familiar footsteps of her rider her eyes popped open and her tail wiggled.
"Well come here then!" Merida smiled as she put her hands on her hips. Bonnie bounced off the roof and landed in front of Merida. She rubbed the dragon's neck, and scratched off some dead skin to which Bonnie let out a purr. "Wanna' find Hiccup?" Bonnie sneezed. "A knew et!" She climbed into her saddle. "Gie et laldly!" Bonnie shot into the sky and within a few minutes, they landed next to Hiccup on a new sea stack. Merida jumped off Bonnie and the dragon immediately found Toothless. They two of them ran around the sea stack, playing with sticks and chasing each other. Merida plopped down on Hiccup's right side and she leaned into him.
"Wacha' thinkin' about?" Hiccup rose to his feet.
"My dad. I was sitting at home this morning eating breakfast, when he flounces into the room." Hiccup imitated his father, lowered his voice and puffed out his chest. "Son, I couldn't be more proud of you, I couldn't ask for a better successor." Merida's mind went blank and she stood up.
"Hiccup, yer going to be chief? That's great!" Hiccup let out a sigh and his shoulders slumped. He sat down next to the edge and closed his eyes.
"That's the thing. I don't know if it is such a great thing. I don't think I can live up to his legacy." Merida sat down next to him and took his hands in hers.
"Et's not living up ta his legacy, but making yer own. Hiccup, everyone is proud of yah. And A know yah can do this." Merida kissed Hiccup's cheek and pulled away, a string of dragon spit clinging to her lips. She screwed up her face and wiped it off. Hiccup laughed and wrapped his arm around Merida's waist.
"Thank you. It's just I feel like-" Hiccup's eyes narrowed when he looked into the distance, "there's something out there."
"There's always something out there. Yah just have to find et."
"No, Mer. I mean there's really something out there." Hiccup pointed to the horizon where plumes of smoke were rising above the trees. The duo got on their dragons and fallowed the smoke. Merida watched the trees below her turn from lush and green to black and ash covered. Not only that, but when they got closer to the cliff side and the water, the ash turned to ice. Merida gasped. She'd never seen anything like it. Then,
"Hiccup! Look out!" A net whizzed by Hiccup and the two dodged the other nets that flew their way. Hiccup landed on the ship and took out his sword. He light it on fire and the crew shrunk in on themselves.
"Who is the captain of this ship?" A young man stepped forward. His long hair was pulled back into a loose pony tail and he wore a fur vest and leather pants. His muscles rippled as he moved.
"I am! My name is Eret, son of Eret." He looked behind Hiccup and smiled when he saw Merida. "Well hello there." Merida glared at the man who winked her way. Hiccup humphed and Eret's attention was now back on the angry man.
"What are you doing?"
"My job. Why are you here dragon rider? First it was your friend with the ice spitting dragon, and now you're here? Well guess what-"
"Ice spitting dragon. Friend? There's others?"
"Like you don't know dragon rider. Now, I'll be taking those dragons."
"No, you won't." Merida stepped up, a storm brewing in her cerulean eyes.
"Yes I will. I'm the best dragon trapper around. I work for Drago Bludvist. And those dragons are coming with me." He looked at Bonnie and put his hand to his chin, Bonnie's feathers stood at attention on the top of her head and a puff of smoke billowed out of her mouth.
"I've never seen a dragon like that one before." He turned his attention to Toothless, who growled at the man and lowered himself closer to the ground of the ship in a defensive motion.
"And you never will." Merida shoved Eret in the chest and he took a few steps back in astonishment.
"She's right. Tell your boss he can forget about our dragons." Hiccup said as he climbed onto Toothless. Merida hopped on Bonnie and the duo flew back to Berk.
"Just you wait! Drago will come, with his dragon army! And he'll get your precious dragons!"
Hiccup and Merida landed in front of Gobber's dentist/saddle making hut. The couple walked in and took their respective places after pushing their way through the throng of people.
"Hiccup! You're back! So do I have my answer?"
"Dad, I need to tell you something." Hiccup said as he tied the apron around his waist.
"It'll have to wait until tonight mah boy."
"Dad, It's important."
"Number 45!"
"That's me!"
"What do you want?"
"I want lots of spikes, and-" he was cut off from a glare from Merida who had hushed the entire crowd by now. Even Gobber wasn't working as they watched Hiccup try and get his dad to listen.
"Dad you have to listen to me. Merida and I went out and we saw smoke. We fallowed it and when we came to the cliffs there was ice everywhere. This ship was destroyed. The people on the boat are dragon trappers making a dragon army for this guy… Drago Bloodfist or something." That stopped Stoick in his tracks.
"No… Everyone! Round up your dragons and head for the bunker. Now!" Everyone sprang into life as they rushed through the town to get their clothes and dragons. Stoick held a brisk pace as he made his way to the bunker, Merida, Hiccup, and Gobber hanging on his coattails.
Soon everyone and their dragons were down in the bunker.
"What's going on?" Ruff asked as she leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
"Do you need something to eat my love?" Snotlout asked.
"Ugh. No!"
"Are you hot? Do you need me to fan you?"
"No! I need you two to shut up!" The two of them stood straight up and pretended to zip their lips closed. Ruff rolled her eyes as Tuff pretended to gag.
"Dad, what's going on?"
"Is this about the guy who wants to take our dragons?"
"Yes." Stoick began to spin the tail of Drago, the man who came in and talked with a soft voice. He told of how he wanted them to bow to him, which drew chuckles from everyone. But then things got bad. Stoick explained what went on, and how he was the only one to survive.
"What if I talk to him? It could keep us from war."
"No Hiccup, war is what he wants. There's no changing the mind of a man like that."
"If I could change your mind, I can change his. I know it!" Merida smiled at her Fiancé and placed a supportive hand on his shoulder.
"No."
"Yes I am." Hiccup jumped on Toothless. Merida turned to Astrid and the two nodded. Astrid mounted Stormfly and took off behind him. As Merida was about to climb into the saddle she felt a strong hand wrap around her arm.
"Please. Stay here. You're the next in line. I need you to watch Berk. Please." Stoick's eyes pleaded with Merida and she let out a sigh.
"Okay."
"Thank you." He turned to the village and rose his voice. "Until either Hiccup or I return, Merida is the acting Chieftess of this village. Listen to her. Do not go against her." Merida stood up straight as all the eyes turned to her and she held her head up high. Stoick turned to Merida. "Where's that ship." Merida told him, and he and Gobber were off to find Hiccup.
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This is a chapter break, because I need to explain something. All the things that happen in How to Train Your Dragon 2 happen, except for the Hicstrid, while this chapter continues. This is what happens with Merida. Basing the events on what happened in the movie happened in three days.
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The Villagers turned to her, their eyes burning into her body.
"Okay. Now tha' they're gone, let's start. She turned to find Fishlegs, Ruff, Tuff, and Snotlout, but they were nowhere to be found. She groaned inwardly. 'Great. Not even five minutes and A loose people.' She pointed to a middle aged man with shaggy black hair. "Check the provisions. See how much food we have, and how long et will last."
"Yes Chieftess." He ran off. Merida pointed to well-built man a few years older than her.
"Check the metal supply. If yah can, have yer dragons melt down whatever yah can into sheets of metal."
"Yes Chieftess." Merida doled out orders and smiled when everyone was busy and occupied. About fifteen minutes later the man she sent out to count the rations returned with a dim look on his face.
"We have enough dry food to last us all a week. But we need meat every day."
"Well, tha' just means tha' A'll have ta put together a team of hunters. Does anyone here know how ta use a bow?" The man nodded.
"If they're done with their duties, bring them here please."
"Yes Chieftess." Merida smiled and turned to find Bonnie and almost knocked into a very small woman with long white hair and large eyes that sparkled with mischief.
"Hello." The old woman didn't say anything, but smiled up at Merida and walked away. Merida furrowed her brows in confusion, but was met with four faces of older men.
"You asked for us Chieftess?"
"Yes, A did. A hear yah know how ta use a bow. How good are yah?"
"We used to do all our hunting before the dragons came."
"Are yah still in practice?"
"Yes Chieftess."
"Good. The dragons are ta stay down here until Stoick and Hiccup return with good news. We will hunt by bow to save as much meat as we can. Dae yah understand?"
"Yes Chieftess." They chorused.
"Now, back ta what yah were doin'." They nodded and went back to work. Merida sighed as she ran her hand through her wild hair and sighed. This was going to be long, hard work.
An hour had passed and Merida had been out with the four men from before hunting, skinning their meal, and preparing it to be cooked. Now, as it set over the fire spinning on a pike, Merida finally sat down for the first time that evening. Just as she closed her eyes in contentment,
"Chieftess!"
"Just call me Merida!" She yelled as she groaned, head flung back in annoyance.
"Yes, Merida. Anyway, I came to tell you that the metal has been melted."
"Good. Tomorrow, we're going to apply et ta the houses." The man gave her a quizzical look.
"Why?"
"A know yah all love each other here, but et's only a matter of time before fights are going ta break out. Et's what family does. So Am ur planning on putting metal on the inside of the houses-"
"To protect them from an attack…" The man said softly, realizing just what Merida was doing. Merida nodded.
"A don't think yah want ta live down here fer a week. Yah'd forget what the sun looks like." They shared a chuckle and the man stood there watching her carefully. "Wha'?"
"It's nothing." Merida looked at the man with the look her mother had given her many times. Lips pressed into a thin line, one eyebrow raised and arms crossed across her chest. The man sighed. "It's just, we as a village were apprehensive to have you run things. You've only been a part of this village for a little over a month, but you're showing the skills of a true leader. It's just a surprise. A good one though." He added quickly.
"Nice save." Merida said, a smirk gracing her lips. The man chuckled nervously before he ran off.
The next day the village woke early for a meeting called by Merida.
"Alright. A need all of yah ta take measurements of yer houses. Without. Yer dragons."
"Why Chieftess?" Someone called out.
"A had some people melt down metal into sheets. A plan on putting metal on the inside of every house here ta keep them safe from impending attacks. From what the dragon trapper said, a dangerous man is coming, and he's going ta be looking fer dragons ta take and use fer his own purposes." Murmors flew through the crowd and Merida closed her eyes and took a deep, calming breath. "A want the dragons ta stay down here. Is tha' clear?"
"Yes." They voiced together.
"Thank yah. Now A need yah ta take measurements, and give them ta," Merida stopped as she gestured to the man, "Alvin." He nodded and Merida smiled. The day was spent on measuring and installing. By the time night had fallen, every house was safe against attack, and the village was eating in the Great Hall. There was a calm amongst the people about having their homes back, but some were angry that the dragons had to stay underground. One particular man, who looked a lot like Snotlout, called her out on it almost at dinner's end.
"Why can't they come out?"
"Am ur under direct orders from the Chief not ta let the dragons up. They could be taken, and where would Berk be then?" His mouth flopped open and closed like a fish out of water. "Exactly. If A find any dragons in the village that are above ground, A will find out who is responsible, and there will be punishment." The storm was raging behind Merida's eyes again and the man shrunk back. The lessons with her mother had paid off, and she couldn't be happier about them. Spitlout glared at the princess as he stalked off into the night. Merida's eyes narrowed at his retreating back and she sighed. She closed her eyes and silently counted to five to help calm herself.
"Alright everyone! Et's time ta go to bed. Please be safe, and remember, no dragons."
Spitlout lurked in the shadows of the night. He slowly snuck a path to the large doors that kept the dragons underground. Smiling to himself he opened them wide and sent a calling whistle to his dragon. Only a few came out, and Spitlout didn't see any problem with that. He smiled to his dragon and quickly made his way into his house, leaving the doors wide open.
The next morning Merida was woken violently to the sounds of booming in the distance. Her eyes shot open and she raced into the center of the village. Nothing was wrong. That's when she heard it. It sounded like a ship moving in the water, but it also had the vague sound of someone walking. Merida ran to the edge of the village, above the docks and gasped at what she saw. A giant dark grey and blue dragon was making its way quickly to Berk. Its large tusks dripped with blood, and its horns stuck out of its head at every angle. Flying behind it was a mass of dragons, swirling in the sky. Merida gulped. Before she could do anything, she saw dragons flying out of houses, and from the wide open doors from the bunker.
"Shit!" Merida ran back to the center of the village. The dragon lurking in the distance was now clearly visible no matter where you were in the village now. Families, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, stood in the village.
"Get inside!" Merida's calls fell on deaf ears as the first blast of ice hit. That's when all hell broke loose. Adults ran, some leaving their children behind. Merida scooped them up and tugged the older ones behind her as she ran. She placed them in the large house under the table. She grabbed all the pillows and blankets she could find and wrapped them around the children. She put pillows on top of their heads.
"Stay here. Hold each other. It's going to be okay. Hiccup will be here." The crying kids wiped their tears and nodded as Merida ran out of the house. She ran house to house, quickly instructing them what to do, and how to keep the children safe. Merida made it to where the large dragon was destroying the village and bit her lip, hard. That's when she saw them. They were back! They were trying to distract the large dragon. She ran around a house and gasped at what she saw. Riding Toothless wasn't Hiccup. It was a large man with long, greasy black hair and an equally nasty beard. Something sparkled in the sunlight and Merida realized it was his arm. Hiccup was in front of the man, riding on a small dragon. She smiled, despite the situation. He looked so funny. But now wasn't the time to be smiling. It was time for action. She watched as Hiccup talked to Toothless, and even from afar, in the quietness after destruction, she could hear the dispare in his voice.
"I know you didn't mean to hurt him-"
"Hurt who?" She did a count of people who had just flown in. There were two people she didn't recognize, and where was Stoick. Stoick. It hit her like a ton of bricks.
"They made you do it." They, referring to the man on Toothless now. The anger welled inside of Merida and she ran to the bunker to see if Bonnie was under the control of that man. She turned the corner, and there in the middle of the room was Bonnie. She smiled at Merida and wiggled her butt. Merida smiled and mounted the dragon.
"Let's go." Bonnie flew up the stairs and into the battle field. Hiccup was now on Toothless and Merida raced around to fly next to him.
"Hiccup!"
"Merida!" Merida looked into his eyes and smiled.
"Go get em babe." Hiccup grinned and peeled away from Merida. She was currently flying around the large dragon, trying to find her opening. And then she saw it. Drago was paying so much attention to Hiccup that she had to try. She stood on her saddle and grabbed her bow from its spot. She loaded an arrow, pulled back, and let it fly. It knocked the staff out of his hand and to the ground. He spun around but didn't see her. Instead he saw Toothless flying in. He smiled and watched as the Night Fury flew past him. Soon he saw that Toothless was empty, and Hiccup was flying past him.
"How?" He growled. Hiccup clicked the button on the side of his sword to release the gas, and light it. The gas burst into flames, and Hiccup smiled. But he soon realized that he might meet the same fate he had before. Toothless flew faster, and wiggled his back a little, and soon the due burst into the air above the Bewilderbeast's tail. They landed on the ground and Merida was on her way to envelop him in a hug, when the dragon burst forward, and incased Hiccup and Toothless in ice. Tears immediately fell down Merida's cheeks.
"HICCUP!" She turned to Drago, blood in her eyes as she climbed onto Bonnie.
"Merida, stop! You can't beat him!" Astrid called out.
"Watch me!" Merida yelled over her shoulder. She shot into the sky, and stood on her saddle. Drago laughed.
"You think you can stop me, little girl?"
"A am not a little girl. Am ur Merida DunBroch. Chieftess of Berk. And I'm going to protect this village with my life!" A silence fell over the village. All of the people who were hiding in their houses were now out in the village and watching. Drago laughed and then turned to the large dragon and began a series of yells, waving that stupid stick in the air. Merida narrowed her eyes at the man.
"Why isn't your dragon defying you?"
"Mah dragon listens ta no one but me." Merida said boldly. She drew back her arrow, when she heard a loud crack, and howl. Everyone turned to look where it came from, and standing in the air was Toothless and Hiccup, without a scratch. The dragon was glowing blue, and screaming at the larger dragon. Soon enough they were battling and Toothless was winning. He was shooting plasma blast after plasma blast.
"Why aren't you doing anything? Fight back!" Drago yelled at the dragon, and began waving the staff around. Toothless kept firing. The dragons that were hovering around the large beast flew behind Toothless in a protective wall.
"How?" Drago asked.
"Now do you get it? This is what it is to earn a dragons loyality!"
"Never!" Drago began yelling again and the Bewilderbeast started to attack. Toothless kept shooting plasma blasts, and they heard a large crack. The Bewilderbeast groaned and one of his tusks fell to the ground with an earth shattering thud. Drago yelled again, waving the staff above his head, making the dragon get up and fight more.
"Enough with the stick already!" Merida yelled, getting the attention of Drago. She shot her arrow through his hand, knocking the staff out. He screamed in pain and turned his attention on Merida. Toothless shot one last blast, and the rest of the dragons were fighting now. Shooting rocks, and flames, and blasts at the large dragon. Although they couldn't see him, they heard Drago yell out one more time before the Bewilderbeast sunk back into the ocean. Toothless let out a triumphant howl and the dragons fallowed suit. Dragons bowed to Toothless, who sat arrogantly in the middle of the crowd. Bonnie's feet didn't touch the ground before Merida's. The Scott ran to Hiccup and wrapped her arms around him tightly. She crushed her lips to his and tears rolled down her cheek. Hiccup pulled back and slowly wiped them away.
"A thought A lost yah." Merida let out a sob and buried her face into his chest. Hiccup made comforting noises into her ear and ran his fingers through his hair.
"But you didn't. I'm right here. And that's where I'll be forever."
"Marry me." Merida blurted out. Hiccup pulled her back and looked into her face.
"Are you serious?"
"As a heart attack." Hiccup grinned and picked her up by her waist and twirled her around. Merida smiled at Hiccup and she saw all the love he had for her glow in his eyes.
"Ahem. Aren't yah gonna' introduce me?" Hiccup set Merida down and wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Merida this is my mom, Val." Merida turned to Hiccup with a confused expression and the two laughed. "We'll explain later." At the mention of parents, realization hit Merida again.
"Is Stoick…"
"Yes." Val said solemnly. Merida's eyes stung. She didn't get to say goodbye.
"We're going to have a Viking Pyre here. And I want you to shoot the first arrow Mer." Hiccup said, squeezing Merida's hand. She nodded and swallowed the sadness. She should be happy. Everyone was back where they belonged.
I'm sorry it took me so long to update, but I've had things I had to do. I hope this 4,154 word chapter makes up for it(: You guys are so great and I wouldn't have any motivation to write this without reviews. Alrighty! I'm off to make the next chapter!