Chapter 25: Maces and Talons (Part 1)
It was a nice peaceful day and the riders were enjoying it by attacking Ryker's convoy of ships. A Hunter from a support ship was trying to shoot Hiccup down with a ballistas, but was having very limited success.
"Fishlegs, flaming boulder!" Hiccup yelled as a catapult launched a flaming boulder.
Fishlegs flew straight towards it and Meatlug ate it in one gulp. "See, girl?" said Fishlegs. "I told you we'd have time to eat."
Astrid then came flying in torching one of the catapults. "Arrows coming next, guys!" Astrid yelled.
The Hunters aimed their arrows at Astrid and the twins, but as they fired at the Haddock twins, Raeda and Snotlout flew out of nowhere and blocked their attempts with their armor. Fishlegs then fired a lava blast causing them to scatter.
Raeda flew to one of the support ships and Sparkfire launched a storm of spines, causing the hunters to run for cover. Then after that, the Thorston twins flew by blasting the ship while the Hunters were distracted.
Ryker was watching everything from his flagship using his spyglass and he was starting to get annoyed.
"Hey, bud, let's set these guys free." Hiccup said.
"Let's show them what we got, Midnight." Hicca added.
Toothless and Midnight then fired plasma blasts at the deck of Ryker's flagship and flew straight into the hold. From there they ran through the break and opened every single cell. The captured dragons follow them as they exit the ship.
To say this annoyed Ryker and Dagur would be an understatement.
"I keep saying, 'Don't underestimate them.'" Dagur said to Ryker. "And what do you do? You underestimate them!" He yelled at him.
Astrid then fired several spikes at them, Dagur dodged them behind the massed, but Ryker blocked them with his wrist guard without even looking.
"Someone is giving them information. Someone who knows our every move," Ryker said looking up as Heather flew by with suspicious.
Have got a quick glimpse of Ryker and judging from the look he gave he was starting to suspect her. She needed to prove that she was on his side and saw Snotlout flying past the support ship.
"Sorry about this, Snotlout," Heather said as Windshear blasted the sea stack he was flying towards, knocking him off of Hookfang.
"Hookfang!" Snotlout screamed as he fell.
Fortunately, the Thorston twins appear in the graph and just before he fell into the ocean.
"Well, that had to be embarrassing." Tuffnut smirked.
"Who knew you had such a feminine scream?" Ruffnut before flipping him onto Barf and Belch's back.
Heather then began to chase them down, blasting them to make it look convincing that she was still one of the Hunters and unfortunately it came at the Thorstons twins' expense. Ruffnut was then blown off Barf, but Hookfang managed to catch her before she fell into the ocean.
"Really?" Snotlout complains, taking Ruffnut's place on Barf. "Her, he saves?" Hookfang then soared past them. "Thanks a lot, Hookfang."
Ruffnut to take Snotlout's place on Hookfang's saddle. "I know I'm not as stocky or annoying as Snotlout, let's try and work together, okay?" she said to Hookfang.
'Honestly, anyone would be better than Snotlout.' Hookfang growled.
Ruffnut then forces Hookfang to fly down towards the flag ship as they dodged a boulder from one of its catapults, but they were not able to dodge the net launcher and they fell into the sea.
Heather cringed, this is not what she wanted.
"They're down! Pull them aboard." Dagur ordered.
While they were busy pulling Ruffnut aboard, they didn't notice the deck being covered with green gas.
"Okay, Snotlout, you gas, I spark." Tuffnut said.
"I got it, I got it! Okay," Snotlout said as the Hunters realized too late what was going on.
Next there was a huge explosion that knocked Dagur and the Hunters off their feet.
"Yes! How awesome are we?!" Tuffnut asked in excitement.
"Um, let me think," Snotlout said, pondering. "Totally awesome! That's who we are."
"All right." Tuffnut cheered as he high-fiving Snotlout.
Ruffnut and Hookfang then reappeared looking extremely exhausted and wet.
"Hey, when you're done handing out the Viking of the year awards, you mind getting us outta here?" Ruffnut asked.
"Shall we?" Snotlout asked Tuffnut.
"We shall," Tuffnut replied.
The three of them then flew off as Ryker's flagship was on flames.
Snotlout looked at Tuffnut. "That was—"
"Indescribable!" Tuffnut yelled.
"You!" Ruffnut yelled out, glaring at Snotlout. "Get off my dragon."
"Uh, actually, my boy, Snot, and I are gonna hang for a bit," said Tuffnut. "You know, relive the glory of battle. You don't mind riding Hookfang, do you, sis?"
"Ugh! Come on, Hookfang," Ruffnut growled.
Hookfang wasn't too happy about this switch either, as he snarled at Snotlout. 'Not just another sword, my tail.' He remarked before he and Ruffnut flew off.
Meanwhile the flagship, Ryker and Dagur had just experienced Astrid soaring right past them.
"Finish her!" Ryker ordered.
Heather knew she had no choice and chased after Astrid, cutting across a path. Astrid looked at Heather and knew she had no choice either.
"Single spine shot, girl." Astrid said to Stormfly, wanting to make this as painless as possible.
"Sorry, Windshear, but this needs to look real." Heather said to Windshear.
Stormfly then fired a spite straight towards Windshear and it hit her tail. This caused Windshear to lose balance and land on Ryker's flagship.
They watched as the other riders retreated no doubt back to their base. Astrid looked back at Heather and couldn't help but feel concerned. She didn't like the idea of putting her in danger and there was no greater danger than acting as a spy for the enemy, it would only be a matter of time before they realized the truth.
Heather then began to examine Windshear. "It's okay, girl. Just nicked you."
Ryker then approached her and crossed his arms. "What were you doing up there?"
"You have something to say, Ryker?" Heather glared.
"Something didn't look right," he commented.
"Hey, which part? You giving her a heads-up I was there? Or are you doing nothing, leaving the exposed?" Heather challenged.
Ryker growled and drew his sword. Fortunately, Dagur showed up and grabbed his arm.
"Now, now. Let's not get crazy," he said.
Ryker scoffed. "You're talking to me about crazy?" He asked rhetorically.
"Let me put it another way." Dagur said pleasantly, "If you touch one hair on my sister's head, I'll run you through and wear your rib cage as my battle armor." He threatened.
Ryker grunted and sheathed his sword and then one of his Hunters appeared.
"We're heading back to the island," He said.
"On whose orders?" Ryker asked.
"Viggo's. He's waiting." The Hunter said.
Ryker's expression suddenly changed, it almost looked like fear and then he looked back at Heather and Dagur.
"Good. We'll let him settle this," he said.
"Whoo." Dagur said, getting the feeling that this should be good.
"What do you know about Viggo?" Heather asked, thinking he'd already met him.
"Oh, just that he's pretty much the opposite of Rykie." Dagur said.
"How so?" Heather asked again.
"Svelte. Smart. And, when I say smart, I mean supposedly cleverer than me, which is almost inconceivable, it's very hard to fathom and I'm still gonna need some proof." Dagur explained as he then laughed uncontrollably and Heather just smiled nervously. "It's impossible. Who could be…" He then starts and looks serious. "But that's what they say." He then leaned closer to Heather. "Oh! And he loves the art of the kill. Loves it! And when he puts you to sleep, he's like a fart of wind, you never seem coming." He added.
Heather just gave him a black expression. "What does Ryker say about him?"
"Not much. I think the big boss scares the little guy. Scared of his own little bro and can't even hold onto his own nephew." Dagur then looked at Heather with sympathy in his eyes. "Sad. Nothing worse than a family rift."
He then gave her a big hug much to Heather's discomfort. "Oh, uh…" Heather said.
"How great is it that you're here, huh? That we're here? Together?" He then pulled away from her and she smiled at him nervously and then he looked at her seriously. "What were you doing up there?"
Heather grew worried, thinking Dagur was onto her but then he laughed. "Ha! Gotcha! You are too easy." Dagur then sighed and pulled her in close. "Now, let's go meet this…" He then acted all big and tough. "Viggo Grimborn. Ooh, now I've got the shivers."
As he walked away Heather put on a serious face, this was the moment that she had been waiting for. The moment where they can capture Viggo and put an end to the Dragon Hunters.
(Linebreaker)
Later that evening at Dragon's Edge, the Riders had just returned to the stables. Strangely enough Snotlout was still riding on Barf and Ruffnut was still mounted on Hookfang.
"Did you see that look on Ryker's face?" Snotlout asked, before Ruffnut shoved him off Barf's neck. However he quickly recovered and his face was full of excitement. "I was like, 'Tuff, now!' And you were like—"
"'Your wish is my command, Snotman!'" Tuffnut finished dramatically. "And then—"
"Bam!" They both yelled.
While the two of them were praising one another, Hiccup, Hicca and Astrid were discussing Heather and how her cover had almost been blown.
"We have to pull Heather out," Astrid insisted. "If I hadn't reacted, her cover would have been blown."
"I wanted her out after the Snow Wraith incident, considering that she and Windshear are around Hunters and Dagur." Hicca said. She hadn't quite forgiven Astrid for hiding how Heather was a spy for them, but she never let that get in the way of their missions.
Hiccup on the other hand wanted to keep her therefore little longer. "And I wanted her out just as much and somebody talked us into—"
"I know I did," said Astrid. "But, things were different then."
"How?" Hiccup asked.
"Yeah, because things don't seem different as of right now than before." Hicca pointed out.
"It's way too dangerous," Astrid said.
"It's always been way too dangerous," Hiccup pointed out.
"Considering we deal with fire, flying spikes, venom and boiling water, this is pretty normal for us." Hicca added.
"This has gotten crazy, guys." Astrid told the Haddock Twins. "And, she hasn't even met up with this Viggo character."
"Exactly. Viggo Grimborn leads the Dragon Hunters," Hiccup reminded her. "If we can take him down, the whole Dragon Hunter army will be without a leader and they will collapse."
"And if we keep Heather in there too long they're going to figure out she's a spy and you, Astrid, had a bit of experience of what it's like being in a Hunters prison cell," Hicca pointed out when the rest of the Riders except for the Haddock Twins, Snotlout and Raeda, were captured when they tried their first attack on them to rescue Stormfly, which got Fishlegs and the Thorston Twins captured and it would've been Midnight as well if Henry and his dragons didn't save them. "I know capturing Viggo is important, but are we really going to risk Heather's life?" She asked in concern.
As they were talking Snotlout and Tuffnut were busy laughing and complementing one another.
"You are so tough and nutty." Snotlout laughed.
"And you are so lout and snotty!" Tuffnut laughed back.
They then began rolling one another as they wrestled playfully.
Astrid and Hicca were still trying to convince Hiccup about how dangerous Heather was putting herself in.
Astrid looked at Hiccup. "If something happens to Heather—"
"Nothing is going to happen to her. She's way too smart for that." Hiccup said while Toothless and Midnight winced at Snotlout and Tuffnut roughhousing. "And if she thought for a second that they were onto her, Windshear would get her out. Besides, what do you think she would do if we tried to pull her out of there?"
Astrid and Hicca looked at one another and they both knew the answer to that question.
"I guess you have a point, bro." Hicca said, seeing Hiccup is right.
"Exactly." Hiccup said. "She'd never go for it. You have to remember that."
The conversation was interrupted when they saw Snotlout and Tuffnut rolling by on a wheelbarrow. It then came to a sudden stop and they were both thrown off it.
"Best time ever!" They yelled.
"Oh, my Thor." Snotlout gasped.
"I can't believe you just said that!" they said at the same time. "Me neither!"
Snotlout shrieks. "Did we just think each other thoughts?"
"Uh, I think we just did." Tuffnut said. "'Cause that's what I just thought."
Snotlout then placed his hands on his shoulders. "You know what that means?"
"I have no idea." Tuffnut honestly said.
"We just became…" Snotlout then began to talk like he was doing a singsong. "Official best friends."
"What?" Tuffnut gasped. "I have never had an official best friend! Always unofficial acquaintances."
"Well, you do now. Come on," said Snotlout. "Bring it in, but this time, for the real thing."
They watched Snotlout and Tuffnut hide one another which was extremely disturbing.
"It's good. It's good, it's real. It's real enough," said Tuffnut.
Astrid had enough of this. "Ugh! Will you two please take it somewhere else? I can't hear myself think!" she said as she walked off in a huff.
Tuffnut then looked at Snotlout. "Hey, you wanna go someplace where nobody can tell us off?"
Snotlout looks at him with teary eyes. "I thought you'd never ask."
Raeda then bumped Astrid's shoulder, "Look on the bright side, at least with Tuffnut keeping him busy, Snotlout won't be flirting with you anymore." She said.
Astrid then hummed in thought, "I suppose that's true." She said with a relieved smile at the thought of Snotlout not flirting with her anymore.
(Linebreaker)
Later that night there were in a cave along with Barf and Belch. Snotlout just stared at it speechless.
"Uh, it's perfect," Snotlout in amazement. "Where did you find this place?"
"Oh, I like to say it found me." Tuffnut shrugged.
"Great story. Now, what shall we call this Shangri-La?" Snotlout asked.
The two of them pondered for a moment and the two of them got the same idea. "'The Awesome Viking Cave Club North East,'" They said at the exact same time.
The two of them gasped and looked at one another. Then they pulled one another into a hug.
"This is too real! It's getting so real," said Tuffnut.
The two of them broke apart and laughed.
(Linebreaker)
It was late at night and Ryker had docked the ship on an island that could only be the Dragon Hunters base of operations. As they made their way to the tent that was located in the dead center of the island, Heather noticed dozens, maybe even hundreds of dragons in chains or in cages, making her sick to her stomach.
They made their way inside and there sat at the table a handsome young man, boring some similarity to Henry, with short black hair and brown eyes and was sporting a goatee. On the left side of his neck there were three scars no doubt from a dragon and his face was deeply calculative as if he was trying to find their fatal flaws just by looking.
He was wearing a black tunic with red scales on his shoulders and around his waist. He also has spiked shoulder pads and a silver belt buckle with Dragon Hunters' tribal crest on it, and black wrist guards.
Heather also noticed that he seemed to be fiddling with game pieces from a game board. It only took several seconds to realize that the game board belonged to Mace and Talons. Now she never played the game herself; she knew that it was more the test in the game for future chiefs to test their battle strategies as if they were facing the real battle.
"They say there are two ways to be fooled." He said as he fiddled with one of the pieces. "One is to believe what isn't true. The other is to refuse to believe what is." He looked at them with a slight smirk. "'Mace and Talons.'"
He then got up and made his way to them. "I began playing with my grandfather when I was just a boy. I always insisted upon being the Honourable Viking Chief. I could never understand how he bested me time and time again."
He chuckled and Dagur and Heather exchanged looks. "For years, I assumed his skill transcended mine. I believe what wasn't true." He said as Dagur and Heather looked at him in confusion, "It wasn't until me and my boy took our places at the board did I finally see what was true, but, you see, in 'Mace and Talons,' as in life, the line between good and evil is often unclear."
He then tapped the lantern with the game piece and it swung back and forth both shining light on the piece as the side covered in shadow changed. "Black and white can become gray so easily. What one soul considers evil, another might consider righteous."
He then placed the piece down on the chess board and picked up another piece that resembled that of a mace. "The Honourable Chief who fails to see this is found to be…" He then knocked the Viking chief piece over with the mace. "The fool."
He then turned to Ryker and outstretched his arms. "Welcome. Brother!" The two brothers then hugged one another and once they pulled apart Viggo placed a hand under his chin. "You must be weary. The dragon trade is an exhausting business." He comforted Ryker as if he was the older one.
Then all of a sudden a Hunter came in and tossed another onto the ground right at Viggo's feet. "Even more so when profits wane because inventory goes missing."
He then pulled his blade and pointed it at the Hunter, much to the Hunter's fear. "Uh, Viggo, I only borrowed the hide to exchange for food. It wasn't missing for more than a day," the Hunter explained quickly.
Viggo pointed his blade at the Hunter's neck and then placed his sword underneath the hunter's arm and lifted him up and looked him straight in the eye. Anyone could see the fear in the Hunter's eyes as he looked at his emotionless leader.
Viggo then looked at the other Hunter and nodded and he began to pull the now relieved Hunter away.
"Oh, thank you, Viggo. Thank you," The Hunter said with a grateful smile as he went out of the tent.
Viggo noticed the surprised look on Heather's face. "We're not animals." He said as he sheathed his sword. "Rest. Much to discuss tomorrow." He then placed a hand on Heather's shoulder. "She can stay."
Dagur looked from Viggo to Heather in surprise and then left with Ryker.
Viggo looked at Heather. "Come. Walk with me." He requested.
(Linebreak)
They walked outside as they began to patrol the Hunters' base.
"My brother's treated you well, I trust?" Viggo asked.
Heather looked at him in curiosity. "You forgave that man. I wasn't expecting that," she admitted.
"Forgiveness. Not really a sound business practice, now, is it?" he said and then she heard the screams of the Hunter from earlier. Heather then realized that Viggo never meant to spare him.
The dragon hunter leader then led Heather towards the cliff's edge. "Trust, however, is imperative, Heather." They stopped just before it and Heather noticed that Viggo still had a hand on her shoulder. "And, there simply cannot be a traitor among us."
For one horrifying moment Heather believed that Viggo knew that she was a spy.
"A man will never know how far he's willing to go until he steps to the edge and looks down," he said as they got closer to the cliff. He then looked at Heather. "Wouldn't you agree?"
"Ah, I suppose, metaphorically." Heather said nervously.
Then suddenly the cliff's edge broke apart and Viggo pulled her way. "I've always hated the use of metaphors." He commented as he pulled her to safety and brushed himself down. "Now, down to business. I need your assistance, my dear."
Heather blinked. "You do?"
"Yes. In exposing this wrongdoer who is in our midst." Viggo explained.
"Oh, of course." Heather said, relieved that Viggo had no idea that she was the spy. "Do you have any ideas of who it is?"
"Unfortunately, yes," Viggo admitted. "Ryker has always been a bit jealous of the power structure amongst the Dragon Hunters and his role in that hierarchy. That type of ambition can often cloud the mind."
"So, you think it's Ryker?" Heather asked, surprised that Viggo would suspect his brother first.
"I'm not entirely certain, I mean, my own son betrayed and left his own family with a group of dragons sometime back. So the thought of Ryker following his example isn't too hard to believe." Viggo admitted, looking dismayed. "See, your brother claims to know these Dragon Riders well, yet they always seem a step ahead of us. Now I would never suggest turning on one's own family—"
"But if Dagur is standing in the way of your… of our success, that is not to be tolerated," Heather finished for him, relieved that if Viggo suspected Dagur and Ryker she should be safe.
"Couldn't have put it better myself. Nor is it tolerable if this wrongdoer is another of my own flesh and blood." Viggo then smiled at her and they continued on their walk. "I'm so pleased that we are able to see eye to eye on this, Heather. I was going to ask if I could trust you, but you've made that question unnecessarily. Will you see what you can uncover?"
Heather nodded as she had Viggo where she wanted him.
"Excellent. In the meantime, I'd like you to join me in a most delicate 'retrieval,'" he said as he stopped and placed his hands on her shoulders. "But, we must keep it to ourselves. Tell me, have you ever encountered a Flightmare?"
"As a matter of fact, I have." Heather said, smiling as a plan started forming. "And I can even tell you where to find one."
Viggo just smiled at her. 'All according to plan.'
(Linebreak)
Meanwhile, at Dragon's Edge, Snotlout was sitting down at the cave that Tuffnut showed him. They just sat there awkwardly in silence, but that silence was shattered when they heard something outside.
Tuffnut tried to get to the entrance first, but Snotlout pushed him back and beat him to it. There standing outside was Ruffnut.
"Who is it?" he asked.
"Let me in!" Ruffnut begged. "Astrid is driving me nuts."
"No can do, poo. This is a private club," said Snotlout leaning against the cave wall. "To gain entrance you have to—" He stopped when Ruffnut showed him the Dragon Eye. "Hang on a second."
He then leaned in closer to Tuffnut and whispered, "It's your sister and she has the Dragon Eye. Should I let her in?"
Tuffnut pondered for a moment. "Well, I am kinda bored." He then started as an idea popped into his head. "Wait. We could do dragon shadow puppets."
Moments later, Tuffnut places hands together and is casting shadows on the cave walls from a combination of the light from the lantern and the Dragon Eye. In one hand he has to be a dragon and in the other was that of a Viking.
"No! Stop! Stop!" he yelled mimicking the poor Viking that was going to be devoured by the Dragon.
Both Snotlout and Ruffnut were not exactly engaging in the show.
"This place is a dump," Ruffnut grumbled, who was holding up the Dragon Eye.
Snotlout leaned back. "It's a fixer…" He stopped when he hit something sharp and he grabbed to discover he had just leaned back in a rib cage of some unknown animal. "Great bones, though."
Tuffnut finally stopped performing his rubbish puppet show and looked at his sister. "So, how'd you get your grubby little hands on that thing?"
"I just told one Mr. Hiccup Haddock and Ms. Hicca Haddock that I was taking it. And because he puts his full and unwavering trust in me, he handed over with pleasure," she explained.
She then saw both Snotlout and even her brother give blank looks, because they knew in a million years that neither Hiccup or Hicca would never trust Ruffnut with an imortant item or anything for that matter. She looked up and saw that Barf and Belch were giving her the same looks.
"Okay, fine. I stole it when they were chasing Bjorn Boar out of Hiccup's hut." She confessed.
Then they suddenly heard a loud gasp and turned to see Fishlegs pointing at the Dragon Eye open mouthed. "What are you doing with the Dragon Eye?"
"Hiccup and Hicca let us borrow it." Snotlout lied.
"Yeah, they know we have it." Tuffnut lied as well.
"I stole it." Ruffnut told the truth.
"I knew it." Fishlegs grumbled. "You know they don't like you guys playing with it."
"That's why it's fun to steal it." said Ruffnut as if that made it all right.
"Are you coming in or not?" Snotlout asked.
"Fine," Fishlegs sighed as he folded his arms. "I guess someone should be here who knows how to use the Dragon Eye correctly."
"Is this a private party or can anyone join?" They turned to see Raeda leaning against a tree.
"How'd you find us?!" Snotlout asked.
"I followed Fishlegs, who followed Ruffnut who found you two." Raeda answered simply, "Hiccup and Hicca went with Astrid to meet up with Heather, so they left me to make sure you three don't try to do something Snotnutty." She said as she then saw Ruffnut holding the Dragon Eye. "And I guess I need to make sure you three don't mess around with the Dragon Eye while they are gone." She added.
"Oh come on! Don't you trust us?" Tuffnut asked as Raeda and Fishlegs gave him blank looks.
"Do you mean before or after we left you alone with a frozen dragon three years back?" Raeda asked.
Tuffnut stayed quiet for a second before he answered. "Okay. Fair enough." He said in defeat.
(Linebreaker)
Meanwhile, Hiccup, Hicca and Astrid were meeting up with Heather on a sea stack. They heard the flapping of wings and saw Heather approaching.
"You sure you weren't followed?" Astrid asked.
"Positive," said Heather as she hopped off Windshear.
Windshear then ran up to Toothless, Midnight and Stormfly excitedly and the four dragons began to play tag.
Heather made her way over to the three Riders. "Besides, Viggo suspects Ryker and Dagur. He asked me to go with him to capture the Flightmare. Just me, Windshear and him."
Hiccup blinked. "Flightmare? Why would Viggo want the Flightmare?"
"Well it is one of the most elusive dragons in the world." Hicca noted.
"Guys, you're missing the point," Heather told them.
"They do that from time to time," Astrid commented.
"No, we don't," said Hiccup.
"Yeah, we always stick to the important details." Hicca said, being honest.
"Really, Hicca?" Hiccup asked his sister in disbelief.
"Sorry, bro. But we do." Hicca pointed out.
"Look, it's me, Viggo and Windshear," said Heather. "The perfect time for an ambush."
"I agree, but how exactly does Viggo think the three of you are going to capture the Flightmare?" Hiccup asked.
"Yeah, we could barely keep one at bay and that was with four dragons." Hicca added as they remembered the Flightmare that attacked Berk before they sent its algae trail to the ocean as it flew away to follow it.
"You two haven't met Viggo Grimborn. He is a professional Dragon Hunter." Heather pointed out.
"Right, but you're not going to actually let him capture it." Hiccup said.
"Because if he does, he might use it to freeze dragons or his enemies with its mist, making it easy for him to capture or kill them." Hicca stated.
"Of course not. That's what the ambush comes in," Heather explained. "You guys show up, gran Viggo and we set the Flightmare back on its path."
Hiccup crossed his arms. "Now all we have to do is find it."
"Yeah, but how do we find it? It flew off to the ocean when we faced it last time and we haven't seen it since then." Hicca pointed out.
"Like you said, it follows a stream of glowing algae as its food source." Heather explained. "Last year, I spent a lot of time tracking it, pinning down its location every couple of weeks. I know where it should be and I gave that information to Viggo."
"Which made him trust you even more. Hmm." Hiccup then looked at Hicca. "What do you think sis?" He asked.
Hicca thought for a sec before she spoke. "Well, if we want to stop the Dragon Hunters once and for all, we need to capture Viggo, and this may be our one shot." She said, going along with this plan.
"Great to hear, Hicca." Heather said as she continued. "Listen, I better get back." She said as she then showed them a map she drew. "This is the algae trail. Follow it to here." She said, pointing to the 'X' mark on the map. "This is where we'll be." She finished.
"So will we." Hiccup said determinaly.
"We'll meet you and Viggo there as soon as we gather the other riders." Hicca said as she took the map Heather gave them as they flew off to get the other riders and tell them their plan.
(Linebreaker)
Moments later, Hiccup and Hicca led the other Riders to where Heather had instructed.
"Whoa! Heather's tracking and mapping skills are quite extraordinary." Fishlegs said, looking at the map with an impressive look. "Is there no end to that girl's talents?"
"Hmm, can we just talk about the elephant in the sky for a second?" Tuffnut asked.
"No." Hiccup said.
"Please don't." Hicca added.
"Cool," said Tuffnut. "Why do we think Viggo once the Flightmare so badly?"
"Maybe Viggo likes the way the algae stuff makes you glow when you rub it all over yourself." Ruffnut suggested, making her brother laugh.
"You know what? You may not actually be that far off," Hiccup said. "He's gotta be using its algae or its paralyzing spray for something."
"Either for making capturing dragons easy or for something else he has in mind, which we don't know yet." Hicca added.
"We could ask him ourselves, if we were waiting for him when he gets there." Astrid said, taking the lead.
"Well, from what Heather told us, he will be there." Raeda stated.
(Linebreaker)
They soon approached the island and landed tallest cliff. They reached the edge of the cliff and saw the Flightmare drinking from a small river covered in growing algae.
"There!" Hiccup pointed. "Let's stay together. We need to make sure Viggo doesn't get near that dragon."
"How do we even know when Viggo's here?" Fishlegs asked.
Toothless then growled and Hiccup looked up to see a ship heading straight towards them and he knew instantly that ship along to Viggo.
"He already is," Hicca said as she turned to the Thorston twins and pulled out a bag. "Okay, Ruff, Tuff, make sure you get enough algae—"
"…to lure the Flightmare away," said Ruffnut, taking the bag. "We know."
"This guy never stops," said Tuffnut. "'Lue the Flightmare. Don't eat the algae.'"
"Ridiculous. I mean why would we eat the algae?" Ruffnut asked.
The blonde twins looked at one another and an idea appeared in their heads.
"Why wouldn't we eat the algae?" they asked one another.
"Maybe because it won't do anything to you at all." Raeda told them.
"Aww." The Thorston twins groaned in disappointment as they mounted Barf and Belch and flew off.
Hicca turned to her in surprise, "How you'd do that?" She asked.
"If it's dangerous and life threatening, Ruff and Tuff will do it." Raeda explained, "But if it's boring and peaceful they won't do it."
"Reverse psychology, impressive." Fishlegs commented.
(Linebreaker)
Meanwhile, in Viggo's cabin, Heather was looking out the window.
"I can't see the algae trail, but we should be getting close," she said.
"Oh, we are, Heather," said Viggo. "In fact we're almost there. Exciting, isn't it?"
Heather just smiled.
(Linebreaker)
Meanwhile on the island. Hiccup and the others were preparing for their ambush. But then Astrid noticed something quite frightening.
"Uh, Hiccup? Hicca? You both might wanna see this." Astrid said.
The Haddock Twins looked up and saw four more ships approaching them from the west and they too belonged to the Dragon Hunters.
"Hiccup, Hicca, you might wanna see this, too." Fishlegs while looking in another direction.
Hiccup and Hicca turned once again and saw three ships approaching from the east like the others belonging to the Dragon Hunters as well.
"Uh, I don't understand, I thought Heather and Viggo were coming alone." Snotlout said.
"They were." Hiccup said. "Which probably means they're not coming at all." He said.
"This whole thing was a trap." Hicca realized.
"Everyone, look out!" Hiccup yelled as they mounted the dragons.
They just now avoided getting hit, but it was close.
Heather made her way onto the deck of the ship she was on and discovered the extra ships on both sides. She realized that this whole mission was a trap and that Viggo knew she was the spy all along.
"You set this whole thing up." She said, turning to Viggo.
Viggo just smirked as he held up the Mace and Talons game piece. "He's called the 'impostor.' Some call him the 'traitor,'" He said. "I thought you should have it. As a parting gift. Pity, really. I had hoped you'd be a better adversary. And after we got off to such a smashing start."
Heather turned when she heard an explosion coming from the tallest cliff on the island. She then drew out her twin blade axe and charged at Viggo. However, he moved with such speed that he ripped it from her hands and pulled her in, pinning her down with her own ax against his body.
"How did you know?" Heather demanded as he tried to break free from the hold.
"I knew from the moment I laid eyes on you, your eyes were just like my son's," Viggo said. "You're no Dragon Hunter, my dear." He then looked at her mockingly. "Aw, don't despair. At least your friends will all be dead by the time we arrive."
That single sentence gave Heather the strength she needed. With her leg she was able to push the axe out of Viggo's hand and break free from his hold. She quickly re-claimed her axe, but when she turned to face Viggo he was gone.
Heather then heard shouts and looked up in time to see two hunters dropping down from the mast with their weapons held high. She blocked their attacks and looked them straight in the eyes as she was gonna turn all her rage upon them.
Up in the air Hiccup and the other Riders were moving into position to deal with the ambush the Hunters had laid.
"Now, on my command, fire." Dagur ordered from his ship. "Don't let them out of your sight this time."
Ryker was hanging the bowstring of a ship as he began giving orders to his men. "Keep closing in on them. They'll lead us right to the Flightmare." He commanded.
From the air Hiccup and Hicca weren't liking their odds, there were just too many ships to deal with and there was also the problem with Heather, because they had no idea what had become of each other.
(Linebreaker)
Meanwhile, on the island, the twins were unaware of the events that were going on as they made their way towards the Flightmare.
"Okay, just don't near its mouth," said Tuffnut as they carefully approached the river with a glowing algae. "Sprays this mist that can freeze you with fear the instant it hits you."
Ruffnut just stared at him. "And you know this how?" She asked.
Tuffnut shrugged. "I'm a fan."
Tuffnut then began to take some of the glowing algae into the sack. This did not go unnoticed by the Flightmare and it slammed its tail into the river spraying them with the algae.
"Do I get any on me? Am I glowing?" Ruffnut asked frantically. "Because I really don't want this thing to see me as food."
"Eh, you're fine," Tuffnut assured, not realizing the Flightmare was approaching them with a hungry look in their eyes. "How about me?"
"Same."
Then suddenly the Flightmare stood up and roared right into their faces. Instantly the twins ran for it and the Flightmare began to follow them.
"Go! Go! Go! Go!" Ruffnut yelled as they approached Barf and Belch.
Barf and Belch at once use their gas and spark attack to drive the Flightmare away, but it was just too nimble. The moment the twins mounted on their dragon they took off and the Flightmare followed them not close behind.
(Linebreaker)
Meanwhile, the Riders were having problems with the Hunters' ships. They were firing so many arrows it was hard to block them, especially for Astrid who didn't have any armor or any immunity to the tipped dragon root arrows.
"This is not good for us. There's way too many Hunters and some of our dragons have no armor and aren't immune to dragon root to even give us an edge." Raeda called out.
"Wish we had some backup." Hicca called out as Midnight blasted ships below them, but didn't notice a dragon root arrow heading towards them.
Hiccup saw the arrow as he widened his eyes and turned to his sister. "HICCA LOOK OUT!" He yelled.
Hicca turned and saw the arrow coming towards her and Midnight as she gave a scream, but then, at the last second, something sniped the arrow.
"What the-" Hicca trailed off in surprise as she saw a familiar dragon fly by, "Sandstorm?" She asked in surprise.
Sandstorm gave Hicca and Midnight a friendly warble as he turned and flew off into another direction as he flew straight to the ships. The Hunters were about to shoot Sandstorm, but then Wildstar came by and blasted some back.
And then Scout and Snaptrapper came by and grabbed some hunters off the ships and tossed them into the ocean while taking out some of their ships' weaponry.
And then, Lockjaw came flying by, but with a familiar figure that the Dragon Riders haven't seen in a while.
"Henry!?" Hicca called out to Henry in surprise and relief.
"I told you guys to not pick a fight with the Hunters, but I had a feeling you would try the opposite." Henry said before turning to the ship and saw his father smirking at him, "I'll help Heather, you guys just keep the hunters off our backs." He said.
The Riders are surprised before they nodded to him as they fought the hunters as Henry flew straight to where Heather and Viggo were.
Then out of nowhere, the Thorston twins flew past with the Flightmare not close behind.
"Not the way we would have done it, but that's one way to go." Hiccup said.
"At least they got the Flightmare's attention," Hicca said.
The Thorston twins were so busy trying to get away from the Flightmare, which was creating a ghostly trail of mist behind it, that they were able to assist the other Riders. The Hunters were not just throwing arrows now they were throwing boulders and they were slowly getting surrounded.
"And now, we are losing wing room." Raeda said in a dull tone as she and Sparkfire dodge the mist.
The Thorston Twins decided to fly close towards the ships and began blasting whatever they could, but it was only a temporary solution at best.
Heather meanwhile was to engage with the Hunters on Viggo's ship. She had just knocked one off the bridge and was now engaging the last Hunter. She then performed the most unexpected move, she tossed her axe to the hunter as he thrusted his spear and then grabbed his weapon.
She then began whacking him with the wooden pole of the spear and then tossed it to another hunter that was charging towards her. She then caught her ax which was flown into the air and then disarmed the fourth Hunter before knocking him off the bridge.
She then heard Windshear cry out and turn to find her in a cage and muzzled. "Windshear!" she yelled. "I'm coming, girl!"
She then made her way to the lower deck and stepped on the faces of the Hunters as she made her way towards the cage. Just as she reached the cage a hunter jumped out in front of her with a sword. But just before he could swing, Henry landed right on top of him.
"And stay down!" Henry said before turning to Heather, "Heather, I presume?" He asked politely.
"Uh, yeah." Heather said in surprise. "Who are…?" She trailed off.
"A friend of the Dragon Riders. I'll explain later." Henry said. "Right now, get your dragon and get in the air, I've got some daddy issues to work out." He quickly said as he and Lockjaw took to the air.
Heather shook off her surprise as she opened the cage and quickly mounted Windshear. The Hunters prepared fire arrows at her, but Windshear fired several spikes causing them to scatter.
"Nice job, girl." Heather said, patting her on the head. "Let's go help the others."
The Hunters tried desperately to stop her from escaping, but it was no good, she was way out of range before they got a proper fix on her. From the bridge Viggo watches her fly off with a fixed expression, in truth he hadn't planned for her to escape, but it was of little concern.
He then heard something land on the deck behind him, "Looks like you played your hand too quickly." Henry taunted as dismounted from Lockjaw as he gestured his dragon to fly away from them, which he did.
Viggo just smirked and turned to him, "Henry, my boy. So wonderful to see you again."
"But not in a nice way, father." Henry said as he glared at Viggo hatefully.
"True. And I heard from your uncle, Ryker, that you have aligned yourself to these Dragon Riders against us." Viggo mentioned, his smile not dropping, "It's as if we are playing maces and talons all over again, I as the leader of the Marauders and you as the honorable Viking chief."
"Yeah, except this time I refuse to lose!" Henry said as he charged at Viggo with a battle cry with his sword out.
Back in the air, the Riders and Henry's dragons are now grouped together once more and are still trying to avoid getting hit by the arrows and boulders from the ships. It was only a matter of time before they were overrun
"Hiccup, there's too many of them." Astrid said.
Just at that moment the twins blew by with the Flightmare close behind causing their own little bit of chaos with its mists.
"And the Flightmare really isn't helping." Fishlegs added.
Toothless filer plasma flat and just narrowly avoided taking a hit from several arrows himself. "We'll be fine as long as we stay from its mist." Hiccup assured.
"We need a new plan." Raeda said as Sparkfire dodged more arrows.
"Even with Henry's dragons helping us, we're still outmatched." Hicca added.
Hiccup agrees with Raeda and Hicca as they flew over to the Thorston twins as they desperately tried to shake the Flightmare.
"Hiccup, Hicca can't you two just let it know we're the good guys?!" Tuffnut asked.
"Yeah. Tell it to come in for the big win," Ruffnut added.
Hiccup and Hicca look at the Thorston twins and then look down at the river for glowing algae and ideas pop into their heads.
"That's it!" Hicca beamed.
"You guys are brilliant!" Hiccup said.
"I don't know about brilliant." Tuffnut said. "But we do have a certain glow about us." He then laughed at his own little joke. "Get it? 'Cause of our faces."
"And the brilliance is short-lived," Hiccup said, rolling his eyes.
"Nevermind that! Follow us!" Hicca called out as she and her brother then led the Riders down towards the Hunters ships as the Flightmare followed suit. Ryker frowned as the Riders got closer towards them.
"He is persistent. You have to give him that," Dagur commented.
"Yes, well, in this case, his persistence will not pay off," said Ryker confidently. He then turned to the approaching Riders. "Fire!"
The Hunters unleashed their arrows at the approaching Riders, but they dodged them. Then Hiccup for another bag of algae that the twins gave him and Toothless was holding two other bags of algae as did the other Riders.
As they flew over Ryker and Dagur's ship they tossed the bag straight at the Hunters covering them up with a glowing algae. Ryker looked at the algae and laughed.
"Oh, no! You got us," he said smugly, making the other Hunters laugh. "We surrender."
"We surrender," Dagur laughed as well. "Good one, Rykie. Bring it on, Hiccup and Hicca!" He then turned and looked at the glowing algae. "Hey, this stuff's cool. Shiny."
Then all of us suddenly Flightmare appeared and started knocking the Hunters around.
Hiccup flew above their ships with a smirk on his face. "Ryker, Dagur, I'd like you to meet our friend, the Flightmare."
"Flightmare, say hello." Hicca added with a smirk.
As the Flightmare moved along Dagur's ship the nearby hunters started to get paralyzed when its mist touched them.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Dagur yelled. "Get back to work. Shoot someone."
"They can't." Ryker told him. "The mist from the Flightmare freezes its victims with fear."
Dagur sighed. "Perfect."
The Riders continued their bombardment with the algae and the Hunters ran away from the Flightmare as it approached. Heather then appeared doing her own damage to the ships with Windshear.
"I'm so sorry, Hiccup, Hicca." Heather said as she made her way to the Riders. "Viggo, he made me…"
"We know. It's okay, he tricked all of us," Hiccup assured.
"Where is he now?" Hicca asked her.
"Still on a ship, I think, fighting a friend of yours." said Heather pointing at one of the ships.
They looked down and saw Henry and Viggo clashing swords before the older man disarmed him. "Henry!" Hicca said in distress.
Then they noticed that several hunters were able to toss nets on top of the Flightmare.
"Its mouth. Get its mouth now." Dagur ordered. Quickly the Hunters placed the muzzle on the Flightmare preventing it from spewing its mist. "That's it! Yeah!" He called out.
Heather narrowed her eyes. "Sorry. Not gonna happen," she said.
Then before anyone could stop her, she flew down towards Dagur's ship.
"Heather, no!" Hiccup yelled.
"Heather!" Hicca yelled.
They watched helplessly as a Hunter fired a net launch at capturing both Heather and Windshear. Hiccup and Hicca flew down to assist, but even with their armor, they couldn't get anywhere near the ship with all the arrows shooting over their heads.
"Astrid, keep trying for Heather." said Hiccup as they retreated. "It's time Viggo and us were properly introduced."
"And we'll try and help Henry." Hicca added as the Haddock Twins then flew down towards the ship Heather had pointed out.
Astrid and the other riders, along with Henry's dragons, try to fly down to rescue Heather, but they can get anywhere close with all the arrows and boulders flying around. Astrid watched helplessly as she saw the Hunters taking Heather below the deck.
"We're numbered! Retreat!" Astrid ordered.
The Riders followed her lead and flew away from the ships with Henry's dragons following as well.
Meanwhile, Hiccup and Hicca had reached Viggo's ship, but once they landed they found the entire ship was deserted.
"Where is he?" Hiccup asked.
"Looks like he abandoned ship." Hicca said as she looked around. "And he took Henry too." She said in worry.
Astrid then landed on the deck. "We couldn't get Heather. There were too many of them." She said as she dismounted.
"What about the Flightmare?" Hiccup asked.
"Gone." Astrid answered.
"Viggo, too, and he took Henry." Hiccup said. "Astrid, this guy isn't messing around."
"Yeah, this guy can give even Loki a run for his money," Hicca added with her hands on her hips.
"No kidding," said Astrid.
"Our dragons may not be enough, even with Henry's." Hiccup said. "We're gonna have to out-think this guy, outsmart him somehow. Or Heather, Henry and Windshear have no chance of—"
"Don't say it." Hicca said quickly. "Please, just don't say it."
The three looked at each other with concern, knowing that Viggo Grimborn might be their greatest enemy yet and if they made one more mistake, Heather, Windshear and Henry were the ones gonna pay for it.