Chapter 28: Crash Course
It was a normal day on the Edge and the Haddock Twins were firing plasma blasts at the cliff wall. They were gathering rocks so they could use them on their catapults in case the Dragon Hunters attacked the Edge.
"Hah! Great choosing, bud," Hiccup cheered. "Perfect for the catapults."
Fishlegs and Meatlug then grabbed the rock and flew off towards the catapults that were mounted on the cliff face.
"Nice catch, girl," said Fishlegs. "Your athleticism is nothing short of breathtaking."
Fishlegs happily licked Fishlegs but then dropped the rock which then fell into the ocean. The two of them then casually flew away from the ocean acting as if nothing had happened.
"So fast! Good girl, Meatlug!" Fishlegs yelled as they flew past Hiccup, trying not to look suspicious.
Hiccup shook his head, having seen the whole thing but then his attention was diverted when he heard explosions coming further down the cliff face.
"Yeah, okay, should another one." Tuffnut's voice said.
"Letter to the right," Ruffnut said.
Hicca then flew next to her brother with a raised eyebrow. "What are those two up to now?" She asked as her brother shrugged in response as they turned and saw the Thorston twins at the cliff face and watched as Barf spewed gas into the cracks within the cliff face.
"Now go down, down," Tuffnut instructed.
Belch then ignited the gas causing a small explosion.
"Yes, perfect. Uh, nice shot. It is again!" Tuffnut yelled excitedly.
They then kept on doing the same process again and again. Once they were satisfied they stopped and examined their handiwork.
"Hmm. What do you think?" Ruffnut asked her brother thoughtfully.
"I think we need to chisel the jawline more," said Tuffnut thoughtfully. "Make them more in and of our visage."
"Agreed," Ruffnut nodded.
"Will you guys do something that's actually important?" Snotluot called as he flew down towards them on Hookfang, who was carrying a net of rocks.
"What could possibly be more important than this?" Tuffnut asked, gesturing to their masterpiece.
Snotlout looked down and saw the Thorston twins had carved their own faces into the cliff face.
Raeda came over, with Sparkfire carrying rocks, and actually looked impressed, "Wow, Ruff, Tuff that's actually pretty good." She complimented.
"Thank you Raeda, finally someone who appreciates good honest work." Tuffnut said.
"I'm sick of this." Snotlout said, as Astrid appeared, while Stormfly was also carrying rocks in her net. "If these clowns aren't gonna pull their weight—"
"Hey, boyo!" Ruffnut yelled. "Never talk to a girl about her weight."
"No wonder you can't land a girlfriend. Am I right?" said Tuffnut holding his hand up high five, but his sister just let them hang.
Astrid and Raeda laughed at that comment.
Hiccup then flew up to them. "Guys, let's get all these catapults loaded before the sun goes down?"
"Yeah. We gotta make sure we have some weaponry for when the Dragon Hunters might strike." Hicca added.
"They're right." Henry said as he and his five dragons appeared as he was flying on Wildstar while his five dragons had nets filled with rocks. "Knowing my father, he could be ready to strike at any moment." He added.
Then suddenly they heard the sound of trees cracking and turned towards the forest. They couldn't see anything due to the thickness of the trees, but they heard something big approaching.
"What was that?" Astrid asked.
"When I said my dad could strike at any moment I didn't mean at this moment!" Henry retorted.
"I don't think that's Dragon Hunters." Hicca said as she looked at the trees falling, "It's something much bigger."
"I know, but it's crumbling my eyelids," said Ruffnut looking at the stone sculpture of her face, and the eyelids were definitely crumbling.
The rumbling got louder and they could see one of the trees shaking in the distance. Whatever was coming it was only disturbing the dragons.
"Okay, easy, Stormfly!" Astrid said, as she tried to keep Stormfly calm.
"Easy there, fellas!" Henry said as he tried to keep his dragons calm.
"Whoa, girl! Steady!" Raeda said to Sparkfire.
"Whoa! What are you doing, Hookfang?" Snotlout yelled as Hookfang fidgeted.
They had more rumbling and it was definitely getting louder.
"Something's coming towards us!" Hiccup said.
"Something big!" Fishlegs said.
"And clearly something in a bad mood!" Hicca added.
They can now see several more trees shaking.
"Oh, Thor! Oh, Thor!" Fishlegs panicked.
Hiccup looked down at Toothless. "Let's get out of here."
"Riders, time to fly!" Hicca yelled out.
They then began to fly away from the rumbling, but Stormfly, Skull and Hookfang were lacking, because of the stone nets they were carrying.
"Stormfly!" Astrid yelled.
"We're carrying too much weight!" Henry yelled.
"Astrid! Raeda! Henry! Snotlout! Cut your boulders loose," Hiccup called.
The four Vikings then began to fiddle with the nets while Henry's dragons flew close to him as he cut their nets off them.
"I'm trying. It's tangled!" Snotlout yelled.
Astrid, Raeda, and Henry however, were able to untie the ropes and the boulders fell to the ground. Unfortunately, they were falling right on top of Snotlout and Hookfang.
"Toothless!" Hiccup yelled.
"Midnight!" Hicca yelled next.
Toothless and Midnight quickly returned in mid-air and fired plasma blasts and destroyed the boulders that were heading towards Snotlout.
Then Hookfang tried clawing the net off but they got caught, making it extremely difficult to fly. They then crashed to the ground and skidded to a halt. Before they could react, they saw what had been chasing them. It was the Fireworm Queen.
Snotlout screamed instantly before he recognized her.
'Greetings Sir Hookfang.' The Queen roared.
"The Fireworm Queen?" Hiccup starred in surprise.
"Here?" Hicca asked in surprise.
Snotlout chuckled with relief. "I pretended to be scared, so the dragons wouldn't be." He said, but he screamed again when Hookfang picked himself up to look at the Queen.
The last time they had seen the Queen it was when Snotlout had pushed Hookfang so far past his limits that he lost his fire. It was a desperate search to reignite it, but they found the Queen who then revitalized Hookfang's gel with her venom.
'It's good to see you again, your Majesty!' Hookfang said to his savior as they nuzzled.
'As is to you, Sir Hook-AGH!' the Queen suddenly backed away as if she was in pain. 'I'm terribly sorry to intrude upon your island but when my children told me that you and your comrades had taken residence here, I came as soon as I could!'
The two of them then seem to be in a conversation of some kind and Hookfang suddenly ignites.
"Whoa! Ow! Hookfang, careful!" said Snotlout as he tried to avoid getting his butt on fire.
The Queen then screeched as if she was in some sort of distress. 'Please Sir Hookfang, I need your help.'
"Hiccup, Hicca, are you two thinking what I'm thinking?" Fishlegs asked, flying close to Hiccup.
Hiccup nodded. "Yeah. Something's off."
"She has never been this anxious before." Hicca added.
"And she is a bit far from home, and the Fireworm Migration has already passed." Raeda said as she remembered when the Thorstons had claimed the island as theirs during the Fireworm migration.
"Yeah, what is she doing out here, away from her island?" Fishlegs frowned.
"I'm not sure." Hiccup said as he and Hicca flew in closer to the Queen.
At once the Queen snarled at them, 'Back you interlopers!'
But Hiccup held out his arm calmly. "Whoa, no, no, no, no. Take it easy, girl. Just trying to figure out what's going on."
"Just tell us what's wrong." Hicca added.
The Queen then began to fidget around, 'What's wrong is that me and my hatchlings are in danger!' she screeched.
Hookfang then roared in response as if he understood what was wrong.
"Being a dragon expert, I can tell that she wants Hookfang to follow her." Snotlout guessed..
"Follow her?" Fishlegs frowned. "Where? Why?"
"Maybe it has something to do with these." Hicca guessed, gesturing to the scars across the Queen's face.
"Scars?" Raeda raised a brow.
"Dragon Hunters?" Astrid asked.
"It's possible." Henry said, though he looked slightly uncertain. "The Hunters are known to go up against the toughest of dragons." He added.
"If I had to guess, she needs help defending herself," said Hiccup.
"And, since the Fireworm Queen and Hookfang have a history, he's the only dragon she trusts." Fishlegs surmised, referring to how Hookfang willingly gave back her firecomb even if it cost him his life.
"It makes sense since she did save Hookfang's life by reginiting his flames three years back." Hicca commented. "I think Hookfang wants to return the favor." She added.
"Well, if she's looking for backup, she came to the right dragon." Snotlout said. "Those Hunters want to mess with the Queen? They're gonna have to go through me and Hookfang." He declared.
'You got that right!' Hookfang roared in agreement.
Snotlout then looked to the Queen. "Come on, your Highness. Lead the way."
'Excellent, This way Sir Hookfang!' The Queen screeched as she then took off.
(Linebreak)
Hours later, they were still following the Queen back to her island.
"Stay close, Hookfang." Snotlout said as they followed her. "Come on, on her tail, come on."
'I got it, I got it!' Hookfang retorted.
"Snotlout, wait up!" Hiccup yelled as he and the other Dragon Riders tried to keep up with him.
"Remember what happened last time you pushed Hookfang too hard?" Hicca reminded me.
"I told you, Hiccup, Hicca, she came for us and Hookfang. We got this, and I'm not gonna push Hookfang too hard this time." Snotlout said firmly.
"No one is doubting your level of 'got,' Snotlout," said Hiccup. "But if Viggo and the Hunters are here, you might need a little backup."
"Like or not, you and Hookfang can't take on that many hunters alone." Hicca added.
"Okay," Snotlout said reluctantly. "But just remember you two and the others are backup, and we're… frontdown, which is the opposite of backup."
"That sounds more like something you say to someone to get them to sit down," Raeda commented.
"Yes!" Snotlout said before he got confused. "I mean no! I mean, shut up Raeda!" He shouted as he then looked down at Hookfang and urged forwards. "Let's go, Hookfang, come on."
As they flew closer to the island, the Haddock Twins had an unusual feeling.
"Uh… you guys feel that?" Hiccup asked.
"I felt it." Hicca replied.
"Feel what?" Astrid frowned.
"I don't feel anything," Fishlegs asked in confusion.
"I don't see anything unusual," Raeda added.
"Why must he speak in riddles?" said Tuffnut.
"What are you guys talking about?" Henry asked.
"Guys, It's too calm, No sign of any Dragon Hunter ships," Hicca said, looking down at the water. "And no sign of any arrows or craters from catapult rocks."
They stop just beyond the cave. 'This way my good friends, the intruder lies within.' the Queen hissed at them and then headed towards the cave.
"Whatever she wants help with is in there." Snotlout said, gesturing to the cave. "Let's go, Hookfang."
The Haddock Twins turned to the others. "Everyone be on alert. We have no idea what could be waiting inside those caves." Hiccup said to the others.
"So keep your guards up." Hicca added.
"Says Hiccup and Hicca the Obvious," Tuffnut snorted.
"Sometimes I feel like we're the normal ones," Ruffnut whispered.
They then landed on the ground and followed the Queen inside the cave and they found nothing out of the ordinary once they entered.
"No arrows, no footprints. No sign of Viggo or Ryker," Astrid frowned. "I don't get it."
"Now that I think about it, those scars on her didn't look like they were from arrows or spears." Henry noted, "They looked more like claw marks."
"Well, she didn't do all that damage to herself." said Snotlout "So, if it's not Hunters then it's something else."
"It could be a rival dragon," Raeda offered. "The only time we've had scars like that on a dragon was when it was in a fight with another dragon."
"It's possible, but what could threaten her?" Hicca frowned. "Fireworms are as hot as the sun itself and the Queen is much stronger than the smaller Fireworms."
"Exactly, so whatever this dragon is, it must be tough." Hiccup stated.
Fortunately they weren't in the dark, the Fireworm Queen was lighting their way through the tunnel, but still they found no sign of anything.
As they kept on walking, Fishlegs felt something hit his arm and looked. He saw some strange green ooze on it.
"Guys, I have a sneaking suspicion we may not be alone." Fishlegs said.
"What made you guess?" Henry retorted.
They kept on walking until they reached the cavern where the Queen came to a sudden stop.
"What is it, your Majesty?" Snotlout asked.
Then they found what the Queen was leading them to when they turned round the corner. It was a large black scaled dragon with yellow lines across its side and yellow underbelly. It resembled something of a salamander with large lumps on its back.
It was at the moment digging its way through a pile of rocks as if it was searching for something.
'There he is! The intruder!' The Queen stated.
"What is that?" Astrid asked.
"It looks like a giant salamander." Raeda stated.
"Not any dragon I ever saw, and that's coming from an ex-hunter." Henry said, feeling surprised by this new dragon himself.
Fishlegs at once opened the pouch on his belt and pulled out a set of cards.
"What are those?" Tuffnut asked.
"These are my dragon cards." Fishlegs said as he looked through them. "I've been working on them for months."
Hiccup and Hicca approached Fishlegs and looked at the cards. Each one of them had a picture of a dragon and a description at the bottom, class, size and speed any information a Dragon Rider would need when discovering a new dragon.
"Fishlegs! These are incredible." Hiccup said.
"They are like mini pages versions of the Book of Dragons." Hicca said in amazement.
"I know, right?" Fishlegs smiled.
"It will certainly make our job a lot easier for now on to keep some records about dragons and figure out what strike class and their abilities are." Hicca agreed as she looked at the cards closely.
He then showed the two Vikings a card. "Yeah, look. I even have dragon classes, sizes and speed. All this dragon knowledge, right at our fingertips."
"Right!" Hiccup smiled.
"Excellent!" Hicca added..
"You three need a hobby." Snotlout muttered.
"How do you know this isn't a hobby?" Hicca questioned.
"I knew it," said Fishlegs as he held a card with a picture of the unknown dragon. "It's a Cavern Crasher. I've never seen one in the flesh." He then began to examine the card and failed to tell the rest of the Riders what was on it. "Ooh, mystery class. Whoa!"
"Uh, Fishlegs?" Hiccup asked. Fishlegs legs turned and saw the blank looks on the other Dragon Riders. "Care to share, or…"
"Yeah, we don't even know this dragon like you since this is new to us. So care to explain to the rest of the class." Hicca pointed out.
Fishlegs chuckled sheepishly. "The Cavern Crasher is a scavenging Mystery Class dragon. Is known for pushing other dragons out of their homes and taking over."
"Why would it do that?" Astrid asked.
"I'm not entirely sure," Fishlegs admitted. "Warmth? Shelter? Protection?"
"I find it hard to believe a dragon that big would need protection." Astrid said.
"What I want to know is how did something like that even get here?" Raeda asked, gesturing to the Cavern Crasher, "It doesn't even have any wings."
Fishlegs looked through his cards and found the answer, "Aha, apparently with its lack of flight, The Cavern Crasher adapted to being a powerful long-distance swimmer to travel between islands. Sorta like the Speed Stingers and their webbing." He explains.
"Well, that explains a lot then." Raeda commented.
"That's why the Queen came for us to help. Hiccup said. "She couldn't get it out of here all by herself."
"So she came to Hookfang to help drive the Cavern Crasher out of her nest." Hicca added.
"But how did the Cavern Crasher scar her without getting burned?" Henry asked.
"Blah, blah, blah. Who cares?!" Snotlout retorted, "We found the culprit. Now let's get to work, and am-scray this agon-dray," He and Hookfang then charged at the Cavern Crasher.
Fishlegs looked up and saw what they were doing. "Snotlout, I wouldn't…"
Snotlout ignored him and carried on charging at the Cavern Crasher, which heard them approach and turned and roared at them. It then moved at an incredible speed for a dragon its size and Hookfang tried to blast with a fire blast, but its scales were too thick.
Then fired a blast of its own of green flames that shot right over Snotlout's head. "Ah! Come on, Hookfang! Watch out!"
Hookfang then jumped at the Cavern Crasher, but it dodged him with unbelievable speed. It then began to run across the cavern walls and ceiling like a spider. The Riders lost sight of it for a brief moment and then it landed right behind Astrid.
It then blasted her, but she was able to duck in time and Stormfly turned, firing a stream of fire at it. 'He's fast!' Stormfly squawked.
"Are there two of them?" Astrid asked as it dodged Stormfly's breath attack.
"Nope! Extremely fast, especially for a dragon that big," Fishlegs mentioned.
"Great! So it's like one big Speed Stinger! Except for the sting, it was just big and fast while tunneling through walls while giving you a hot tail." Raeda called out in annoyance before the Cavern Crasher blasts her too. "Agh! See?!" She retorted.
"Basically, yeah!" Fishlegs said as he was so busy contemplating that he didn't notice the Cavern Crasher was right above him.
"Fishlegs!" Hiccup yelled and Toothless fired plasma blasts.
The plasma blast struck the Cavern Crasher, but it had very little effect. It then began to run as Henry and the Thorston twins tried blasting it, but to no avail.
"Blast it!" Hicca commanded and Midnight fired a plasma blast at it again, but again it had no effect. "Not even a scratch!"
It ran to the cavern entrance and then just came through and stood there. Then suddenly mucus began to exit permit bumps on its back and it charged at them again leaving a trail mucous behind it. It zigzagged through all the dragons before any of them could land a hit and ran to the other side of the cavern.
"Look out!" Hiccup yelled as he, Hicca, Raeda and Astrid moved out of its way as it charged at them.
"Okay, that's just gross!" Raeda retorted.
The Cavern Crasher then headed straight towards Snotlout and Hookfang, who stood ready to blast it. However, it sidestepped and ran down the tunnel behind them.
"No, you don't!" Snotlout said.
'Take this!' Hookfang snarled as he fired a fireball at it, but the Cavern Crasher turned round the corner at the last second. The blast actually hit the mucus it left behind and suddenly it was set alight surrounding them all in a wall of fire.
"Oh!" Snotlout said in disgust. "What is that stuff?"
"Now, that my friend, is a framing trail of awesome!" Tuffnut cheered.
"Ah! We can't get through these flames." Astrid said.
"Okay, and then Astrid swoops in and kills the fun," Tuffnut muttered in disappointment.
As if the flames weren't bad enough the entire cavern began to cave in. Now they were at risk of being crushed in a crumbling cavern or getting burnt by the flames surrounding them.
Then suddenly the Fireworm Queen laid on the flames and created a path for them. 'This way my friends!' She said to them.
"Okay, everyone out!" Snotlout yelled.
The Riders quickly rushed down the tunnel where the Cavern Crasher had entered. They stopped and the Fireworm Queen rushed past them and continued to run down the tunnel.
"Whew!" said Fishlegs in relief. "It would appear that we're in the middle of a territorial dispute."
"And not to mention our dragons' fire power hardly made a scratch on that Crasher." Hicca added. "It must be immune to extraordinary heat, that's how it was able to hurt the Queen without getting burned."
"Yeah, apply that with its speed, wall crawler and flammable mucus, it's no wonder the Queen needed help." Henry added.
Hiccup nodded and looked at the others. "Okay, guys, the Queen needs our help, so we're gonna—"
"No, no, no. No time for thinking. We need action. That's why she came to me and Hookfang," said Snotlout.
"Snotlout, we know how Hookfang and the Queen had a history, but this dragon is basically the ultimate Stoker Class enemy." Hicca pointed out.
"Yeah, Snotlout, that's fine, but—" Hiccup tried to speak, but was cut off when Snotlout continued.
"She saved Hookfang's life, and a Jorgenson always repaid his debts." Snotlout said, as he sounded like he was actually grateful to someone for once, "So that's exactly what we're going to do. We're gonna save her life."
"But you can't go by yourself!" Hicca retorted.
"I'm not by myself. I'm with Hookfang. And we're doing this alone." Snotlout then looked down at Hookfang. "Now, Hookie!"
"Oh, you are not going to face that thing on your own, muttonhead!" Raeda called out as she and Sparkfire followed Snotlout and Hookfang.
Then before the Haddock Twins could stop them, they ran into the tunnel and suddenly there was a massive cave-in preventing them from following.
(Linebreak)
Unaware of the cave-in, Snotlout kept on flying down the tunnel in search of the Queen and the Cavern Crasher before he saw Raeda and Sparkfire coming from behind them.
"Hey! I just told Hiccup and Hicca, me and Hookfang are doing this alone!" Snotlout retorted.
"Snotlout, I don't doubt you for you and Hookfang wanting to help the Fireworm Queen, but judging by how that Cavern Crasher bested us, you need backup!" Raeda pointed out.
Snotlout looked ready to argue but just sighed, "Ugh. Fine. But just remember, your-"
"The backup and you and Hookfang are the frontdown." Raeda said sarcastically.
"See? Was that so hard?" Snotlout said with a smile.
Raeda just rolled her eyes, "Oh, gods." She muttered.
They soon caught up with the Queen.
"There she is!" Snotlout called out.
They then flew right up next to her.
"Listen, uh, Queenie, but you brought us here because you need our help—" The Queen ignored them and started shooting fire down a tunnel. "I think it's a shortcut, guys. Good idea!"
'Come, we must reach my nest before that intruder discovers its location.' The Queen screeched as she went through the shortcut.
They then followed the Queen down the tunnel, but Snotlout wasn't entirely sure what she was after.
"I'm not sure the Cavern Crasher is down here." Snotlout said.
"I don't think she's looking for the Cavern Crasher, Snotlout." Raeda said while noticing the Queen's behavior. "In fact, it looks like she wants to make sure she doesn't want that dragon to find it here."
He looked around at the tunnel walls and it felt as if they were going down even further.
"Wow, we're deep." Snotlout said in slight nervousness. "This might be the deepest I've ever been. I don't like this, Hookfang. Maybe we should go back."
'Snotlout!'Hookfang snorted and started to shake his head, making his objection known.
"Hookfang! Okay, okay. It was just a suggestion. Brainstorming. There's no wrong answer in brainstorming." Snotlout said in defense.
"You did say that a Jorgenson always repays his debt." Raeda reminded Snotlout with a smirk as she and Sparkfire flew past him.
'But if you like, you two can leave it for some real warriors.' Sparkfire squawked smugly as they flew forward.
Snotlout and Hookfang looked surprised by what they said before they scowled, "Shut up Raeda./Shut up Sparkfire." They both grumbled before they followed their friends.
(Linebreak)
Meanwhile, Hiccup, Hicca and the others were stuck in a dead-end unable to follow Snotlout, Raeda and the Queen.
"There must be another way around this cave-in." Hiccup said.
"We've been down these tunnels before, remember?" Fishlegs reminded Hiccup. "There were several entrances to the lower chambers."
"The Cavern Crasher just dug many new tunnels as it dug. There's gotta be some that are still intact." Hicca suggested.
"I remember this tunnel over here. I think it loops around." Astrid said, gesturing to another tunnel.
"Come on, bud." Hiccup said to Toothless.
"Let's go, girl." Hicca said to Midnight as they followed Astrid down the tunnel.
"Snotlout! Snotlout!" Hiccup yelled.
"Raeda! Raeda!" Hicca yelled as well.
Toothless and Midnight tried roaring, using their echolocation to find their missing companion,
'Hookfang!' Toothless called.
'Sparkfire!' Midnight roared but heard nothing.
"Come on, where are they?" Hiccup questioned.
"There are so many tunnels to even check through that even Midnight and Toothless are having a hard time finding them." Hicca added/
They carried on flying down the tunnel, but then stopped when they saw the Cavern Crasher emerging through the wall.
"Him again!" Hicca exclaimed in shock.
"Whoa! Where did he come from?!" Hiccup exclaimed.
"I know. There was only one way to get in here," Fishlegs frowned.
"It didn't look like that he tunneled his way through either," Henry said curiously.
"Wouldn't it be cool if it flattened its body and came through the cracks in the walls?" Tuffnut asked in amazement.
Fishlegs facepalmed himself in disbelief.
"What? How is that not cool?" Tuffnut asked.
"Everyone, grab your bolas," said Hiccup as he pulled out a bola.
He then spun the bola right over the Cavern Crasher's mouth, but it didn't wrap around properly and simply slid off. It then tried to blast Astrid and Hiccup tossed another bola at it but it had the same effect as before.
"Almost!" Hiccup said.
The Cavern Crasher then faced them and began shaking his body and mucus began to exit from its bulbs.
"Ooh. What's it doing?" Fishlegs asked as Tuffnut tried to hold back a sneeze.
"The mucus! Watch out for the mucus!" Hiccup yelled.
Tuffnut then sneezed in a bit of mucus exited from his nose. "Sorry. How to get rid of that one."
"Gross." Hicca cringe in disgust. "Bring some tissues next time."
"Not you. That!" said Hiccup gesturing to the Cavern Crasher.
The Cavern Crasher then flicked its tail and launched mucus and covered all of them, much to their dismay.
"Oh, gross!" Astrid moaned as she shook herself.
"This is nasty. Even for us." Tuffnut said in disgust.
"Yuk!" Fishlegs sobbed as he tried desperately to shake it off. "This is not coming off, it's too sticky."
"Have never seen a dragon do this before," Henry said while holding out his arms in disgust.
"And I just got this suit clean!" Hicca called out while glaring at the Cavern Crasher. "Now you're gonna get it, Crasher!" She yelled.
'Oh, you are in for it now, mister!' Midnight roared in anger as the Cavern Crasher just slimed them.
"Slime us, will ya?" The Thorston twins cried in unison.
Tuffnut then sneezed in a bit of mucus at his sister.
"Ah! This dragon is getting me from all sides," Ruffnut said in disgust, thinking that it came from the dragon.
"Uh, right." Tuffnut nodded, not wanting his sister to know that he sneezed on her. "Bad dragon."
"Let's snot him!" Ruffnut yelled out.
The Thorston twins then charged at the Cavern Crasher and Barf began to unleash gas.
"Ruff! Tuff! Wait!" Hiccup yelled.
"Don't use your dragon!" Hicca yelled out.
Too late, Belch began to spark the gas, but instead ignited the mucus that covered him and the Thorston twin's bodies. 'HOT!' Barf and Belch screeched in pain.
They did land an explosion against Cavern Crasher, but they were thrown off and landed right behind the dragon, which didn't seem at all fazed by the explosion.
"That hurt." Ruffnut groaned after they grinded into a halt.
"That slime becomes flammable when it hits the air." Hiccup said.
"Best not to use any fire attacks against this guy while we're covered in this stuff!" Hicca added as the Cavern Crasher then began blasting them.
"Keep out of the way of those blasts or we're cooked!" Hiccup yelled.
Cavern Crasher started to chase after them trying to blast them, but it had the clear advantage since there was not much room to move within the cavern. Or so they were unable to fire back or else risk themselves getting ignited.
"Hiccup! Hicca! There's not much room to fly in here!" Astrid yelled as one of the Cavern Crasher's blasts narrowly missed her.
"Tell me about it, we're in a tight spot." Henry stated as he and his dragons tried to dodge the attacks.
Hiccup found the same, after doing a barrel roll. "We know," He said.
"This would be a lot easier if we had the other dragon that could shoot something other than fire and the one who used to being on fire 24/7!" Hicca stated that having Sparkfire and Hookfang right now would make this easier.
Cavern Crasher then tried to blast the twins, they were able to take off before they got hit. It then began blasting at them in all directions.
(Linebreak)
Meanwhile, Snotlout, Hookfang, Raeda and Sparkfire were still following the Queen down the tunnel. They soon landed and found themselves in the honeycomb chamber.
The two riders and their dragons watched as the Queen began to climb onto the honeycombs and inspected them they realized what was going on.
"Oh, now I get it," Snotlout said. "That Crasher thing doesn't just push dragons out for no reason."
"It pushes them out to feast on their eggs." Raeda added. "It's been trying to get to her firecombs and her babies this whole time."
"What a jerk of a dragon." Snotlout commented, really hating the Cavern Crasher more and more.
"Ditto." Raeda said in agreement.
'Eating baby dragons? That's the coward's way of survival!' Hookfang growled in hate.
'Unforgivable!' Sparkfire squawks in agreement, since she and Hookfang have hatchlings of their own before they were old enough to be out on their own or live on Berk.
"This is why she came for us, guys. She knew we would help. And that's what we're gonna do." Snotlout then noticed his Monstrous Nightmare wasn't paying any attention to him. "Uh, did you hear me, Hookfang? Help her." He said before Hookfang realized he was talking to him and moved over to help. "Geez, what's wrong with you?"
Raeda then turned to Sparkfire and saw that she was the same, "Hey girl, you wanna help too?" She asked.
Sparkfire squawked and wandered over to the two Stoker class Dragons.
The Queen then removed one of the firecombs, which was shaking a bit. She then made her way back down to them.
Hookfang looked at another firecomb and saw one of the baby Fireworms emerged from it and landed on his snout and then another that landed on Sparkfire's snout.
Sparkfire cooed at the Fireworm babies on the ground as she lowered her snout as they jumped on her snot as she squawked at them happily.
"Aww, baby fireworms." Raeda cooed before she remembered, "Wait, Snotlout, do you remember when you took one of those firecombs?" She asked.
"Yeah, I took one for Hookfang to eat so he could get better, why do you…" Snotlout trailed off as he realized what she was implying, the Firecombs were basically Fireworm eggs and he tried to feed one to Hookfang, "Oohh, that explains it." He said, slapping his head in shame.
"Yup, looks like Hookfang was smart enough not to eat a baby dragon." Raeda said with a grin.
The Queen then lowered her head towards Snotlout and Raeda and gave them each a Firecomb she was carrying.
Raeda looked at her before turning to Snotlout, "Um, Snotlout? I think she's asking us to be babysitters." She said in surprise.
Snotlout looked at her stunned. "You want us to… us? I'm Snotlout? I'm completely irresponsible. I mean, Raeda, she can handle the babysitting thing, but me, I'm just as irresponsible as the Thorston twins." He honestly said, which surprised Raeda that he was admitting that he's as irresponsible as Ruffnut and Tuffnut. "Plus, I think you forgot that I almost fed one of these to Hookfang."
The Queen just purred. 'Sir Hookfang and Lady Sparkfire seem to have faith in you. Therefore, I should have faith in you.'
"She trusts us to take care of her babies, Snotlout. We have to." Raeda said as she cradled her firecomb. "Plus I don't think she wouldn't even let you in here if she hadn't forgiven you for that."
"Okay. Okay. Okay, we got it. We got you," Snotlout said as he held his firecomb gently in his arms.
Then the moment the Queen turned away the firecombs began to shake.
"Whoa, already?" Raeda said in surprise.
"Um, hello? Guys!" Snotlout panicked as he held out the egg. "Hatching baby dragons over here. Way above my pay grade."
"Did you forget the baby dragons we used to have on our first Snoggletog with our dragons?" Raeda asked since she and Snotlout used to have dragons' hatchlings three years ago. "This should be easy for us." She pointed out.
"Snotfang, Hooklout and Hooksnot-Fanglout, were already hatched when Hookfang brought them back to Berk." Snotlout retorted. "And yes, those are their real names." He added.
"If you say so." Raeda said with a rolled eye.
On the top of the combs shattered and the two looked inside to see two baby Fireworms inside. Immediately the baby Fireworms crawled out of the egg and onto Snotlout and Raeda's hands and made the most adorable screeches at them.
"Oh, my gosh! Hookfang, Sparkfire, you hear that?" Snotlout said in a childish voice. "It was little baby dragons' roars."
"That is so cute! Their first roars!" Raeda squealed in excitement at their cute roars.
Snotlout then began to mimic the roar and the baby Fireworm roared back.
"Aw, look, he doesn't even have his fire yet." Snotlout said, noticing the cold skin and the baby Fireworm.
"They're too young to even have their fire, which makes them vulnerable to any threat." Raeda said as she gently nuzzled her Fireworm on her cheeks.
Snolout then began to sing:
Baa, baa, black yak,
Have you any further?
The Queen, Sparkfire and Hookfang notice this and at once the Queen climbed back up the honeycombs while Raeda looked at Snotlout in surprise.
Yes, sir, yes sir,
More than your can muster;
I'll be the judge,
Said the little Viking boy.
Gimme, gimme, gimme;
Or I'll mace you into a toy.
"Snotlout! Not that song!" Raeda scolded as she gently covered her baby Fireworm's ears.
"What? My mom used to sing that to me, Raeda." Snotlout told her as The Fireworm squeaked. "Oh, it's just so freaking cute and so freaking…" Snotlout was cut off when the baby Fireworm suddenly found its fire and lit itself up. And at the same time Raeda's found its fire too.
At once Snotlout shook his hand ferociously. "Hot! Get it off!" He yelped in pain.
"Ow!" Raeda yelped in pain as she and Snotulout got their baby Fireworms off and they flew across the room, before they realized what they just did. "Oops!" Raeda said while Snotlout gasped in fright.
Fortunately, Hookfang and Sparkfire caught them with their snouts. They then glared at Snotlout and Raeda, 'Be careful you two.' Hookfang snorted.
'Baby dragons are fragile.' Sparkfire added as they handed the babies back to them, Hookfang placed his in Snotlout's helmet while Sparkfire placed hers on one of Raeda's metal shoulder pads.
The Queen heard the commotion and looked down at them, 'Is something wrong?' She growled questioningly as the four of them looked at her innocently.
Baa, baa, black yak,
Go, you crazy black yak.
Snotlout sang again as he then laughed at the Queen nervously.
Raeda gave a nervous smile at the queen. "Everything's alright, your highness. Just singing to the babies." She said nervously while Hookfang and Sparkfire nodded.
The Queen just looked at them quizzingly, 'Humans are such strange creatures.'
(Linebreak)
Meanwhile, Hiccup, Hicca and the other Dragon Riders were having their hands full with the Cavern Crasher, which kept on blasting. If that wasn't enough it kept on swinging its mucus at the walls at setting it alight.
Hiccup and Toothless nearly got hit by that combo and probably would have been blown away had they weren't so skilled at dodging.
"You know, believe it or not, that blast really opened up my sinuses," Tuffnut said.
"Oh, yeah? What can you smell?" Ruffnut asked.
"Let me see." Tuffnut then sniffed the air. "Burning nose hair, with a fine whisper of musk."
Ruffnut then sniffed her armpit. "Mm, six days and counting."
"How about you two focus on stopping the crazy dragon trying to kill us? I don't think even my dad prepared me for this outcome." Henry pointed out, since even Viggo didn't prepare him for this when they played Maces and Talons.
"Well, Viggo is one with surprise from what you told us." Hicca said.
The Cavern Crasher was now chasing Fishlegs and Meatlug. "Oh, Thor! Oh, Thor! Oh, Thor!" He panicked. He soon reached a dead end and quickly turned the Cavern Crasher. "No, don't!"
Cavern Crasher was about to blast him, but then stopped.
"What's it doing?" Fishlegs frowned.
It looked as if the Cavern Crasher had heard something, 'Lunch.' he growled licking his lips before he ran down the tunnel as if it was searching for something.
Hiccup's eyes widened, because he realized what it was after. "Eggs."
"Babies?" Fishlegs whimpered.
"Dinner!" Tuffnut yelled. Ruffnut just narrowed her eyes at him. "What? It seemed to go. You know, it seemed to work, rhythm-wise."
"The Fireworm Queen's eggs!" Hiccup called out with wide eyes.
"That's why she didn't abandon the hive," Astrid gasped.
"I'm willing to bet that Snotlout and Raeda are down there, but I don't fancy putting all our hope in Snotlout." Henry said. "Raeda, sure but not Snotlout. We need to stop that thing or else it's going to have a feast."
"Oh, no, you don't!" said Fishlegs with a determined look.
"Nobody's having baby dragons for dinner tonight!" Hicca declared with a glare.
'Not while we're here!' Midnight roared as she and Toothless glared at the retreating Cavern Crasher, not liking how it will eat eggs when newly born dragons hatch from them, reminding them of their kids.
They then flew down the tunnel the Cavern Crasher had entered and managed to catch up with the dragon. Then Hiccup and Fishlegs blasted the ceiling just ahead of the Cavern Crasher and created a cave-in, trapping it with them.
"I like to see it get through that," Henry smirked.
"Great work, gang!" said Hiccup proudly.
"We got him now!" Hicca added with a smile.
"Looks like ugly here isn't making it to the hive." Astrid smirked.
"You guys are leaving me here?" Tuffnut said shocked.
Astrid rolled her eyes. "Not you. The dragon."
"Okay. Now let's try to figure out how to get it out of here for good." Hiccup said. He then pulled out another bola. "Grab your bolas, we'll try again."
"And then it's away from the nest and the eggs will be saved." Hicca added.
'Sorry pal, but your dinner plans just got canceled.' Toothless growled.
However, the Cavern Crasher was studying the cave-in as if trying to find a way out. Then suddenly mucus began to exit from its bulbs at an alarming rate and its body began to shrink down. It then made its way through one of the cracks within the cave-in and disappeared down it.
"I don't believe it." Henry said while staring in shock.
"Hiccup, Hicca, did you just see that?" Fishlegs started in shock. "It collapsed its skeleton."
"And squeezed through the cracks." Tuffnut finished, much to their embarrassment. "Yes! I told you."
"Once again, nobody listens to the Nut," said Ruffnut.
"The Nut is all-knowing."
"The Nut is all-seeing."
"The Nut is all-believing."
"Okay, we get it! You guys are right on this one!" Hicca yelled out in annoyance.
"Maybe the Nuts know how to get through a cave-in," Astrid suggested.
TheThorston twins just sat there in silence.
"The Nuts know not."Tuffnut said dramatically. "Doesn't know how to get in through the cave-in."
Hicca then turned to the blocked off cave, "Looks like Raeda and Snolout are those baby dragons last hope." She said in a little dread.
"I don't doubt Raeda, but with Snotlout…" Henry started with a deadpan expression. "Their toast." He said.
(Linebreak)
Meanwhile, in the hive, Snotlout and Raeda were soon surrounded by baby Fireworms.
"You're all so cute!" Raeda cooed before her smile turned to a worried frown and turned to Snotlout, "Snotlout, if the Cavern Crasher finds the nest…"
"We'll stop that scavenger, no matter what." Snotlout said in determination.
Raeda was surprised by Snotlout's pure determination and not even bothering to brag about himself. She gave a nod back in agreement.
Then suddenly they heard a roar and they all got up.
'He's coming.' Hookfang growled as he, Sparkfire and the Queen stood in front of the baby Fireworms defensively.
"We'll just get them out of here." Snotlout said as he ushered the baby Fireworms away. "That's all."
Unfortunately, more baby Fireworms were hatching from their firecombs and dropping down like rain drops.
"Snotlout, there's too many firecombs to move. And more of them are hatching by the second!" Raeda pointed out.
"Oh, of course!" Snotlout groaned. "Isn't this just our luck!"
The babies began screeching as the two started shushing them.
"No, no, no. Please don't cry now." Raeda pleads to them.
"Please be quiet." Snotlout begged. "Please be quiet."
The Queen roared and the entire hive shook as Snotlout and Raeda looked at the Queen. "As dragon experts, we don't think that's gonna help right now." Snotlout said as he then tended to sing to the baby Fireworms to calm them down:
Hush, little Fireworm,
Don't you roar;
Or that thing's coming,
Through the floor.
If it does,
Then we're all done;
'Cause it's gonna fry us,
Like the sun.
Hookfang raised a brow.'Really? That's the best you got?!' He growled
Raeda raised an eyebrow at Snotlout. "Snotlout, I know you are in a panic state but I don't think that's…" She trailed off as she looked down in surprise.
Surprisingly the song actually worked while the Fireworms relaxed.
Raeda looked surprised by this. "Wow, Snotlout, your song actually put these babies to sleep." She said in amazement.
Snotlout sighed, but it was short lived as the Fireworms screeched again.
Snotlout turned to the Queen. "Why do babies always make you pay like that?" She then turned to Raeda, "Raeda, you gotta sing too!" He said.
"What? Me!?" Raeda asked in shock before she looked down at the baby Fireworms as they all looked at her tearfully. Raeda gave a small frown at the Fireworms while not wanting to make her feel sad. "Fine. I'll try something." She said with a sigh.
Raeda then cleared her throat as she began to sing.
Hush now, quiet now it's time to lay your sleepy head.
Hush now, quiet now it's time to say goodnight.
Hush now, quiet now, it's time to turn off the lights.
Hush now, quiet now, it's time to lay in your bed.
Hush now, quiet now, it's time to be in your pens.
Hush now, quiet now, it's time to dream.
Hush now, quiet now, for you to get a goodnight sleep.
Raeda sang in a calm and beautiful tone as Snotlout and Hookfang looked at her in surprise while Sparkfire nodded to her rider with a smile as the baby Fireworms then went to sleep as Raeda sighs in relief.
Raeda then looked at Snotlout and Hookfang as she noticed their stunned reaction. "What?" She asked..
"That was the amazingest song I've ever heard come out of your voice." Snotlout said in surprise while Hookfang nodded his head in agreement.
Raeda blinked in surprise before blushing a bit, "Um, thanks?" She said, not used to compliments from Snotlout of all people as the room rumbled again. "But I think we should prepare for the Cavern Crasher." She suggested while chasing the subject about their situation.
(Linebreak)
Meanwhile, Hiccup, Hicca and the other Dragon Riders were attempting to blast the cave-in, but to no avail.
"It's no use, guys." Astrid told them. "It's too dense. It'll take us whether to blast through."
"And there's no other way around it this time," Fishlegs pointed out. "We've gotta get through here."
"We can't just give up now!" Hicca inisted.
"Shame we can't blast through the cracks, an explosion from within could dislodge the cave-in," Henry said.
Henry's words gave Hiccup an idea. He then quickly turned the tThorston wins. "He-hey, Nuts? What do you mean 'the Nut knows not'? The Nut knows." He told them
"The Nut does?" Tuffnut said blankly.
"He certainly does!" Hiccup cheered.
The Thorston twins just looked at him blankly.
"Oh, right. Of course he does!" Tuffnut declared.
"Who are we talking about again?" Ruffnut asked.
"I don't know. I don't know, just go with it." Tuffnut told her.
"And if there was ever a time for the Nuts to use their all-knowingness and the extremely expert stone-carving skills, it's right now." Hicca said, seeing where Hiccup is going.
The Thorston twins then understood what he was letting on.
"You're right. I want it to be public," said Tuffnut. He then turned to a sister. "Sister Nut?"
"I live for my craft," Ruffnut said.
They then maneuvered Barf and Belch towards the cave-in and Barf began using his gas into the cracks.
"Fire in the hole!" Tuffnut yelled just before Belch ignited the gas.
(Linebreak)
Meanwhile, Snotlout, Raeda, Hookfang, Sparkfire and the Queen got ready for battle. They felt the cavern shook, indicating that the Cavern Crasher was approaching them.
"Okay, guys, this is it." Snotlout said confidently. "It's us five against that huge mucus-shooting, nasty killer dragon." He then started to lose confidence. "Or, maybe the four of you can take this one."
"Keep it together, Snotlout!" Raeda yelled as the three dragons snarled at him.
"Okay, okay, it was just a suggestion," Snotlout said, holding out his hands.
He could hear the roars from the Cavern Crasher getting louder and drew out his axe. "Its go time, guys." Snotlout snarled.
"Oh yeah." Raeda narrowed her eyes with her bow and arrows ready.
They stood guard over the entrance, but then suddenly the Cavern Crasher appeared out of the wall above them and landed in front of them roaring.
"Hey Crasher," Snotlout said, with a firm grip on his axe. "Nice of you to show up. We were expecting you."
"If you want these eggs, you'll have to go through us to get to them!" Raeda yelled out as she aimed her arrow at the Cavern Crasher.
The salamander-like dragon turned its eyes upon the baby Fireworms and licked its lips. He then charged, hoping to devour the poor babies.
"Queenie! Now!" Snotlout yelled.
The Queen unleashed a stream of fire at the Cavern Crasher, but it simply allowed its mucus to cover its body and kept on pressing through the flames. It looked as though the mucus was actually protecting it and it roared once the flames stopped.
"Okay, that didn't work so good." Snotlout said. He looked at the others. "Do we have a plan B? No? Probably should have had a plan B."
"How's this for a plan B! Sparfire, Spine Shot!" Raeda shouted as Sparkfire fired her spines at the Cavern Crasher but they just bounced off its skin, "Okay, onto plan C."
Hookfang then fired a fire blast at the ceiling and several rocks fell on top of the Cavern Crasher.
"Good thinking, Hookfang!" Snotlout cheered.
Unfortunately, the Cavern Crasher crawled its way out of the rock through the cracks by collapsing its skeleton.
"Oh, come on! Really?" Snotlout moaned.
"What does it take to stop this thing!?" Raeda asked in disbelief.
Once it was out of the rocks it regained its normal size and even more mucus dripped from its bulbs. It then launched a bit of mucus at the Queen and then blasted her, the combination of the attack blasted her backwards.
"Hookfang! Sparkfire! Hatchlings!" Snotlout yelled as he, Raeda and their dragons ran over to the hatchlings hoping to protect them from the Cavern Crasher. The dragon in question fired some mucus over their heads and knocked several of the honeycombs onto the ground.
Snotlout, Raeda, Sparkfire and Hookfang then place themselves between it and the baby Fireworms as if making a last stand.
"Okay, guys, this is it. Moment of truth. We're not letting it get to these babies." Snotlout said firmly, raising his axe.
"Even if it cost us our lives for the new generation." Raeda said in determined as she aimed her bow and arrow at the Cavern Crasher.
One of the baby Fireworms crawled over to Snotlout and Raeda and screeched.
"Don't worry, little guy. Uncle Snot, Aunt Raeda, Aunt Sparky and uncle Fang are here," Snotlout assured.
"We won't let this big slimy bully eat you." Raeda added firmly.
They got ready for a fight, which may be their last.
"Snotlout? Raeda?" A voice yelled.
Snotlout recognised the voice instantly. "Hiccup! Don't come down here!"
"Snotlout! This is a good thing!" Raeda snapped at him as Snotlout flinched.
The Cavern Crasher turned and fired a blast down towards the tunnel.
(Linebreak)
Hiccup, Hicca and the other riders were making their way down the tunnel, which was covered in the Cavern Crasher's mucus.
"Be careful, guys. Crasher slime." Hiccup said, gesturing to the mucus.
"So don't use your dragons when we're near this stuff." Hicca added.
"Perhaps we should be careful of that, as well? Don't you think?" said Tuffnut pointing ahead of them.
The Haddock turned and saw the Cavern Crasher's blast heading towards them and it was setting the mucus alight. The dragons quickly shielded them from the fire as it covered them.
(Linebreak)
Back in the hive, the Cavern Crasher turned to face Snotlout, Raeda, Hookfang and Sparkfire ready to finish the fight once and for all.
"Okay, we need something really powerful to take this guy out, and fast." Raeda said.
Then suddenly Hookfang took off. "Hookfang, what are you doing? We're in the middle of a fight!" Snotlout yelled.
"Wait, Snotlout, look!" Raeda pointed out.
Hookfang landed on top of the Queen and ignited himself. His flames seemed to be rejuvenating the Queen as she began to stand.
Snotlout and Raeda had to cover their eyes, because the flames were so bright. "They're combining their firepower." Snotlout realized.
"Monstrous Nightmares and Fireworms really are alike." Raeda said before noticing how bright they were getting. "Um, this might be a good time to take cover." She suggested.
The two, Sparkfire and the baby Fireworm, quickly hit behind the honeycombs that the Cavern Crasher had knocked down earlier while Sparkfire uses her wings like a cover. With the others now safe Hookfang and the Queen unleashed their combined firepower that engulfed the Cavern Crasher.
The flames were more intent than anything Snotlout or Raeda had ever seen before, their skin probably would have melted right off if they hadn't taken cover. They could hear the Cavern Crasher roars of pain as it tried to endure the inferno.
The flames then died down and Snotlout and Raeda poked their heads out from behind the honeycombs. And to their shock the Cavern Crasher was still standing and Hookfang and the Queen looked exhausted.
"Oh you gotta be kidding me!" Raeda yelled before the Cavern Crasher turn to them, "Uh, oh." She said as Sparkfire growled at the other Dragon.
The Cavern Crasher then flicked its tail and they immediately duck down, but nothing happened. The two looked careful at the dragon and saw that the mucus the Cavern Crasher created had dried up.
"They cooked the mucus right off him!" Snotlout gaped.
"Their combined heat must've literally dried all of the mucus out of his body! He can't slime us!" Raeda said in awed.
The Cavern Crasher kept on flicking its tail hoping to produce even a small amount of mucus, but nothing. It tried to shoot another blast, but only a small burst of smoke exited from its mouth.
"And it looks like that mucus was also the fuel for his fire!" Raeda added as she watched the Cavern Crasher desperately trying to fire. "Ha! Not so tough now are you?" She smirked as Snotlout blew a raspberry at him.
The Queen then shot out a stream of fire at it and soon she was joined by Hookfang. The two dragons roared at the Cavern Crasher, which slowly backed away.
"Hah! Well, kids, it looks like our Crasher just crashed," Snotlout smirked looking down at the Fireworms. "Why don't we show it to the door?" He asked Raeda.
"I would gladly agree." Raeda said with a smirk.
The two then roared while Snotlout swung his axe and Raeda shooting her arrows to force it back while they joined their dragons and the Queen as they slowly forced the Cavern Crasher back. However, it then began to burrow underground.
"Oh no!" Snotlout groaned.
"It may not have its mucus, but it can still burrow!" Raeda shouted.
It then reappeared right next to him and began running around, but was then struck by the Queen and Snotlout mounted Hookfang while Raeda mounted Sparkfire as they then added their firepower with the Queen's. But even their combined firepower wasn't enough to drive the dragon away.
"This guy will not give up!" Snotlout growled in frustration.
"Even without his mucus, he's still tough to beat!" Raeda yelled in annoyance.
"Maybe you need some back-up," A voice said.
Then emerging out of the tunnel was Hiccup, Hicca, leading the other Dragon Riders.
Snotlout laughed as his reinforcements arrived. "Right. But remember, you're only back-up."
"Oh, I know, pal," Hiccup assured.
"Trust us, we understand." Hicca said with a small smile.
They then began to fly around the Cavern Crasher, who tried to blast them, but that was much harder now they were in a much larger cavern and that it was completely helpless without its mucus.
Then all the Dragon Riders landed in front of it and began blasting with their dragon fire. It was enough force to push the Cavern Crasher back and it was forced to retreat back into the tunnel.
"And stay out!" Raeda called out to the egg eater.
The baby Fireworms then approached the Queen now that the danger had passed. The Dragon Riders watched and cheered knowing that their victory was assured.
The Haddock Twins, Raeda and Snotlout then dismounted their dragons and approached one another.
"I know, I know, I defied orders again." Snotlout said.
"And I broke rank when I went after Snotlout." Raeda said while feeling guilty about ditching them.
"No, you two didn't. We never ordered any of you to do anything," Hiccup reminded. "This one was all you two."
"And Raeda, you wanted to help a member of our team without a second thought. That is true teamwork there." Hicca added with a smile.
"Why didn't you try to stop us?" Snotlout asked.
Hiccup looked at him slightly amused. "Would you, Snotlout? Have stopped, that is."
Snotlout rubs the back of his head. "Probably not."
"And would you listen to us if you told you to not follow him if he did something stupid, Raeda?" Hicca asked in amusement.
Raeda thought for a moment before she gave a sheepish smile. "Touche."
"Then why are we talking about it?" Hiccup asked them.
"You know, we could have gotten killed in there," Snotlout pointed out.
"That dragon was tough to beat. Even without its mucus." Raeda added.
"Yeah, but you didn't. You crushed it today, Snotlout." Hiccup then placed a hand on Snotlout's shoulder. "You really did. That was all you."
Snotlout chuckled. "Thanks for the back-up."
"Yeah. We appreciated it." Raeda added with a smile.
Snotlout then punched Hiccup on the shoulder while Raeda ruffled Hicca's head as the Haddock twins shook their heads as Snotlout and Raeda laughed.
(Linebreak)
Later that evening, they were back on the Edge and finished loading at the catapults, except for Snotlout, Raeda and the Thorston twins. Hiccup, Hicca and the others flew around the island where they found Snotlout, Raeda, Sparkfire and Hookfang hovering.
Before they could ask what was up, there was a huge explosion and they do need to be told twice who did it.
"We did it again. Only we could have made something this glorious," Tuffnut said. "We call it, 'The Ballard of the Lout and The Rae versus the Crasher'."
They stared up and found that the twins had added a huge statue of Snotlout with a foot on top of the Cavern Crasher while a huge statue of Raeda is behind him while aiming her arrow high.
"It's breathtaking," Tuffnut gasped.
"Um, isn't a ballad technically a song?" Astrid questioned.
"No. Rae'ly S'not," Ruffnut laughed.
"You get it? It's snot. That's the whole idea," said Tuffnut as he tried in vain to explain the joke. "We made it a ballad so people would be like, 'Isn't it this'? And then we say, 'S'not.' Because it is 'Rae'ly weird for us to think of that."
"Well, I love it." Snotlout happily.
"What a surprise." Raeda said with a smirk as she rolled her eyes playfully.
"Although, Astrid, would you say my likeness is handsome and chiseled enough?" Snotlout asked, looking at Astrid.
"Ugh! For the love of Thor," Astrid groaned.
Hiccup and Hicca laughed and were soon joined by the others.
"But you do look great, Raeda. Very nice touch they did." Hicca commented with a smile.
Raeda smiled at the compliment. "Thanks. I do look great like that. Though a bit much, but other than that, I like it." She said with a nod.
"Well, just off the top of my head, they got my hair wrong, they got my eyebrows wrong, they got my eyes wrong…" said Snotlout.
"And my hair is a little wacked and my face is a little misplaced." Raeda added.
"This has been a great day." Tuffnut sighed as Snotlout and Raeda kept on pointing out more faults within the statues.