Chapter 65: Snuffnut
Fishlegs, and Meatlug walking through the Edge forest, with Hicca holding a bunch of flowers.
"These Buttercup Poppies will assimilate perfectly into our topiary salute to the current Changewing migration," said Fishlegs. He was so excited that he accidentally swatted Meatlug with his bouquet of flowers and dropped them. "Oops."
Meatlug gave him a growl and he immediately rubbed her head.
"No, no, you go ahead girl," said Fishlegs. "I'm right behind you."
Meatlug immediately began to scamper off and Fishlegs sighed as he placed one hand on a rock and began to pick up the bouquet.
He then heard a growl directly from the rock his hand was on. "Please tell me I'm not leaning on a…" Then there was a massive growl and he immediately ran away screaming. "Changewing!"
However it was not a Changewing, but Tuffnut painted in gray paint and with a plank of wood struck to his back.
(Linebreak)
Astrid was laying down on the grassbank of a small stream soaking in some sun as Stormfly played in the water.
She then heard a growl behind her. "Oh, boy." She sighed, already knowing who it was, she then sat up. "Stormfly!"
Stormfly ran up to her and she immediately jumped on board and then they took off. Tuffnut then opened his eyes and removed himself from the tree he was leaning against.
"Astrid's impossible to get," Tuffnut muttered. He then tapped his chin and got an idea. "But I know who's not."
(Linebreak)
Snotlout hated Wednsdays because it was his turn to take out the trash around the Edge. He was currently at the Thorston twins hut picking up the trash they had accumulated over the past week. Ruffnut was helping dump it onto the wagon Snotlout brought.
"How much trash do you two make in a week?" Snotlout asked Ruffnut in surprise as loaded the wagon.
Ruffnut scoffed. "This is just Tuesday, boyo. The rest is out in the back." jerking a thumb behind her.
Snotlout popped his head at the back of the hut and immediately gasped in shocked disgust. The entire place was littered with garbage and the smell was terrible.
"Oh, my Thor." Snotlout stared in shock.
"Better get a move on." Ruffnut said casually, walking up to him with a grin. "That trash is not going to dispose of itself."
"Fine!" Snotlout yelled, and began to move the wagon which was extremely heavy even for him. "You're welcome." He strained.
Ruffnut chuckled as she made her way to grab the next load of garbage. She then heard a growling noise from within the garbage and then Tuffnut jumped out right in front of her and roared.
However, the reaction he expected was not what he envisioned as a few seconds later his face collided with Ruffnut's face.
"Ow!" Tuffnut cried as he rubbed his face. "Ouch! What are you doing?"
Ruffnut stared at him in disbelief. "What am I doing? What am I doing?!" She demanded.
Tuffnut picked himself up. "You know how much I enjoy my role in the Changewing migration. I do this every year." He reminded her. Apparently every Changewing Migration, Tuffnut took it upon himself to pretend to be a Changewing. At first the Haddock Twins were okay with it, thinking Tuff was doing it to learn about them, but quickly regretted it when they learned he did to scare everyone on the Edge.
"And I hate it every year!" Ruffnut snapped at him. "It seriously creeps me out when you creep up on me!"
"Duh. Isn't that the whole idea?" Tuffnut asked like it was obvious.
Ruffnut folded her arms and scowled at him. "You know what? Take that weak sauce somewhere else before you can get yourself killed!" She told him hotly, "Oh, here's an idea. Go scare Snotlout and Raeda! He's an idiot!"
"Excellent idea," Tuffnut said as he then began creeping footsteps as he tiptoed away. "A-creeping I shall go."
(Linebreak)
Snotlout was now at the place where they got rid of their garbage and began to unload his wagon.
"Ahh!" Snotlout groaned as he tossed bags off the wagon but strangely, one of them looked like it bounced off of something. "Come on, Tuffnut, do you really think we're in the mood for your childish Changewing games? Well, I'm not." He said where he thought Tuffnut was hiding.
Snotlout then heard a roar directly behind him, he looked but was hardly phased, "Ooh, a roar. Scary," Snotlout mocked doing ghostly sounds before realizing. "Now was actually a pretty good roar. Very specific."
Then a red claw appeared and gripped onto Snotlout's shoulder. "Ow, that feels like a real claw." He said, feeling it. Snotlout then turned around and discovered that it was in fact a real Changewing behind them.
Snotlout then made the big mistake of screaming as he then realized what was gonna happen.
(Linebreak)
The Haddock twins, Astrid, Raeda, Henry and Fishlegs were in the clubhouse doing their own thing when Snotlout appeared, covered in head to toe in garbage.
"Whoa! Um, should I-" Hicca tried to say but was cut off.
"Do not ask, because we don't want to talk about it." Snotlout told her
"Okay then. If that's okay with you." Hica said as the seven of them continued on with what they were doing.
Snotlout stared at them. "Huh? Do you have any idea what I've been through? This Changewing migration is going to be the death of me." He said, as he peeled off a piece of rotten meat from his vest.
"Well, maybe if you don't bug the Changewings so much, maybe they will be a little more tolerable." Raeda told Snotlout, walking up to him and picking some trash out of his hair.
"Not tolerable enough for my liking." Snotlout muttered.
"Snotlout, Raeda's right, if you just leave the Changewings alone, they'll move on in a couple of days, and you won't have to worry about them again." Fishlegs explained, gesturing to a Changewing that appeared on the cliff next to the edge and promptly vanished. "We go through this every year."
"The Changewing Migration is one of the toughest dragon migrations we had, but we already know how to endure it, by staying out of their way and not annoying them." Hicca added before picking up a piece of shedding Changewing's skin. "Plus when they shed, we can use them to our advantage to camouflage ourselves for sneak attacks on the Hunter and Flyers." She added while covering her arm with the shedded skin, making it look invisible. "See?"
Snotlout jumped back with a yelp, "Okay, that's creepy." He said, pointing to where Hicca's arm was.
"Creepy but effective." Hicca said as she removed the shedded skin as her arm reappeared. "Even when Changewings shedded their skin, their camouflage ability still works." She explained with a smile.
"Yeah, but over time, the skin might degrade and become useless, so use it sparingly." Henry reminds her, while they might use the Changewing's skin to their advantage, they can only use them for an amount of time before they degrade since, well, it is dead skin.
"True, but it will come in handy all the same." Hicca commented before turning to Snotlout. "But seriously, Snotlout, your paranoia is really not helping in this migration, for us or the Changewings." She pointed out.
"What?" Snotlout asked in shock.
"You're agitating them." Hiccup continued as he got to his feet. "All that ranting and screaming and stomping around just makes them madder and makes them stay here that much longer."
"Wait. So now it's my fault?" Snotlout appeared irritated.
"Well, to be fair, you're the one who keeps screaming and panicking when they're just passing by." Raeda reminded him. "As long as you leave them alone, they'll leave us alone"
Snotlout turns and looks outside, "Oh, then I suppose you're fine with that one, nosing around inside your hut?" he asked, jerking a thumb outside.
"Wait what?!" Raeda asked as she turned and saw a Changewing walking inside Raeda's hut and eyeing her paintings. Raeda widened her eyes in shock. "Hey, hey, hey! No! You're not supposed to be there! Leave my paintings alone!" She called out as she ran out the clubhouse and made her way to her hut.
Snotlout gave a chuckle from that as he turned to the others, who were giving him a blank expression. "Still think I'm the one in the wrong here?"
Hicca sighed, "Ok, maybe the Changewings are a bit too curious for their own good." she conceded, "But we all gotta make sacrifices, if only to make them leave faster."
Snotlout grumbled as just then, he felt something grasping his arms and a growl behind him. A split second later he screamed and backed away and landed in a trough.
"Climate change wearing!" Tuffnut cried. He then immediately ran out of the clubhouse on all fours. "Changewing out!"
Then a second later they heard a horn in the distance.
"Are we expecting visitors today?" Hiccup asked.
"Not that we know of." Hicca shrugged in confusion.
"Wait, I know that horn." Henry said as he is familiar with the sound. "That's the Defender's horn going off." He said in surprise.
(Linebreak)
When they made their way to the docks they discovered that sailing towards them in a boat was Throk, much to the surprise of everyone.
"Throk?" Hiccup said in surprise. "Uh, did we have plans?"
"Throk, what brings you to Dragon's Edge?" Henry asked in surprise at Throk's sudden arrival. "Shouldn't you be on Defenders of the Wing Island, helping Mala prepare for the Flyers and Hunters?" He added.
"Queen Mala will be able to defend the island during my brief time away from it." Throk said as he guided his ship to port and tied it down. "I am on your shores today to prepare a personal mission that is most personal and of the utmost importance."
"Okay. How can we help with this mission?" Hicca asked.
"You can point me in the direction of the fragrance savior of this man's very life… Ruffnut Thorston." He said in reverence.
All of them looked at one another dumbfounded as Throk still believed Ruffnut saved him and not the other way around. "Umm, why?" Hicca asked in confusion.
"I am here to left her off her feet," Throk announced.
Henry stiffened as he realized what he meant, "Uh-oh." He muttered in concern.
"Um, don't you mean 'sweep her off her feet'?" Hiccup asked as he lifted him onto the port.
"No. I will lift her from her feet, put over my shoulder, and return with her to my island, where she will live out her days as my trustworthy wife." Throk explained.
"What?" Astrid was surprised.
"Excuse me?" Hicca added as both girls frowned.
"Oh that's what I was afraid of." Henry commented while putting a hand to his face.
"Um, does she know about this?" Fishlegs asked in concern.
Throk gave him a blank look. "Is that important?" He asked.
"Are you kidding me?!" Astrid exclaimed as she marched up towards him.
Hicca felt the same way as she glared at Throk. "That kinda describes kidnapping, Throk." She pointed out as she marched up to him as well.
Hiccup and Henry then quickly placed themselves between Throk and the girls, "Okay, okay, okay, Hicca, thank you for your input." Henry said with a nervous smile, trying to keep his girlfriend from tearing his old friend apart.
"Yeah, yeah, calm down," Hiccup said calmly to Astrid.
Astrid just growled angrily at Throk while Hicca crossed her arms.
Henry quickly turned to Throk. "Okay, Throk, old buddy, old pal, the Riders tend to do marriage a little differently than how the Defenders do it." He tried to explain.
"Say no more. Say no more, Henry." Throk said, holding up a hand in understanding. "Sadly, we, too, have gone soft over the years. Losing the club has made the retrieval of the bride much more of a struggle."
That was the last straw for the girls, "Okay that's it!" Hicca roared as she and Astrid gave battlecries and drew their weapons. They probably would have killed Throk right there if Hiccup hadn't grappled them both by the waist.
"Hey, Fishlegs, Henry, this is more of your area of expertises." Hiccup said as he dragged Astrid and Hicca away from Throk. "Why don't you two take it? Can't wait to hear what you guys decide!" He called out.
Fishlegs, Henry and Throk just looked at one another when they heard the screams of anger from Astrid and Hicca and the cries of pain from Hiccup. "Oh, no, no, no, no! No! Oh! Watch!" He called out as he attempted to hold his sister and girlfriend down as thrashings can be heard.
Throk raised a brow at Henry and turned as he watched Hicca perform a powerful flip on Hiccup, "Hmm, you've taught Ms. Hicca Haddock well Henry." He complimented him with a small smile.
Henry laughed a bit nervously as he listened to Astrid and Hicca make yakmeat out of Hiccup, "Yeah, maybe a bit too well." He comments before he winces at the painful crack and screams from Hiccup. "He'll be fine, I think." He said as he and Fishlegs gave each other nervous smiles.
(Linebreak)
Fishlegs and Henry then spend the rest of the morning trying to teach Throk the courtship rituals of their corner of the archipelago while also avoiding the wild Changewings who seem to be everywhere.
"You see, Throk, in today's business archipelago, the modern woman commands a certain amount of respect," Fishlegs explained. "She has a mind of her own. So the whole 'stake a claim' speech, not so much."
"Yeah, I learned how that works during my time on Berk." Henry added while giving a cringe expression. "And let's just say, if you even do that, the women will do to you what makes wild angry dragons look like they're playing in comparison." He explained.
"But it's so much simpler." Throk said as he turned to Henry. "Is that not you were able to claim Hicca Haddock's heart?"
"What? No." Henry quickly said as he raised his hands. "I mean, I would've planned that, but not after spending time on Berk and catching up with Viking's time and way of doing relationships…" He then leaned close to Throk, "...and after seeing how dangerous Stoick is when he goes into protective daddy chief form, I've realized trying to get Hicca like that will only get me to Valhalla." He added quietly, as he leaned away from Throk.
"Trust me, you really don't want to see Stoick the Vast get that angry." Fishlegs added with a shudder.
"Okay, then." Throk nodded in understanding. "But still, the Defender's way is so simple." He said.
"That may be. However, we've found that asking for a lady's hand is much more effective." Fishlegs explained as Henry nodded in agreement.
Throk then nodded in understanding. "Then her hand would be a symbol of her eternal devotion."
"Exactly," Fishlegs nodded, relieved that he was getting somewhere.
"Great choice, Throk." Henry added with a smile.
"Which then would she wear, a hook or claw?" Throk asked.
Henry then facepalms himself from that. "This is gonna take longer than we thought." He said as Fishlegs nodded in agreement.
Fishlegs sighed. "Let's go back. You need to start by getting Ruffnut interested in you in a romantic, nonviolent way."
"Hmm," Throk frowned. "I don't see it. Perhaps you would assist me in my endeavors."
"Okay. Uh, how about this?" said Fishlegs as he guided him around his hut. "Why not start with an icebreaker? Something that speaks of your affection for her?" He then gestured towards his garden. "Go ahead. pick anything you want."
Throk looked around until he saw something that caught his eye. "By the Ancients."
(Linebreak)
A few moments later, Ruffnut heard a knock at the door of her half of the hut. The moment she opened it Throk immediately presented her with a foliage of dried shrub.
"Whoa! Shrub to the face," Ruffnut said. "Yep, always a surprise." She then took it. "I suppose a little more roughage in the diet never hurts."
She then tossed it over her shoulder and landed next to her other stuff including her stuffed yak. However, Tuffnut was currently inside the yak and had heard everything.
"Ruffnut loves a fresh shrub," he whispered suspiciously. "What are you up to, Throk?"
"Okay, here we go," Throk said, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. His eyes then turned to Fishlegs and Henry who were not standing too far away. "Ready?"
Fishlegs immediately gave him the thumbs up and Henry gestured to him to go on.
"A poem for the modern woman," said Throk. He immediately went on his knees. "Hair, it smells of flounder. Skin, rough like the coral of a thousand-year-old reef. Lips, dry as jerky made from the giant clam." He recited.
Fishlegs facepalmed himself and shook his head while Henry looked close to ripping off his own in aggravation.
Throk then rose to his feet and touched her hand. "No hand will be severed from this woman, for she is modern. She is Ruff. She is Nut." He then went down on one knee again. "She is Ruffnut."
Ruffnut blinked at him. "That was… beautiful, Throk. And so me."
Throk then rose to his feet and presented on to her. "Ruffnut, will you join me in returning to Defender of the Wing Island as my permanent guests?"
Ruffnut shrugged. "Sure."
Inside the stuffed yak, Tuffnut's eyes widened in horror and the yak's mouth fell wide open.
"Let me check with the other Nut," Ruffnut said as she started walking away.
Throk however stopped her, "You misunderstand me, dear Ruff," he said and then places hands over her. "This is an invitation for but one Nut."
Ruffnut quickly pulled her hand away. "Oh. Yeah, no can do, Throkie-Poo. You see, we're a package deal. You wouldn't understand." She told him.
Throk then got down on one knee and placed his hands together. "Then help me to understand." He pleaded.
"Oh, it's simple. Born together, live together, die together," she explained to him as inside the yak, Tuffnut literally cried upon hearing those words.
Throk groaned with disappointment, "Grace of the Ancients." He sighed and walked away.
Ruffnut for a moment and shrugged before entering back into her hut.
(Linebreak)
Tuffnut later explained what happened to the Haddock Twins, Henry and Astrid as Hiccup and Hicca were still putting together the new Dragon Eye.
"'Born together, live together, die together,'" Tuffnut said. "Ha! I mean, is that great or what? You should have seen the soul-crushing look on old Throk-a-dilly's face."
"Gee, glad you're being so sympathetic towards my old friend getting his heart ripped out." Henry stated sarcastically.
Hicca just humped, "Honestly, I think it was best," she said while passing some gears to Hiccup.
"Agreed," Astrid added, "But wow, I just never thought you'd do this to your own sister, Tuff."
"Do what?" Tuffnut asked in confusion.
"Get in the way of her happiness." Henry elaborated.
"If Ruffnut really has feelings for Throk, it could mean she's passing up a chance of a lifetime of love and happiness," said Hiccup.
"And same goes for you," Astrid added as she rested her hands on Hiccup's shoulders. "Don't you ever want to meet a beautiful Viking girl and have a family of your own?"
Tuffnut then laughed. "Of course." He said, like it was obvious.
"And what would happen if Ruffnut stood in the way of that?" Astrid asked.
"She would never. She's too good of a sister." Tuffnut then gasped in shock when he realized he just did the exact opposite. "I'm a monster!" He declared before rushing out of the Clubhouse.
(Linebreak)
Later that day Tuffnut was wandering around the Edge and as he did Chicken clucked at him.
"You think I don't know that?" he said. "I mean, you think I'm not aware this is an impossible situation?"
Chicken clucked at him again.
"Oh, how do I know? Come on, stop shaming me. I'm only human."
Chicken clucked at him again.
Tuffnut then looked down from the platform he was on. "Oh, no." He saw the dam of the docks Ruffnut was with Throk and noticed that they had their hands over one another. "She's breaking his little Defender of the Wing heart. What have I done?"
Chicken clucked at him.
"Agreed, Chicken," Tuffnut nodded. "Something must be done. She won't allow herself to be happy as long as these perfect manicured feet walk this earth."
"Maybe I can help?" A girl's voice said from behind Tuffnut.
Tuffnut yelled in surprise, "Changewing!" He panicked and covered his eyes and waited for the dragon to spray him with Acid. When he realized nothing happened yet, he looked and widened his eyes, "Whoa, you're no Changewing." He commented.
Standing in front of him was a girl with brown skin, dark red hair, blue eyes, a red long sleeve shirt and a hooded vest of shedded dragon scales, Grey pants and brown boots.
She then gave Tuffnut a small grin, "I sure ain't." She said, "Name's Valerie Ragmok."
Tuffnut then cleared his throat, "Well then Ms .Ragmok, on behalf of the Dragon Riders of Dragon's Edge, I Tuffnut Thorston welcome you." He said professionally before slumping down, "Now if you excuse me, I gotta think of a way to allow my twin Sister to have her happily ever after on a far away volcanic island."
"Well, what if I told you, I knew a way I could help with that?" Valerie asked as Tuffnut perked up and turned to her.
"I'm listening." He said.
(Linebreak)
Ruffnut looked at Throk.
"It's nail fungus," she said looking at Throk's fingernails. "What you need, my friend, is a manicure. My brother is a genius with that."
"I cannot say another moment," said Throk sadly. "The sadness is too much to—"
Then they heard Tuffnut's screams.
"Tuff?" Ruffnut gasped.
(Linebreak)
Immediately everyone rushed towards the screens which were located at the garbage dump. Once there they saw Chicken clucking frantically while running around Tuffnut's discarded helmet.
"Tuff!" Ruffnut cried. They then saw a Changewing at the garbage dump with some clothing on its mouth. Ruffnut gasped upon seeing it. "Those are Tuffnut's clothes. He's never taken off, ever."
Fishlegs, Henry, Raeda and Snotlout gave one another disgusted look upon hearing that.
"Eww. That's just not right." Raeda commented in disgust.
"Okay, that's disturbing and gross info." Henry said.
"He always said the only way he'd come out of them is if he was—" Ruffnut's eyes widened in horror when she looked at the Changewing. "The Changewing ate my baby brother!" She cried.
Chicken then fainted.
(Linebreak)
Later that evening, Ruffnut performed a Viking funeral, though it was very hard without a body. Everyone had shown up and had each brought an item that belonged to Tuffnut.
"Hear, ye, hear ye!" Ruffnut announced. "Peoples of the Edge and all creatures far and near… we are present to read the will and last testament of one Tuffnut LaVerne Thorston." She sniffed and continued to read from the password in her hand. "First item: one half stuffed yak."
Snotlout then pulled the wagon holding the stuffed yak into the hole.
Ruffnut immediately turned on him. "Hey! Half that yak is still mine!"
"Yeah? Which half?" Snotlout asked.
"It's so obvious that the back half is his. Can none of you see that?" Ruffnut pointed out.
Throk then placed a hand on her arm. "To me, nothing could be more obvious."
Ruffnut then buried her head into his shoulder and began to blow her nose on his shirt. She then turned to the others. "Next item!"
Henry then presented Throk with a handkerchief which he used in order to brush the snort of his shirt.
"Sixteen pounds of properly pinched salt," said Ruffnut reading from the parchment.
"Rest well, my salt-encrusted friend," said Fishlegs tossing a bag of salt into the pit. "Rest well." He then fell to his knees and looked to the sky. "Why? Why, Odin? Why? You should have taken me!"
Meatlug then grabbed the helm of Fishlegs' shirt and pulled him away from the pit. "No, Meatlug, I'm not ready to go! This is the last time I'll see him!"
Astrid then tossed a golden statue into the pit and looked at Hiccup. "There's no way he's really gone, is there? I mean, eaten by a Changewing? That's just way too easy."
"Funny," said Hiccup tossing the barrel he was holding into the pit. "I was thinking the exact same thing."
"Then that makes three of us," Hicca added as she tossed a few dishes into the pit.
Ruffnut was still reading the parchment in her hand. "'As my last and final wish, I command you to burn all of these meaningless symbols of my earthly existence and dying glorious reverence with a feast of Chicken in my honor.'"
Then Toothless heard Chicken squawk in the distance.
"Okay. Now we're getting somewhere." Snotlout said, licking his lips.
"Wait. There's more," Ruffnut halted him, holding out a finger. "'Sorry, I meant a feast for Chicken in my honor, 'cause you would never eat Chicken. And if anyone even tries to, I will haunt you to the ends of the archipelago.'"
Chicken then cooed softly revealing that she was covered in camouflage paint. Then a hand patted her on the head also covered in Camouflage paint before lowering her head into the bush.
Ruffnut then tossed aside the parchment and Throk presented her with Tuffnut's helmet. She then raised the high into the air and then dropped it into the pit and then turned to Barf and Belch. Barf then began to feel the pit with gas and Belch ignited it and immediately everything within the pit began to burn.
"And now I must go fulfill my Thorston Schleibeldorg Ritual," said Ruffnut.
Astrid blinked. "'Schleiveldorg?'"
Ruffnut looked at them. "I shall be alone in my hut, in the dark, eating only sea slugs and toenails for the next two days."
Immediately everyone groaned in disgust.
"Any extra toenails are welcomed," Ruffnut added. "I can blow through them pretty quickly with my grief."
She then walked away and Throk followed her.
"Pfft! She's not getting my toenails," said Snotlout strongly as he walked away. "I work too hard on them."
Hiccup then turned to Toothless and nodded. Toothless immediately jumped into the bushes above them and roared. A few seconds later, Tuffnut, who was covered in camouflage paint, jumped out of the bushes screaming and landed at the feet of Hiccup, Astrid and Hicca. Chicken then landed on his chest and immediately jumped off it.
Tuffnut looked up to see the gaze of the Haddock twins, Astrid, and Henry turned to Chicken. "Don't be alarmed, mortals," He said in a dramatic voice as he rose to his feet. "I am the spirit of Tuffnut LaVerne Thorston.
Naturally the four of them were not convinced by this.
"Tuffnut, we know you're not a ghost," Hiccup folded his arms.
"Yeah, we can really tell." Henry said boredly.
"Oh, really? How?" said Tuffnut in his dramatic voice. "How do you know such a thing?"
Astrid answers that question by punching him hard in the shoulder causing him to cry in pain.
"Ouch!" Tuffnut cried, losing his voice. He then quickly spoke in his dramatic voice again. "Oh! Ouch, I mean."
The four of them just gave him some serious looks and he realized that he was not going to convince them otherwise.
"All right, fine. I'm not dead," Tuffnut said, dropping his voice. "But you cannot tell my sister it's all part of our plan."
The four other riders' eyes widened in surprise, "I'm sorry, 'our'?" Hiccup asked, "Who else is in on this?"
"Um, Yo?" A voice said and Hiccup felt someone tapping on his shoulder. He turned and saw Valerie, "Boo!"
"Aaaahhh!" Hiccup called out in surprise as he fell to the floor while Hicca, Astrid and Henry turned to Valerie in surprise.
Valerie laughs, "Oh, that never gets old!" She said, clutching her sides.
Astrid was surprised she didn't know what to think, "What-who-when-where-how?" She sputtered, not sure what to say to this new girl, they never even knew was on the Edge.
"And I think the last one is 'Why'." Valerie joked as she laughed again as Tuffnut started laughing as well.
"Oh, Thor. That is so funny." Tuffnut laughed as he and Valerie went up to each other as they laughed together.
"Uh, Tuff, who is that?" Hicca asked in surprise as Tuffnut already seemed to know this girl.
Tuffnut calmed down a bit as he turned to the others. "Oh, guys. This is my new friend, Valerie. She's pals with the Changewings." He introduced.
"Pals?" Henry asked.
"I'm a friend to the Changewings and kinda like being a huge fan of them." Valerie said with a cheery smile as she then leaned back in mid air, which surprised the riders, sin Tuffnut from that. "Ain't that right, Camo?" She asked as she turned her head.
And then an Orange Changeling, Camo, appeared behind Valerie, which startled the others from that as Camo leaned his head towards Valerie as he purred a bit as Valerie gave his head a rub.
"This is my personal bestie, Camo," Valerie introduced, "I saved him from some Speed Stingers when he got separated from his family."
Hiccup was amazed, "You trained a Changewing?" He asked her.
"Oh yeah." Valerie answered with a smile. "They are really curious creatures that can mimic their surroundings. So I did a little dance move as Camo tried to follow my moves, protecting eggs, and had a fun time playing hide and seek." She explained as she turned to Camo with an annoying look. "Except when he cheated to use his camouflage ability to hide really well." She added.
Camo gave a snort at Valerie from that. 'It's not my fault that we changewings are great at hiding in our surroundings.' It snorted.
Henry raised a brow, "Okay then why haven't we seen you before, now?" He asked her.
"Oh, you might have noticed, but I've been around you Riders for sometime now." Valerie answered, which surprised the others. "I was there, you didn't see me when I used my Changewing invisibility cloak. I had it with me for years." She said as she held up her cloak that is made from shedded Changewing skin.
"Wait, did you just say you had that cloak for years?" Hicca asked in surprise as Valerie nodded. "How come it's still working since it's shedding skin? And skin degrades pretty well, which would've made the camouflage ability useless." She pointed out.
"Oh, that's easy." Valerie started as she turned the cloak around to show the cloth on the skin. "I realized how skin degrades overtime, so I sewed this shedded skin on some cloth to make the cloak, so that way, its properties will never die out and the camouflage will still be used now that the skin is sewed to a cloth." She explained while the others widened their eyes in surprise by that.
"Amazing." Hiccup said, rubbing his chin before getting back on topic, "So how much do you know about us?"
"Oh tons. When I heard rumors of there being Dragon Riders who are friends with the dragons, I thought I wanted to get to know you guys." Valerie answered. "The Chief of Berk and leader of the riders, Hiccup, his sister, second-in-command/healer, Hicca, Henry, the son of Viggo, Astrid the maiden warrior, Tuffnut, the left Zippleblack head rider, Ruffnut the right Zippleback head rider, Raeda the warrior Artist, Fishlegs the Bookworm and Snotlout the Loudmouth." She said as the others widened their eyes in surprise.
"Yeah, she's that good." Tuffnut commented to his friends. "Which is why she's perfect to help me get Ruff and the Throkman together." He added.
"What are you talking about?" Hiccup asked.
"If she wants to go with the Throkman, I want to make that decision on her own," Tuffnut said, placing his hands on his shoulders. "You guys said it yourself. She deserves to be happy, and—and if it means a life of haunting the moors of Berk, then so be it."
"This is arguably the worst idea in the history of worse ideas," Hiccup said dully.
"And that's a new level compared to the other ideas you and Ruffnut did together in the past." Hicca added as Astrid and Henry nodded in agreement.
"Hey, it helped me get away from my village, don't knock it till you try it." Valerie defended.
"What? Get away from your village?" Henry asked in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
Valerie sighed in frustration, "Well, my village was never a fan of dragons and I was pretty much an outcast already," she explained before shrugging, "So I faked my death, rode out of there with Camo and never looked back."
The others are surprised by her backstory. "Wait, so you just faked your death and left your village? Just like that?" Astrid asked in surprise.
"Yep. Just like that." Valerie shrugged.
"Okay, first me, then Heather, and now you, Valerie?" Henry asked in surprise. "What this, Outcast season?" He questioned in surprise. "Outcasts are just coming out of the woodwork. I wonder if Outcast Island is having new recruits." He commented.
"Yeah, but what about your family?" Hicca asked.
Valerie just frowned and looked away, "I don't have a family, never needed one." She said simply.
"Isn't that a little harsh and lonely?" Hiccup asked in concern.
"Not unless your village already views you as an orphan dragon lover weirdo." Valerie said before shaking her head, "But enough about me, try focusing on Tuff's situation here." She said, jerking a thumb at Tuffnut as they turned to him.
"Look, just give us 24 hours. That's all we need for the young lovers to figure out whether romance is in their future or rather a life of misery and…" Tuffnut then began wailing, "...despair!"
He then walked off and Hiccup, Hicca and the others looked at Chicken who then promptly followed him as they turned towards Valerie.
"Hey, Tuffnut wanted his sister to choose freely, so I would help him out." Valerie said as she brought out her cloak. "I'll join him and find out in the side lines. Catch you around." She said as she then put the cloak on as she then turned invisible, along with Camo as the Riders looked around for any sign of her.
"Wow, she's good." Hicca commented.
"And clever too." Henry said in agreement as the others looked around to see if Valerie was still around or not.
(Linebreak)
Later that night, Fishlegs and Throk were outside Ruffnut's hut and they could hear her yelling from inside and heard the sound of certain objects being smashed.
"Schleibeldorgan! Schleibeldorgan!" Ruffnut's voice yelled. "Toenail!"
"Fishlegs, how long must we wait for this grieving process to conclude?" Throk asked, looking at Fishlegs.
Fishlegs pondered for a moment.
"Darkness!" Ruffnut yelled.
Throk then quickly pushed Fishlegs aside just as the door opened and Ruffnut stepped out. She was carrying a creed and was making her way around the hut.
"Ruff, where are you going?" Fishlegs asked.
"To the stables to see a Changewing about a man," said Ruffnut as she climbed the ladder to the next platform. "A dead man."
Fishlegs gasped in horror as he had a horrible idea what Ruffnut meant.
"A revenge kill," Throk noted though not as worriedly as Fishlegs. He then folded his hands behind his back and began pacing. "Hmm. I am conflicted. My love for Ruffnut on one hand, and on the other, a life dedicated to protecting dragons."
"Both really good reasons to stop her," said Fishlegs. "Besides, the flock won't migrate unless it's complete."
Fishlegs then dashed off.
(Linebreak)
Fishlegs managed to inform the others and all of them made their way towards the stables as quickly as they could.
"Ruff, no. It's not worth it," Hiccup said as they entered the stables.
"This is really something you shouldn't do and it goes against everything we stand for." Hicca added.
Ruffnut was standing in front of the Changewing that she believed killed her brother and she was holding something in her hand, most likely a dagger.
Ruffnut turned to face him. "Who are you to tell me what's worth what!?"
"You can't kill that dragon. It's not gonna bring Tuffnut back," Astrid said.
"Especially if it really was a Changeling that may have ended him but you don't know." Henry added, since they are keeping quiet to give Tuffnut a chance for his plan for Ruffnut and they would rather not have an innocent dragon die because of Tuffnut's plan.
Ruffnut blinked. "First of all, I would never harm a scale on this dragon's head," she said pointing what was revealed to be a paintbrush at them. "My brother lives in him and secondly, this is the Changewing who ate him, why else would I give him this?"
She then sidestepped to reveal that she had indeed painted an image of Tuffnut on the Changewing's chest. Everyone just gave her a very concerned look as this was not what they expected.
"And the creep-factor just keeps on coming," Snotlout said.
"Ruffnut is really starting to get a new level of weirdness if she thinks her brother is gone." Raeda added in agreement.
The Changewing then vanished into thin air, but it was still visible due to the fact of the painting that Ruffnut had painted on its chest.
"This dragon, Snuttnut, shall be my lifelong companion," Ruffnut said bluntly. "I shall train him. I shall teach him. I shall share my life with him. My inner thoughts and demons!" She then placed a hand on her brother's portraits. "The spirit of my brother Joe always been by my side. By my side! By my side!"
"I thought we were supposed to leave the Changewings alone," Snotlout reminded her. "This looks like pretty much the opposite of that."
The Changewing then reappeared and growled at Ruffnut.
"Tuff?" Ruffnut asked in concern.
Throk quickly tackled her to the ground just before the Changewing shot some acid at her.
"Are you hurt?" Throk asked.
"No," she said. "Snuffnut would never intentionally cause me harm."
"I think someone forgot to fill Snuffnut in on that," Snotlout pointed out.
'You ruined my camouflage!' Snuffnut roared again and Ruffnut yelled as he began chasing. Throk quickly dashed towards a basket of fish and tossed it right in front of it and thankfully began eating it.
He then made his way over to Ruffnut and gave her a good shake. "Ruffnut. While it gives me great glory to save your life, I feel as though perhaps we must allow this dragon to go free, as you should set free the pain that lives in your heart. Come with me, Ruffnut. Start a new life back on our island." He saw that Ruffnut's face fell into sadness and he then grabbed her hand. "I will provide for you. I will care for you. And, most importantly, I will kill for you."
Ruffnut looked at him. "That is so sweet, Throk. I… I…" She then turned and looked at the Changewing which then vanished and slowly backed away and looked directly at the face of Tuffnut's portrait and looked away from Throk. "I never let go of that pain! I could never leave Snuttnut. And if I should die then at least once again, my brother and I will be reunited." She then walked off. "Reunited. Reunited."
As she walked out of the stables more and more Changewings appeared. From behind the stables Tuffnut, Valerie and Camo watched as well.
"Uh, I'm starting to think this plan is starting to go Talons up." Tuffnut said to Valerie as he watched his sister walk away sadly.
"Way up." Valerie agreed.
(Linebreak)
The next day, Fishlegs, Snotlout and Throk were in Fishlegs' gardening trimming the bushes.
"Okay, I've got two questions," Snotlout said. "First of all, why are you doing this? Second, most importantly, why am I doing this?"
"The art of topiary, on the surface, may seem trivial and unimportant," said Fishlegs. "But when one digs deeper, one finds serenity, peace, tranquility. Now, let's see what we've all created. I will go first."
He then gestured to his bush design which looks like a figure-of-eight. "I call this 'Infinity Search for Being.'" He then turned to Snotlout. "Snotlout?"
Snotlout then held out a branch. "I call this 'Barren Soul Wrapped in Nothingness.' It was between that and 'My Lousy Childhood.'"
Throk then stepped back to reveal that he trimmed his bliss in the shape of Ruffnut. "I call this 'What Does That Changewing Have That I Don't Have?"
"Well, for starters, her brother is in it's stomach," said Snotlout.
Fishlegs just stared at it. "Whoa, you really do love, don't you?"
"Yeah. But why?" Snotlout asked.
"Her eyes, like the ink of the giant squid I defeated nearly eight moons past," said Throk as if he was reciting a poem. "The way she massages the feet."
Fishlegs stared at him. "Uh… Ruffnut massage your feet?"
"No. Her own. And her brother's."
"And that, my dear Throkie, is your 'problem,'" said Snotlout. "Twins? Package deal. Can't have one without the other, even if one is currently making his way through the digestive tract of an invisible dragon."
Throk eyes lit up. "That's it. That's the answer. My mission is clear." He then patted their shoulders. "Thank you both. You've been a great help."
He then dashed off with Snotlout before the two of them could say anything.
(Linebreak)
Tuffnut was currently in Hiccup's hut with Chicken on Toothless' stone slab.
"Okay, let's review," Tuffnut said as he began writing on a piece of paper. "The pros and cons of living life as a dead guy. Pros: no chores, because you're dead. That's a good one. All right, now…"
Chicken then clucked.
"Ooh, good one," Tuffnut nodded. "And deep thinking for domesticated avian vertebrates. That means chicken."
Chicken then clucked.
"Of course he knew that." Tuffnut said.
"All right that's it." Hiccup said as he and Hicca entered the hut. "This little plan of yours is completely out of control."
Hicca nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Tuffnut. She's completely overcome by grief. She's calling the Changewing that supposedly ate you her brother."
"You're gonna tell Ruff you're alive before that Changewing or one of his friends really does eat someone." Hiccup pointed out.
"Fine." Tuffnut said as he then looked at Chicken. "You can take 'Hiccup can't boss me around' off the list." He then scratched his pen across his piece of paper. "Even in death, I am a mere servant to this one-legged dictator with a weak chin."
"Okay, great." Hiccup said, rolling his eyes.
"Thank you for clearing that out, Tuff." Hicca said boredly. "Now, let's get this done, shall we?"
Tuffnut then tried to jump off the second floor by performing some acrobatic feats. Unfortunately, he ended up landing face first onto the floor.
(Linebreak)
Ruffnut was currently the stables with the Changewing she had named Snuffnut.
"Nobody understands the bond we share, bro." Ruffnut sighed. "Nobody."
"I do, Ruffnut," Throk said, opening the stable doors. "I understand."
"Throk, what are you doing?" Ruffnut asked in a panic voice as he made his way to the pen containing the Changewing.
"Leave my brother alone!" Ruffnut pleaded.
"I'm not going to hurt him," Throk assured and then opened the pen. He then jacked just in time to avoid the claw of the Changewing. "But if he's going to be part of our family…" He then rolled out of the way to avoid getting splashed by acid, "there are going to be some rules." He then rolled out of the way again to avoid being bitten by the Changewing. "It's okay, Snuff. It's your new brother. I'm here to help."
He then ran out of the pen with the Changewing quickly chasing after him. He then jacked again to avoid getting bitten and immediately climbed onto its neck.
"That's right, big boy," Throk said, clinging onto its horns. "You and I are going to have an understanding." The Changewing kept on trying to throw him off, but he hung on as tightly as he could. "See? We're bonding."
Then suddenly the roof was torn away and Ruffnut saw several Changewing flying directly above them. Snuffnut then immediately took off with Throk riding on his back.
"We may still have some work to do!" Throk yelled as they flew into the sky.
It was at that point that Hiccup and Hicca, as well as Henry, flew into the stables on their dragons.
"Ruff, what happened?" Hiccup asked.
"Throk just flew off with Snuffnut." Hicca said after seeing what they saw.
"Throk and Snuffnut had a difference of opinion on his training." Ruffnut said worriedly. "Now all the Changewings are trying to kill Throk!"
"You mean that Throk is trying to train that wild Changeling?! That stubborn Defender Warrior's gonna get himself killed!" Henry called out in worry.
"Well, that was pretty stupid." Tuffnut said, leaning his head from behind Hiccup's shoulder.
Ruffnut screamed. "Guys, look out! Tuffnut's ghost is here!"
"He's not a ghost," Hiccup said.
"It's really him." Hicca added.
"I'm just me." Tuffnut said as he jumped off Toothless' back.
"Oh, well, isn't that exactly what a ghost would say?" Ruffnut asked as she approached them.
"Seriously? Are we still doing the whole ghost thing if he was on Toothless?" Henry questioned in annoyance.
"No. A ghost would never say that. A ghost would say something like…" Tuffnut then performed an evil cackle. "Look!" He then punched Ruffnut in the shoulder. "Would a ghost do that?"
"Yours would." Ruffnut snapped.
They then heard Throk screams above them as he continued to grapple with Snuffnut with the other Changewing chasing after him. Snuffnut then performed a loop to loop and Throk lost his grip on his back. Thankfully he was able to grab hold of the tail.
"Okay, Throk is really starting to have an issue with Snuffnut." Henry said in worried.
"We need to get Throk out of there," said Hiccup.
"Before he became Changewing food." Hicca added as she then turned the Thorston twins and saw Ruffnut was poking her brother to see if he was real. "Ruff, enough of that! Tuff is no ghost. So you two get your dragon, ghost or no ghost, and let's get Throk some help. Now." She ordered.
"Great." Tuffnut said, rubbing his nose due to the fact that Ruffnut had flicked her finger at it. "Now, we just need to wait for Val to join in."
"Um, who's Val?" Ruffnut asked.
"That would be me." Valerie's voice sounded out as she appeared behind Ruffnut, who got startled and fell to the floor. "Oh, that never gets old. And by the way, my full name is Valerie." She said with a smirk.
"Um, who is she?" Ruffnut asks, pointing to Valerie.
"She's a new friend of mine that I met earlier today." Tuffnut answered as he got next to Valerie. "She's a tricky one and is a friend to Changewings, plus she can turn invisible." He added.
"I can camouflage with Changewing skin on my cloak, actually." Valerie corrected. "But close enough. I even helped Tuff with his plans when I first revealed myself." She explained.
Ruffnut looked between the two before she got a crazy theory, "She's a friend, huh?" She said suspiciously.
"Yeah. Why?" Tuffnut asked obliviously as he climbed on Blech.
"Well, because I think…" Ruffnut tried to explain before she was cut off.
"Ruff! No time! We gotta save Throk!" Henry called out with a yell, which made Ruffnut flinch.
"Alright, alright!" Ruffnut said as they all mounted up. But she then turned to Valerie and her "I'm watching you" gesture with a glare as Valerie blinked in confusion.
(Linebreak)
Throk had managed to climb back onto Snuffnut's back and was still trying to tame the dragon. All the Changewings were becoming visible and were chasing after them.
The Haddock and Thorston twins, Henry and Valerie were soon in the air and soon the other Riders joined them.
"If we push them out to the edge of the reef, they'll move on to the next island." Hiccup said.
"Just watch out, Changewings can hold quite a grudge on the ones who mess with them and they really work as one when they work together." Valerie advised as Camo growled in agreement.
"Like if someone stole their eggs?" Hicca questioned.
"Yeah, something like that." Valerie nodded.
"That explains so much." Raeda said as the others turned to Snotlout while giving him blank expressions.
Snotlout turned to them and frowned, "Oh sure, give the Snot hate for trying to get rich!" He retorted.
Valerie then flew close to his face, "Did you know those were baby dragon eggs?" She asked in a low tone, which made Snotlout nervous a bit from that.
"Um, yes?" He said nervously.
"Oh good." Valerie said with smile before turning to him with a sinister grin, "Now I can excuse Camo for eating you and your dragon later." She said as Camo growled and licked his maw.
Snotlout gulped and Hookfang flew away from the orange Changewing. "Let's never bring that up again, agreed?" He whispered to his dragon as Hookfang nodded in agreement.
Throk was still wrangling Snuffnut and was flying even higher into the air and a couple of Changewings were blocking the Riders path. Toothless and Midnight then fired several plasma blasts at them, causing them to retreat and they continued their way up to Throk.
"Snotlout!" Snotlout yelled as he and Hookfang fired another group of Changewings.
Astrid and Raeda are doing the same to another group that were on the sea stacks leading them away from the Edge.
Throk was holding on as tightly as he could to Snuffnut and for a brief moment he thought he was triumphant. However, Snuffnut jerked his back suddenly causing Throk to lose his grip and fall towards the ocean.
"Toothless, dive!" Hiccup yelled.
"Let's go, Midnight!" Hicca yelled next.
Toothless and Midnight immediately dive after Throk, avoiding all the Changewings that were attacking them. Throk soon found himself falling towards a Changewing, who had its mouth wide open. Thankfully the Haddock twins were able to grab him before Hiccup actually entered into the digestive system of the dragon.
"Gotcha!" Hiccup said, relieved.
The other Riders were soon forcing the Changewings away from the Edge using spines, fire and explosions to scare them off. However they just merely hovered in front of the Edge and showed no interest in leaving.
"I don't think they're leaving, guys," said Fishlegs worriedly.
"Just give them a minute," Valerie assured him as after a few seconds the Changewings began to vanish one by one as they pressed themselves against the sea stacks except Snuffnut who still had his Tuffnut painting on his chest. "Ohh, that's bad." She winced.
"Wow. How cool am I as a Changewing?" Tuffnut asked with a smile.
Apparently the other Changewings didn't agree as they began shooting acid at poor Snuffnut. 'You idiot! You're giving us away!' One of them roared.
Snuffnut immediately reappeared, 'Ow, it is not my fault!' He defended and flew off in pain, he is lucky that his skin protected him from being burned close to the bone, but it still stings painfully.
"Hey! Leave my dragon self alone!" Tuffnut yelled.
"What's going on? Why are the Changewings attacking one of their own?" Raeda asked.
"The flock won't fly with him unless he can go full cloak." Valerie explained. "It's too risky for them. If one Changewing is spotted, their greatest advantage is worthless."
Snuffnut kept on trying to fly away, but every single time a Changewing shot acid at him.
"It's all my fault!" Ruffnut cried. "My undying love for my brother will be the end of this glorious beast!"
"Wait," Tuffnut suddenly spoke up. "Me thinks there is another way." He then placed his fingers on his temple and began to concentrate. "Yes! I have it."
Then before anyone could ask what he got they immediately took off and headed straight towards Snuffnut. However, first they had to zigzag their way through the other Changewings.
"By the way, I love you too," said Tuffnut to his sister. They then ducked narrowly avoiding getting their heads knocked off by a Changewing. "And I want you to be happy."
"I know you do," said Ruffnut. "But how can I be happy if we're not together?"
"We will be together."
"Hold that thought."
Ruffnut then performed what could only be described as a song out of key. Upon hearing the sound the Snuffnut immediately turned to face them and tried to blast them with some acid.
"Okay go," said Ruffnut.
"We will be together. It'll just be different!" said Tuffnut.
They then flew towards the waterfall with Snuffnut close on their tails.
"You are the best brother—"
They then collided into the waterfall and everyone watched anxiously. Then they flew straight out of the waterfall with triumphant cheers and Snuffnut appeared a few seconds later. It then flew into the air and the painting of Tuffnut then got washed away from the water on his damp scales.
The twins cheered as he flew off and then they head-butted one another. That proved to be a mistake as Tuffnut wasn't wearing his helmet and ended up with a massive headache.
Ruffnut looked at Snuffnut. "So long, Snuffnut."
Snuffnut then flew towards the other Changewing and they began to fly off and soon vanished.
Valerie then flew next to the Thorston Twins, "Nice job there, wonder twins." She complimented.
"Thanks Val," Tuffnut replied before frowning, "Though, I guess with the Migration over you and Camo will be leaving with the other Changewings."
Valerie then smiled, "Actually, Camo's gotten use to this island and I've actually gotten to like working with other dragon lovers." She told him.
Tuffnut gasped before smiling, "Oh, does this mean?!" He asked hopefully.
"Hey, Hiccup, Hicca, mind telling me that there's a contract to join your Dragon Riders?" Valerie asked with a smirk at the Haddock twins.
Hiccup and Hicca look at each other with a smile as they turn back to Valerie. "Well, we are always open to new members and it would be great to have a Changewing Rider with us." Hiccup answered with a smile.
"I think he means, welcome to the Dragon Riders, Valerie." Hicca announced.
"Whoo!" Tuffnut cheered while Valerie and the others smiled as they now have a new Rider member in their group.
(Linebreak)
Later that day, Throk was on his boat as Ruffnut made her way towards the docks.
"Wait." Throk said. holding up a hand, causing her to stop in her tracks. "I have something to say."
"I'm all ears, Thorkie." Ruffnut said with a smile.
"Well, I've been doing a great deal of soul-searching," Throk started said, and then got out of the dock and looked at her. "I realize that you and Tuffnut, you belong together. I can't take you away from here and deprive you of the twin bond you enjoy. When joined together as one, you are a force and one that must remain intact for the good of the archipelago."
He then pulled her into a hug and patted her on the back. He then jumped onto his boat and sailed away, but not before looking back at her.
"Hair, it smells of flounder. Skin, rough like the coral of a thousand-year-old reef," Throk said as he sailed away.
Tuffnut then approached her and looked at her. "So, uh, you okay?"
"Yeah. I think so," Ruffnut nodded as she looked at Throk's boat. "Maybe a little guilty. Poor guy."
"Guilty?" Tuffnut blinked. "Wait. You were never…"
"I was never gonna go with him," Ruffnut said, placing a hand on her hips. "Are you crazy? Oh, by the way, thanks for killing yourself for me."
Tuffnut chuckled. "Yeah, no sweat. It actually turned out that being dead is not as much fun as it seems."
"Well, then I guess we both learn something." Ruffnut said.
"Or one of us did and the other wasted a lot of time." Tuffnut added.
The two of them then head-butted one another and their helmets clanked and then they posed with their backs against one another.