Chapter 68: In Plain Sight
Johann, Viggo and Krogan were looking at the image that was being produced by the Dragon Eye, but it wasn't what they expected. It was only showing them a small fraction of what they wanted to see with the symbols of the seven dragon classes.
"Ah! This cannot be!" Johann roared in frustration. "Where is my King of Dragons?"
"Perhaps the stories were wrong," Krogan suggested. "We should consider the possibility that no King of Dragons exists."
Viggo rolled his eyes in disbelief. "Can none of you see what is plainly in front of you?" He then made his way to the map. "Your King of Dragons is right here." He pointed towards the center of the partially revealed map, "or at least he will be."
Johann and Krogan just looked at him and waited for him to continue.
Viggo then removes the lens from the Dragon Eye. "These lenses represent the seven classes of dragons." He then clenched his fist hiding the lens and then opened his palm to review the lens was gone. "Alone, they mean nothing." Then suddenly the lens reappeared with a wave of his hand and then placed it back in the Dragon Eye. "But together, they may reveal the answers we seek."
"I will dispatch my Dragon Flyers immediately," Krogan declared. "We will scout every island for these lenses."
Viggo didn't look particularly impressed. "As efficient as always, Krogan." He mocked.
Krogan glared at him. "You have a better idea?" He challenged.
The two of them glared at one another intensely, but Johann then tossed a couple of daggers which struck the wall they were using as a map.
The two of them then turned towards him and saw that he was looking a bit annoyed. "Krogan, send your Flyers. I see no harm in a quick reconnaissance mission." He said as Krogan looked at Viggo smugly before Johann turned to Viggo. "And, Viggo, you suggested a different path?"
"A more prudent path," Viggo corrected. "Do we not know of two certain individuals with an entire stockpile of lenses he's not presently using?"
Johann smiled. "Yes. We do. And I believe there is a way to persuade our old friends Hiccup and Hicca to deliver them to us straightaway."
He then drew another dagger and then struck the wall once again.
(Linebreak)
Meanwhile at the Dragons Edge, everyone watched as Heather made her way to Vanaheim with Astrid in tow.
"I can't believe Dagur's not going with Heather to Vanaheim," said Fishlegs looking slightly surprised.
"Heather wanted to say bye to her father alone." Hiccup explained.
"Not completely alone, Astrid decided to accompany her for support." Hicca reminded him, "Plus, Heather has absolutely no idea where Vanaheim is located."
"You know what I can't believe? If you flip the yak upside down it can right itself almost immediately." Tuffnut said.
Snotlout stared at him. "What?"
"And, you know, also that we never noticed that Heather had a Dragon Eye lens smack-dab in the middle of her belt!" Tuffnut continued.
"We know, Tuff. You said it many times already. Can you just give it a rest?" Raeda said tiredly.
"What? Can I at least remind everyone about this shocking discovery?" Tuffnut asked in defense.
"No. You really don't. It gets annoying real fast." Henry muttered tirelessly. "But while we're on the subject, we still don't know why Krogan wanted that lens specifically."
"You guys did say that these Dragon Eye lenses contain information on dragons, right?" Valerie asked. "Maybe there's some info they need in it." She added.
"Yeah, but what info and why now?" Fishlegs wondered.
"Too bad you don't have the Dragon Eye. At least we could look at the other lens," Dagur said regretfully.
"Other lens?" Hiccup blinked.
"What are you talking about Dagur?" Hicca asked. "Wait, you have a lens too?"
"Well… yeah. Dad gave us both lenses when we were kids." Dagur explained. "I used mine to look at stuff or start fires with the sun."
"Wait, there are two of the same lenses? How is that possible?" Raeda asked in surprise.
"I don't know. But I did remember from my father that during the creation of the Dragon Eye, the lenses were duplicated into a spare for each one," Henry said, while rubbing his chin, "And if it is the same lens we lost to Krogan, then we could probably use it to find out what the Hunters are after."
"And maybe find out what they are planning." Hicca said with a smile. "Henry, great call. Now we had a lead." She cheered.
"Do you still have your lens, Dagur?" Hiccup asked hopefully.
Dagur shook his head. "No. But I know who does." He then frowned at them. "Anyway, what does it matter? It's not like you have another Dragon Eye line around."
Everyone just stood there quietly. "Yeah, about that." Raeda started.
(Linebreak)
Moments later they guided Dagur to the clubhouse where the Haddock Twins presented their new Dragon Eye.
Dagur didn't look entirely surprised upon seeing it. "You have another Dragon Eye laying around. Of course they do." He sighed.
"All our hard work has finally paid off." Hicca said with a smile as Hiccup picked up the new Dragon Eye.
"We call it the 'Dragon Eye Two'" Hiccup said as he presented it to everyone.
"Oh, 'Dragon Eye Two,'" Ruffnut groaned with a grin. "That is some weak sauce right there. We're gonna give you both a CBB on that."
"Uh, I'm sorry, 'CBB'?" Hiccup frowned.
"What does that mean, exactly?" Hicca asked with a frown.
"'Contrived by a bonehead,'" Tuffnut explained. "It's a technical term. Let me pitch one more before you leave." He then raised his hands together and then placed them together. "'The Thorston-Thorston.' Nothing wrong with double Thorstons. Am I right, sis?" He asked, looking at his sister.
"Really? We're doing the name thing now?" Hicca asked as she then had a thoughtful expression. "Okay, then how about Dragon Fury Eye? Since it does look like a Night Fury." She pointed out.
"Ooh, now that's got some sparkle to it!" Ruffnut complimented.
"Great name, Hicca! Dragon Fury Eye it is!" Tuffnut cheered.
Hiccup sighed and rolled his eyes and turned to his satchel which was filled with Dragon Eye lenses.
"I, for one, think Hiccup and Hicca should be applauded for their ingenuity," said Dagur. He then leaned in towards Hiccup. "It works, right brother?"
"Well, not quite yet," Hiccup sighed as he held the Dragon Fury Eye for them and gestured towards the dial. "You see this dial here? You turn it in order to slide in different coloured gems for the light to filter through. We still need those gems."
"Seven to be precise, each one with the color of the rainbow," Hicca said as she counted on her fingers. "Ruby red, Sunstone orange, Topaz yellow, Emerald green, Turquoise blue, Sapphire indigo and Amethyst violet." She listed out. "So that way, when we put in the lenses and use the right dragon class's fire to light it."
"So seven colors for seven classes?" Valerie guesses.
"Red for Stoker, Orange for Boulder, Yellow for Tracker, Green for Mystery, Blue for Sharp, Indigo for Tidal and Violet for Strike classes." Hicca listed. "It worked with the original Dragon Eye when we used our dragons to light them up, and getting these gems will show the info we need with their precise colors and classes. And right now, it will be tough to find them this time around." She pointed out since finding those gems will be tough and hard under these circumstances.
"Perhaps my humble yet vast variety trading skills might be of some minor assistance in their procurement, Master Haddocks?" A voice offered.
They turned and found Johann entering the clubhouse holding a crate in his arms.
"Johann, what are you doing here?" Snotlout asked in confusion.
"You left just yesterday." Raeda said in surprise.
"I came bearing a gift for Miss Heather," Johann explained as he put the crate on the table. "A mea culpa, if you will, for her ghastly experience of the Northern Markets." He continued pulling out a jar
Snotlout held his hands up. "Save it, Johann. She's not here."
"Yeah, you just missed her," Henry explained, "She left to pay her final respects to her father."
Johann looked slightly annoyed at him. "Oh, pity." He said, putting the jar down.
"Yeah, but backup, Johann, to the part where you help find the gems to finish the Dragon Fury Eye." Hiccup said.
"Because if you do, then it would be really useful right now." Hicca added.
"I have no doubt that I can obtain these baubles for you both, Master Haddocks," Johann assured. "I shall simply personally deliver them to your doors in three to four moons."
"No. no, no," Hiccup said quickly, shaking his head. "We can't wait that long, Johann."
"By then, Krogan and Viggo will already have a head start on us when they already have a lens." Hicca pointed out.
Johann rubbed his beard. "There is a slight possibility to obtain them at the Northern Markets. But I think we all know the dangers that place possesses. Ooh." He shuddered.
"Well, we'll just have to risk it," Hiccup said.
"We've been to that place many times already, we'll be ready." Hicca finished.
Fishlegs immediately gave him a concerned look. "Guys, there has to be another way." He said, "The Northern Markets have gotten too unpredictable."
Henry nodded in agreement. "The Dragon Hunters may not have as much control over it like they used to, but it's still dangerous enough with Krogan's mercenaries wandering around." He reminded them.
"Shame, really." Johann sighed. "It is truly a virtual cornucopia of gemstones."
"Toothless, Midnight, Hicca and I can protect you, Johann." Hiccup offered on behalf of him and Hicca. "We have to finish the Dragon Fury Eye right away."
"If Heather's lens leads to something very important, then we gotta beat the Hunters to it." Hicca said.
Johann began to shudder. "All right, then. I shall rely on you both and the mighty Toothless and the lovely Midnight to ensure my safe return." He gestured to the Night Furies, "One small question: do you two know the exact size of the gemstones you need?"
Hiccup shook his head and held at the Dragon Fury Eye. "Not exactly, but we could bring the Dragon Fury Eye along to measure." He suggested.
"Capital idea!" Johann beamed as it would give him the chance to gain another eye to double their chances. "And perhaps the lenses as well, so that we can immediately elucidate the efficacy of each stone, hmm?" He proposed.
Hicca nodded. "Will do." she said as she took the bag He then turned everyone else. "So it's agreed, while Hiccup, Johann and I Everyone else go with Dagur to try and get his lens back."
"Not so fast." Tuffnut said.
"We're coming with you," said Ruffnut as she and her brother stepped forward.
Johann clearly did not like the idea as more riders would make it even trickier to get the lens. "While I do appreciate the offer of assistance, perhaps a smaller party is a smarter party."
"Ha. When has that ever worked?" Tuffnut asked. "Besides, we have to watch our peerless leader's back. And we might have to pick up some gifts for Chicken's birthday and for Rooster." He added a bit sheepishly.
"Rooster?" Raeda questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Chicken's Hubby. I named him when he was first found out." Tuffnut answered, "You know how hard poultry are to shop for. I've been going up and down the markets. They don't want a quilt. Doesn't want a hay blanket." He explained.
"Actually, it might be safer if we have two more riders with us, even Midnight and Toothless have their limits." Hicca admitted as Midnight growled at her, "But I know you're still a tough girl." She added as Midnight purred when her rider rubbed her head.
Hiccup sighed and gestured for them to come along and Johann reluctantly followed, knowing this would be more difficult then he presumed.
(Linebreak)
Dagur had led the others to Berserker Island and landed near the docks.
"I'm glad you three came with me," Dagur said to Henry, Raeda, Fishlegs, Valerie, and Snotlout. "Hate to admit this, but I might need the backup.
"Really? For what?" Snotlout asked.
"Yeah Dagur, we're on your island, why would you need our help?" Valerie asked.
Dagur looked at them slightly embarrassed. "Well, when I was a kid, I was bullied."
The six of them immediately stared at him.
"You?" Fishlegs gasped.
Raeda held up her hands "Wait, wait, wait, You mean that you, Dagur the Deranged, Chief of the Berserkers, mighty warrior who almost killed us multiple times, was bullied?" She asked in disbelief.
"Yes, me." Dagur said, looking at the five of them awkwardly. "By one kid. Older, monstrous, tough as a Quaken, mean as a Speed Stinger. Ansson. 'Ansson the Abominable.'"
They then heard laughter and turned towards a few Berserkers.
"'Ansson the Abominable,' you say?" A man asked.
"'Abominable!'" A woman laughed.
Dagur just blinked at them in confusion.
The man then gestured behind him as the two of them continued to laugh. "Oh, he's right here. Except we call him 'Ansson the Incompetent.'" He said.
They then sidestepped to give them a perfect view of a lanky looking Berserker standing on a barrel as he tried to adjust his sail. He leaned in a little too far and then collapsed onto the deck and then into the water.
Dagur blinked. "Hmm."
"Clearly the years have not been good to him," Henry commented. "But what does your bully have to do with getting the lens back?"
Dagur winced a bit, "Well, guess how I lost the lens in the first place." He said, pointing to Ansson as the man climbed back onto his ship.
The others blinked and realized what he meant, "He stole it from you didn't he?" Valerie asked dully.
"Yup." Dagur confirmed as the riders realized that getting the lens would either be really easy or extremely hard.
(Linebreak)
The Haddock twins and the others were at the Northern Market and were already beginning purchasing some gemstones.
"Behold!" The merchant said as he held out some turquoise gemstones. "The finest."
"These are perfect. Thank you." Hicca said with a smile and taking a perfect sized gem. "That's Blue and Violet obtained, now to find the others."
Tuffnut then poked his head behind Hiccup, Hicca and Johann. "Excuse me, kind sir. Where would we find your chicken and rooster-sized necklaces for our perusal?" he asked as he shopped the two of them aside.
Johann cleaned his throat. "I know just the store for you two. Best selection of avian adornments and poultry paraphernalia this side of Constantinople. It's on the far side of the market. The far, far side."
The Thorston twins immediately gasped in elation and began pushing one another as they ran to the far side of the market.
The Haddock twins looked at Johann gratefully. "Thank you, Johann." Hiccup said
"Clever way to get them off our backs." Hicca added.
Johann then paid for the turquoise gemstone and looked at Hiccup and Hicca. "While they are gone, might I suggest we expeditiously seek a difference in establishment of which they are not aware?" He suggested.
(Linebreak)
Johann then began to guide the Haddock twins, Midnight and Toothless down an alleyway and no sooner had they entered that they saw several Hunters appearing at the other end holding a crossbow and an ax. Johann then attempted to run down the opposite end, only for that Way to be blocked by Hunters with crossbows.
"Master Hiccup, Master Hicca, my worst fears confirmed! Dragon Hunters!" Johann said in fear.
Toothless and Midnight immediately growled at the Hunters. 'Stay back!' Toothless warned.
"If those dragons even open their mouths to sneeze, shoot the peg-leg where he stands," The Captain ordered.
Johann smiled evilly behind Hiccup and Hicca as everything was falling into place.
Hiccup and Hicca stood back to back, waiting for the hunters to make a move, "Oh, dear," Johann whimpered nervously.
Hiccup then wiggled his fingers to give a sign to Toothless. A split second later, Toothless slammed his tail into the two Hunters behind him. The two Hunters in front of them then immediately end the crossbows and fire Dragon Root arrows at them.
"Look out!" Hiccup yelled as he dodge the arrows.
Hicca then drew her Inferno and battle staff as she took a stance. "Glad we were prepared this time." She said.
Hiccup immediately drew Inferno and set it ablaze and blocked one of the arrows. Toothless and Midnight then jumped onto the wall and jumped in front of Hiccup and Hicca and fired plasma blasts at the two Hunters. He fired directly at the ground just as they began running and was immediately knocked back by the explosion.
"That's enough of that," said a voice behind them as they turned to see the lead Hunter was now holding Johann, placing his ax next to his throat. "Give me the Dragon Eye lenses." He ordered.
"Don't do it, Master Hiccup and Hicca!" Johann pleaded in a quivering voice.
"Shut it!" the Hunter snapped and gave him a slap causing Johann to yell.
The two Hunters from earlier had recovered from Toothless and MIdnight's plasma blast. Hiccup and Hicca then reluctantly extinguished Infernos and Hicca lowered her staff and pulled out his satchel.
"I'm not sure we have much of a choice, Johann," Hiccup said regrettably.
The Hunter then began to approach Hicca, who held out the satchel. Then suddenly Barf and Belch landed directly on top of the Captain freeing Johann.
"Hey, Johann!" Tuffnut waved.
Toothless and Midnight then immediately pounced on the Hunters behind them and knocked them back with their wings in sync. The last Hunter whistled innocently and began to walk away and then quickly.
Ruffnut then looked down at the Haddock twins. "What's their problem?"
"Dragon Hunters. Ambush. You just saved us," Hiccup explained.
"Thanks by the way." Hicca finished with a smile.
"You don't say. An ambush, huh?" Ruffnut said suspiciously.
"Wow. Sounds exciting. Anyway…" Tuffnut and then jumped off Belch and reached into his satchel. "Johann, you were so right about that store. Ah!" He then pulled out a pair of golden necklaces with beak-like ornaments in the center. "Voila! Look at this beauty I 'pecked' out."
Johann just smiled innocently as he was honestly bluffing about the store.
Ruffnut then dismounted Barf and examined the unconscious Captain on the ground. "Hmm. Ambushes require preparation. Preparation implies pre-knowledge. Pre-knowledge implies…" She trailed off as she walked next to Johann as he thought they were onto him. Then Ruffnut's face lit up. "Aha! There's only one explanation for what happened here. The Hunters knew we were coming. And if the Hunters knew we were coming… Then there is a mole among us!"
Tuffnut gasped. "A spy in our group?"
"A traitor in a troupe!" Ruffnut nodded.
"Guys, that's ridiculous," Hiccup said, dismissing what he thought was more of their crazy ramblings.
"Yeah, because that sounds a bit dramatic." Hicca added. "Why would there be a traitor among us?"
Tuffnut's eyes widened. "Oh, my Thor, I was so blinded by my pursuit of chicken finery that I couldn't see the feathers for the spy. Now it's clear." He declared as he then leaned on Johann's neck, who suddenly became very nervous. "There's a fox in our henhouse, and he's been a very naughty little fox."
"The Hunters just saw us and decided to take their shot," said Hiccup simply. He then sheathed Inferno in the sheath Toothless' saddle. "There is no spy. Look, we need to pick our pace, find these jewels and fly out of here."
Hicca however frowned when the Thorston Twins mentioned a spy. She had to admit that the Hunters certainly seemed like they knew they were coming, not to mention how they knew that she had the lenses in her bag?
(Linebreak)
Meanwhile at Berserker Island, Dagur and the others were making their way to Ansson, who was busy fishing in his boat.
"There he is!" Dagur pointed, walking onto the port. "'Ansson the Abominable.'"
Ansson then slowly turned towards him. "Oh, well, if it isn't 'Dagur the Dainty.'"
Raeda and the others then immediately sniggered. "Dagur the Dainty?" she asked, struggling not to laugh.
"Okay, that is pretty funny." Henry commented with a chuckle.
Dagur chuckled nervously. "Yeah. Nobody calls me that any more, Ansson, now that I'm chief and all." He said.
"Oh, is that right?" Ansson asked as he placed his fishing rod down. "What brings you to the docks, Chief Dainty?"
Dagur chuckled awkwardly. "Uh… Hey, when we were kids, Ansson, you borrowed something from me." He reminded him.
"I took a lot of things from you," Ansson corrected.
"While there may be some truth to that, there is one little thing that I kind of need back. It's no big deal. Just a decorative glass doohickey with a metal rim." Dagur described, making the shape of a Dragon lens with his fingers.
Ansson stroked his chin. "Yeah, yeah, I remember that thing. I used to set things on fire with it. I may still have it around here somewhere, Dainty." He taunted.
Dagur growled with annoyance.
Snotlout and Valerie then immediately stepped forward. "Excuse us for a minute, Mr Abominable." Snotlout asked.
"We need to talk to your 'chief' for a moment." Valerie added as they pulled Dagur away.
Snotlout then looked at Dagur squarely in the eye. "What are you waiting for? Look at that guy. Just take it from him." he said as they looked back just in time to see Ansson pulling a fish out of his beard before tossing it back into the ocean.
"Yeah, he doesn't seem much of a tough guy anyway." Valerie added as "Not to mention, with the disrespect he's showing you have every right to throw him off the island.."
I can't," said Dagur. "Look, old Dagur, would've snatched it back by now and thrown him overboard. But I promised Heather I would lead by example from now on, so…"
Fishlegs then placed a hand on his shoulder. "You know what? Good for you, Dagur." He said.
"Way to be the bigger man." Raeda smiled
Henry nodded. "Who knew that all you needed was a little sister to turn over a new leaf."
"Put a socket in it you guys!" Snotlout and Valerie snapped.
Valerie then groaned in annoyance. "Listen, all bullies want things." she explained.
"So, find something he really wants and then trade him for the lens." Snotlout continued with smile.
"You know, Snotlout may be right," said Fishlegs.
"That's a first," Henry said, rolling his eyes.
"But he and Valerie got a point, if bullies want things, give it to him for a trade." Raeda said in agreement.
Dagur sighed.
"Dainty." Ansson taunted as he wiggled his fingers in a feminine manner.
(Linebreak)
Back at the Northern Markets, the Haddock twins had just acquired four gemstones.
"Turquoise, Sunstone, Amethyst and Emerald," Hiccup said as he looked at the four gemstones. "Four down, three to go."
"Just need to find a Ruby, a Topaz and a Sapphire and the Dragon Fury Eye will be complete." Hicca added with a smile.
"Excellent," Johann said as he rubbed his hands together.
The Thorston twins meanwhile were still trying to deduce the spy and naturally they began questioning each one of the Riders.
"What about Snotlout?" Tuffnut offered. "He's a bit shifty, right? Untrustworthy. Oblong body. Spy material, no question."
Ruffnut shook her head. "Way too obvious." She then began to stroke her chin as she began thinking of another suspect. "Hmm. What about Astrid? Why else would she be with Hiccup?"
"Except to spy on him!" Tuffnut nodded, "But the same could be said of Henry, getting close to Hicca so that he could report back to Viggo, nah everyone knows he hates him."
Ruffnut then had another idea, "Ooh, what about Raeda, she allowed her jealousy of Astrid to switch sides. Or maybe our most recent rider who just happened to show up, one Valerie Ragmok." She believed,
Tuffnut gasped, "Outrageous, she would never do such a thing!" He then groaned in annoyance. "It could really be anybody. I mean, except us, of course." He said.
"Of course," Ruffnut nodded.
Of course naturally the moment they said that they immediately turned on one another pushing daggers towards each other.
"Make your move, turncoat," Tuffnut dared.
"Just what a provocateur would say." Ruffnut countered.
They then traded their daggers with maces.
"'Provocateur.' Good word. Well-used." Tuffnut complimented.
They then once again traded their weapons, this time Ruffnut was using a piece of scrap metal and Tuffnut was using a Pike. Of course the moment the weapons collided, Tuffnut's Pike sagged a bit.
Johann shook his head. "My Thor. That descended into the absurd rather quickly." He sighed.
"Actually, it took longer than we expected." Hiccup admitted.
"Usually, those two would be slapping each other with bludgeons by now, but this is a new record for self-restraints." Hicca added with a smile.
They then looked at Johann as the Thorston twins began to wrestle with one another. "We need Rubies. Any ideas?" Hiccup asked.
Johann just merely smiled to himself.
(Linebreak)
Meanwhile on Berserker Island, Dagur had gathered every one of his possessions in an attempt to trade for the lens with Ansson.
"New fishing nets?" Dagur offered, holding out a brand-new fishing net.
Ansson shook his head.
Dagur then pulled out a painting of a Skrill. "Skrill Painting?"
Raeda immediately recognised it and marched up towards him. "Hey! That's my Skrill painting! Where did you get that?!" She demanded.
"Raeda… I used to attack you guys every other week. You didn't think I would come away with something?" Dagur asked questionably before turning back to the painting. "Besides, this is a really good painting, really captures the Skrill's dangerousness."
Raeda attempted to grab her painting, but Dagur pulled it out of her reach and waved his finger at her teasingly. "Haha!" He then presented it to Ansson. "Hmm? Hmm?"
Ansson shook his head once again.
Dagur was now starting to get annoyed as he handed Raeda back her painting. "I don't get it. He doesn't want gold or silver or anything." He said as Raeda growled at Dagur before nuzzling and kissing her painting with a smile, happy to have it back. "Please, Ansson, what do you want?"
"The Thunderfish," Ansson answered.
Snotlout stared at him. "What?"
Henry looked at Ansson. "Do you mind elaborating?" He asked.
"I want you to help me catch the Thunderfish," Ansson explained as he pointed at Dagur.
Valerie however scoffed. "Come on, I've heard of this Thunderfish, it's nothing but a myth about a giant dragon sized fish that hunts fishermen.
"Exactly, how are we supposed to help you catch something that doesn't exist?" Dagur asked in amusement.
"It exists. I've seen it." Ansson insisted strongly. "Been chasing that giant for years. It's why they all laugh at me."
As if on cue, a couple Berserkers laughed at him.
Dagur approached him. "And if I help you catch this Thunderfish?"
"I'll give you your doohickey, Dainty." Ansson promised.
Dagur was rather reluctant to go on a wild goose chase, but he had no choice and agreed.
"Maybe I should help," Valerie offered, "From what I heard, this Thunderfish is powerful, for something fake."
"It's not fake!" Annson said as he marched to his boat with Dagur groaning and following after him with Valerie behind him.
(Linebreak)
At the Northern Markets, Johann was haggling over a small Ruby with a merchant.
"Three gold pieces for that?" Johann yelled in outrage. "Trader Johann does not pay list price."
"Johann! We're not here to get a good deal," Hiccup reminded.
"Any way to get them is important." Hicca added. "So suck it, and pay."
Johann sighed as he reached for his purse. "Apologies. Old habits die hard." He then handed the merchant woman three gold pieces and she gave him the Ruby.
With that done the two of them began to make their way to the next store, but then they came across the twins.
"Guys, those Hunters must have called for backup," Tuffnut said, looking around every corner. "I would show you both the worried look on my face if it wasn't for the fact that I'm afraid to turn my back on my treasonous sister."
"My backstabbing brother is correct," said Ruffnut as she looked at the two of them. "Now they have air support."
Hiccup and Hicca looked up and definitely saw some Flyers flying overhead. Johann then nodded his head towards a merchant stand and there they swords to more hunters.
"No. Haven't seen 'em," The merchant said.
"Look, we've got to go now, or we'll never get out of here." Hiccup said. Looking at everyone.
"So we need to leave before we get surrounded by Hunters and Flyers before they get the drop on us." Hicca added.
Johann smiled as he still had a chance to get those lenses. "Master Hiccup, Master Hicca, we still require one Topaz and a single Sapphire as well, which, in my experience, are not found laying on the ground." He pointed out.
Hiccup nodded. "You're right, Johann. They're not." A small idea then appeared in his head. "But what about underground?"
Hicca had the same idea with a smile. "Riders, we're heading to the shores." She said with a smirk as they started walking out of the market. But then Hicca grabbed Tuffnut by the arm, "Tuff, I need you to do something." She said as Tuffnut looked at her in confusion.
(Linebreak)
They immediately made their way to the beach where they encountered the Sandbuster. The Thorston twins naturally were still accusing one another of treachery.
"You lying she-beast!" Tuffnut glared.
The Haddock Twins ignored them as they looked for a way into the Sandbuster's nest, "You do realize that looking underground for the gems means we'll be trading dealing with Singetails for an angry Sandbuster?" Hicca asked her brother.
Hiccup kept on searching the beach. "Toothless, Midnight, you and I can find the gems and be out before it even knows we were there." He told her, "Now, the key and tricky part is finding the backway we used to…"
The Haddock twins then stared when they saw Johann removing some shrubs and revealing a hatch. "Uh…How did you know this, Johann?" Hicca asked with a raised eyebrow.
Johann looked at him as he approached him. "What? You don't expect a seasoned trader like myself to pass up such a convenient cache of valuable goods, do you?" He asked.
Hiccup looked at him. "Johann, you are full of surprises." He said.
Johann then watched as Hiccup began to make his way down the hatch. "You haven't even begun to scratch the surface." He said sinisterly.
Hicca raised an eyebrow from that as she followed Hiccup down the hatch.
"Uh, guys?" Ruffnut said, who noticed something with her spyglass. "I'm thinking you should take this discussion underground."
They immediately looked up and saw Flyers heading straight towards them and apparently they had discovered their tracks.
"I found tracks! This way!" One of them ordered as they dived down.
"Okay. Ruff, Tuff, you lead these guys away while we go for the gems," Hiccup ordered.
"No way," Tuffnut said, folding his arms and then he gestured to his sister. "I'm not going anywhere with this traitor." He whispered the last word.
Ruffnut glared at him. "Says the double agent."
"Now!" Hiccup roared.
"Fine," Tuffnut said.
"And remember, protect Chicken and Roosters' gifts." Hicca told Tuffnut as she gave him and subtly wink which he returned.
They then immediately took off straight at the Flyers causing them to break the pursuit. The Flyers then began to fire the Thorston twins as they began to fly as far away from the beach as possible.
(Linebreak)
Meanwhile Dagur and Valerie were in Ansson's shape as they began searching for the mythic Thunderfish. They had taken Sleuther and Camo on board as they expected everything to go sideways.
"So, uh, what kind of bait attracts a Thunderfish?" Dagur asked curiously. "Cod? Halibut? Yak hoof?"
Ansson then pulled out a rope that was filled with all sorts of metal junk.
"Oh, now I get it. You're insane," Valerie said with a frown.
Ansson ignored her and tossed them overboard. "The Thunderfish is attracted to shiny things. You just wait and see. It won't be long now." He promised.
Dagur groaned realizing that this was a complete waste of time.
Then just a few seconds later the entire boat shook and they almost toppled over. "What the?!" Valerie gasped as something then began dragging the ship and all of them began clinging onto anything nailed down as the ship shot off.
Ansson laughed as he leaned over the side. "Ha! I got you this time!" He then immediately turned to Dagur. "What are you and lady waiting for, Dainty?" He asked the two.
Dagur and Valerie then immediately rushed over towards their dragons and the two of them took off into the air. It was then that they could see that it wasn't a fish they had caught, but a Scauldron.
"That's no fish! It's a dragon!" Dagur yelled.
"A big male Scauldron by the looks of it!" Valerie added.
Ansson looked as if they were insane."Dragons don't live in the water!" He stated.
"Tidal classes do, Ansson!" Dagur yelled at the top of his voice.
"Seriously!? Have you ever read up on dragons?!" Valerie called out.
Dagur then immediately fired a fire blast into the water, but apparently it had no effect. The Scauldron then immediately turned, dragging Ansson's ship along with it.
"Oh, come on!" Dagur groaned as he quickly turned around.
"This is really getting out of hand!" Valerie griped. "It's trying to get away from the ship, let me try!"
She then immediately dove into the water and Camo sliced through the ropes with his claw freeing the Scauldron.
"Oh! Yes!" Dagur cheered as Valerie shot out of the water. They then immediately flew back towards the ship. "Oh, easy, big boy."
Ansson wasn't too pleased and glared at him as he landed. "You two let it get away?" He roared as he slammed the sliced rope onto the ground.
"Hey, if anything, we were saving you from Scauldron soup." Valerie retorted, "That dragon can shoot water hot enough to melt the flesh from your-" She was interrupted when the Scauldron suddenly shot its head out of the water, clearly it had not been too pleased about dragging their ship a good few hundred yards.
'Try to catch will ya?!' he roared It and then fired a water blast towards them as Valerie rolled out of the way and Dagur quickly tackled Ansson to the deck while Valerie dodge from the water blast.
It then swam around the ship preparing for another attack and Dagur immediately screamed. Ansson then immediately pulled out the Dragon Eye lens and used it to reflect the sun's rays into the Scauldron's eyes.
'AHH! My eyes!' the Scauldron screeched in pain and almost immediately the sea dragon immediately dived into the water to get away from it and clearly had had enough as it didn't pop its head out again.
"You had it all along," Dagur said, looking surprised.
"You never lost it in the pile. You kept it on you." Valerie added in surprise as well.
Ansson just smiled at them.
(Linebreak)
Meanwhile the Haddock twins and Johann had entered into the Sandbuster's nest and thankfully he wasn't in the area at the moment. "Looks like old Sandy's not home." Hicca noted.
"Perhaps it would be prudent to have your dragons stand guard in case we have to make a hasty exit," Johan advised.
Hiccup and Hicca turned their heads towards the entrance and then spun their fingers around. Toothless and Midnight acknowledge the just and begin making their way towards the entrance while Hiccup and Hicca nodded at each other..
The Haddock twins then rejoined Johann as they began searching for the last two gems. Almost immediately, Johann found a Topaz that was the exact right shape.
"Eureka! A perfect Topaz!" Johann said cheerfully as he held out the gemstone.
He then tossed it over towards Hiccup. "Nice! That just leaves the…"
Johann then pointed directly behind them. "Sapphire. Right behind you." He declared.
"That makes all the colors of the rainbow." Hicca said as she reached towards it, not seeing Johann's demeanor suddenly changing as he began to make his move.
Then sliding out of his sleeve was a dagger and he smiled evilly towards the Haddock Twins. "I'll take that bag of lenses, Children," He said as extended his free hand towards Hiccup.
Hiccup and Hicca sighed and slowly turned around and grasped upon seeing the dagger in his hand. "Look, whatever Krogan and Viggo are paying you…" Hiccup started.
"Paying me? Those two?" Johann laughed. "I paid them to serve at my feet."
"Wow, now that's new info." Hicca said with a rolled eye.
"Why do you even want these? And why now?" Hiccup asked.
"Because they're the next step in finding the King of Dragons and the keys of yours truly becoming the richest man on Earth." Johann explained as he slowly backed Hiccup and Hicca into a corner.
"King of Dragons?" Hicca questioned
Hiccup then realized, "Heather's lens!" he gasped.
Hicca's eyes widened as well, "Viggo didn't tell Krogan about the lens, You did?" She asked Johann
Johann laughed and clapped in a mocking way. "Well done, my dear Haddocks." He then saw him glaring at him. "Don't be so morose. How do you think it's been for me?" He then immediately turned his back and began marching up and down. "Pretending all these years to actually care about you and your little friends. The number of times I wanted to just scream at the top of my…" He then stopped when he noticed something, "...and yet, I'm wondering why you aren't two you more surprised? And what you both find so humorous?"
"The Thorstons and their rants." Hiccup admitted he then began to march up and down himself with a smirk. "You know, we ignore most of them, but this 'spy' thing got me thinking. Maybe—maybe it was coincidence those Hunters ambushed us,"
"But how do they know to ask for the Dragon Eye lenses?" Hicca took over looking at Johann, "The lenses we only brought because you asked us to?"
Hiccup then looked directly at him. "Well, then things started to add up." He then started recalling some previous encounters they had with him. "You were there when Heather lost her lens. Your 'distress call' got most of us off the Edge right when the Dragon Hunters decided to invade." He said.
"And finally, you center after Dagur, assuring us he'd be alone." Hicca continued. "And your ship was conveniently docked at Outcast Island ride as he first broke out of prison before we found the Dragon Eye on the Reaper." She finished.
Johann clenched his fist. "The most difficult part was letting him think he actually stole my ship."
Hiccup and Hicca narrowed their eyes on him. "You've been behind all of this." Hiccup realized.
"The attacks, the sudden coincidences of how the Hunters and Krogan knew our plans, and I'll bet it was you who tipped the hunters off that we had the Dragon Eye in the first place." Hicca guessed.
"Since as far back as Breakneck Bog, I've been doing everything humanly possible to rid the archipelago of you two and your Dragon Riders," Johann confessed as he continued to back the Haddock twins into a corner.
"Breakneck Bog?" Hicca asked before her eyes widened, "You didn't sail to close it by accident, you went there on purpose. You've been doing this for four years since then!" She said in rage.
"Oh, much longer than that my Dear Hicca, apparently your father was even easier to deceive than you two, especially after the loss of his dear Valka." Johann taunted with a smirk.
Hiccup and Hicca then gritted their teeth from that. "Do not bring our mother into this!" Hicca sneered.
"You've been tricking our father to gain your trust for years?" Hiccup questioned. "Why?" He demanded.
"Don't get me wrong, he is a great chief, but I will not let him and his offspring get in my way of my conquest." Johann retorted. "But you both have inherited Stoick's most annoying habit of not dying when you're supposed to."
"Yeah, we get that alot." Hicca said with a smirk.
"You have your own pesky habit as well, Johann." Hiccup smirked. "You never stop talking. You gave away pretty much everything, especially when you think you have the upper hand."
"Especially when you keep telling your 'stories' 24/7', which sorta really gets annoying half the time." Hicca added.
Johann raised an eyebrow and Hiccup performed the same hand gesture he showed Toothless earlier. "You see, when we did this little move to Toothless and Midnight to leave, leaving was actually the last thing we told them to do."
"It was actually a hand signal to watch our backs so that something bad might happen, which in this case, it did." Hicca explained with a smirk.
Johann turned and saw Toothless and Midnight emerging from behind a few crates and took on a perfect position to attack him.
'We knew that you were hiding something.' Toothless growled.
'Don't try anything Johann.' Midnight growled next.
Johann looked back at the Haddock twins. "The Sandbuster will surely hear if a plasma blast is fired." He noted.
Hiccup shrugged. "Probably. But we just don't see them needing a plasma blast for this."
"Because you're outmatched even for a Night Fury, Johann. Even more with two." Hicca added as well.
They then nodded towards Toothless and Midnight, who immediately growled at Johann, who turned on them. Toothless then pounced and Johann jumped out of the way and Toothless landed himself in a netter trap and was now extending in the air completely trapped.
"Toothless!" Hiccup cried.
Midnight roared to her mate as she glared at Johann as she pounced at him as well, but then another netter trap went off as she was trapped as well.
"Midnight!" Hicca cried next.
Johann chuckled. "Now I believe we are all caught up." He then pointed his dagger back at the Haddock twins. "The lenses, please, now."
The Haddock twins saw that their Infernos and Hicca's battlestaff had slipped out of Toothless and Midnight's saddles, they then looked back at Johan and reluctantly gestured to Hicca to hand over her satchel.
Hicca nodded and held it out until Johann immediately snatched it, but gasped "What?" He said in outrage as he pulled out not the lenses but Tuffnut's necklaces for Chicken and Rooster. "No!" He then saw that the Haddock Twins chose the opportunity to hide.
"Oops, sorry Johann, but Viggo taught us that when you're up against a dangerous enemy, you gotta be smart." Hicca's voice taunted in the cave, "Before we left the market, Tuff and I switched bags, the lenses are with him and Ruff, who are currently fighting off the Flyers."
Johann began looking around in search of them. "Oh, Hiccup, Hicca, why make this any more complicated than it needs to be? Perhaps, for old times' sake, I should regale you two with tales of alligator races with the Sultan of Zanzibar or some such fictional account of my travels. That's right, Haddocks. The tales that I sold you two and your gullible father I plundered from real merchants before I sunk them and their ships." He retorted.
Johann turned and saw Hiccup and Hicca in between some crates and then he immediately tossed his daggers towards them. However, he discovered that in fact it was a mirror and the real Hiccup and Hicca emerged from behind some crates.
"To be fair, I always thought your stories were a bit far fetched." Hicca commented as she and her brother dashed away.
Johann immediately tossed even more daggers towards him, but Hiccup dodged them. Hiccup and Hicca then watched him as he pulled more daggers from his sleeves and wondered how many he had up there. They then quickly slid across the ground avoiding the dagger and grabbed their weapons.
The Haddock twins quickly ignited the blade while Hicca ready her battle staff just in time to block more daggers from Johann, Hiccup then tossed his blade and sliced through the rope that held the net that had ensnared Toothless while Hicca tossed her battle staff at Midnight's staff, freeing her as well. Hiccup's Inferno was spinning back towards Hiccup while Hicca's battle staff did the same, Johann had tossed yet two other daggers forcing them to duck and their weapons impaled the ground behind them while Hicca blocked a couple more with her Inferno.
"Gotta admit, for a trader, you certainly know how to throw daggers." Hicca commented as she stood ready and Johann then moved in to finish the job.
Toothless and Midnight, however, had other ideas. They both fired a plasma blast, Toothless's destroying his dagger and Midnight's blasting Johann off his feet.
Immediately all of them just stood there and they heard a roar that could only belong to the Sandbuster.
Sure enough the scavenger dragon emerges itself from one of its corners in its den. It then fired upon the Haddock twins, but Toothless and Midnight pushed him out of the way just in time and then he fired a plasma blast. Sadly, he missed and the Sandbuster turned its attention towards them, Toothless and Midnight fired another blast, forcing it to retreat slightly.
Soon the three dragons began circling one another, but Toothless scared off with more plasma blast. He then fired one at the entrance to its den and caused the cave in.
"Good job, Toothless," Hiccup said as he and Hicca approached them.
"That should make the Market a little safer from now on." Hicca added but then remembered Johann. "Johann." She
The Haddock twins turned and found that Johann was gone, Toothless and Midnight clearly wanted to go looking for the traitor. "Now is not the time, guys." Hiccup said as he then mounted Toothless.
"As if Viggo and Krogan weren't bad enough, now we have Johann?" Hicca wondered as she mounted on Midnight.
"Don't worry, sis. I have a feeling we're going to get another shot at him soon." Hiccup said.
"You're right, now let's get Ruff and Tuff, and regroup with the others back at the Edge." Hicca said as they then immediately took off down the exit to meet up with the Thorston Twins.
(Linebreak)
At Berserker Island, Dagur, Valerie and Ansson had returned with most of the village greeting them along with Raeda and the others.
"I don't see no Thunderfish." A Berserker noted .
His pal then laughed. "What a shock!" He mocked
Ansson just stood there, not able to come with a snappy retort as he now realized he wasted years of his life chasing a Sea Dragon.
"What happened?" Fishlegs asked.
"Well we caught something, it just wasn't a Thunderfish." Valerie told them.
Raeda raised a brow, "Meaning?" She asked.
"The Thunderfish turned out to be a Scauldron," Dagur explained.
One Berserker gasped mockingly as the others then laughed.
Dagur then saw Ansson making his way back to his boat sadly and stopped him. He then turned back and looked at his people. "A Scauldron! A massive, killer dragon whose water-strike burns the skin off your bones." He explained
The Berserkers then immediately stopped laughing and looked at one another.
"Trust us if you saw that thing, you wouldn't be laughing.' Valerie told them.
"But Ansson, he faced the beast down eye to eye and bravely helped chase it away." Dagur continued. "Now that it's no longer around to eat the fish, all your nets will be fuller."
The Berserkers then immediately looked at one another and began muttering to themselves.
"Is this true?" One of them asked.
Valerie narrowed her eyes on them. "You dared question the word of your chief?" She said gesturing to Dagur and then turned to Ansson. "This man saved his and my life, and improved yours."
Berserkers began mumbling to themselves and then looked back at Ansson.
"Ansson, Ansson! Oi, oi, oi!" Snotlout cheered within the background.
Soon all the Berserkers followed his cheers and they began laughing and sharing with one another. Ansson himself just stood there completely speechless as the Berserkers began to congratulate him.
Dagur and Valerie then made their way back to Raeda and the others.
"Dagur, what about the lens?" Fishlegs asked.
"Yeah, we really need it." Raeda added in agreement.
"A Berserker deal was a Berserker deal." Dagur said regrettably. "We didn't catch a Thunderfish. I didn't earn it."
"Yes, you did, Chief," said Ansson and tossed in the lens.
The lens fell into Dagur's palm and he smiled at Ansson.
Henry then took notice of the Lens and widened his eyes, "Wait a minute. I know that lens." He muttered in shock.
Raeda turned to him. "You have?" She asked as the others looked at him.
"We need to get back to the Edge, now." Henry said, furrowing his brow.
(Linebreak)
After everyone returned to the Edge, the Haddock twins explained to them what they had learned from Johann.
"So Johann has been playing us all for years." Astrid said in disbelief, "And the Thorston Twins are the reason you guys figured it out?" She added.
She then turns to see Tuffnut putting Chicken and Rooster's new necklace on as they clucks.
"So Mildew's Blue oleander scheme, Breakneck Bog, the Speed Stingers, the Smokebreaths, Dagur's escape, the Hunter attacks and Heather's lens," Raeda recounted, "All those incidents were all Johann secretly trying to kill us."
"Afraid so." Hicca answered, "And now he's making his move to find something called "The King of Dragons"."
"Huh, didn't dragons have royalty?" Snotlout commented.
Henry then let out a concerned sigh as he paced back and forth with a troubled look on his face. Hicca noticed and turned to her Boyfriend, "Henry, what's wrong?" She asked.
"I know what Johann is after and I know who this King of Dragon is." Henry said grimly.
"Wait, you do?" Hiccup asked in surprise.
"Afraid so." Henry confirmed. "When I was a kid my grandfather told me stories about a powerful dragon. It was said to be as big as the mountains, Tusks as long as ten ships and a breath so cold it could create entire glaciers. They are known as the 'Alpha' Species." He explained grimly.
The Dragon Riders were shocked by this discovery.
"Alpha Species? I've never heard of that type of dragon before." Heather said in shock.
"Neither did I. And I heard many dragons out in the world." Valerie commented.
"That's because they are incredibly rare and really, really hard to find. And they are one of the few types of dragons that still exists in the world." Henry pointed out while facing them. "No Viking in the world has ever seen one of them, but you guys have."
"We have?" Hiccup asked in surprise.
"You guys remember the Red Death from Dragon Island you two told me about?" Henry asked as the others nodded. "That was one of them, not entirely, but definitely related to the Alpha species. The Red Death, as you guys mention, was the Queen of Dragons for slavery. But the King of Dragons is the ruler of all dragons. No matter how big or small it is." He explained seriously.
"Awesome! I want one!" Tuffnut cheered.
"Me too!" Ruffnut cheered in agreement.
"No you don't!" Henry yelled firmly.
"Why not?" The Thorston Twins asked in disappointment.
"My grandfather told me that this Dragon's most dangerous weapon was a roar so powerful, it could overwhelm the minds of other dragons," Henry explained while looking at Toothless and Midnight. "To control them as mindless slaves, only to carry out its will and make them do whatever it wants."
"Just like the Red Death." Hicca gasped, remembering how the Red Death used its roar to force the dragons of Dragon Island to pillage and raid Berk.
Henry nodded, "Exactly, but the King of Dragons could use this ability on a much more powerful scale."
"This dragon, what did he call it?" Hiccup asked.
Henry thought for a moment, "Nobody knows, My grandfather just referred to it as 'The Great Ice Beast'." He answered, "Guys, if the stories are true and Johann finds this dragon…"
"He would be able to control every dragon in the world." Hicca realized in fear, "And make them invade any island he wanted."
"It'll be the days of The Dragon Wars all over again." Hiccup finished grimly as he turned back to the Dragon Eye. "Johann is going to undo all the work we did trying to prove that dragons are more than the monsters people thought they were."
"We can't let that happen." Fishlegs said in slight panic.
"We just need to find this king, move him somewhere Johann can't find him and then we can shut them down, for good!" Valerie declared, slamming her fist into her palm.
"Agreed." Dagur said as he came up to the Haddock Twins. "Are you guys sure my lens can help us find this King of Dragons?" He asked them as he held out his dragon eye lens.
"We hope so." Hiccup said as finished fiddling with the Dragon Fury Eye.
"All we can do now is hope that we have a shot at this." Hicca added.
"So do I, sibs. So do I." Dagur said as he gave his lens to Hiccup as the haddock boy placed it in the Dragon Fury Eye and then placed it on a barrel while aiming it to the wall.
"Okay. Hit it bud." Hiccup said to Toothless.
'Okay, Hiccup.' Toothless slightly roared as he glowed up a plasma blast light and onto the dragon eye.
The dragon eye lit up as it showed seven classes on the wall. "The Seven Dragon Classes." Fishlegs pointed out.
"Stoker, Boulder, Tracker, Sharp, Tidal, Mystery and Strike." Hicca added, pointing to each symbol. "This must mean we need lenses from each class to finish the picture."
"And we have lens for three." Hiccup said as he brought out two more lenses and placed them in front of the dragon eye lens as the image became the bottom half of a dragon.
"I'll bet you anything, that's the King of Dragons." Raeda said, looking hard at the picture.
"And the First side who finds all seven lenses," Astrid started, narrowing her eyes.
"Reveals the location of the King of Dragons." Fishlegs finished with a determined expression.
"And the key to controlling every dragon in the world." Henry added with a serious tone.
"This is a race we cannot afford to lose." Hicca said firmly. "If Johann wants to play for keeps, then he's in for a nasty surprise."
Hiccup nodded with pure determination, "Game on." he declared, knowing that their final battle with the hunters had only just begun.