Chapter 76: Ruff Transition
The Haddock and the Riders were making their way to Wingmadien Island, in response to a rumor they had heard.
"All right, gang, when we get to Wingmadien Island, we want everyone to be on their best behavior." Hiccup said, focusing upon the Thorston twins.
"Meaning no funny businesses." Hicca added.
"Hiccup, Hicca we've made a chiefly decision." Ruffnut said.
Hiccup and Hicca looked at each other before they gave the Thorston twins a strange look. "Okay. But you're not a chief, so—" Hiccup started.
"We think that we should tell Atali we need to move the lenses," Tuffnut said.
"Since we are the ones that found out Johann knows where you hit them," Ruffnut added.
"Okay, first of all, we don't know for sure that Johann knows anything about the lenses." Hicca pointed out with an eyebrow raised.
"And you just heard a rumor about it at the Northern Markets," Hiccup recalled. "We're just moving the lenses as a precaution."
"Uh-ba-ba-ba," Snotlout blurted out. "If anyone is telling Atali anything, it should be me telling her, because I'm the Ambassador to the Wingmaidens."
"You're so right, Snotlout," Astrid said. "I can't even believe they haven't erected a statue in your honor."
"They probably have, Astrid." Snotlout smiled proudly. "We haven't been there in a while."
"Yeah, a statue of Snotlout sitting on a stew pot, screaming for help," Ruffnut jokes, remembering how Snotlout thought they were gonna eat him.
"Ruff, we talk about this. They were only doing that to scare him, they don't really stew anybody." Raeda pointed out with an annoying look.
"Ha ha ha," Snotlout laughed dryly. "Raeda's right. Like you know anything about the Wingmaidens, Ruff." He added.
"I know they're not dudes," said Ruffnut. "Yeah, they're, like, winged, and they're, like maidens and staff."
Hicca groaned. "Guys, it doesn't matter who tells the Wingmaidens so long as we do tell them, though Hiccup and I are more suited for it than anyone else here." She pointed out.
"Blah, blah, maiden talk, blah." Valerie spoke out with a wave of her hand. "Can we discuss this another time? Because I am looking forward to meeting the WIngmaidens." She said excitedly.
"Slow down, Valerie." Henry said with a chuckle. "We're almost there. So keep your excitement contained." He said as he pointed to Windmaiden Island just ahead of them.
"Okay, gang. Let's go." Hicca said as they all flew towards the island.
(Linebreak)
The moment they landed, the Haddock twins immediately informed Atali about the rumor they had heard and she agreed with him.
"I completely agree, Haddocks," Atali nodded. "Even if there is a small chance the Hunters know whether lenses are hidden, they should be moved."
"You might want to stay on high alert for a while, Atali, just in case they come looking for them," Hiccup advised.
"You never know when they might plan a sneak attack soon. Since they attacked us three times, one on Berk, one on Iron Isle, and one on Defenders of the Wing Island." Hicca added since they were already attacked by Johann, Krogan and Viggo's goons three times already.
Atali nodded. "Yes, especially during the Grand Transition."
Snotlout chuckled slightly and then looked at Astrid. "What's the Grand Transition?"
Ruffnut smirked at him. "I thought you were the ambassador. Shouldn't you know?"
"Shut up, Ruffnut," Snotlout muttered under his breath.
"Come guys, Snotlout wouldn't have every detail since we've out dealing with the Hunters, Flyers and this whole King of Dragons quest." Raeda said in defense.
Astrid raised a brow, "You've been pretty quick to defend Snotlout lately Rae." She noted suspiciously.
Raeda widened her eyes as she spoke. "Come on, Astrid. You have to admit that Snotlout had enough karma and retorts when it comes to him. It's like Loki is loki'ing him whenever he makes a sentence." She said with a small nervous smile. "Besides, if memory serves, we all have been pretty busy. Like how you and Hiccup have been going off on your even date flights and picnics on breaks?" She countered with a smirk.
Astrid widens her eyes from that as she blushes in embarrassment. "How did you-" She tried to ask.
"Astrid, come on. Basically everyone knows." Raeda said, as Astrid turns to the others and they nod in confirmation.
"You and Hiccup are really obvious, Astrid." Henry said in agreement. "A little too much compared to me and Hicca." He added.
Hiccup heard this as he and Astrid looked at each other sheepishly, "Okay, maybe secret lovelife skills aren't as good as we thought." Hiccup commented.
"I thought we had that covered." Astrid said as she rubbed her arm.
"To be fair, we all knew you two would be together way before you started dating." Hicca pointed out dully. "Even dad was getting off waiting for you two to get together."
"Even Dad?!" Hiccup exclaimed, shocked even his father wanted him and Astrid to get together for years.
"Dude, even Stoick can see this coming." Henry said.
"Yeah, we even get that." Tuffnut said as Ruffnut nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, you two really are easy to tell." Snotlout said in agreement with his arms folded.
"I may be new to this group, but even I can tell love when I see it." Valerie said while pointing at herself.
"Oh gods." Hiccup groaned as Astrid looked away blushing.
Fishlegs chuckled at Hiccup and Astrid's reaction as he was the first to notice that Atali and the other Wingmaidens didn't have a baby Razorwhip on her back.
"Wait, your—your baby Razorwhips are gone." Fishlegs said, pointing to their backs.
"Where did they go?" Hicca asked in surprise.
"The Razorwhips have returned to their flock," Atali explained. "The time has come for them to leave the safety of our care."
"Must be nice to finally get that dragon off your back, am I right?" Ruffnut asked and then looked at her brother. "Up top! Down low." Tuffnut just looked at her, because even he knew that it was the wrong thing to say and Ruffnut got the hint. "All right."
"The Grand Transition is bittersweet, Ruffnut." Atali explained. "As one group departs, our hearts ache, but then a new flock of babies come to fill the void."
"New babies flock!" Hicca squeals in excitement.
"I knew I heard rustling in the rookery." Fishlegs said excitedly. "Ooh, little baby dragons."
Atali chuckled. "Yes. And tonight they will choose their Wingmaiden, and the process will start over again."
Henry looked at her. "But this leaves you completely vulnerable, doesn't it?" He asked in concern. "I mean these baby Razorwhips need time to bond with you before you have any attempt of aerial combat, right?" He added.
Atali nodded. "That is why the Grand Transition is a dangerous time for us in case invaders come." She said, "That is why I wish to ask if you will help us defend our island, at least until the newborns and the maidens have bonded well enough."
Snotlout then placed his hand around Atali's shoulder. "You know, A, if you ladies need any help with the great transition—" He said.
"Grand Transition," Atali corrected, looking slightly annoyed.
Raeda then immediately separated Snotlout from her as Hiccup spoke. "Okay, well, too bad we can't stay, Snotlout. We don't want to intrude." He then looked at him squarely in the eye. "Or mess anything up."
"Yeah, we really wouldn't want any trouble." Hicca added.
"Nonsense, Haddocks," Atali said, placing a hand on Hiccup' shoulder. "You all stay the night and the honored guests at the ceremony."
"And this would be exciting to see new baby Razorwhips!" Hicca said excitedly.
Snotlout chuckled and was about to walk off, but Raeda pulled him back. "Best behavior, Snotlout." She warned.
"Right. Best behavior," Snotlout said, looking intimidated in the slightest from the glare from his girlfriend.
(Linebreak)
Later that night, they followed the Wingmaidens to a cavern which was no doubt where the baby Razorwhips were located. They were all standing around a fire as Atali and many of the Wingmaidens appeared with torches in their hands.
Atali then lit her torch and looked at everyone. "For generations the Wingmaidens and the Razorwhips have lived in perfect harmony. Tonight that tradition continues." She then began to lick the torches the other Wingmaidens were holding. "Each baby Razorwhip will choose its Wingmaiden. That is the first step of our sacred bond. This is the way that it has always been, and this is the way it will always be."
They then heard a screeching sound and emerging from the cave worthy baby Razorwhips, it looks as if they had just been hatched. During this ceremony both Hiccup and Astrid locked hands with each other and smiled as Hicca and Henry did the same.
"Aw, they're so cute." Hicca cooed at the newly born hatched Razorwhips.
"Look, Hiccup, Hicca." Fishlegs said as he brushed it here from his eye. "It's like a little Razorwhip family."
"Even when blind, they can tell each other scents and tell that they are family." Hicca explained with a fond smile.
The Razorwhips then began playing with one another or they were just running into each other since they were blind. One of them then immediately jumped into the arms of a Wingmaiden followed by another.
However, one Razorwhip, with gold-like trimming on its scales, was just looking around and Atali kneeled down expecting it to come to her arms.
"Ugh. Make up your mind already," Ruffnut grumbled impatiently.
The Razorwhip apparently heard her, 'Mommy?' He squeaked ,immediately ran towards her general direction.
Ruffnut immediately began to panic. "Wait. Why is it coming at me? What the—" She asked before to everyone's surprise the Razorwhip jumped into her arms and she quickly tried to pull it away. "Stop! No, no! No!" Ruffnut cried.
Atali looked at Hiccup, who just shrugged awkwardly.
"Ah, no, no, no, no, no, no!" Ruffnut cried, pushing the Razorwhip away from her. She then pointed the Razorwhip towards Atali. "Mummy's right over there by the torch. Go to the light!" She pleaded.
Tuffnut smiled at the little guy and scratched his chin. "Oh, look at him, Ruffnut. He's ours. We shall name him…" He then took a moment trying to decide on a proper name, "Wingnut."
Atali looked confused. "This… can't be." She said, disbelief.
Ruffnut desperately tried to pull the Razorwhip off, but he immediately grabbed hold of her braids and refused to let go.
Snotlout smirked at everyone else. "Ha! And you guys thought I was gonna mess things up." He joked.
"Okay, for once, we did not see that coming." Henry said in surprise.
"Ugh, hey, watch the braids, pal! Get him off of me!" Ruffnut yelled.
Atali quickly rushed over towards her and grabbed Wingnut. "He needs to come with me." She said.
"Support the head," Tuffnut commented.
Atali attempted to carry Wingnut away, but he frantically tried to get out of her arms. "Come on. Here you go." She eased.
"Frisky little sucker." Ruffnut said, grabbing hold of her braids.
Hiccup approached Atali apologetically. "I'm so sorry, Atali. I don't know what happened." He apologized.
"Yeah. We haven't considered the possibility that one of the Razorwhips will go to one of us." Hicca added in the same expression as her brother.
"He must have become disoriented from all the extra people." Atali concluded.
"Baby dragons are very instinctual." Fishlegs pointed out.
"And very unpredictable." Valerie added.
"What?" Snotlout stared at them. "There's no way he meant to go to Ruffnut. No way."
"Well, now he's back where he belongs." Atali said, looking at Wingnut.
Unfortunately, Wingnut didn't agree and attempted to return back to Ruffnut. 'Mommy, Mommy!'
(Linebreak)
The next morning, the Haddock twins and the others prepared to retrieve the lenses.
"Okay, guys, let's grab the lenses and head back to the Edge before anything else goes wrong," Hiccup ordered as he mounted Toothless.
"We don't want to stay here as long as we have too with Krogan and those Flyers searching for them." Hicca added as she mounted on Midnight.
Atali then rushed up. "Has anyone seen my Razorwhip? He was gone when I woke up." she asked them worriedly.
"And it's too late," Raeda groaned.
Tuffnut looked at her shocked. "You lost Wingnut? Okay, don't panic. We need to make a lot of missing signs. I'll put them on the back of the huts and milk buckets. I'll make a sandwich board for the village idiot."
"Could he have gone back to the rookery?" Hiccup asked as he dismounted Toothless.
Atali shook her head. "No, I checked." She explained.
"Yeah, he's probably hanging out with his buddies somewhere shooting the breeze," Ruffnut said as she turned around. Then to everyone's shock they found that Wingnut had attached himself to her back without anyone noticing, even her.
"Um, Ruff?" Henry said as Ruffnut turned to him, "I think we found him," He said, pointing to her back.
Ruffnut looked and then sighed, "Or he's attached to my back." She said, like she knew this would happen.
Atali sighed with relief.
Hicca then approached Ruffnut. "Here, let me help you get him off you." She offered.
"No, no, no, Hicca," Atali said quickly. "The first few days of the process are the most important. If Wingnut doesn't bond with someone, he will die." She pointed out.
"Wait, what?!" Hicca asked in shock. "And you're telling us this now!?" She questioned.
"So what you're saying is, Wingnut needs to be trained by the one he chose," Valerie said as they all turned to Ruffnut, "Meaning…"
Atali nodded and looked at Ruffnut. "Ruffnut, you must become a Wingmaiden." She stated.
"What? Me?!" Ruffnut exclaimed in horror.
(Linebreak)
Soon they made their way back to the village and the Riders watched as Ruffnut tended to Wingnut.
"You two really think she can pull this off?" Astrid asked, looking at Hiccup and his sister.
"Yeah," Hiccup said, trying to convince himself more than anyone else. "Well, we hope so… for Wingnut's sake."
Henry shook his head. "No matter where we go, we alway seem to ruin sacred dragon culture." He sighed.
"Why is karma always getting to us?" Hicca questioned in annoyance.
"I'm still a rookie, so not much for me to say." Valerie said with her hands raised.
"Well to be honest, Ruffnut did help calm Scauldy and we saved him and helped him get back into the water a few years back." Raeda recalled.
"Scauldy?" Valerie asked with a raised brow.
"Well it was between that or Scalding Painful Death the Dragon." Raeda simply said.
"Ah, got it." Valerie nodded.
"And well, I for one believe in her," Fishlegs defended Ruffnut.
"Please, I've seen ax handles that are more mothering." Snotlout said, as he leaned against the wall and folded his arms. "Prepare for failure."
Everyone had concerned looks as Atali was beginning the first lesson.
"Caring for your Razorwhip is the most rewarding part of being a Wingmaiden." Atali said as the Wingmaidens began to clean the baby Razorwhip's scales. "You have to groom your dragon daily to avoid parasites and diseases."
Ruffnut then immediately Wingnut forcefully pulled out a large brush, after she picked her nose and flung the bogie away.
"All right, Wingnut, let's get you cleaned up." Ruffnut said. Wingnut apparently didn't like the brush as he immediately knocked it out of hand. "Hey, watch it, you!"
Astrid approached her to give her moral support. "You can do this, Ruff."
Tuffnut then approached her. "Come on, Ruff, remember when we picked the fleas out of Uncle Uggard's back hair? And then you got fleas because of it?"
Ruffnut narrowed her eyes. "That was different. He didn't have teeth!"
Atali could hear the entire conversation and smiled awkwardly. "Uh, carefully lift each scale and scrub underneath it."
Ruffnut then tapped Wingnut and then he immediately bit her finger.
"Ow!" Ruffnut cried and then glared down at Wingnut. "Grooming Razorwhips really bites."
A Wingmaiden and her Razorwhip laughed.
"Hehehe. If Heather was here, she would agree with Ruff there." Raeda said with a chuckle.
"Well, knowing her bond with Windshear, and I cleaned her and the other dragons up when you guys were really going crazy with lack of sleep, I should understand how Ruffnut is feeling." Henry said in agreement.
When Atali wasn't looking, Tuffnut then immediately grabbed Ruffnut and pulled into a trough of water, he then grabbed Wingnut and then began to scrub him in the water.
"Scrub, scrub, scrub, alone, above. Wingnut's in the tubidy tub. Washing his cares away," Tuffnut sang.
Then when Atali began turning her head to their direction, Tuffnut quickly hid behind the trough before she noticed him. Atali looked at Ruffnut suspiciously, but then she saw that Wingnut apparently was enjoying himself in the water.
"Who knew that a baby Razorwhips loved the water?" Atali asked in surprise.
Ruffnut just gave her an awkward smile.
(Linebreak)
Next came feeding time and the Wingmaidens were feeding them their favorite food, sea slugs.
"Oh. Get it. Here you go," said a Wingmaiden holding out a sea slug and the baby Razorwhip grabbed it and began eating it down its throat.
"The baby Razorwhip's nutrition is critical," Atali instructed as she walked around. "Only a well fed-dragon will thrive."
Ruffnut was having a few problems with feeding Wingnut. "Come on!" she yelled as she tried to present Wingnut with sea slug. "Get in there. Open your mouth! Ugh! I grabbed you the juiciest one! What is wrong with you?"
Snotlout smirked slightly. "I hate to say I told you so, but…" Astrid gave him a warning look and he immediately closed his mouth. "Nobody listens."
"It's not easy, Snotlout," said Hiccup.
"Feeding baby dragons can be a little tricky," Fishlegs agreed.
"The Wingmaidens know exactly how to tend to a Razorwhip, but Ruffnut has no experience in the slightest," Ragnar added.
Ruffnut then immediately grabbed Wingnut's throat and stuffed the sea slug down his mouth.
"Nailed it!" she smiled.
However, Wingnut spat out the sea slug which landed on her face.
"I can't watch this anymore," Tuffnut said, looking as if he was being tortured. "I refuse to let our baby starve in the streets."
Tuffnut then immediately rushed over towards his sister and grabbed the sea slug, which she removed from her face. Then to everyone's amazement he immediately swallowed it.
"Tangy… hideous! Revolting," Tuffnut said ,looking as if he was about to be sick.
Ruffnut stared at him. "What are you doing, Tuff? Those are not for us! They're for Wingnut!" She lectured.
Tuffnut then tackled her to the ground and threw up with his now directly over hers and the other Riders immediately looked away in disgust. What they were watching was extremely disturbing, disgusting and showed no regard for human decency. So much in fact that Fishlegs immediately rushed off to be sick.
Atali then turned around and saw Ruffnut making her way to Wingnut and threw up in his mouth.
"Oh!" said Atali looking a bit disgusted and a Wingmaiden fainted.
Wingnut, strangely, found her vomit to be delicious and Ruffnut walked off with a terrible case of indigestion.
Hicca immediately rushed over towards her and handed her some herbs. "Take these, they should be able to help with your indigestion and get the taste out of your mouth." She said while looking away in disgust.
Ruffnut gladly accepted them and wasted no time in eating them.
Atali looked at her. "There are many ways to feed a baby Razorwhip. Ruffnut, you just invented another one." She said with a smile.
"Ha, even a blind chicken gets a kernel once in a while," Snotlout said.
"But in a less gross way." Raeda said while fighting the urge to throw up herself after seeing that.
(Linebreak)
Once Ruffnut had recovered from that experience, they then reached the next part of caring for a Razorwhip.
"Communication is the key to the bond between a Razorwhip and Wingmaiden," Atali said, placing Wingnut on the ground. "You need to have a specific call that only your dragon understands."
A Wingmaiden then performed a long trill and her Razorwhip rushed over towards her and attached itself to her back. A second Wingmaiden performed a short trill and the same thing happened with her Razorwhip.
Ruffnut just stood there feeling a bit awkward, but Atali gave her an encouraging nod. She then took a deep breath and looked towards Wingnut.
"Hey. Wingy. Come here," she said encouragingly. Wingnut, however, was a bit more intrigued with the flowers blooming in the meadow. "Wingnut!" Wingnuts just continue to sit there without a care in the world. "Don't you make me come over there."
Ruffnut then attempted an air whistle, but only wind exited her mouth. "Get over here!"
Astrid looked at the Haddock twins. "Hiccup, Hicca, give her some help."
"Yeah, I agree. Ruff needs some help." Hicca said in agreement.
"Over here! Get over here!" Ruffnut cried as Hiccup and Hicca approached her.
"Hey. How's it going?" Hiccup asked.
"Having trouble getting Wingnut to you?" Hicca asked as well.
"Isn't it obvious?" Ruffnut said tiredly.
"Maybe just try a little more…" Hiccup tried to explain
Tuffnut was hiding behind a tree and immediately performed a call that sounded like a turkey gobbling. Immediately Wingnut looked up and tackled Ruffnut to the ground.
"That came out of nowhere." Hicca said in surprise.
Atali chuckled. "Well, in all my years, I've never heard a call like that. You're going to make an amazing Wingmaiden, Ruffnut."
Ruffnut just smiled awkwardly, because she literally did nothing. "Yep. That's me. Ruffnut, the super Wingmaiden. So excited."
"Tomorrow you will take your first flight. Get some rest." Atali said.
Ruffnut just sat there as Wingnut played in her lap.
(Linebreak)
Later that night, Atali was cleaning her spear when Ruffnut entered with Wingnut, who was playing with her braids.
"I can't do it, Atali," she said. "I'm just not cut out for this. I don't have the same motherly stuff that you all have." Ruffnut then immediately turns to Wingnut threateningly. "Oh, one more time! Do it one more time!"
Ruffnut only responded by chewing her finger and she looked at Atali as if that proved her point. "See what I mean?"
"But you're doing great," said Atali encouragingly. "A bit unorthodox, maybe."
"It was Tuffnut! All Tuffnut," Ruffnut admitted. "He's the one who's been doing everything."
Atali looked at her sympathetically. "Ruffnut—"
"Snotlout's right. I'm just not Wingmaiden material," Ruffnut said, turning her back on Atali.
Atali then sat down on her bed. "Sit down with me. Please."
Ruffnut remained standing for a few seconds, but then sat down next to her.
"Bonding with a baby Razorwhip doesn't always happen right away. That's why we do these exercises."
"But nothing I do seems to work. You should just do it."
Atali placed a hand on her shoulder. "This isn't about me. It's about the dragon. Nobody knows why a Razorwhip chooses a Wingmaiden. Is it an instinct? A feeling? Or something more mystical? Whatever the reason, this little guy chose you." Ruffnut looked at Wingnut, who licked her and she smiled slightly. "Trust Wingnut. Let him be your guide. The dragon is never wrong."
Ruffnut smiled, feeling a lot better.
(Linebreak)
Next morning, Atali led the Wingmaidens towards the edge of a cliff where they were about to fly with their new baby Razorwhips.
"This is the leap of faith…" Atali told them all, gesturing towards the ravine, "the moment the bond with your dragon will be complete."
Atali noticed that Ruffnut was nowhere to be seen and was slightly disappointed.
(Linebreak)
Ruffnut was actually with the Haddock twins, who she managed to convince to give her a proper flying lesson.
"So you know we're happy to give you some pointers, Ruff, but isn't this kind of cheating?" Hiccup asked.
"Yeah, this isn't the same way the Windmaidens do it." Hicca added in concern.
"I may be a Nut, guys, but I ain't crazy," Ruffnut said bluntly. "And if I'm gonna do a leap of faith, I need to have faith that I'm not gonna splatter on the ground."
"She got a point." Hicca said in agreement.
"Yep, fair enough." Hiccup then looked at her. "Well, let's start with the basics. The most important thing to master is your balance."
As Toothless was flying he noticed that he was a bit heavier than normal, he looked down and saw that Tuffnut was clinging to his belly, with Midnight now seeing this as she saw the Thorston boy on her mate's belly..
"This was a much better idea 1000 feet lower." Tuffnut admitted.
The Haddock twins looked down and saw him. "Tuffnut?" Hiccup asked in surprise.
"How did you grab on Toothless without us knowing?" Hicca asked in surprise as well, wondering how Tuffnut got on Toothless without either of them, including Toothless and Midnight from knowing.
"Oh, I had my ways. Clinched onto the straps of Toothless' saddle before he took off." Tuffnut explained.
"That explains why Midnight and I were ahead of Toothless since they are usually at the same speed." Hicca said as Midnight nodded in agreement.
"Slide forward. I'm coming up," he said as he climbed towards them.
Ruffnut stared at him. "What are you doing here?"
"I, uh—I came to give you moral support." Tuffnut admitted.
Ruffnut smiled at him. "Thanks, bro!"
"Not you, Ruffnut," Tuffnut said, shoving her. "Wingnut." He then leaned in towards the baby dragon. "Now, hold on tight, little guy. I'll be right here when you get back."
"You really are showing the love for your twin, Tuff." Hicca said dully.
Hiccup shook his head. "All right, come on, Ruff."
"Let's get this flying lesson started." Hicca added.
Hiccup then locked Toothless' tail and he and Hicca stood up, spreading their wings. Hiccup then extended a hand to Ruffnut, who was feeling a bit shaky but eventually she grabbed it. The three of them then stood up and then jumped.
Ruffnut screamed as Wingnut spread his wings and soon the two of them were gliding. However, she was still panicking and thrusting her legs in all different directions making it hard to fly.
"Don't let go, Hiccup!" Ruffnut cried.
"I got you," Hiccup assured. "Just keep your hips balanced."
"Just stay calm, Ruffnut. And try not to panic." Hicca advises.
Ruffnut calmed down slightly and stopped kicking about and began to level out. "I think I got it." she said.
Tuffnut just looked at them proudly.
Hiccup then released Ruffnut and they began to fly in the air. "I got it!" She yelled.
"You're doing it, Ruff!" Hicca cheered.
Soon they were flying around a mountain and Ruffnut was beginning to enjoy herself. She even started jumping off rock ledges and was soon flying over the forest.
"I got it! We're doing it, Wingnut! We're doing it!" Ruffnut cried excitedly. "Just you and me…" They then heard the sound of seagulls, "...and seagulls?" She questioned.
Ruffnut immediately panicked as the seagulls slammed right into her and in that instant she forgot everything Hiccup and Hicca taught and was plummeting towards the ground.
"Bird strike!" Tuffnut panicked.
"I don't got it!" Ruffnut cried as she was plummeting towards the ground.
"Ruff!" Hicca yelled out in panic.
The Haddock twins immediately dived down and flew underneath her. Ruffnut landed on Hiccup's back and he carefully glided to safety with his sister next to them for safety measures, though the extra weight made it difficult, but he had compensated for it. Unfortunately, Tuffnut, for unknown reason, jumped off of Toothless and plummeted towards them.
"Wingnut!" Tuffnut's voice cried.
Tuffnut slammed right into them and they began plummeting towards the ground screaming at the top of their lungs. To make matters worse, Tuffnut had accidentally unlocked Toothless' tail thin so he was plummeting to the ground as well.
'Toothless!' Midnight yelled out at seeing her mate falling as she flew down to catch him.
"Seriously, Tuff?!" Hicca questioned in annoyance after seeing this as they dive after them.
'This is why I don't let you ride me, Tuff!' Toothless roared.
It was at that point that Atali instructed the Wingmaidens to jump off the cliff as Midnight caught Hicca. By some miracle, Toothless flew underneath the three of them in court, though he was finding it difficult to stop and slammed right into the Wingmaidens and they all crashed into the lagoon.
"Well, at least they landed in water." Hicca said slowly as Midnight looked at her unamuse, which Hicca noticed. "Hey, it was that or they go splat." She said with a smile before Midnight smacked her in the face with her ear flap. "Okay, okay. I see your point." She coincided while rubbing her face from the smack.
Atali quickly rushed towards the lagoon as everyone began swimming out of it. She then first looked down at Ruffnut, who managed to carry Wingnut out and was busy choking out water.
"I'm fine." Ruffnut assured.
Atali turned her attention to everyone else as they climbed out of the water, completely soaked to the bone, terrified and exhausted. Ruffnut knew what she had to do and got to her feet with Wingnut in her arms.
She then made her way to Atali. "For Wingnut's sake, I don't deserve to be a Wingmaiden." Atali took Wingnut and watched as Ruffnut walked away. "I guess the dragon was wrong this time."
(Linebreak)
Back at the village, everyone was preparing to leave Wingmaiden Island with the lenses, but everyone's thoughts were on Ruffnut.
"I feel bad for Ruffnut," Astrid said.
"Yeah. Me too," Hiccup nodded. "She gave it her best shot."
"In fairness, it wasn't entirely her fault," Hicca pointed out. "I doubt any of you would have crashed into the lagoon if Tuffnut hadn't jumped out of nowhere."
"Yeah, he just showed up out of nowhere and made things worse." Henry said in agreement.
"So maybe we should keep Tuffnut grounded during Ruffnut's training." Hicca thought.
"Tuff, grounded?" Astrid asked like she was serious.
Snotlout however was not feeling any bit of sympathy for Ruffnut and was in fact boasting about her failure. "Oh, my Thor. She failed. Big surprise. Let's go."
Raeda however smacked him on the head, "Snotlout, did you forget that without a Wingmaidento to care for him, Wingnut is going to die?" She reminded.
Snotlout widens his eyes from that. "I have, until you brought it up again. Thank you for that." he said while looking down in guilt for forgetting a detail like that.
"Well, Ruff just has to try again, but from the looks of things, I don't think she's gonna give it another shot after falling into a lake with a baby dragon that scared him." Valerie said.
"I just hope that Wingnut finds another Wingmaiden before it's too late." Fishlegs said, looking a bit concerned.
Snotlout noticed that they were two people short. "Where are the Thorston twins?"
(Linebreak)
Atali was now facing all of the Wingmaidens who had passed bonded with their Razorwhips.
"I want to congratulate you all on completing your first flight and graduating to the next level." Atali said, smiling at them. "Our bonds with our Razorwhips are strong."
The Wingmaidens then cheered at their achievement, but watched them from above with the twins on the dragon. Ruffnut didn't feel happy in the slightest, because she failed practically everything she did.
"Whatever, I never wanted to be a Wingmaiden anyway," Ruffnut said glumly, folding her arms.
"Look on the bright side. At least you know you'd be a terrible mum, you know before you end up with a horde of kids that you would corrupt," Tuffnut pointed out.
Surprisingly this did not cheer Ruffnut up in the slightest and then she heard voices in the distance. Her eyes widened when she noticed a Hunters ship was docked near the island.
"Look at that. Even the Dragon Hunters have come to celebrate with the Wingmaidens." Ruffnut moaned.
"They're always there at your lowest point," Tuffnut nodded. "More than happy to rub salt in the wound like a master chef spice in a yak steak." He then looked dreamily. "Yak filet, mmm. Making myself hungry."
Ruffnut then immediately realized that the Dragon Hunters weren't there to celebrate with the Wingmaidens. "Wait a minute…"
"I can't believe what we're missing," Tuffnut grumbled. "Those guys are party animals."
"Tuff, they're invading the island." Ruffnut panicked. "We have to save Atali and Wingnut!"
They quickly dived down to Atali, but the Hunters had already reached her and the other Wingmaidens.
"Dragon Hunters!" Atali gasped.
The Wingmaidens then immediately took off, but Atali, with no Razorwhip of her own, began running off with Wingnut in her arms. The Hunters try to shoot down the Wingmaidens with the Dragon Root arrows, but they would already be too high for them to shoot down.
A hunter with a mace began running after Atali, who was running as quickly as she could. She then saw Hunter with an ax emerging from behind a tree and quickly divide between his legs. He was then struck by the mace that was being held by the other Hunter, who tripped over his axes and fell on top of him.
Atali picked herself up and continued to run.
(Linebreak)
Krogan then arrived with his Flyers and the audit flying over the island.
"The Wingmaidens are pinned in the Cove." Krogan told his men. "Go into the tower and retrieve the Dragon Eye lenses."
His two men nodded and immediately headed straight towards the shrine, but Krogan heard a roar above him. He looked up and saw Hiccup and Hicca flying overhead holding the satchel with the lenses in his hand.
"You are really starting to get on our last nerves with these ambushes on our friends' islands, Krogan!" Hicca called out in frustration.
"Well, if one has to find the King of Dragons, one must do whatever it takes to find it." Krogan countered with a smirk.
"Looking for these?" Hiccup asked, holding up the lenses.
"You're all mine, Haddocks." Krogan smiled.
"You want them, then come and get them!" Hicca yelled out
Krogan quickly turned around and fired a fireball directly at him, but Toothless and Midnight performed barrel rolls and avoided the attack. He then shot straight towards him to avoid yet another fireball and started a flight upwards and Krogan immediately followed.
(Linebreak)
Astrid and the others soon arrived to assist them.
"Raeda, Snotlout, on my wing! Fishlegs, Valerie, protect the shrine!" Astrid ordered.
Fishlegs and Valerie immediately headed straight towards the shrine as quickly as he could.
"Give it all you got, girl," Fishlegs said encouragingly.
"Show them what you got, boy!" Valerie encouraged as well.
Once they flew directly over the shrine Meatlug spewed some lava and Camo spitting acid, which struck the Hunters and they immediately screamed, though it wasn't enough to kill them. Seconds later there are Singetails soon at the shrine without their Flyers, leaving them stranded inside.
(Linebreak)
The Thorston twins meanwhile were flying down to assist Atali, who was still being chased by Hunters. They quickly casted a wall of gas right in the path of the Hunters.
"Like them up!" Ruffnut smiled looking at her brother.
Tuffnut ignited the gas just as the Hunters entered into the gas and immediately blew away.
A Flyer then flew directly over Atali and fired a fireball directly at her feet. The fireball struck the ground with such an impact that Atali toppled over and Wingnut fell out of her arms.
"Oh, no." Ruffnut panicked.
The Hunters on the ground had picked themselves up and were now advancing on the baby Razorwhip.
"Look at that dumb little lizard," A Hunter mocked.
Another one chuckled. "He's not much of an appetizer."
"Wingnut!" Ruffnut yelled as the Hunters immediately turned around.
The twins were flying low to the ground towards them and Ruffnut gobbled just like a turkey. She then jumped off of Barf and slid across the ground until she came to a stop. Wingnut then ran between their legs and attached himself to her back.
"You messed with the wrong Nutmaiden." Ruffnut said and immediately took off.
Hunter tried to slam his hammer down on top of her, but she quickly spun around and grabbed it out of his hand. She then struck hard in the face knocking him to the ground and then took off into the air once again. A Hunter swung his ax at her, but she went directly over it and then dealt a powerful uppercut right under the chin. Then while hovering in the air the Hunter with the mace charged at her, but she quickly spun around and kicked him right in the face and then grabbed his mace. Then when the Hunter was growing in pain she immediately struck him in the leg and literally swept him off his feet.
"I'm not always that violent—just most of the time." Ruffnut smiled.
She then quickly remounted Barf and flew into the air.
(Linebreak)
Krogan was still chasing after the Haddock twins and it looked as if he wasn't going to give up any time soon.
"I've had about enough of this," Hiccup said.
"I agree, bro. This is really getting old." Hicca said in agreement and looked down at their dragons. "How about you two?"
Toothless and Midnight roared in agreement. 'I second that.' Toothless roared.
'Agreed. Time to end this stupid chase.' Midnight roared as well as they quickly turned around.
Hiccup then grabbed his shield and waited for the precise time. That precise time came sooner than expected as Krogan got ready to buy a fireball.
"Now, guys!" Hiccup yelled.
Toothless and Midnight then fired plasma blasts and it struck Krogan's Titan Winged Singetail. Then before he had time to cover, Hiccup fired a bola from his shield and it wrapped itself around the mouth of the Singetail. It then immediately tried to remove the bola and Krogan desperately tried to regain control over his dragon.
"Easy, dragon." Krogan said as he pulled on the reins. However, the Singetail was getting a bit frisky and immediately fired several fireballs from its tail as it spun around.
(Linebreak)
Astrid and the others were engaging with the other Flyers and the Haddock twins soon joined them.
"Okay, finish them off, and then we'll double back to Krogan," Hiccup instructed.
Astrid looked at him. "But, Hiccup—"
"I know." Hiccup said, reading her mind. "Keep fighting. We can't leave the Wingmaidens."
"Krogan will have to wait. We're gonna deal with the Flyers and Hunters first before they hurt the Wingmaidens." Hicca finished as they faced the Hunters and Flyers.
(Linebreak)
The Flyer that attacked Atali was still chasing after her, firing fireballs at her relentlessly. Eventually she reached the edge of a cliff and found herself completely cornered. The Flyer didn't let up as he fired a fireball which struck Atali and she merely rolled off the cliff.
Thankfully she was able to grab hold of the ledge, there was no telling how long she could hold out especially with the Flyer above her.
"Atali's in trouble." Ruffnut said, noticing her dilemma.
Atali attempts to climb back up, but she can get a proper hold and then the Flyer by fireball at the cliff. Ruffnut didn't waste a single second and immediately dived down towards her.
"We're coming, Atali!" Rufnfut yelled.
Wingnut then opened his wings and soon they disappeared over the cliff.
"Ruffnut!" Tuffnut panicked.
For a few seconds there was nothing, but then Ruffnut appeared and Atali was holding onto her. She then quickly swerved and dropped Atali on Barf's neck before she landed herself.
"You did it," Atali said, looking immensely relieved and impressed at the same time.
Ruffnut smiled at Wingnut and the two of them head-butted one another affectionately.
(Linebreak)
Krogan was still trying to rein his dragon in as it tried to remove the ball around its snout. It took some time but eventually the Singetail managed to remove it and he soon went down to join the battle.
"Another Dragon Rider!" A Flyer pointed.
Krogan turned and saw the Thorston twins flying straight down towards him.
"It's just one more dragon," Krogan said dismissively. "Victory is within our grasp."
"Hey, Dragon Flyers!" Ruffnut smirked. Then suddenly appearing from directly behind Barf and Belch were several Wingmaidens. "Remember the Wingmaidens?"
Krogan was completely speechless as he once again underestimated these Riders.
Ruffnut jumped off Barf and flew alongside with the Wingmaidens. She then immediately knocked a Flyer off his dragon and soon the other Wingmaidens were following her example. Atali, taking over Ruffnut's place on Barf, then at least a burst of gas at a Flyer and Tuffnut was more than happy to ignite it.
The Haddock twins then immediately appeared alongside Krogan. "Come on, Krogan. Let's finish it." Hiccup said.
"Because you have lost this battle. And soon you will lose the war." Hicca said seriously with narrowed eyes.
Krogan turned to face them, but he knew he was beaten. "Next time, Haddocks." He then flew off.
Atali and Tuffnut then flew alongside the Haddock twins and she nodded at them and they nodded back.
(Linebreak)
Soon they made their way back to Wingmaiden Island and Ruffnut was standing there with Wingnut on her back.
"Ruffnut Thorston, for saving the life of Wingnut and for your uncommon valor in battle, you are now a full-fledged Wingmaiden," Atali said proudly.
Everyone then immediately cheered and the Riders immediately smirked at Snotlout.
"Okay, fine. Whoo-hoo. She did it," Snotlout said with fake enthusiasm. "She's a Wingmaiden. I'm still the ambassador."
"Jealous much, Snotlout?" Raeda asked with a teasing smirk as Snotlout grumbled.
Atali looked at Ruffnut. "You trusted your Razorwhip and the dragon unlocked your heart." she declared.
"Yeah." Ruffnut smiled as Wingnut nuzzled her. She then looked back at her. "Okay, so that's it? Let's head back to the Edge, huh? I sure hope that Wingnut likes Chicken."
Almost immediately the baby Razorwhips on the back of the Wingamaidens began to squawk.
Atali quickly looked at her as she mounted her Barf. "Oh, no, no, no, no, you can't leave, Ruffnut. This is Wingnut's home. You're a Wingmaiden now."
"I may be a Wingmaiden, but I'm also a Dragon Rider," Ruffnut said plainly.
"Yes, but all these baby dragons are Wingnut's siblings," Atali explained, gesturing to the other baby Razorwhips. "He needs to stay with them until they are released back to the flock."
Ruffnut then gestured to her own brother. "And Tuffnut's my brother and I need to stay with him, because he's never released back to the flock."
Wingnut certainly seems to be a bit torn between either staying with Ruffnut or staying with his siblings.
"I got it. Problem solved." Tuffnut said as he dismounted Belch. "I'll just stay here. I'm really the best Wingmaiden on the island. I'd say I proved that pretty decisively."
Atali looked at him. "You're not a Wingmaiden." She pointed out.
"Okay. Fine. Wingman," Tuffnut corrected.
"As you know, Tuffnut, men are not allowed to live on the island," Atali reminded.
"And the female Razorwhips have made it clear they do not like dudes on their island." Valerie also remembered.
"Isn't that convenient?" Tuffnut mumbled. "I do all the work around here, then you guys ditch me to go have your fun. Well, maybe I'll just start my own club, on my own island, where people aren't allowed. How about that?"
Wingnut then immediately purred and he began to nuzzle Ruffnut. "Ah, he's nuzzling me. Obviously it means something. I don't know what, but something."
Wingnut then flew off her back and headed straight towards Atali and attached himself to her back.
Tuffnut looked immensely confused. "Wait. What did it mean? Tell me."
"I think Wingnut just made the decision for you," Astrid said.
"Yeah, he wants to stay put." Henry added.
Wingnut then nuzzled Atali affectionately and she smiled. "Razorwhips are mysterious creatures."
Ruffnut shrugged. "Eh, easy come, easy go."
"Dragon Riders, you will always be welcome here." Atali said looking at all of them.
The Haddock twins then mounted Toothless and Midnight. "And we'll always be ready to fight by your side." Hiccup said.
"Just Terror Mail us if there's ever trouble. We will be there to face it together." Hicca added. "Because we Dragon Riders never give up and we don't leave anyone, human or dragon, behind." She declared with a confident smile.
(Linebreak)
The Dragon Riders then took off and Tuffnut looked immensely upset that they were leaving Wingnut behind and Ruffnut herself was a bit upset as well.
"Why did we even have him, Ruff, when we knew that he was just gonna grow up and leave us like this?" Tuffnut cried. "Empty, alone, in a nest."
"In the end, Wingnut choses family," Fishlegs said, looking at the two of them.
"Just like you chose yours." Hicca added.
"We'd all do the same." Hiccup said.
"I know I did," Ruffnut nodded.
Tuffnut then cried loudly at the loss of Wingnut.
Valerie rolled her eyes, and flew next to him, "Don't you worry Tuff, Atali said we're always welcome back," She reminded him, "Meaning you can visit Wingnut whenever you want."
Tuffnut sniffed a bit as he wiped his tears away. "True. But who knows when we're gonna visit. We got our work cut out for us with Johann and the King of Dragons thing." He said.
"Hey, we'll find the time to visit. And if I know for certain, is that a Nut never backs down from one another." Valerie said with a small smile.
Tuffnut then smiled as he turned to Ruffnut as she smirked, "Yeah, yeah you're right!" He said as he and sister slammed their heads together as they made their way back to Dragon's Edge.