Chapter 4: Preparing for War
Before sunset, the other half of the dragon riders joyrides past Gothi's house, scattering her assortment of terrible terrors. She waves a fist at them as they sweep past, whooping and chortling, leading them down to the upper plaza, where a gathered crowd of Vikings and their dragons are cued up outside of Gobber's Blacksmith Stall, awaiting their turns.
"So this isn't the first time a Jorgenson and Henderson have been an item." Valerie asked as they dismounted.
Snotlout shook his head, "Nope, and the last one was this close to a wedding." He said, pinching his fingers.
"Then what happened?" Valerie asked.
Snotlout then raised his hands, "Trust me, you don't wanna know." He said with a shudder, "And now, I've gotta make sure, me and Raeda don't end up like that."
Heather walks next to him, "With your way with women, good luck." She joked with a grin.
"Shut up, Heather." Snotlout grumbled as behind them, Stoick maneuvers through the crowd, spouting jovial greetings in passing.
Stoick makes a bee-line for Gobber and Alivn, while Gobber is busily grinding a metal dragon tooth into shape with. A Zippleback waits patiently, his head cocked open like a car hood while the other head watches while Alvin makes some saddles.
"Any sign of them?" Stoick asked his two friends, in reference to his children.
"Ah. They've probably flown off the edge of the world by now." Gobber pointed out as he finished the matching metal teeth for the Zippleback as he flipped up his welding guard, revealing a matching area of unsoiled skin.
"You sure you want your son running the village? You can still delay your retirement, Stoick." Alvin stated as he walks in while Gobber hammers the tooth onto the Zippleback's gums.
"Oh, he's ready this time. You both wait and see." Stoick said in hopes his son will run the village. At that moment, a sudden excitement in the crowd heralds Hiccup, Hicca, Raede and Astrid's return. They touch down on Toothless, Midnight, Sparkfire and Stormfly. "Haha! There they are!" Stoick cheered and pointed at Gobber and Alvin to prove his point. "The Prides of Berk!" he called out.
The Haddock twins walk up to the forge as they stow their helmets and head toward Stoick with urgency. "Brother, Sister! Welcome back." Dagur greeted as he gave the two a hug.
"Oh good to see you too ,Dagur!" Hiccup said as Dagur put him and Hicca down.
"Look who finally decided to show up for work. Yay." Gobber said sarcastically, as he waved his hammer, that his prosthetic arm was waving at them as they kept wanting to get away from things.
"Sorry. Got held up." Hiccup quickly said to Gobber as he walked past him. Hicca then came next to Gobber.
"You know I don't go anywhere without my brother, Gobber. And you know it." Hicca pointed out as Gobber nodded in agreement as he understood that point.
"Hey, Dad, could we have a word?" Hiccup asked their father in private.
"Something you're itching to tell me and your sister here for support?" Stoick said in hope that his son might be talking about being Chief and his daughter is there for him in case something goes wrong.
"Not quite the itch you're thinking of except my sister for support, but yes." Hiccup replied.
Stoick hands Hiccup an apron and guides him to the front desk. "Good man, son! Now, lesson one. A chief's first duty is to his people. So…" he began as he changed the rune on the "being served" placard. "Forty one? Forty -" he called out to a customer number. Since berk is now having multiple vikings riding their own dragons, Gobber's business is booming since he created more saddles for them to put on their dragons and working on dragon's teeth at the same time.
"Could we just talk in private for-" Hicca's request was cut off as Starkard came up in pride of the number he had.
"-That's me! That's me! I'm next!" Starkard stated as he pushed his way through the other vikings. "I was ahead of you! Excuse me, I've been here all day!" He told them as he reached the counter, giddy with excitement. "Okay, I want one of those high seaters, with lots of spikes and a big stowage compartment." He requested one of the saddles with a little style for him.
"Absolutely! You got it, sir!" Stoick replies happily as he spins Hiccup and Hicca around, steering them back into the shop.
"Dad, this is actually a little more important than building saddles." Hicca said as their father is not getting it and doesn't know what they are talking about.
"Ah-ah! Lesson two. No task is too small when it comes to serving your people." Stoick retorted before he bumped into Gobber's Hotburple, Grump, "Excuse us, Grump." Stoick said to Grump as he stepped over his tail as Grump was stirring him awake with a fussy start.
"Grump! You let the forge die down again!" Gobber said to his dragon in disappointment. Grump coughs a slug of molten lava into the forge. It splatters everywhere, igniting a rash of fires.
The Haddock twins side-steps them as he gathers materials in the back of the stall. Gobber pulls the fire extinguisher, dumping water everywhere. "That's it, Grump. You're going up for adoption!" he said angrily to his dragon as Henry walked up to him.
"Cut the dragon some slack Gobber. It's his instincts that are troubling us. It's just how he is." Henry pointed out as he petted Grump as he purred from his touch.
Gobber knew he couldn't argue with that logic. "I suppose you're right. Beggars can't be choosers, they always say." He said as he knew he can't argue with his dragon being what he is.
Stoick fills a toolbox with tools from Hiccup and Hicca's workbench. "One of these. And this…" he said as he picked the tools they needed. That's when Hiccup and Hicca had enough of this.
"DAD!" The Haddock Twins called out but it was unhearable for their father as he found the right tool.
"- There you go! Go on. Have away." Stoick said to his childrens as he is listening now.
"But, seriously, we really need to tell you about this new land we came across." Hiccup pointed out.
"Another one!?" Gobber stated and wondered how much and how big their world is.
"What'cha name this one?" Dagur asked.
Fishlegs walks in, followed by the other Riders. "Any new dragons?" Fishlegs said in excited for any new dragons to be discovered.
"Or at least anymore Night Furies or Midnight and Toothless's kiddies?" Gobber added as he is also curious about finding more Night Furies, or the cubs. In his spare time, he helps the Haddock twins and their Night Furies to find the cubs so it would make Toothless and Midnight feel even better.
Stoick slaps a sheet of leather onto a dragon mold, and hands Hiccup pencil. Exasperated, Hiccup begins tracing an outline as he speaks. "We didn't stick around to find out." He pointed out to Fishlegs of the new dragons part.
"And for more Night Furies, not even to be heard from a distance." Hicca said to Gobber as they got back to the matters at hand. "These folks weren't particularly friendly, but they said they saw more Night Furies from that place," She added as it gave Gobber a smile.
"But they didn't give us the details on how many or if it's them since Toothless and Midnight had five." She added as Gobber frowned but at least got a clue where they had been.
Gobber spins his prosthetic arm dispenser. "Oh, really? Your Night Furies, Deadly Nadders and Snifflehunch didn't bring them cheering to the rooftops? And not some details on the Night Fury youngins?" He asked, choosing which hook to use.
"No, this was different. Not the standard run-for-the-hills hoo-ha I've come to enjoy. These guys were trappers. Dragon trappers." Hiccup stated as Raeda and Astrid walked into the forge.
"You should've seen their fort. All blown apart and stuck in giant spikes of ice. It was weird." Astrid stated.
"And there are other dragon riders from what they said." Raeda added as it got the attention of most of the group.
"Wait, there are other Dragon riders?" Valerie asked, as she thought they were the only dragon riders in existence.
"Yeah. Though to be honest, it wouldn't surprise us if there are more Riders out there from what we experience." Henry replied as the others nodded in agreement and understood as Hiccup continues.
"I've never seen anything like it. And worst of all, they thought we did it!" Hiccup pointed out and was slightly annoyed by the team getting blamed.
"They said it was because of a giant Ice spitting dragon they think we have!" Hicca added from what Eret told them.
Gobber pops off his prosthetic tongs and selects a wire brush from his dispenser. "Y'know, you kids are gonna get yourselves in serious trouble one of these days. Not everyone appreciates this way of life." Gobber stated as he knows that not everyone enjoys the dragons, except for Berk and some of their allies' home islands.
Stoick takes the sheet of leather to the table saw. "Gobber's right, you two. Best we keep to ourselves. Besides, you Hiccup, have more important uses for your time -" He pulls the lever as the saw starts up, he continues in a sing-songy voice. "Once we make the big announcement!" he said with excitement for his son.
Hicca pulls the lever, shutting the saw down. "Dad, these Trappers knew Krogan." Hicca stated as silence filled the stall at the mention of their old enemy.
"And They're building a dragon army." Hiccup added. Vikings exchange worried glances.
"Or at least the guy they work for is. Who apparently is Krogan's master." Hicca continues for his brother. "Dargo Bloody Fist or something." She said in not getting the name right.
Stoick's eyes widened in horror as he turned to Gobber and Alvin, both growing alarm as well.
Tuffnut came in behind Gobber. "I'll bloody his fist with my face if he tries to take my dragon!" He declared in an act of bravery.
"Or mine!" Ruffnut added with Fishlegs next to her
Tuffnut rolled his eyes at his sister. "You're such a moron." he said to her in annoyance.
Fishlegs got dreamy eyes on Ruffnut. "A beautiful moron." he said to her as Ruffnut grumbles, revolted by his advances.
Stoick grabs his childrens by the shoulders, wide-eyed and intense. "Bludvist? Drago Bludvist?" he asked his childrens in a shocked and grim tone.
"Uh, yeah." Hiccup answered in curiosity on their father's face. He and his sister looked at each other before looking back at their father.
"Wait. You know him, Dad?" Hicca asked but didn't get an answer while Stoick was still in shock at what he heard.
(Linebreak)
A little time later, Stoick rushes down a circular stone staircase into the vast, bustling cave that houses the dragon stables. "GROUND ALL DRAGONS!" he ordered his men.
"What? Why?!" The Haddock twins asked as they, Astrid, Henry, Raeda, Toothless and Midnight chase after Stoick.
"SEAL THE GATES! LOWER THE STORM DOORS!" Stoick called out to his men as they did to do so.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait! What is happening?" Hiccup asked but didn't get an answer.
"You heard the man! Lock it down!" Gobber yelled as behind him, the massive storm doors rattle as they're lowered.
"No Dragon or Viking sets foot off this island until I give the word!" Stoick called out as his childrens came close to him.
"Because some guy you knew is stirring up trouble in some faraway land?" Hiccup asked as their father turned to him, gravely serious.
"Because Drago Bludvist is a madman. Without conscience or mercy." Stoick explained to him as Hiccup stared at him wide eyed.
"How is he any different from the enemies we defeated before dad?" Hicca asked in reminding him of their past enemies they defeated or redeemed.
"Because Drago is ten times more dangerous than the enemies we've faced before." Stoick stated as he continued on shouting orders, leaving both Hiccup and Hicca stewing. "And if he's built a dragon army... gods help us all." he said gravely.
"Get them into their pens! Quickly!" Stoick ordered his men.
The Haddock twins chase around to confront Stoick. "Then let's ride back out there. We'll follow those trappers to Drago and talk some sense into him." Hiccup explained but their father denied it.
"They seem to know where Drago is." Hicca added.
"No. We fortify the island." Stoick told them.
"It's our duty to keep the peace!" Hiccup reminded him and slight anger.
"Peace is over, you two. I must prepare you both for war." Stoick said to his children.
"War? Dad, if Drago's coming for our dragons, we can't wait around for him to get here. Let's go find him and change his mind." Hiccup suggested but their father still denied it.
"Some minds won't be changed, kids." Stoick said to them, "Berk is what you need to worry about Hiccup." he said to his son and in reminder of their short Chief lesson. "A chief protects his own." he said in a beat voice as he turned to the other Island leaders. "Alvin, Dagur, Mala, Atali. Return to your island and prepare, if Drago comes for Berk, your next."
"Understood." Atali said as the other three nodded as they and Stoick turned to give more orders.
"SECURE THE STABLES! LATCH EVERY STALL!" Stoick yelled to his men.
The Haddock twins are eyeing Toothless and Midnight as the storm doors close. Astrid, Raeda and Henry approach them, seeing the determination on their faces.
"Guys, don't." Astrid said to them.
"We have to." Hiccup replied as he gave his girlfriend a quick peck on her cheek.
"You guys don't know what's going to happen." Raeda reminds them.
"This could be dangerous." Henry pointed out.
"That never stops us before." Hicca answered as she gave Henry a quick kiss as she and her brother mounted their dragons.
"This way! Quickly!" Stoick said to his men as the Haddock twins along with their dragons, Toothless and Midnight, blast past, heading for the exit. "Hiccup! Hicca!" he called out for his kids but they wouldn't listen.
The Haddock twins try to fly through one door, but it seals shut. "Come on guys!" Hiccup said to the Night furies as Toothless and Midnight spins around and dives through the gap in the second lowering storm door.
"Hiccup! Hicca!" Stoick called out but they were gone already. Erraging him even more, Astrid, Henry , Stormfly and Wildstar blew past Stoick and slipped through the storm door before it shuts, leaving Stoick fuming while Alvin, Dagur and Mala look at him.
Raeda was the only one behind after Hiccup, Hicca, Astrid and Henry as she gave a nervous look at Stoick, who was glaring at her. "You know how they are, Chief. They tend to take matters into their own hands." She said sheepishly.
"Gotta give it to 'em though, they know how to make an exit." Dagur commented as Stoick glared at him, "Just saying." He defended.