Authors Notes:
Reviews:
Guest: Thanks for the feedback! Oh, yes. My muse is taking me to all sorts of places in this story :)
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the edited plot, my OC's, and my original dragon species.
I also do not own this episode. Only my original scenes. If I owned RTTE, Tuffnut would have a telepathic link to chicken
"..."
I'm joking. That would be weird. Even for me. Although an original chapter focusing on Tuffnut hitting his head and thinking that would be hilarious. Perhaps in the distant future.
Chapter 2 - Dragon Eye Of The Beholder - Part 2
Sparks flew as Hiccup pounded his hammer into the glowing metal, shaping it carefully into the clip he needed to fix his flight strap. The soft glow illuminating his bruised face. The mixed lighting of white hot metal and sunlight streaming in from the forge window cast the scarred side of his face in an assortment of colors. Purple most predominately.
The gash had completely sealed over in the last nine hours. It was covered in a reflective clear coating that he was sure was the dried Monstrous Nightmare saliva. The raised cut was prematurely fading to skin color around the edges and shrinking, already appearing to be in beginning stages of closing. Something which caught him by surprise for such a long and deep gash.
It really shouldn't have been healing this fast. At least not for another week or so, or even a month. The only explanation his wondering mind could grasp was that maybe it was an unknown property of Monstrous Nightmare saliva.
If that was true, then of coarse they wouldn't have known about it before. It's not like Nightmare's usually lick their riders open wounds. Thor knows Hookfang never did that. Hiccup mentally grumbled, why was he always the test subject for these kinds of things?
Gobber interrogated him earlier about his face when he caught him trying to sneak into the forge, Hiccup himself had wanted to avoid questions about it. For good reason too.
The entire situation was just embarrassing. It made him want to fall into one of those prank fall-in pits the twins dug and never come out. Just why had he even tried to approach that Nadder again? He had known it didn't exactly appreciate his presence.
Feeling the heat of both embarrassment and shame threatening to overtake him again, Hiccup eyes wandered the expanse of the forge with mild interest. His eyes were greeted with a pack of five Terrible Terrors, some green and a couple red ones, all perched on the rafter's above the entrance of the forge and eyeing him oddly.
He shifted uncomfortably, it was probably the pack that swarmed him the other day. Which was unusual in itself. Terrible Terror's were usually reserved, like cats, unless they had a Viking companion. In which case they usually were loyal to that person and that person only.
He warily turned his eyes away from his watchful sentinels to the sight of Toothless regarding him lazily from the corner. Ears twitching, and listening to Gobber hum merrily to himself his favorite, and one of his only, songs.
"Well, I've got my axe, and I've got my mace, and I've got my wife with that ugly face. I'm a Viking through and though!"
Gobber, while his mentor and dare he say, uncle figure. Had a terrible singing voice.
Hiccup rolled his eyes fondly, applying finishing touches with the hammer, tapping delicately on the still glowing safety clip. The clip was to replace the broken one that had snapped the previous day.
A high pitched screech echoed through the forge from Gobber's work area. Hiccup stiffened, his face scrunched up in deep pain. Dropping his hammer to cutch at his ears as they rang, it was as if the booming sound of lighting had struck right next to him. He vaguely heard his hammer land on his metal foot with a clang as his ears rung, but it was hard to tell in the midst of the wild shrieking of what he assumed to be Gobber's voice amplified.
In his agony, he honestly couldn't tell anything at this moment. He couldn't think, at this moment. The vibrating shriek was dominating his thoughts, simply too loud. Overpowering any and all thought process.
He dizzily stumbled across the room, attempting to find something solid to hang on too when his prosthetic slipped on a stray ship nail. He only blearily noted that he fell, the cold hard earth slapping against his hands in a rush, but that didn't last long. His hands resumed clawing the back of his head and ears in a heartbeat.
"Hiccup!" Someone had shouted. He felt hands on his side, shaking him. Someone was asking if he was okay, but he chose to ignore them. He wished they would stop talking. They were only making the pain worse.
"What happened?!" A second voice joined the first. Hiccup groaned, their voices were like nails being driven into his skull. The first voice answered the second. "I don't know! I was waiting at the window when he just collapsed!"
"Laddie, Laddie? What's wrong, Hiccup? I can't help you if you don't tell me." The second voice spoke in a soothing, but stern way. "Hiccup, you- gah! Get off me you little menace!" A Terror shriek responded to the voice.
Hiccup gasped as ears throbbed with one final intense burst before fading into the background. His head thumped into the dirt and his hands slumped from his head, falling to his side. His breaths coming in great heaves, taking much needed air in his lungs. What was that? Sure, he had been having hearing issues, but they had never completely flooded out his senses like that.
"Hiccup? Hey Hiccup. Come on, don't make me drag you to Gothi." The first voice shook him again. With great effort, Hiccup opened his eyes to met that of a Terrible Terror, it's yellow eyes glistening in concern. "Hiccup? Hiccup okay?" Hiccup yelped, jerking back in fright, his head banging with another. "Ow!" To identical shouts of pain shouted at the same time. The Terror shrieked it's own bout of surprise, jumping on Hiccup's head and flying back to the rafters.
Hiccup clutched his head. First an earache, a Terror in his face, then said Terror uses his head as a spring board, and now a headache. And he was pretty sure he heard yet another random voice. His morning was going great so far.
Hearing moaning, he raised his head to meet the gaze of an older brunet man with cool blue eyes, only a few years older himself. The man was rubbing his own head in pain. "Langer? What are you doing here?" Hiccup rasped, coughing on his words.
Langer frowned, still nursing his bruise. "Okay. First of all. Ow! Second of all, I was here to request my fishhooks. The ones I ordered a week ago? And then I see you falling, as if someone hit you on the head. Honestly, you nearly fell onto the anvil. The one with all the hot metals?" He raised a brow. "Anyway, are you okay? Do I have to drag Gothi here?"
Gobber frowned in concern. "The young Hofferson here is right. That was a nasty fall, laddie."
Hiccup turned to Gobber's soft eyes, standing not to far off from Langer. Toothless cooed and nudged him worriedly from his side, Hiccup jumped, not having seen him come over.
"See. Even he agrees." Langer quipped.
"I'm okay, guys. Gobber was just singing a little too loud, I'm fine." He reassured, hand petting the dragons black scales briefly from his place on the ground. Toothless whined again, not believing him for a second.
"Okay? Okay?! What I saw was not okay!"
Hiccup groaned. "I'm fine, Langer. But thank you for your concern."
"People singing doesn't cause that kind of a reaction." Langer deadpanned.
"Again, the Hofferson lad is right, Hiccup. And my singing was not loud enough to cause this!" The older man gestured.
"Your singing was pretty rancid." Langer grimaced, pointing back towards Gobber who gawked in response.
"I'll have you know that my singing is perfectly acceptable Viking singing, thank you very much." Gobber defended, "And are you sure it wasn't something else." Gobber scowled suspiciously.
Hiccup's eyes dropped. "It was nothing, Gobber. I'm telling the truth. I've just been having some hearing issues lately, nothing to be concerned about."
Gobber shook his head. "Issues with your ears is not something to take lightly, Hiccup. Especially if that was your reaction. But if you think your fine, then I'll leave it. If it gets worse though, then you need to see Gothi. Got it?"
Hiccup nodded, his gaze traveling upwards to the rafters. Seeing the concerned Terror's all looking down at him, watching him like hawks. The one that had jumped in front of his face was chittering in worry.
Langer huffed. "Fine, but at least let me help you up. Thor knows Astrid would kill me if she heard I didn't." He put his arms under Hiccup's and heaved, taking Hiccup's attention away from the odd Terror's.
Hiccup reluctantly accepted his help, blushing at the blatant mention of Astrid's interest of his well being. He placed his arms around the young adults neck as they heaved him upwards. His knees were still jittery from his bout of dizziness, but he would manage.
Standing again, he picked up the discarded hammer from the ground, scowling mindlessly at his reflection in the polished hammerheads surface. Since when did loud and high pitched noises start to bother him anyway? They never had before, not until recently.
He only snapped out of his trance when Langer patted his back. "You sure your okay?"
Hiccup nodded distractedly. "Yeah, I'm fine. Anyway, what were you here for again?" He questioned.
"Uh, fishhooks. The sooner I get them, then the sooner Bloodburst and I can set out in a day or so to replenish the fishing hull that someone lost." He almost growled that last bit.
"Fishhooks?" Gobber questioned. "Those should be in the back. Hiccup can get them for you. Should be an easy enough task after…whatever that was."
Hiccup scowled. He was perfectly capable of harder work right now.
"Anyway." The larger man huffed, pulling at his rope belt. "I have to get back to Langer's sword - the other Langer, Langer Yakheart." He rephrased after seeing Langer's confused expression. "He was looking to purchase a new one, but couldn't make up his mind. So he just had me make him a new handle for his current sword. This is actually the third one." He grumbled as he hobbled away, his voice dropping. "If he doesn't take this one, then he can go make his own handle."
Hiccup coughed, hiding his growing smirk. Langer Yakheart was a paranoid pain to the entire village. Criticizing the every move of anyone he came across. Even if he knew nothing about the thing he was criticizing. He was not as bad as Milddew was, but still a major annoyance to anyone who happened to be the target of his scrutiny. Gobber certainly knew how to lighten the mood.
"So, Fishhooks. Got it." Hiccup affirmed, picking his way through the messy forge to get to the back room were they stored all of the forges orders. Not his office, which was also in the back.
Stumbling his way around the piles of metal and other random things Gobber left in the forge, and nearly tumbling over a stray set of maces. He grumbled to himself. He and Gobber really had to clean this out.
Making his way to the back room, he dug though more junk on the shelves. Grabbing what felt to be fishhooks on the top shelf, which had been buried with other random knickknacks and wares.
Taking them back to the front. He found Langer leaning on his dragon, who must have made his way outside at some point. Seeing Hiccup, Langer kicked off the red Thunderdrum and walked up to the front. A small sack of gold coins ready in his hand.
Hiccup set the hooks on the front service window. "Here's your fishhooks, Langer. And thank you, for the help by the way." He shrugged sheepishly.
Langer nodded and dug through his coin pouch, retrieving the gold to pay for the fishhooks. "Only helping out a friend of my sisters." The Thunderdrum walked up behind Langer and bumped him affectionately. Langer turned around, hand motioning to hold up a second. "Just a minute, Bloodburst."
Handing the few coins to Hiccup, Hiccup counted them. Finding the amount worthy, he released the fishhooks from his grasp.
"Pleasure doing business with you." Hiccup declared.
Langer scoffed and shook his head. Giving him a brief, but solid pat on the shoulder. "Yeah, well, see you later Hiccup." He eyed the gash on his face, furrowing his brow in concern.
"And get that gash taken care of, will you? That looks pretty serious, I can tell you didn't see Gothi. And that also goes for your other issues too. See. Gothi. I mean it!" Mounting Bloodburst, the pair took off. Most likely heading off to ready his boat for the fishing trip he mentioned.
Hiccup grinned to himself. It was nice to know he cared. After all, if he and Astrid ever got together, then the man might be his future brother-in-law. That is, If he didn't kill Hiccup first for even hoping his sister could be his girlfriend eventually. Thor knows he hated Snotlout for it. Not that Langer knew he felt that way.
His ears pounded again with phantom ringing, still angry from Gobber's earlier singing. Grasping his ears, he shook it off, hoping that the movement would help. It did. Seeing that he rid himself of the sensation, he turned back to the forge. Hoping to finish the metal piece that he had abandoned due to his…he guessed he should call it an attack. But of what kind? An ear attack? Was that a thing?
It worried him that it even happened it the first place. Granted his hearing would sometimes feel as if it was suddenly zoomed in on the world at a minor degree, but never had it rung before, or caused him issues beyond minor inconveniences. Was something wrong with him?
He would see Gothi if it got worse or unbearable. For now, he would leave it be.
Going back to his project, he reheated the unfinished safety clip in the heat of the forge and set to finish his project. A few minutes in the heat of the coals proved to be all the piece needed. It hadn't cooled too much, something he was grateful for so he could get back to working almost immediately.
Giving it a few finishing taps from his hammer, he hummed in confirmation. Seeing that the piece he was sizing finally fit the shape he needed.
Grabbing the tongs from the wall, he plunged the glowing metal into a basin of water near his feet, the water hissing and sputtering in defiance. Once cooled, he lifted the piece to eye level for inspection. Seeing no warps or cracks, he moved to place the metal to the side with the remaining forged equipment.
Toothless looked up from his spot on the floor with concern as he walked past. Seeing Hiccup was just going back to his work and didn't seem to be in trouble anymore, he tucked his head under his paws again, hoping to get a few more minutes of shut eye.
Hiccup noticed and sighed. "Really. I'm okay, bud."
Toothless grumbled and closed his eyes again. He was very extra sure that Hiccup was not okay.
Hiccup rolled his eyes, turning back to his work, he smirked. "Anyways, looks like the safety clips are about done. I just need to finish a few leather attachments first. After that, want to go for a flight later?"
Toothless perked his head up at the word "flight"
Hiccup chuckled, "I'll take that as a yes."
Bucket tugged on the net, grunting with exertion as he tried for the seventh time to raise it. "Mulch, I can't get it!" Mulch eyed him, confused. "What's the problem, Bucket?"
Bucket glanced his fishing partners way, "I'm not sure, Mulch" his brows raised in confusion. "I-I can't raise the net. Somethin's pullin' at it." The Viking with a bucket for a helmet sputtered, tugging on the net again as if to prove his point.
The sea bubbled and foamed beneath them, the net pulled back with more ferocity than before. Both Bucket and Mulch eyed the waters warily, having both seen the odd back-tugging.
"Do you think?" Bucket questioned. Mulch's eyes widened. "Sea monster!" They both screamed as the sea burst apart. A water jet hit them right in the abdomen, sending both Vikings flying to the back of their vessel. Hitting the boat side, Bucket grunted. Looking up, the fisherman scurried closer to Mulch from his sitting position. Mulch doing likewise. Both shivering from both cold water and fright.
A long, green, serpentine creature floated up. Two limp forms on it's back appeared to separate from the beast, frightening the fisherman further.
"Loki'd!" The pair of wayward tricksters burst apart, grinning maniacally.
Finding that it was the twins, Bucket growled. "Gah! You- Johann?"
Mulch only sighed in relief. At least it was the twins and not an actual sea monster.
"Help. Me." Johann lifted a hand out pathetically as he spoke, draped from Belch's neck. What he was reaching for, only the gods know.
"Ah man, you should have seen the looks on your faces." Tuffnut grinned. Ruffnut cackled beside him, Tuffnut continued "Priceless. Full Loki. Bet you never saw a full Loki comin'. Am I right, Johann?"
He glanced back with concern when his riding buddy didn't respond. "Johann?"
Johann only spewed up water, his eyes drifting shut.
Mulch furrowed his brow. "You should probably get him back to Berk. He looks rather…soggy."
Ruffnut gestured with her thumb behind her. "Yeah, that was our next stop."
Toothless landed in the village square with a happy gurgle. Tongue rolling out, panting with glee. Hiccup jumped off the saddle, patting his head fondly. "Finally all tuckered out. Who knew you had it in you." He snickered.
Toothless only warbled his agreement. A few villagers waved in greeting before going back to their daily lives. Hiccup waved back, smiling awkwardly at Langer Yakheart, who just huffed and rolled his eyes. Walking away, he muttered. "Kid's these days. Think they can just land anywhere."
They had just flown around several nearby sea stacks to test the newly forged safely clips. Thankfully they worked, so hopefully no more unprompted falls would occur anytime soon. On the way back, they had done a quick flyby over the arena. He had heard the Nadder screeching angrily below. Still furious with it's predicament.
He frowned, the Nadder couldn't stay in there forever. What with the chains and little space to move. Technically, the dragon couldn't roam anywhere chained to that platform. It wasn't right to keep it there. Even if it had tried to kill him more than once.
"I think I'm going to go ask dad about the Nadder." The statement slipped from his tongue before he had the chance to restrain the words. He winced, Toothless wouldn't like that.
The Night Fury in question hissed right on cue, glaring with deathly intensity at his crazed brother. Hiccup was not releasing that dragon. Not with him around.
Hiccup laughed lightly. "I don't have to be anywhere near it, Toothless. I just want to make sure it doesn't stay in there for too much longer. It can't be healthy to be cooped up that long."
Toothless huffed, walking faster into the village. Tail swishing agitatedly behind him. Hiccup ran to catch up with him. "Oh, come on, letting it go can't be that bad."
Toothless groaned, sending half lidded eyes to Hiccup. Hiccup scoffed. "Well I don't have to be near it. Would that make you happy?"
Toothless thought for a moment, then nodded slowly, as if the very action itself pained him. Hiccup grinned, "Thanks, bud."
"Now for the next subject." He tried to keep his emotions light, failing that, he sighed. Resigning himself for a more somber tone. "Another thing I'm going to ask dad is that…I think it's time he trains me to be chief." He trailed off.
Toothless leaped around unexpectedly and plopped right in front of him with a scowl, refusing to budge an inch. Catching Hiccup by surprise. Toothless stared hard into Hiccup's eyes.
A man watching nearby dropped his bread in shock. Having never seen the Night Fury act this way towards their heir before.
"What is it, bud?" Hiccup questioned, completely baffled. Never has he seen his dragon act quite like this before. He recalled the conversation that might have lead to this bizarre behavior. "You…don't want me to be chief?"
Toothless stopped his hard stare and warbled sadly. Annoyance that Hiccup was giving in to peer pressure simmering down to remorse. Hiccup wanted nothing to do with it. He could sense it. Right now, being chief would only make him miserable. Maybe some day in the future he could. He knew Hiccup had potential to be a great leader, but now? That would only end in disaster. Not with his mind not present on Berk and always miles away.
"If this is about me possibly not having time for you, I'm not about to let that happen." Hiccup reassured, walking over and rumbling behind his ear, Toothless's favorite spot. Toothless warbled in bliss, he turned to his rider. The remorseful expression remained on the Night Fury's scaled head.
Hiccup sighed, "I know you don't like it, but I don't know what else to do. I have to move on. Get over my obsession to explore, somehow." He rubbed Toothless's head in the end, petting the dragons comforting scales. Toothless crooned in comfort.
But underneath all that, Toothless frowned. Still disagreeing with Hiccup's statement, but he could see that his refusal was hurting him more. He huffed. He was going to count the days till this backfired.
They walked though the remainder of the village. Approaching both his and his fathers hut, Hiccup steeled himself for what he was about to do. By the end of this conversation. He would be training to be chief.
He was not training to be chief.
Hiccup couldn't be happier, well if not for Dagur's escape and the fact he wasn't able to mention anything about the Nadder's release. He never got to either of those bits of conversation before the twins burst in with a sopping wet Johann.
Toothless chuffed alongside him, also glad Hiccup wasn't going to be training as chief just yet. They strolled along the bridge to the arena with Tuffnut joining them. Ruffnut had flown back to the village with Barf and Belch to alert the other riders. Tuffnut had stayed behind with Hiccup at Hiccup's request to help carry a crate full of Nadder spines to the academy to use for training and prop purposes.
Hiccup held a large folded map of the archipelago in hand, a long stick in the other to use as a pointer stick. He hoped to use the map as a visual prop for the gangs oncoming talk about the manhunt for Dagur. Beside him, Tuffnut frowned, glancing not so subtly at Hiccup as he walked alongside him. "Hmm, is it just me or did you get a new fashion style. I mean, is that real?"
Hiccup raised a brow. "What are you talking about?"
Tuffnut balanced the crate on one hand and brought his finger over until it was nearly right in Hiccup's face, Hiccup caught his wrist and pushed it down with mild annoyance. "That huge mark on your cheek. 'Cuss thats totally going to scar if it's real."
Tuffnut grinned. Apparently deciding it probably was real, he slapped Hiccup's back in good nature. Hiccup grunted, the air knocked out of him. "I dig it. Looks good on you, H!"
Hiccup groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose with the stick hand. "It wasn't exactly intentional, Tuff'."
Tuffnut shrugged, "Eh, still cool."
Entering the arena. Hiccup opened the large hatch that locked off the entrance, which had been shut incase the Nadder escaped from it's prison. However unlikely that was. Reaching the middle of the floor, Hiccup froze, his limbs going rigid. Memories of last night assaulted his mind. Fire, growling, hissing, fury. Harsh stone against his face, fire raining down on his dragons wings.
He shook his head, clearing the memories away. His breath caught in his throat, now occurring to him that the Nadder's muzzle might not had been fixed yet. Which would be bad. Very bad. "Ah, Tuffnut?"
Tuffnut spoke, not turning around. "Yeah, Hiccup?"
"Does that Nadder have a muzzle on it, or…"
Tuffnut eyed him and hummed suspiciously, then set the crate down in the corner with a small rattle of it's contents. Turning to the Nadder's pen, he tiptoed over to it. As much as he loved chaos, he'd rather Hiccup not die in all it's glory.
Hiccup watched worriedly. The Nadder's heavy breathing betrayed it could be asleep. Which meant that even without the muzzle, he might be alright for at least a minute or two. But with what happened last night, Hiccup was taking no chances.
Tuffnut gave a thumbs up. "Yep, as muzzled as it's ever going to be. And asleep." He stopped, his suspicious frown becoming more prominent. "Wait, why would it's muzzle have been off, unless…the Nadder gave you that scar didn't it!" He pointed.
Hiccup groaned. Tuffnut smirked, rubbing his hands together and taking Hiccup's silence as confirmation. "Wow, I wonder if I can convince it to give me a wicked scar like that!"
Hiccup's eyes widened. "Wait, Tuffnut! Let's not do that just yet. I rather like my skin on my body, thank you very much."
Tuffnut grumbled. "Buzzkill." Crossing his arms like a pouting child.
Another Nadder screech sounded from behind Hiccup, more flashbacks from the previous night once again kicking back into gear. He spun around, holding his arms in front of his face before lowering them, seeing it was just Stormfly and Astrid. Stormfly being the shrieking Nadder. He exhaled in relief, he did not want to live through the previous night again.
Astrid waltzed over, axe held over her shoulder. "Hiccup, what's going on? Ruffnut said Dagur escaped? How is that possible? He was locked away in the most secure island in the archipelago for Thor's sake!"
Snotlout trudged in behind her. "Great! Just what we needed. Another lunatic on the loose. I feel so lucky."
Fishlegs ran ahead of the other riders, pushing past Astrid and a disgruntled Snotlout. Meatlug trailed behind him. "Is it true, Hiccup?"
Hiccup held his hand out placatingly, "One at a time, please." He turned to Fishlegs, "And yes, Fishlegs, it's true."
Snotlout frowned, brows bunching up seeing the oddity on Hiccup's face. "Uh, hey Hiccup? What's up with your face?"
Astrid gasped. "Where'd you get that? It looks terrible." Hiccup internally snorted. It was nearly her brothers exact wording. The two were more alike than they cared to admit.
Fishlegs lips turned down in concern, now noticing the mark as well. "Hiccup, it looks like it needed stitches. Although it looks to be coated in a clear substance." He inquired. "Did that help? What is that?"
Ruffnut chuckled. "I don't know about you, but I think our dear Hiccup looks pretty wicked with it."
Tuffnut raised a pointer finger dramatically. "Exactly, dear sister. I said the same thing. I think he got it from the Nadder over there." He pointed nonchalantly at the caged dragon in question. "I think he snuck in here at night or something. We'd have noticed that much chaos in daylight."
Ruffnut snorted. "Yeah, definitely."
Astrid shrieked. "You think he did what?!" She turned to glare at him. Her axe glinted dangerously in the sunlight, twirling to the side to just catch the suns rays. Hiccup gulped. He was in for it now, least he manage to distract her.
"It was fine, Astrid. Not my fault the muzzle burst. Apart from the fact I did try to approach, but I had to come in here to lock up the academy anyway. You know that." He pleaded.
She interjected. "But you didn't have to approach it! You know it doesn't exactly appreciate your presence, Hiccup." She sighed. He was going to be the death of her.
Hiccup cautiously moved to set up the map, using various scattered Nadder spines on the ground to pin it in the gaps on the wall, he would save the ones in the crate for another day. Hiccup spoke cautiously as he worked. "I know, but as I said. No big deal." He shook his head. Now trying to distract her with the matter at hand. "My cheek or face isn't what we're here for. What we are here for, is to figure out Dagur's movements." He backed away, now finished with the setup.
Astrid grimaced. "No big deal? Hiccup, that looks like it was really bad. And I just saw you yesterday afternoon, so it has to be recent." She stepped closer as if to get a closer look. "It looks as if there wasn't any trace of herbs either…did you even see Gothi?"
Hiccup backed away, uncomfortable. Seeing as she was breaching his personal space. Her face getting a little too close to his. "Astrid, please. Back to the matter at hand."
She huffed, backing off. "Fine, but we will talk about this later."
Not if he could help it. He turned to the map, entering so called 'teacher mode' as his friends labeled it. The gang gathered around him. "All we got out of Johann before he passed out, was this. Dagur escaped from Outcast island by commandeering his ship." He pointed his stick to the board. "He threw Johann overboard, about here."
"So what your saying is, Dagur could be anywhere by now." Snotlout spoke.
Hiccup replied. "Well, technically, yes."
Snotlout threw his hand up in the air in defeat. "Oh, great. Great, great, great. So that just leaves, I don't know, let me think about this. The entire ocean to search?! No, thank you."
"Master Hiccup!"
Hiccup's head jerked around to see Johann entering the arena with purpose, long since gotten used to the riders bickering and payed it no mind. Hiccup rubbed his ear, frowning. Again with the hearing weirdness? It sounded as if Johann was right next to him. Shaking it off as a fluke and nothing to be concerned about. He greeted Johann in turn as he approached him. "Johann, you're awake."
"And feeling much better, thank you for asking." The older man stated. "And more importantly, I have a strong suspicion where our nefarious foe may be heading." Gesturing exaggeratingly with his hand to the map next to him, he laughed, the sound grating on Hiccup's ears for a second before fading out again. Ignoring that, Hiccup's brow raised with intrigue. "Outside the archipelago?" He questioned, a finger knuckle bouncing on his chin.
"No!" Johann was quick to cut him off, "Just inside the fog bank on our outer group of islands."
"We've never been out that far." Hiccup whispered. His interest levels only rising. For a second, he was elated. There was more out there, he had known it! Although there was the matter of convincing his father to let him go…yeah, he didn't have a lot of hope there.
Toothless, as if sensing his falling enthusiasm, nudged his side and trilled reassuringly. Hiccup patted his head in silent thanks.
"When Dagur commandeered my precious ship, he also came into a possession of a very important map. One that leads to a graveyard of ships, hidden, in that fog bank." Johann spoke, hands weaving in and out of his tale as he usually did.
"Wow. That's the first place I'd go." Snotlout cut in, hands on his hips and tapping his foot restlessly on the ground with annoyance.
Johann scowled, raising a pointer finger in the air, "If I may be allowed to finish."
"Johann, the last time we allowed you to finish, we ended up on breakneck bog. So no, no finishing." Snotlout deadpanned.
Hiccup shook his head, if he let this continue, they could be here for hours. "Enough!" He shouted, drawing silence in the immediate circle, he turned to Johann. "Now that we're back on track. Johann, what's so special, about the graveyard, and why would he go there?"
Seeing Johann gear up to tell another long winded account, Hiccup cut him off. "The short version, please?"
Johann froze mid speech, deflating. "It's where I store all my treasures and wares."
Snotlout and Tuffnut stood mouth agape beside Hiccup. Tuffnut broke the silence. "Wow, concise, to the point. Who knew he had it in him."
"Which reminds me of the first time I was labeled as concise!" Johann began to ramble.
Snotlout rolled his eyes, "Spoke to soon, Tuffnut, you spoke to soon." He muttered.
Hiccup silently agreed, not that he would ever tell Snotlout that. Thor knows that he would never hear the end of it. At least, not for the next week.
Johann continued, "He was a young man, very ugly I actually-" Hiccup snapped before it could escalate any worse. "Johann! Focus. Is there anything else?"
"As a matter of fact, there is one ship you must avoid at all costs. It's called, the Reaper." He paused for dramatic effect. Seeing as he had every rider engaged, he continued with enthused fear. "Riddled with booby traps from stem to stern, I barely made it out with my life the only time I dared venture aboard. And Legend tells of the doomed crew that haunt that ship, their ghostly cries still echo into the night to this very day, wow!"
Ignoring the ghost story, Hiccup whispered to Toothless, "Okay, Toothless, let's go."
Toothless grumbled slightly before relenting. Knowing that his adoptive brother wasn't going to let this go until they investigated.
Hiccup spoke for clearly for the other riders. "Unless, of coarse, any of you can clear your busy schedules to help capture a, dangerous, maniac."
Ruffnut giggled, a maniac look in her eyes that always managed to make Hiccup uncomfortable when directed at him. "I think we can move a few things around. Besides, a haunted ship! What could be more awesome! What say you, dear brother?"
Tuffnut frowned, "Well, the Yaks from Clodhopper's herd needed rehoming to Yakheart's house. And Sven's favorite sheep needed to be sheared…oh, yes! And how could I forget about our ingenious plan to dye Snotlout's hair green! But a haunted ship…" He practically drooled. "A glorious haunted ship? How could I say no to that?!"
Fishlegs whined. "I really don't like the idea that the area is haunted, but, ooh! Fine! I'll go. Maybe we'll find something interesting along the way."
"What?!" Snotlout screeched, still hung up on Tuffnut's last prank. He grasped his hair and helmet as if his life depended on it. "Oh, no you two don't. You two are not allowed to come near my head. You hear me! How do you expect me to sway Astrid with my manly charms if my hair is green?!"
Astrid smirked. "I don't know, Snotlout. I think green hair would suit you. It would really go well with your name." She fiddled with her axe before mounting Stormfly's leather saddle. "So, Hiccup, are we going now or not?"
Hiccup stared, dumbfounded. This was not the turnout he was expecting. A slow smile started to creep out over his face. With the gang getting back together, even if for a little while. Maybe everything would be okay. "All right, mount up, gang. We have a deranged former chief to find."
A bang and rattle had all the riders jumping to face the rouge Nadder's prison. Stormfly raised her spines, while Astrid bared her axe reflexively. Having just woken up, It's nostrils flared to scent for predators, but catching it's quarries scent in the area, it turned it's large head in Hiccup direction. Realizing it's target from the previous night was back, it glared angrily, shifting and testing it's chains once more, then calming. Settling for a hard stare at the lead dragon rider instead.
Snotlout snickered and leaned forward from atop Hookfang, which he had mounted moments before. "Oh, here we go again. This should be good."
Johann shivered from where he was standing, the dragons intelligent, calculating gaze to much for him to handle. He gestured to the arena doors behind Snotlout and Hookfang, the former of which who only raised a brow. "I'll just be over here, outside. Just shout if you need me." The trader scurried out the entrance as if frostbite was about to nip at his heel.
Tuffnut chuckled, "Well that didn't take much. I wonder how he would react if we trained a few Terrible Terrors to steal his hat on a daily basis…" He pondered, a finger tapping on his chin thoughtfully.
Ruffnut nodded "Maybe, but not just his hat. His socks too, it would be great practice for Snifflenut as well."
"I like the way you think, sister."
Hiccup gulped, the dragons cold eyes continued to bore into him uncomfortably, as if it could see right through him and into his soul. Cold sweat formed on his brow, while thousands of spiders seemed to crawl down his spine.
Great, it was awake. He was going to need to get out of here before he become target practice again. He opened his mouth to tell the gang they, or at least just him in particular, needed to leave, but Fishleg's beat him to it. "Maybe we should get out of here, Hiccup. If it escapes…you know it's going to go after you first. If not only you." The larger rider rambled nervously from atop Meatlug.
"I know, Fishlegs, I know." Hiccup groaned, Toothless hissed once at the Nadder, bounding over to his side defensively, the Nadder shifted it's glare to the Night Fury. Hiccup rubbed his head reassuringly, Toothless's hiss shifting into a questioning croon beneath his fingers,
Hiccup jumped into the saddle. "I'll talk to my dad before we head out and see if he'll do about doing something about it while we're gone. It's going to be at least a few hours flight to the ship graveyard anyway."
After telling his dad about the gangs trip to the graveyard, which he approved, he also asked his father about future plans for the Nadder and if it could be released soon.
Thankfully, Stoick agreed with him and would have the Nadder both released and hopefully very far away from Berk by the time the riders got back.
They flew behind him now in scattered positions across the sky. Having left late in the evening, they didn't expect to be at their destination for a few hours yet. Toothless dove, the Night Fury's whistle shriek cutting through the sound of wind slashing over his face and hair. The other riders followed shortly behind them. "This is pretty great, huh bud?"
Toothless rumbled an agreeing garble, the rapid sensation of pulling up filled Hiccup's stomach with eager butterflies. "Feels like forever since we all flew as a group. Let's see how rusty they are. V formation!" He jerked his arms into a V shape as a signal, the other riders pulled rapidly into the correct pattern behind him. "Not bad. Diamond formation!" Clapping his hand above his head to create a diamond.
"How rusty does this guy think we are?" Tuffnut complained.
"Uh, guys? Little, tight on the diamond. Aren't we?" Tuffnut looked below Belch, only finding Fishleg's scrunched up between the Gronckle and Zippleback.
"Are we? Are you sure you're not just flying to close to us?" Tuffnut tipped upside down from Belch's neck to face the other Viking.
"Nope. Pretty sure it's you guys" Fishlegs wheezed.
Hiccup grinned, pulling forwards a tad with Toothless. "Just like old times."
Sunlight shimmered through the cloudy skies on the Berkian docks, a few seagulls diving in the water in hopes of catching an evening meal. Langer untied the last empty bucket of fish bait on Bloodburst. Having just got back from chumming the waters with his secret fish bait recipe, always the day before the actual fishing trip, he was often able to catch a decent amount of fish to both sell and give to the village winter stocks.
His bait recipe included rotten chicken guts and many other unwanted animal parts that the village butcher tossed out, and his very own secret ingredient: his sisters cooking. Who knew fish would like it so much? Of coarse, not that he told her that.
He chuckled. Brother or not, Astrid would skin him alive if she knew that he just scrapped any cooking she gave him. It wasn't her fault that the sickness she got as a kid forever ruined her ability to taste anything properly. And, logically. If she couldn't taste, she couldn't fix her cooking to make it better.
Bloodburst rumbled beneath his palms, scales trembling with excitement for their upcoming fishing trip the next day. He laughed, giving Bloodburst one last pat. "Well I'm glad to see your excited boy, we've chummed the waters today, so hopefully tomorrow the fish will take the bait and be in the area. We just have a few more things to set up, then we're good to go for tomorrow morning. And of coarse we'll set the deep sea fishhooks tomorrow as well."
Raising from his crouched position, he placed both hands on the saddle grips, ready to mount the red sea dragon to fly to his boat when running steps thumped up behind him. He halted, shoulder's slumping. If it was who he thought it was, then he really wasn't in the mood right now.
"Langer, Langer there you are! You are one hard man to find, did you know that?" Gustav swaggered up from behind him out of breath.
Langer sighed, just when he was about to leave. Really? "Hello Gustav." He deadpanned. "Are you here to convince me out of me forcing you to come fishing again? Because that's not going to happen, not after your last shenanigan."
Gustav chuckled nervously, "Ah, yeah. Sorry about dumping your catch in the ocean last time."
"Well at least you apologized."
The younger boy, not catching his annoyed undertone, continued. "So, I'm here to deliver a very important message from chief Stoick, that you." He pointed to the older brunet, "Get to go release that Nadder in the arena."
Langer perked up. "The Nadder, really? Where're we taking it." It would be good to have it gone. It had already caused enough damage, and feeding it with the fish stores was a waste of food when it wasn't a permanent resident. Gustav took the cue to speak.
"He said to take it far from here." He laughed. "Didn't say where, and I don't think he cared where. Just that it's away from here." Gustav stated with vigor, crossing his arms proudly.
Gustav's face then scrunched up with confusion, realizing something odd with Langer's statement. "Wait, what do you mean by we? He told me to tell you to do it." He accused, a finger pointed rudely his way.
Langer smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Well now it's a we, because you're coming with me." Langer strutted off to the arena, Bloodburst in tow.
Gustav sputtered. "Wait? What! That was not how this conversation was supposed to go!" Running after the older Hofferson, Fanghook trotting loyally behind.
Langer snickered. If Gustav was going to act all high and mighty on him, then the boy had another thing coming. Besides, it was all retribution at the end of the day.
Langer walked inside the arena, the setting sun cast the training ground in an assortment of colors. A few other Viking's were there, sent by the chief and ready to help with the Nadder's removal now that Hiccup was away from Berk. Since Hiccup would likely be back by morning, the chief wanted it done tonight. That way there would be plenty of time to remove it from the island long before the heir ever returned. Gustav grumbled from behind him. "Why am I the the one helping again?"
"Because you were right there and I didn't know how much help I would be getting, or needing." He paused. "Besides, your attitude was immeasurably annoying." Langer walked off to the other Vikings without a second thought, waving a hand in dismissal in the younger boys direction. Gustav's jaw dropped.
"Excuse me?!" Fankhook chuckled behind him. Gustav whirled around and pointed a finger at his Nightmare. "Whose side are you on!"
Langer ignored the bickering teen, instead choosing to speak with his charges. "All right. I'm assuming that I'm in charge, unless any of you have other thoughts?"
The group shook their heads. Langer clapped his hands in confirmation. "Okay then, let's get to it." He pointed at the nearest Viking. "You, check if the dragon is secure. If it is, then let's open the stable doors and get ready to tow it out."
He turned to Gustav. "Gustav, make sure the Nightmare over there isn't going to interfere. As I'm sure you know, Nightmare's tend to hold a grudge."
Gustav nodded with reluctance, eyes half lidded, and locked up the other resident in the arena.
Langer nodded. "The rest of you, I need you on stand-by. We don't know how this dragons going to react, or if it'll escape it's muzzle again."
The remaining Vikings nodded. Hanging nearby the weapons pile in case they needed them, but would hopefully go unused. This dragon was too unpredictable for any viking to trust.
He heard a shout from the gray bearded viking he sent to check on the Nadder. The viking approached, standing next to the brunet. "It seems to be secure, may I suggest we roll it out now, then attach the cart to your dragon and one other?"
"That would be great, thanks Clodhopper." Langer affirmed. Clodhopper nodded and moved back to the Nadder, opening the heavy stable doors with the help of another. Starkard, if he wasn't mistaken. Bloodburst growled from alongside him. Langer held a hand out. "Easy Bloodburst, let's not aggregate it any further."
Aggravated, the Nadder was. Rolling out of the cage on it's wheeled platform did nothing for it's temper. The Nadder shuttered it's chains once more, attempting to screech in anger. It's muzzle visibly pulling tighter with each tug.
Stoick had put the muzzle on himself earlier that morning, this time with a tighter lock and a metal muzzle, wanting to prevent both the dragons escape and protect other Vikings from harm. Injuries like Hiccup's face. He winced in thought, that really was a bad cut. Hiccup should have gone immediately to Gothi in his eyes.
"When it gets to the center, check it's chains. We don't want them snapping halfway through on the way to whatever random island we take it to." Langer requested, his eyes cautiously roaming the moving platform. Searching for cracks or warps that may lead to it's early release.
The Nadder rolled out the rest of the way. Finally reaching the middle of the arena, Langer approached from the right side, examining the chains closer. Langer tugged on the chain loops and connecting points for a brief second. First the tail chain, then the chains on his side. Determining they were exceptional, he shouted. "Looks good from my end! How about your's, Starkard?"
From the other side, he heard nervous grunting. "Starkard? The chains?"
Starkard slowly backed away from his position by the Nadder's left side, inching towards the weapons pile. "Starkard?!" Langer snapped. The man in question flinched, shaking his head.
"One of the chains is halfway broken over here." Langer drew a sharp breath. That was not good. The man spoke softly, "I just need to get my mace and send it back to sleep."
Not good at all.
Langer risked a glance into the Nadder's eyes. He could swear the slitted yellow eyes were mocking him right now. Laughing.
Gustav frowned, having not heard Starkard's whispered words from near the blue Nightmare's pen. "Why is no one doing anything? I mean, I know this dragon is crazy and all, but he seems pretty docile right now to me. Isn't that right, Greenie?" Walking up the silent Viking's, he leaned casually against the platform, the boy patted the Nadder's side.
Starkard's eyes about popped out of his skull, while Langer wheezed inconceivably. If that didn't set off the Nadder, then he didn't know what will. This boy was crazy. Either crazy, or very inconsiderate. Probably the later.
The green scales of the dragon trembled violently under Gustav's palm. Forcing back with much effort, the dragon or 'Greenie' as Gustav had dubbed it, burst free of it's chains. Screeching angrily.
Gustav stumbled back, hitting Langer in the chest as he tried to back away. Langer grabbed the frightened teen and retreated to Bloodburst's side, sheltering under his friends wing. All the other Vikings ducked for cover as well, and not too soon either, because Greenie unleashed a flurry of spines as soon as he could.
Fankhook roared defensively and flamed up, not appreciating how his rider was nearly thrown to the side so easily. The blue Nightmare in the cage also screamed it's own bout of defiance. Banging it's head against it's stable doors.
The Nadder howled back as best it could with the muzzle. It's wings and tail spines splayed. It's sharp talons gritting against the hard rock defensively. Raising it's head, deciding to ignore it's current enemies, it sniffed the air. Catching the fading scent of it's quarry, it purred in victory.
His target may have left a few hours ago, but his scent was still strong. By the end of the day or night, this abomination for a being, it's quarry, would be no more. It's kind were unnatural and didn't deserve to exist. With another cut off shriek of excitement, the Nadder took to the air. Leaving Berk behind in the dust.
Langer and Gustav creeped out from behind Bloodburst once the Nadder had left. Bloodburst huffed into the air, Langer grabbed one of his wings for mental stability. The other Vikings also came out of hiding.
Starkard came from behind the weapons pile, while Clodhopper came around from a leftover training dummy in the far corner that was near Fanghook. A small flame burned at the end of his beard. "Whelp, that happened." The man wryly joked, his gravely voice as dry as sand. Licking his wrinkled finger and putting out the flame with a hiss.
Starkard only glared.
Fanghook inched closer to Gustav, seemingly asking if he was okay. Gustav breathed heavily for a second. "I'm okay, Fanghook, I'm okay. Well, at least it's gone now, right?" He grinned weakly at Langer, who only gave him half lidded eyes in return. "I blame you for this."
Gustav sighed. "Not exactly the turnout I expected."
Langer huffed. "You think?" Giving his own sigh, he mounted Bloodburst. "Well, we better get going. We can't let that dragon go unattended for long until we know where it's going or staying."
"Wait? I'm coming too? Since when was this?!"
"Since you keep breaking things. And seeing as we had it handled until you pulled one of the most reckless moves I have ever seen in a long time. When you break it, you fix it. That's my motto." He pulled a cheeky grin at the younger boy. "Now let's move out, and follow that Nadder."
He looked out to the horizon and frowned. "Besides, I don't like where it's headed. Looks as if it's going in the direction of the riders."
Gustav grimaced in a rare proof of non arrogance. "You think it's going after Hiccup?"
"Maybe." Langer gently kicked Bloodburst's side, beginning what would be an all night chase.