Chapter 26: Meeting the Night Fury Killer

Berk

September 30

"Are you sure you'll be able to handle Hiccup for a few weeks, Gobber?" Stoick asked for the seemed like the umpteenth time as he stood in front of Hiccup and Gobber.

The three of them were standing on the wooden docks of Berk's seaport. Anchored on the other side of the dock was Stoick's ship stocked up with enough food, water and other supplies to last his journey – at least until he needed to restock on another island on the way.

"Stoick, you ask me that all the time every time you have to go away," Gobber pointed out. "And the answer's always the same. Yes, I'll be able to handle it. We're gonna have lots of fun together, aren't we, Hiccup?"

He playfully clapped Hiccup's shoulder but the boy looked less enthusiastic.

"Uh, yeah, we sure will, Gobber," he murmured. He looked up at Stoick, frowning sadly. "You know, Dad, you don't have to go."

"I'm afraid I must, Hiccup," Stoick said, also frowning sadly.

"But you just got back from trying to find the dragons' nest," Hiccup insisted.

"Just got back?" Stoick echoed. "Hiccup, that was about fifteen weeks ago."

"Well, you know what I mean!" Hiccup said.

Stoick sighed, knelt down in front of Hiccup and slid a hand under the boy's chin, lifting it so that they were in eye contact.

"Hiccup, this meeting I'm traveling to could help us find the answer to dealing with the dragons once and for all," Stoick explained gently. "And if we do find the answer, not only will our people would be free from all these raids and killings, but all people. Do you understand?"

"I guess so," Hiccup replied, nodding. "But I still wish you weren't going." He pressed himself against Stoick's chest, practically burying his face in the long, shaggy hairs of his mane-like beard. "Promise me nothing awful will happen to you on your way to the meeting and back."

Stoick remembered that promise all too well. It was similar to the promise Valka wanted him to promise her just minutes before she disappeared from his life forever: "Please promise me you'll be careful out there. I want our son growing up knowing his father."

He lifted his arm to pull Hiccup into an embrace but hesitated and just softly stroked the back of the boy's hair instead. Even after all these years, it still remained as soft and as shaggy as it was the day he was born.

"I can't promise that but I'll do my best to be careful," was all Stoick could say.

Hiccup looked up at his father, sniffling and smiling. "Thanks."

"Until then, be good for Gobber," Stoick instructed.

"Oh, we'll be really good," Gobber reassured his friend. "In fact, I have our whole time together planned out. We'll gorge on sweets and stay up all night long. Why, we might even go around the neighborhood, peeking through windows to spy on some pretty little ladies."

"Gobber!" Stoick scolded.

"Just kidding," Gobber said, smiling nervously and holding up his good hand and wooden one. Then clearing his throat and trying his best to sound firm, he said, "We'll stay up one hour past bedtime and no later. We'll go easy on the sweets and absolutely no peeking through the windows to spy on innocent women. Right, Hiccup?"

"Right," Hiccup answered. "Spying on women through the windows sounds like something Snotlout would do."

"And thank Thor you were brought up better than he ever was, thanks to your dear old dad," Gobber said.

"I'll say to that," Stoick said, nodding. "Well, I've got a long way to go so I'd better get going."

With that, he stepped over the railing of his ship and onto the deck. Then he pulled up the anchor and before long, the ship was moving along.

"So long, Stoick and good luck!" Gobber called.

"Bye, Dad!" Hiccup called.

"Bye, son! Bye, Gobber!" Stoick called, waving.

Hiccup held onto Gobber's good hand tightly as the two of them waved to his departing father. He didn't even bother hiding the tears that were streaming down his soft, freckled cheeks.

"Be real careful, Dad," he murmured.

…

Sandglass Island

October 11

Stoick had been sailing for a good twelve days now and his supplies were running low. Luckily, he arrived at the village of Sandglass Island. The village had a good marketplace that provided their travelers with plenty of supplies. So Stoick docked his ship and walked himself to the marketplace.

As he walked to the very heart of the market, he passed by a group of people. Within the group, a tall, thin man with graying black hair was telling some story while the crowed listened intently. But Stoick had no intention of listening to a story. He had a ship to restock.

Stoick had just purchased a fresh supply of bread and fruit when he heard the thin man say something that immediately caught his attention.

"Those Night Furies were quick but I was quicker."

As soon as he heard the words "Night Furies", Stoick looked up from his purchases and began to walk closer towards the crowd.

Now Stoick was not the kind of person to eavesdrop on private conversations but here was a person who had or had not encountered Night Furies and he was suddenly very interested. After all, in the seven generations he, his people and their ancestors lived on Berk, they had never encountered or seen or fought or even killed Night Furies. Oh, they've heard many legends and stories about these dragons of the night but they never seen any. And they hoped they'd never have to. After all, while many dragon species were dangerous in their own way, Stoick and his people considered Night Furies to be the most dangerous. And he had made sure that Hiccup grew up knowing that as well.

"So what happened next, Grimmel?" a woman in the crowd asked.

"Did get away from those Night Furies?" asked an old man.

"Ha, I didn't just get away, I poisoned them with darts from my trusty crossbow," the thin man called Grimmel said, holding up a crossbow and patting it proudly.

The crowd murmured in amazement.

"And that was how I killed the last of the Night Furies," Grimmel concluded.

The last of the Night Furies? Stoick thought. Does this man mean to say that there are no more Night Furies in the world because of him?

"Thank the gods for that," the old man said. "In all my years, I've never encountered any of those beasts of the night. And now thanks to you, I won't have to worry about being attacked by one at all."

"You're probably one of the smartest dragon hunters I've ever met, Grimmel, well, next to me and my old dad of course," a brawny, black-haired boy who seemed to be in his late teens complimented.

"Why, thank you, young man," Grimmel said proudly.

"I don't suppose you could give me a few pointers on how to trap a dragon or two if you don't mind," the teenager said.

"Now, now, Eret, let's not bother Grimmel," a middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper hair. "Now that our boat's been restocked, it's time we started heading back to our fort sweet fort before the boss returns."

"Oh, yes, we certainly wouldn't want to keep him waiting now, would we?" Grimmel said.

"All right, Dad," Eret said disappointedly as he and his father started to leave. "So long, Grimmel."

"Farewell, my young fan," Grimmel called with a wave of his hand.

One by one, the crowd began to depart and go back to their daily lives but Stoick approached Grimmel.

"Excuse me, sir," Stoick said, tapping the man's shoulder.

"Yes?" Grimmel asked, turning to the chief.

"I don't mean to pry but I couldn't help overhearing to your story."

"Oh, don't apologize. I love it when people overhear my dragon killing stories."

"Well, I was just purchasing more food and supplies to restock my ship when I heard you mention something about killing the last of the Night Furies. Is that true?"

"Oh, yes, it is. I've been killing Night Furies ever since I was twelve years old."

"Twelve years old? Really?"

"Yes, really."

"Odin's beard. I'm forty years old and I've yet to see one set foot on Berk."

"Is that where you're from?" Grimmel asked.

"Yes," Stoick said. Then remembering his manners, he held out his hand for Grimmel to shake. "I'm the Chief of the Island of Berk. My name is Stoick Haddock but everyone calls me Stoick the Vast."

Grimmel's eyes widened as he shook Stoick's hand. "The Stoick the Vast?"

"The one and only."

"Well, looks like I'm not the only celebrity who has made a pit stop here," Grimmel said admirably. "I've heard so much about you, Stoick. I've met many great Viking Chiefs over the years and now I finally get a chance to meet you. Please join me in the tavern for a drink or two. My treat."

"Well, I could use a bit of a rest from twelve days of sailing and I've still got a long way to go," Stoick considered. "All right."

For the next half an hour or so, Stoick and Grimmel sat at a table in the tavern, sharing mugs of sweet, strong mead and dragon-killing stories.

"It's amazing that you've been killing dragons ever since you were so very young," Stoick complimented.

Grimmel smiled proudly. "You call twelve years old so very young? Well, you've been killing dragons when you were even younger. You know you're destined to be a great dragon killer when you've decapitated a dragon just minutes after you were born."

"You're just as great as killing dragons as I am. I mean, you say that you've hunted and killed Night Furies – the very dragon my people and I have never even seen with our own eyes."

"Well, you and your people will never have to worry about seeing Night Furies with your own eyes again because thanks to me, the Night Furies are no more."

"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you, Grimmel," Stoick said seriously. "Somehow I feel like there still could be a few Night Furies left out there."

Grimmel scoffed. "I doubt it."

"Well I don't and I shall keep praying to the gods that we never have to deal with any of those devils if they survived your attacks."

"I don't know any Night Furies that have survived my attacks and I don't think I ever will," Grimmel said insistently.

"I can't believe you're still so sure you've finished off every last Night Fury, Grimmel," Stoick said.

"I know I did."

"But I do believe that we both have one thing in common: to rid the world of dragons and save all humanity. I want my people and their children's children to live in a safer, better world. I especially want my son, Hiccup to live safely."

"Oh, you're also a family man, eh?" Grimmel asked with a smile.

Stoick frowned sadly. "Well, sort of. Hiccup's the only family I have left in the world now."

"Oh, yes, I've befriended many widows and widowers on account of those killer beasts," Grimmel said.

"So have I," Stoick replied.

"Why don't you tell me about this boy of yours," Grimmel said. "Hiccup." He chuckled. "Did he have the (makes hiccupping noise) hiccups on the day he was born? Is that how he got his name?"

"Well, that and also because I thought he had such strong, healthy lungs for a baby who was born so early," Stoick explained. "My wife was worried that he would never survive so every day I kept telling her that he would grow up to be the strongest of them all."

"And has he?"

"Well, he managed to live all the way to his tenth birthday but let's just say he's better at making weapons than he as it holding them."

Grimmel looked confused.

"Uh, he works as an apprentice in my blacksmith's stall. And you wouldn't imagine the crazy contraptions he's come up with – always trying to modernize the village and our ways."

Grimmel looked somewhat impressed. "Oh, trying to keep up with the times, is he? I must admit I have a bit of the same habit."

"He also has a constant habit of getting himself into all kinds of trouble – sneaking away to hunt for trolls rather than fish for his supper, wandering off just seconds after I tell him to stay put, knocking over things and/or breaking them." Stoick sighed heavily. "I wish I had my blacksmith's patience and understanding. He's always telling me that Hiccup means well and that his heart is in the right place. And he's right, really he is. I only wish that Hiccup's brain was in the right place."

"Well, he'd better put his brain in the right place sooner or later or he'll end up becoming the death of someone…even you."

"Believe me, he's almost been the death of me one too many times already," Stoick said.

"If there's one thing we humans should be the death of, its dragons," Grimmel said. "And I haven't been the death of dragons in weeks. I'll be leaving tonight to get back to doing what I do best."

"And I should be leaving right now to resupply my ship," Stoick said. "Well, thank you for the drinks, Grimmel. It was a pleasure meeting you."

"And it was an even greater pleasure meeting you," Grimmel said. "Good luck on your journey and your dragon-killing mission."

"And you to yours," Stoick said.

"Oh, and one other thing, please?"

"Yes?" Stoick asked.

"Let's keep this little meeting between the two of us, shall we?" Grimmel said. "Although I enjoy fame and fortune, it does get a little tiring from time to time."

Stoick thought about that for a minute then replied. "Very well."

"Good," Grimmel said.

Stoick nodded to the dragon hunter and left the tavern to purchase more supplies at the marketplace.

…..

Off the coast of Sandglass Island

October 11

An hour had passed since he left Sandglass Island and Stoick was once again sailing on his ship restocked with food and fresh water.

He couldn't stop thinking about his meeting with Grimmel or about his claims of killing all the Night Furies. If that man really did kill all the Night Furies, then that would be wonderful. Now there's one less species of dragon to worry about.

Stoick knew should be relieved and happy about that but he wasn't. Grimmel may think he killed all the Night Furies in the world but Stoick still had that nagging feeling that maybe he didn't kill them all. He was certain that there still might be some Night Furies left in the world, wherever they were.

Well, if there were going to be less Night Furies, Nadders, Nightmares and other dragon species in the world, then he had to get to that meeting at Hardstone Island and figure out a plan with the rest of the Viking Chiefs he would be seeing soon enough.

…

Northern beach of Sandglass Island

October 11

Nightfall had fallen by the time Grimmel arrived at the northern beach of Sandglass Island. It was this spot where he had parked his airlift and hidden his Deathgrippers behind a large pile of rocks.

Grimmel whistled for his dragon servants to come and they obediently scuttled over to him. Then with a pretend smile, Grimmel pulled out a mackerel he had purchased from the village market and hung it over the lead Deathgripper. But instead of tossing it into the dragon's mouth, he just stuck it on the tip of his tusks where he couldn't reach it.

Then he turned his smile into an annoyed grimace as he gently shoved the dragon's face with his foot and pulled out a dart filled with his obedience serum. He poked the dart into the lead Deathgripper's neck and the dragon's pupils constricted into a hypnotized way.

"Let's go home, boys," Grimmel ordered, stepping into his airlift.

The lead Deathgripper and three of his partners grabbed onto the airlift's chains with their claws and lifted it up into the sky. The other two Deathgrippers followed after them as they flew away from Sandglass Island into the night.

As he leaned against the rails of his airlift, Grimmel thought about his meeting with Stoick the Vast. He felt honored to meet yet another great Viking Chief and dragon killer. The only thing he didn't like about Stoick was his belief that there were still Night Furies out there. None of the other Chiefs he had met over the years believed that. They too believed that there were no more thanks to him.

Then he thought about what Stoick had told him about his son. From what he described, this Hiccup boy sure sounded like a stubborn, no-good, disobedient brat to Grimmel. Then again all children were stubborn and disobedient. And he was expected to take his father's place as Chief!

Grimmel chuckled. "No way a boy like that is ever gonna grow up to be a worthy Chief. And as for the Night Furies, I know that there are no more left."

…

Temporary Island #4

October 11

From his perch on top of a boulder he heated up with his flames, Toothless looked up at the stars, thinking about his family.