A few days later, Valka and Viggo landed on an island Viggo hadn't set foot on in nearly a year, his old hunter base. They of course did a quick aerial sweep of the island in the mid-morning daylight, and thankfully, the harbor was empty of ships and there were no signs of any human life present. So Viggo led the way back to the entrance to the harbor where they landed.
"Well, Valka welcome to my island."
"Well, as much as I wish I could say I am happy to be here, in a place like this I can't say that I am," Valka admitted, even though both knew the island was likely free from any threats she had her guard up.
"Look on the bright side, at least it's abandoned." Viggo pointed out.
"Yes, there is that." Valka still looked wary but she forced a smile to her face. "Lead the way Viggo, it's about time you gave me a tour for once."
"Of course. That's the docks, and while no ship remains it appears they may still be useful if I ever need ships again." Viggo motioned behind them.
"I hope you don't. I thought Thunderstorm would be your only ride from now on." Valka said teasingly.
"Of course, but I'm just saying." Viggo reached back to pet Thunderstorm's snout for a moment and then led the way up the well-trodden dirt path. "As I said, tall cliff faces from every side except the harbor, and based on the Alpha's size, if he doesn't grow any bigger the heir will be able to use this path himself to enter and exit the island." They walked a bit further up the path, and it wasn't long before they both began seeing signs of the island's terrible past.
Scorch marks and craters from the shellfire peppered the ground, along with rusting, twisted metal shapes that were seemingly tossed haphazardly all over. Their previous forms of traps and cages warped nearly beyond recognition, but not enough to forget their cruel past.
As they passed more and more rusty green traps and cages Viggo could tell that out of the corner of his eye the three dragons who came with them, Thunderstorm, Cloudjumper, and Firestorm weren't happy at seeing all the reminders of the cruelty of man, and Viggo felt a tightness in his chest that he couldn't explain…could it be that he was feeling guilt over his actions? He closed his eyes for a moment, as all he could picture were the hundreds of cages filled with dragons that had been held here over the years… now including Thunderstorm and Firestorm. All he could think about was how much they would hate being trapped and helpless, and how he would do anything to make sure the two of them never faced any danger like that ever again.
"Viggo, what is that?" Valka asked, interrupting his thoughts and Viggo realized that he had stopped in front of his old command tent. Half of it had fallen, the dragonhide fabric was slumped and rotting on the ground, and the typhoomerang skull that crowned the entrance seemed to be staring at their group with its empty, sightless eyes.
Viggo swallowed, glanced from each of the dragons, and then to Valka, and then lowered his head in shame. "This was my command tent, and where I hid from the shellfire's attack. I'm so sorry you had to see this." Viggo reached out to put his hands on both Thunderstorm and Firestorm's snouts. "I am beyond grateful that you two have placed your trust in me, but you should know, I was once a very different man. This was my old life, and seeing what remains now, fills me with regret. I am so sorry."
In response, both dragons were silent and still for a moment, but then both extended their necks to reach out and give Viggo a lick on his chest.
Viggo opened his eyes, and he was at a loss for words. He didn't know what to say.
"Viggo…" Valka walked up to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"
"Honestly… no. I know this was my life, and I have left it behind as much as I can but seeing it now…all I can imagine is Thunderstorm, or Firestorm, or Cloudjumper, or any of the other dragons at the nest, and what I did… I know Thunderstorm hates being trapped…and I know I would do anything and everything I could to save him if the unthinkable ever happened. And I did that to hundreds of dragons over the years. Maybe this was a mistake."
"What was a mistake, Viggo?"
"This whole plan. How could the Alpha trust me with this mission? We should just take the egg back to Hiccup, we both know that other than you Valka, he is the most suitable person for the job, and the Alpha's first choice. The Alpha won't give you up, you are too important to him, but any of them, the Riders, the Wingmaidens, the Defenders of the Wing would all be better candidates than me. What makes him think I can do this? Or why did I think I could do this? Everything I know about dragons is how to hunt them, control them, how to kill them, how to sell them. How could I possibly raise a king who won't be a tyrant like the Red Death? I'm a fool, what made me think a death trap and prison for dragons would be the proper place to raise a king?"
"Viggo…" Valka said softly, and Thunderstorm closed in on his other side, nudging his snout against Viggo's chest.
"I can't explain the Alpha's decision but I do know this. Even though we never met, I have known about you and your hunters for years, I was just too focused on my territory to ever come into close contact with your forces. But let me tell you, these past few months, you've never given me a single reason to doubt you."
"But Valka-" Viggo attempted to protest.
"No Viggo listen, it isn't just your bond with Thunderstorm and now Firestorm, it's how you treat the injured dragons in the nest, your willingness to learn more and admit that you have been wrong and learn to be better. That's more than nearly any Viking in the archipelago can say. I know you always question my trust in you whenever I give you a new responsibility but guess what, I trust you…perhaps more than I have trusted anyone in the past nineteen years."
"Now I can't pretend to understand why the Alpha chose you, but I don't think it's only because you're the last option. Maybe he did intend for Hiccup to raise the egg. I can't possibly hope to understand the answer to that question from either him or Cloudjumper, but I know he can understand me, and he understands you, all of you."
"Now Viggo, I can't say this for sure…but just as the Alpha can give orders simply with the power of his mind to his subjects, it also appears that he can read the minds of other dragons as well. I've witnessed that plenty of times. While I know he understands my words, I believe that he can read our minds as well, even if we can't hear his true voice like the dragons can."
"Yes, I've felt like that too, like when I first saw him and he accepted me into the nest, I felt like he was seeing all of me, and accepted me anyway." Viggo agreed.
"Exactly, he wouldn't accept a former dragon hunter into his nest even if I was the one vouching for you if he didn't think you were worthy of being his subject, learning the dragons' secrets, and even now…" Valka paused and stared straight into Viggo's eyes, "I don't know why he chose you, but I'm certain he is well aware of your past and he chose you anyway. He sees something in you, that you may not even see in yourself."
"Thank you, Valka." Viggo reached up to wipe at his eyes because they were dry of course, not to catch any tears before they could escape. "Being here again…brings up a lot of memories that I've tried to forget, but I now am seeing in a whole new, brutal light."
"I completely understand Viggo. I've rarely considered returning to Berk until you came along and told me about Hiccup. I honestly feel that pull even now, but I won't shirk my duties, and I can tell, that once you put your mind to something, you won't either. But, do you still want to look over this island, or should we head back home and think about something else? This is where not only the hatchling and other dragons will live, but this will also have to be your home once again as well."
Viggo thought for a few moments and steeled his resolve. "I can do this, and I know all the reasons that I think this place can work. It's remote yet central, it's easily defendable, good fish stocks, and no one else should have any reason to be here. I still think this is the best location that I know. I built this island up before, and I can do it again to make it a worthy home for an alpha."
"If you're sure Viggo?" Valka asked again.
"I'm not, but you are right Valka, I don't like giving up, so I'm not going to begin now. Let's keep looking around and see if we can devise a plan together to fix this place." Viggo forced a smile to his face, in his mind the island still made perfect sense, it was his heart that was betraying him. He could ignore that for now.
"Happily Viggo. Just lead the way." Valka smiled at him.
They continued on their way, leaving Viggo's abandoned tent far behind them. The rest of the tour was somewhat easier, the barracks, armory, medical, and storage buildings had all been abandoned, Viggo knew that Ryker had taken absolutely everything when he mutinied, and thankfully there were no other signs of life, human or otherwise. They also did their best to check out that nothing remained in any of the cages, but thankfully they were all empty as well, even though Viggo couldn't help but cringe slightly when he had to explain what some areas had been, such as the pit of whispering deaths he kept to punish those who failed him or the massive chains that had once held the typhoomerangs that made up part of his security system, or the cave where he'd kept a nest of fireworms to use as lanterns just to show off his power.
Eventually, they reached the center of the island, which was still a mountain of stones and rubble.
"What in the world is this?" Valka asked, pressing her hand against one of the massive blocks of stone.
"Well," Viggo chuckled to himself. "This pile of rubble was going to be the ultimate fortress that no dragon can escape from. These stones are all solid marble, which is impervious to most forms of dragon fire, acids, venoms, claws, tails, and just about anything. As you can probably guess, I was only a few days away from completion when the Riders discovered my plan and destroyed it before it was finished."
Valka studied the marble closer. "If the stone is as dragon-proof as you say, how did the Riders destroy it?"
"One of the few dragons who can damage the stone is the catastrophic quaken. I had captured two of them and managed to train them enough to listen to commands sent through vibrations in the ground. Fishlegs Ingerman managed to free the dragons from the island I was quarrying the stone from and then brought them here. It then only took a handful of quakes to send the entire structure crumbling to the ground. After which, the stones were all too heavy for my men to move like this, so they just stayed there until I abandoned the island.
"Dragon proof huh?" Valka studied the stone before her even closer.
"I know that look, what are you thinking Valka?"
"I'm thinking if this stone is as strong as you say it is… I think it would be a wonderful nest until the Alpha grows and can build his own."
"Really? But these stones were supposed to be an impenetrable prison." Viggo reminded her.
"And now they can be an impenetrable nest." Valka reassured him, "I'm assuming your original design was completely cut off from the sky to defend against the Riders, correct?"
"Yes indeed." Viggo nodded.
"I would recommend, just as an extra layer of protection beyond the island itself, perhaps clearing this area and using the stone to create a strong wall that is too high for any humans to climb, but leave it open to the sky so dragons can come and go at will. Plus you can probably use the stones to create caves for you and all the dragons to live in, a bit like our own nest, the walls are a maze of tunnels and caves, but the inside is wide open."
Viggo looked over the mountain of rubble surrounding them. "I think given the materials it can be done, but a project such as that will take a lot of dragons."
"Yes, and Viggo I think I have seen enough, and I think given the right modifications, and if you are comfortable with it, I think this place could truly work for the hatchling's needs."
"Alright, let's discuss it then." Viggo nodded, he still had some doubts about whether he could live here but he knew for the Alpha it would be a great home.
So they took some time to make camp in the shadow of the rubble, even though there were still some buildings and tents they could have used for shelter, neither Viggo nor Valka had any desire to. They sent the dragons out to fish while they gathered wood for a fire, and after a good meal, they got down to business once again.
"First off, obviously we want to remove as many traces of the island's past from this place. Unless you think any of the buildings still standing are useful?" Valka asked him.
"No." Viggo shook his head, "Let Firestorm burn them all to kindling, although it would be wise to check for any useful supplies that remain before we do so."
"Of course." Valka nodded, "and to clear away all the old dragon-proof cages and traps, I don't want you to simply throw them in the ocean, I couldn't imagine if the hatchling got trapped on his own."
"Of course, I have a solution for that. Hot Burples can eat the gronckle iron that all my dragon-proof tools and weapons are forged from. Are there any in the nest?"
"Oh yes, we have quite a large flock of them, of course, you've probably never seen them since they're always sleeping." Valka chuckled to herself. "It might take them a few days to make it here, but the promise of a feast like this place will get them out of bed."
"Or otherwise, I know Breakneck Bog has a nest of smokebreaths we could deliver any scrap metal to. And if we need to break up the metal into pieces, Fishlegs figured out that using Gronckle lava and Nadder fire together can melt through the gronckle iron, as well as changewing acid. As far as I can tell those two things plus the hot burples are the only ways to dispose of gronckle iron."
"I think all of those should work out. Is there dragonroot anywhere on this island? Because you will have to remove it before we bring any more dragons here. We don't want them to get sick or aggressive."
"No, my dragonroot supply was grown on a separate island. I never kept all my eggs in one basket. Not that that ever helped for long against the Riders considering they systematically destroyed every aspect of my business." Viggo chuckled.
"Well, back to the marble, I can send some shovelhelms, although it sounds like you could also use some quakens, which the nest doesn't have. Do you know where the riders took the quakens they freed?"
"No, unfortunately, I don't. I know they didn't return them to the island I found them at, and I never could locate them again."
"Then the shovehelms it is I suppose. And nothing except a quaken can do anything to the marble?"
"I tested as many dragons as I could find before I started construction, not even a whispering death could burrow through it. My men reported that none of the Dragon Rider's attacks could do anything until the quakens showed up. Although what will happen when the alpha outgrows the walls?"
"Well, I'm sure he'd be able to move them, even if they're strong, once he's big enough, nothing should be too heavy for him to move out of his way." Valka pointed out. "Much like your island, have an opening in the wall that can be easily guarded, but also easily entered and exited on foot to the harbor. Also at some point, he will likely crush the docks beneath his feet." Valka advised him.
"Well, what do I need ships for now?" Viggo pointed out humorously.
"Yes, so Viggo, are we in agreement? Because I do think this is a good place to raise the hatchling."
"Well I suppose if Berserker Island was considered suitable by the Alpha, I don't think this island's history can be much worse," Viggo said with some bravado, but he cursed himself when Valka seemed to be seeing right through his façade clear as day.
"Viggo, if you don't mind me asking… just what happened here? When Ryker betrayed you? And what exactly is the shellfire? I've never heard of such a dragon."
Viggo grimaced, "That doesn't surprise me, it took me months to not only track it down but also capture it." Viggo said and he launched into his tale.
It was supposed to be the day before my greatest triumph. Project Shellfire was designed to be the ultimate weapon against the Dragon Riders and their allies for several reasons. The shellfire itself was huge until I met the Bewilderbeast, it was the largest dragon I could find, and one of the most powerful. Despite being a tidal class, its fireballs have to be some of the strongest of any dragon, at the very least it has a range of over a mile, and each shot hits with the power of a Quaken when it makes an impact. It could destroy any ship with a single blast, or bombard any island into submission. But the most important factor that should make it unbeatable is the fact that it wasn't just a dragon or just a weapon, it was both and that meant Hiccup would want to do nothing that could risk harming the dragon.
I, along with my most trusted advisors designed a ship made entirely of gronckle iron, designed to be airtight so that it could be attached to the dragon's back and we could both travel with it anywhere beneath the waves and control it when it surfaces by pounding hammers against its back. To guide it underwater, two spears were embedded into its back beneath the ship, and if we wanted to turn right, we dug the spear in on the left side and vice versa.
As I said Project Shellfire took months of secret planning and missions beneath the eyes of the Riders. Capturing it took practically half my entire dragonroot supply, but after a long, long hunt we managed to capture it and hold it prisoner while training it enough to follow our orders, which it learned through quite brutal methods.
Only a few weeks before the ship's construction was complete, our secret dry dock was infiltrated by the Thorston twins, which led to the rest of the riders coming to the rescue…and escaping with a copy of my blueprints. Thankfully not my copy or Hiccup probably could have found a way to stop us before we even began."
The plan was relatively simple. Use the shellfire to travel beneath the waves and eradicate all our enemies. We also gathered all our ships for the mission, again the plan was to destroy the Riders, and then return to our business unopposed and unstoppable. I wanted to put every last resource we had into this operation so that we could wipe out the Riders and their allies once and for all. We had five targets, Berserker Island, Caldera Cay, Outcast Island, Dragon's Edge and Berk.
To be honest, I still don't know what exactly went through my brother's head. We've always been a team ever since my grandfather left our tribe to me. I come up with the plans, and he executes them. We've never deviated from that script. Maybe I was foolish to believe our history of success before encountering the Riders would keep us together. Not that I'm sentimental, but Ryker has always been more useful to me alive than dead, and I assumed he felt the same way about me. That's as much as we care for one another. Looking back the only warning sign I could have taken was he was concerned about how much I cared about making our war against the Riders into a game with Hiccup.
But when Ryker made his move, I must admit while I still think he went mad, I can't help but be a little proud. I gave him his orders to begin the final preparations, which meant gathering all the supplies on the island and taking them to the ships, along with all our men. This is perhaps the one moment in my life when I put all my eggs in one basket. To use a force so overwhelming that Hiccup couldn't possibly stop me. And that decision was my undoing.
I anticipated that loading up all the ships would take roughly a day and then we would set out on our mission. But Ryker made one small change, in the orders he gave out to the men, he moved up the timeline, and I didn't notice. To think I was prideful enough to imagine that of course my men would be moving so quickly, I failed to see that Ryker was setting me up to take the fall.
It was just before sunset when I finally left my tent. I had to make sure that any confidential or important information stored within was secure and moved to the ships last under my direct supervision. However I quickly noticed a problem, the harbor was empty of ships, and I could see several in the distance sailing away from the island, certainly not in the holding pattern I had planned and ordered.
There were still a few of my men patrolling as usual, but all the hustle and bustle that had gone on all day had ended. I knew something was wrong immediately. They shouldn't be finished yet.
"You there! Where is everyone?" I shouted at one of my men, who looked surprised for a moment before he snapped to attention.
"Sir, everyone else is onboard their ships for Project Shellfire as ordered. The last ships left the harbor not even half an hour ago!" The soldier explained but he must have been frightened by my furious expression "Um… I didn't know you would still be here sir. There's only about a dozen of us staying to keep the island secure while you're… uh on the mission."
I felt my confused face morph into a glare. "And just who gave you all these orders? The last ship shouldn't be finished loading until tomorrow morning! For one I still need to move all my papers onboard!"
"Um…Ryker sir. He sent all the orders down through the chain of command, just like normal. The word was you wanted everything to set sail by sunset."
"I said no such thing!" I reached for my pocket and pulled out my spyglass to look out over the sea, and despite the glare from the setting sun, beyond the last three ships sailing away, I could make out a familiar shape in the distance. The horns of the shellfire rising tall, surrounded by the masts of countless ships. I didn't know all the facts, but I knew what had happened.
"Ryker…" I growled. I turned around to glare at the soldier once more. "You go find every man remaining on this island and assemble outside my tent. Now!"
"Yes Sir!" The soldier saluted and then ran off.
I glanced out at the shellfire in the distance, and watched as the horns seemed to dip slightly lower for a moment, but then rose once again, along with a flash of blueish light, and then three trails of smoke began rising into the sky.
I sprinted back to my command tent as fast as possible. I made it inside just as I heard the impact shake the ground outside only seconds later. I threw my desk on its side, revealing a secret bunker hidden beneath. No one knew about it, not even Ryker. It was protected by a trap door made from gronckle iron, just as I threw the door open, a fireball screamed through the roof of the tent, hitting the ground and throwing me to the ground as well, it was close enough to scorch me. I was dazed but I still managed to get inside and close the door on top of myself.
I'll admit I never thought I'd use that bunker. So it was just me, sitting in a stone hole in complete darkness as I could feel the island shaking around me with every impact. The barrage continued for nearly an hour until it stopped, and all was silent. I wanted to kill Ryker right then and there for betraying me. I knew without a doubt that should we ever meet again one of us had to die. But I couldn't risk Ryker returning to finish me off, either himself or with my own men, so I waited, doing my best to silently keep track of time in my head while thinking of ways to get my revenge on Ryker. If he followed my plans for the target islands, he would bombard the island and then move in to capture any valuable survivors and loot the place, but he already had looted the island of nearly everything he needed, and I was not going to die by his hand without a fight.
"It wasn't until nearly a day later that Hiccup found me in my bunker, I've told you that story before of how eventually after taking me prisoner, I helped Hiccup beat the shellfire with the submaripper, killing Ryker in the process, and then nearly dying in the volcano in my attempt to trade Astrid as a hostage for the Dragon Eye."
Viggo finished his tale and could see that Valka was looking at him with sorrow on her face. "Betrayed by your brother…I can't even imagine.
Viggo couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Please, while he may have been the only person I ever trusted before I met you, I have no remorse about how it turned out. We weren't sentimental we just both knew that keeping the other alive and on our side was more profitable for both of us, that's all. Until Ryker decided he no longer felt the same way, then the only solution was obvious. He had to die, even if I had to help Hiccup destroy my empire to do it. I don't regret anything from that moment onward. And besides that series of events eventually led me to you and my new mission. So in the end, I do think it was all worth it. "