Chapter 8: Falling into the Dragon Killer's Den

Grimmel was currently in his temporary headquarters instructing venom from one of his Deathgrippers' stingers into a glass.

Once he was finished the Deathgripper attracted its tail and lay on the ground. Grimmel then began to pour the venom into a tube and then placed the tube into one of his darts.

(Linebreak)

The Dragon Riders meanwhile were in their armor heading towards Grimmel's hideout temporary base. The Haddock Twins, who were without their dragons, Hiccup was riding with Astrid while Hicca was reading on Raeda, and Heather and Eret were wearing their own dragon armor.

Heather's was far more metallic than any of the others and she had her double-bladed axe attached to her back. Her armor was very sleek and the head somewhat resembled that of a Razorwhip.

Eret's armor was covered in Skullcrusher's scales, which were green with brown trimmings and were possibly the most protected out of all of them. The helmet was in a shade of red and resembled Skullcrusher's head though the horns were far smaller.

Astrid then looked back at Hiccup and he nodded. He and Hicca then promptly jumped off of Stormfly and Sparkfire and stretched out their wings and began to glide towards the land and the others began to follow him. Once they landed they retracted their wings and they began making their way to Grimmel's hideout which was basically an old tower ruin.

Mira and Valkyrie stayed outside as they circled Grimmel's hideout with suspicious looks, having a feeling that something bad would happen as Mira did a hand signal as the female Night Fury nodded and flew further.

Inside the Deathgrippers' heads immediately rose as they sensed something and Grimmel had a feeling he knew what they were sensing. He snapped his fingers and the Deathgrippers walked off no doubt to defend the base.

Outside the Dragon Riders positioned themselves behind a rock and watched as a Deathgripper walked by.

"Okay. Split up, we'll be harder to catch," Snotlout suggested.

"Good call, Snotlout," Raeda said in agreement, "And then we surround him," She said.

"I was thinking we should split up… just because," Eret said.

"I like your instincts," Valka whispered.

The Riders then immediately walked off individually leaving a bewildered Snotlout behind while Raeda raised a brow from what just happened.

"What is this?!" Snotlout demanded as Eret just said his plan.

"I have no idea," Raeda said in confusion before she sighed, "But let's not worry about that now. Let's just go and surround Grimmel," She whispered.

"At least you listen to me," Snotlout said to his girlfriend.

"I always do," Raeda said with a small smile, "Now let's go," She whispered as they continued on.

The riders then entered the tower stealthily, though it had a good number of Deathgripper patrolling the area. Hiccup and Hicca saw a light at the top of the tower and assumed that was where Grimmel was located and they gave a few hand signals to Astrid and Henry.

Astrid then promptly tossed a rock to the other side of the tower in order to mislead one of the Deathgrippers while Henry did the same with the other one. The Throston twins and Valerie had managed to reach the first level and immediately took cover behind some broken boards, though for some strange reason, Tuffnut was making himself very visible. Ruffnut and Valerie quickly pulled him back barely before a Deathgripper turned to face that direction.

Hiccup then quickly ran up the stairs towards Grimmel's workshop and when he reached the top he immediately ignited Inferno. Unfortunately, when he made his way into the workshop he found that Grimmel was nowhere to be seen.

Then suddenly and completely out of nowhere, a huge net fell down over the tower trapping the Dragon Riders inside with the Deathgrippers. The Haddock twins rush to the edge just in time to see the net falling to the floor and they can hear Fishmeat screams.

"Shh. Shh. Quiet!" Fishlegs said gently.

"Again with the baby?!" Valerie exclaimed.

The Haddock twins began making their way down the steps and found that Grimmel was on the bottom floor smirking as he held a torch to illuminate his grisly face.

"Where's your dragons when you two need them? Hmm, Chief and Healer?" he mocked. "Must have forgotten all about you two." He then began to laugh. "First rule of the hunt: Separate the prey from its pack. You've just removed yourselves from the equation."

"You knew we would come without our dragons, didn't you?" Hicca asked with a glare as she reached for her weapon.

"Why of course," Grimmel said, still holding his smirk, "You two think I wouldn't plan this? A predator must always be prepared for any scenario when hunting his prey." He said.

"Why are you doing this?" Hiccup asked as he lifted his visor.

"And more importantly, why a Night Fury Genocide?!" Hicca asked angrily, "Why all of this?!"

"Really?" Grimmel asked while placing a hand over his heart. "I didn't think you two cared. Well, unlike either of you, when I was a boy and my sister and I came up on a Night Fury, I killed it where it slept! That simple act of courage made us heroes in our village." He then turned his back on them.

"I can tell that your sister didn't have the heartlessness you did?" Hicca asked while Grimmel looked at them with his back still turned to him.

"What makes you think that?" Grimmel asked.

"Because if she did, she would've stood by you with this whole killing dragons," Hiccup spoke up next with a firm look, "And the way we see it, she's not here,"

Grimmel raised a brow, almost surprised it took them this long to figure out before he nodded simply, "Yes, unfortunately, my act of heroism caused my sister to see the beasts as you, intelligent, benevolent creatures?" He said before scoffing in disgust, "I tried many time to convince her that this was the way of the world, but alas the beasts poisoned Mira's mind beyond saving," He said, almost looking solemn.

Hiccup and Hicca looked at each other in surprised that Grimmel almost felt sad that his sister wasn't beside him before they gave him a hard look, "You think that the dragons took your sister away from you, but from what we heard, she's been rescuing them from the likes of you," Hicca stated.

"She wouldn't listen to me. And so, she broke ties with our family and flew off on some foolhardy mission to protect the beasts," Grimmel continued with a slight anger before he recomposed himself, "So, I decided halt her quest by killing every last Night Fury, bringing real peace to the people of this world and finally open my sister's eyes to the truth." He explained before scowling, "But there was one Night Fury that managed to elude me, fortunately I left my mark on that Titan-Wing, he has most likely died of his injuries." He said amusedly

Hicca's eyes widen as she realized which Night Fury Grimmel was talking about, "Stoick?" She said silently, now understanding where the Titan-Wing hatred and mistrust of humans came from.

Grimmel the turned back towards the Haddock twins and narrowed his eyes. "That is until you came along preaching that dragons are something other than thieves and murderers. Then if that's not bad enough you two manage to convince two of the most vicious tribes imaginable to abandon dragon killing, allied yourselves with a bunch of fanatics that worship the beasts and some metal winged angels that believe it's their divine mission to protect them." He said in disgust before scoffing again, "That nonsense dies now! Starting with both of you."

"But you have dragons of your own," Hiccup said gesturing to his Deathgrippers.

"If you hate dragons as much as you claim you would've killed them the second you saw them!" Hicca called out.

Grimmel laughed at the Haddock twins' comments. "These? They're dragon killers. Drugged into obedience with their own venom. Not even two of your precious Alphas could control them. They serve me." He then pushed one of the tubes on one of his Deathgripper's collars and its eyes became slits. "And only me. Allow me to demonstrate."

He then whistled.

"Take cover!" Hiccup ordered.

"Watch out!" Hicca yelled next.

They quickly jumped out of the way just in time to avoid a Deathgripper spitting acid and the steps started to melt away.

"Split up!" Astrid yelled.

No one argued as the immediately split up as the Deathgripper spewed acid in all different directions. Astrid quickly made a dash up some fallen wooden boards and jumped onto the net in time to avoid the acid. She then quickly began to climb as a Deathgripper chased after her and frankly she was able to get to the top of the net though it remained determined to follow her.

Hiccup and Hicca were still running up the steps as a Deathgripper melted away with it acid, they then quickly grabbed onto a chain and swung himself just before the stairs were destroyed.

A Deathgripper was right behind them, but then suddenly, a Night Fury howl was heard as a plasma blast burst through the ceiling and blasted the Deathgripper away. Grimmel looked up in shock at that. "What?!" He called in rage.

Then, part of the roof fell as it revealing Valkyrie and Mira flying by as Mira looked down with a glare, "Brother, you should've thought about another Fury Rider in your plan," She called.

Grimmel looked surprised before recomposing himself, "Mira, we meet again. My how you've grown," he complimented as Mira landed down in front of him, "No longer are you the scared little girl who rode my tunic all the way to the top,"

"And my, how you became more twisted then ever," Mira retorted as she and Valkyrie stared down at Grimmel, "And I see you sided with the Trappers after you heard about the two Alphas, I thought you work best alone," She stated.

Grimmel gave a chuckle, "Little sister, to make the world a better place one must be willing to swallow their pride to do what needs to be done," He said with his arms behind his back.

"You just don't know when to give up, do you?" Mira questioned. "You've been at this for so long and we fought each other so many times, and yet you insiste that Dragons do not belong for this world, when they do," She said.

"We are the beings who belong here, not these beasts," Grimmel said while Valkyrie snarled at him for the insult, "And I will not rest until every last one is wipe out from the face of the earth,"

"And you know that I won't let you," Mira said with a glare, "And I have the legendary Dragon Riders to help me put an end to your plans," She added while gesturing to Hiccup and Hicca at the top of the tower as they watched the two siblings escape.

"You know, I will find you and your friends eventually," Grimmel said naturally, "I've hunted and killed dragons all my life, and know every flight path they take," He reminded.

"Yeah, and well, since our plan to capture you failed, we're going and going to think of a new plan to stop you, now!" Mira said firmly.

Grimmel chuckled, "Like you could ever think of a better plan than me, little sister," He mocked before he gave a glare, "Get her." He ordered his Deathgrippers as a couple of them flew out from above.

Valkyrie reacted faster as she fired a plasma blast from the top, causing a beam to fall onto the two Deathgrippers as they fell back down to the floor as Grimmel dodged the attack as he brought out his crossbow, but Mira took out a dagger and threw it at her brother, causing his weapon to flew off his hands as he gave a startled yelp.

"Not today! Get us out of here girl!" Mira said to Valkyrie as the female Night Fury nodded and quickly took the air as she went past the Haddock Twins, "You two better get out quick!" She called before she took off out of the hideout.

"We're coming!" Hiccup yelled.

"We're almost there!" Hicca called next as the two kept running to the top.

They then swung towards the wall just as the wreckage from the steps landed on the ground. They immediately climbed up just in time to avoid a Deathgripper shooting its acid burst.

Valka was on the top of the wall was well been chased by a Deathgrippers and then a second one appeared. She quickly used her staff to pole vault onto some wooden boards and quickly jumped up to the rigging above her hooking it with her staff and using her momentum to swing to the top in order to avoid the acid. Once she was at the top she poked her staff out of the steel net and began swinging around and it began making a noise

She quickly turned and looked down at the others. "Up here!" She called.

Astrid was climbing up the wall trying to dodge the Deathgripper's attacks. It then swung its sting at her, but she quickly managed to avoid it and then grasp hold of its tail swinging herself to kick it right in the face and then somersaulted back on top of the tail. She then quickly jumped and continued the climb to the top of the tower.

Cloudjumper then arrived and began to lift the net off the top of the tower using all his strength.

"Hurry!" Valka yelled as she helped Tuffnut up.

All the riders apart from Hiccup had managed to reach the top of the tower and then quickly mounted their dragons.

"Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!" Snotlout yelled.

Valka then looked down at her children. "Hiccup! Hicca!" She yelled.

"Mother!" Hicca called as she and her brother ran faster.

"We're almost there!" Hiccup called next as he and his sister were quite a far from the top of the tower and there was a massive drop below them.

"Oh, what is it with us and fire at the bottom!?" Hicca asked in annoyance.

"I guess we're just gonna have to jump it," Hiccup said with a shrug.

"I hate this stunt," Hicca groaned in annoyance.

"What choice do we have?" Hiccup asked his sister.

"Good point," Hicca said with a shrug.

Though they had no choice and took several steps backwards and then performed a long jump and left over a Deathgripper that had just launched itself out of the smoke.

They narrowly missed it and grabbed their mother's hands.

"Gotcha!" Valka said lifting her children up onto Cloudjumper's tail. "Go, Cloudjumper!"

Cloudjumper pulled them out of the tower and left the Deathgrippers trapped inside the burning tower. Then suddenly appearing completely out of nowhere was the Crimson Goregutter.

"Yeah! Our hero!" Fishlegs cheered.

"That dragon is full of surprises!" Henry called with a wide smile.

The Crimson Goregutter rammed into the top of the tower and it began to crumble into pieces. Then it along with the Deathgrippers began to fall. He could hear the screams of Fishmeat and then suddenly Ruffnut emerge out of the tower.

"Ugh. He takes that stupid baby everywhere," Ruffnut groaned.

Grimmel then turned and looked at her in shock, realizing that she was a Dragon Rider.

(Linebreak)

The sun was just beginning to rise as the other Dragon Riders had finally managed to reach New Berk with nothing for their efforts.

"Thor Almighty!" Gobber groaned and then pointed towards a wooden cage. "Guess we won't be needing this then, huh?"

"You think Gobber?" Henry asked in annoyance.

"Ugh! We should've seen that coming!" Hicca yelled in frustration as she took off her helmet and threw it to the ground.

"We led us right into his trap," Hiccup groaned in frustration as he removed his helmet as well.

"Yeah, nice work, Chief," Tuffnut commented before looking to the side. "Right, Ruff?"

They then suddenly realize that Ruffnut was nowhere to be seen.

Hiccup stared at him. "Wait…"

Tuffnut's eyes widened when he realised the situation. "Uh…"

"Where is Ruffnut!?" Hicca asked though she had a dredging feeling he knew the answer to that question. "Oh, don't tell me!" She facepalms herself.

"We—we left her behind!" Fishlegs cried.

Astrid stared at Tuffnut in bewilderment. "How could you not notice she was missing? You ride a two-headed dragon."

"Oh, yeah," Tuffnut said. "I feel like how Ruffnut is everyday… Dumb."

"Seriously? You both are dumb and yet you two know where each other is!" Raeda pointed out with her arms raised.

"Odin be spanked!" Gobber said in disbelief. "This just gets better and better."

"I try to avoid looking at her because she gives me acid reflux," Tuffnut explained.

"Okay, seriously, how do we miss that with so much time around you?" Valerie asked her boyfriend, "Even I could tell when you two are separated," She stated.

"Honestly, I have no idea, babe," Tuffnut said with a shrug, "I guess I never find out until now,"

"Can we get back to the fact that we left Ruff with Grimmel!" Hicca called out in annoyance, "We have to go back and get her before Grimmel does whatever he might do to her!"

"O-Okay guys! Just keep your helmets on!" Hiccup said. "Toothless, Midnight, Hicca and I will fly—"

"They have the Pride now!" a Viking reminded them. "They're probably not even coming back."

Hiccup just stared at him blankly. "What?"

"What are you saying?" Hicca asked as well with the same expression.

"You gave them freedom, guys," said Astrid. "What were you expecting?"

"We never thought they'd stay away for good!" Hiccup said frustratingly.

"We just wanted them to spend time with their family!" Hicca added.

"Hiccup, Hicca don't you two remember what your father did with Thornado?" Raeda asked. "He released him so that he could stay with his new family. The situation with Toothless, Midnight and their is no different."

"I-I… Ah…" Hiccup said looking as if he was about to rip his hair out.

"Okay, we get that they're not here, but can you guys try and be more supportive!?" Hicca asked angrily as the others flinched, "Those are our dragons out there, and you all think that they haven't come back means they're gone for good!?" She questioned.

"Um, possibly?" Fishlegs said nervously as Hicca groaned in frustration.

Henry elbowed Fishlegs, who winced from the hit, "Not helpful, Fishlegs," He whispered.

"What? Just being honest," Fishlegs said in defense.

"Look, We'll figure it out. We just need more time." Hiccup said while easing the tension.

"We'll find a way. We'll always do," Hicca added.

Everyone then watched as the Haddock Twins walked off.

"They think they have to lead alone," said Valka approaching Astrid and Henry. "Well, because their father had to."

They continue to watch the Haddock twins and saw Hiccup drop his helmet on the ground while he and Hicca just stood there while trying to think of a plan.

"I've known them longer than anyone else and I know him best," Raeda as she joined them. "They had been spending years trying to prove themselves to their father, to the tribe and every single attempt they lost more of their competence. It was only when they met Toothless and Midnight that they found the strength to carry on."

Valka nodded. "They don't realize the strength you two have together." She then looked at Astrid and Henry. "Do you both still believe in them?"

"Of course," Astrid said while Henry nodded in agreement and she looked back at him. "I wish he did, but it's just like Raeda said, they think they're nothing without Toothless and Midnight."

"And from what happened lately, they are really going through so much burden on their shoulders," Henry noted while feeling sympathy for them, "They've been through so much trying to make a world coexist with both humans and dragons, but for someone like Grimmel trying to take that away from them, losing their father, and now losing their dragons, they feel like they're alone and useless," He said.

"Then help them realize the truth," Valka encouraged the two.

The Haddock Twins looked extremely stressed out and they was struggling to figure out what to do next. Then suddenly Astrid and Henry landed in front of them, Astrid on top of Stormfly while Henry on Wildstar.

"Get on!" Astrid said.

"What?" Hiccup stared.

"What are you two doing?" Hicca asked next.

"We're going to find them," Henry said while extending his hand while Astrid did to the same.

The Haddock Twins looked at them blankly. "Really?" They asked in unison.

"And I'm coming to," Mira called as she mounted Valkyrie. "I think I know where your dragons are," She said to them.

"You do?" Henry asked as she and Astrid looked at her in interest.

"Yeah. And I have a feeling that we're in for a long flight," Mira said to them with a smirk, "Besides, Valkyrie can smell her cub far even through the ocean of the Archipelago. It's how we manage to find Berk in the first place," She said as she rubbed her dragon's head.

Valkyrie purred from the touch, "It's true. I can find my son very quicker, he will never hide from my nose," She said with a dragon-like smirk.

"Heheh, I guess no mother dragon can lose their cubs," Hicca said wiht a chuckle.

"Let me come with you guys,"Heather said.

Hiccup shook his head. "No, we need every able-bodied Dragon Rider to stay here in case Grimmel launches an attack. You have better survivalist skills than anyone else here." He said to her.

"We don't want to lose anyone else," Hicca spoke next, "So please, stay here and look out for one another." She said.

Heather looked at him and nodded reluctantly.

Hiccup smiled at the two of them. "Thanks.

Hiccup then grabbed Astrid hand and she pulled him on top of Stormfly while Hicca was the same with Henry as he pulled her up to Wildstar as they turned to Mira.

Mira looked down at Valkyrie with a smile, "Okay girl, let's go find your son and the rest of the Pride. Take us to our world," She said as Valkyrie roared in understanding and took off into the sky with a roar.

Everyone then watched as Stromfly and Wildstar began to take off and followed after Valkyrie.

Hiccup looked down at them. "Everybody, stay put! We will get Ruffnut back! Don't worry!"

"And stick together and be prepare for an attack! Grimmel is still on our trail!" Hicca called next as they flew off.

"Pffft. Worry? If they're stuck with Ruffnut, I'm more worried about them," Tuffnut said with a chuckle.

Valerie chuckled, "Yeah, I have a feeling that Ruffnut is having a field day with them as well," She said in agreement.

"If there's one thing Ruff is good at with Tuff, it's annoying people," Raeda said with a dull look before she chuckled, "And something tells me Grimmel and the Trappers might not like what their in for," She joked.

"No, they would not," The other Riders said in agreement, knowing Ruff well enough to annoy anybody and talk too much, even in capture.

(Linebreak)

Ruffnut was currently in a cell in another one of the Trappers' base of operations. Standing outside it planning the next move was Grimmel and the warlords.

Though surprisingly Ruffnut was being rather calm inside a prison cell

"Why the long face?" Ruffnut laughed. "I mean, mine's long, but yours is really long. All face and no brain. Like you got stretched at birth. Do you have a twin, too? Tuffnut took up all the room in Mom's belly. Otherwise, I'd have a rounder head and more brains, that's science."

Grimmel was starting to get very annoyed with their captive as he was finding it difficult to concentrate on what they would doing.

Ruffnut then nearly sat down and began playing with her braids. "My braids are like little Zipplebacks, see. Rawr-rawr. Yeaaah. Even the mould spots look like eyes. So cute. They even have little horns and everything just like Barf and Belch. Except me and Barf can't stand Belch so they're really just Barfs. It's warm in here."

She then got to her feet and leaned against the door. "I know what you're thinking. You've never had a prisoner this hot."

Grimmel started to get more annoyed by the minute and Ruffnut sat back down.

"All the boys love me," she continued. "Except Eret, who totally lost his chance. That ship has sailed, boys, sorry. And Hiccup is practically married to that roundhead, Astrid. Hicca's got Henry, Viggo's son, wrapped around her everything and I think they might get married as well. And Ragnar's into Berserker Heather. Raeda into Snotlout, which still shocks everyone to this day, But Fishlegs, he's basically in my hand."

Grimmel's pencil then snapped and was finding it very difficult to control his temper.

Ruffnut was now swinging upside down. "Fishlegs would keep me alive longer if I had to eat one of them. Stranded on some glacier somewhere. But he never shuts up about dragons. Do you hate it when people never stop talking?" She then laughed and walked towards the cage bars that contained a Scuttleclaw.

"Yyyeeessss, I dooo," Grimmel said, looking he was about to strangle her with his bare hands.

"Bleh, bleh, bleh. It's sooo boring," Ruffnut said as she swung in her cell.

"Can't we just feed her to your dragons?" Griselda asked.

"What do you have to eat around here?" Ruffnut asked. "I'm allergic to fish, you should know that. That's all they have in that stupid new island." Grimmel then suddenly looked up upon what Ruffnut had just said. "Do you have any clams? They're like little mouths with slimy food inside that's already chewed like the way Mom used to do it."

"Enough!" Grimmel roared tossing everything off the table.

"Until I turned twelve and she was like… 'CHEW YOUR OWN FOOD!' And I was like, 'NO I DON'T LIKE IT!'"

"Most annoying creature ever to cross my path!" Grimmel growled as he opened the cell door.

"Awww…" Ruffnut said taking it as a compliment and began stroking her hair. There to add to his annoyance she then began poking him face with her Zippleback braids. "Oops. You let the dragons out. Gonna get ya. Gonna get ya. No, this one's gonna get ya."

Grimmel stopped her by blocking his face.

Chaghatai then opened the Scuttleclaw's cage.

"Take him and go, please!" Grimmel yelled tossing her helmet at her. "I beg you! The Deathgrippers will have to forego dinner."

Ruffnut looked at him disgusted. "Ewww. You feed your dragons… dragons?"

"Go!" Grimmel roared.

"Where's your bathroom?" Ruffnut asked. "I gotta…" She then made a clicking noise and Grimmel slowly turned towards her with a murderous look. "Okay! Gods! No wonder you have grey hair."

She then placed her helmet on and sat on the Scuttleclaw's back.

"Stress is not good for you," she said and took off. "Ha ha ha! So long, losers!"

Grimmel merely looked up at her with a devious look.