Chapter 1- The Ship in the Fog
A/N: Omg its finally here. The biggest writing project I've ever done to date- this is gonna be massive! So so proud of how this story's turned out and I can't believe I'm finally sharing it with you all- can you believe this world of Sky Dragons is nearly ten years old! Almost feel like a completely different writer now! Absolutely wild! Apologies it took so long, but well.. we all know how there past few years went- hopefully this should be worth the wait! Please please please let me know what you guys think! Reviews give me life as much now as ever^^ Okay I won't keep you waiting- updates daily as always! ENJOYYYYYY!
Like an ever present, ever parting curtain- thick, milky fog hung across the air, as far as even his dragon eyes could see. He could barely see his own wings sweeping either side of him- the ship beneath his feet almost entirely invisible. Almost undetectable, if only it didn't stink to Valhalla of mildew, sweat, soggy Vikings and stressed-out dragons. A nauseating cocktail that seemed to reek from the giant boat, like the nastiness of the crew had sank into the very woodwork to reflect its grisly nature.
Trappers.
Oh boy did he hate trappers.
If there weren't a hundred innocent captives stuck inside, he'd like nothing more than to send the entire disgusting craft to rot at the bottom of the ocean. He supposed he'd let the trappers live (though he didn't really care too much for the safety of maggots).
Much as he'd love to destroy this entire operation, they had a job to do first. Upending the ship and/or sending it up in ice and flames could come later- right now he was on a… what was it? Stealth mission? Ugh, the thought sounded nasty in his head.
Hiding and gliding invisibly across the world hadn't been his style for years now, and he couldn't say he cared much for its return (centuries living as a snow-white shadow had been plenty thanks), even if he was practically built for it in this weather. With his pale white scales sweeping through the ocean's breath, he was little more than ghost overhead. The misty blanket of damp casting a shroud of near silence, but for restless hush of the sea, split by the creaking of an untested mast.
He swooped down slowly. A tale as old as time: dragons descending on a Viking ship. He gently alighted upon a nearby branch of boat- the distant, ever present song of his soul's other half painting him a rough picture of the size of the vessel (if he assumed he was at the centre) and it made his lip curl in disgust- goodness knows how many dragons were bound to a vessel this big.
"A DEMON!"
Oh hellooooo distraction- what's going on that side of the ship? He wondered, tilting his mental focus to listen- it didn't come from his ears after all. This was from the tiny ears and giant mind of a Mr Horrendous Haddock. Now this he had to see.
Swooping through the veil of silver soup he listened eagerly- his partner's thoughts flowing through his mind as easily as his own. Slowly acquiring a double echo as he heard them through his own ears. Distant soundwaves merging with Hiccup's louder front row seat to the show.
The Sky Dragon watched as Hiccup's thoughts flowing through his mind, to be voiced out moments later.
"No- no- no- not a demon! Really not. See? Just dragon scales. Fireproof." His partner tried with that placating tone of voice usually reserved for toddlers (or a particularly troublesome Snotlout). The quiet conversation quickly becoming loud as he approached with the speed of a nosy Nadder, swiftly transitioning from scales to skin to slink through the ship's workings like it was his own personal climbing frame.
Knowing the Viking's whereabouts was as second nature as being aware his own at this point, and soon enough, he found himself a nice high perch for him to watch the scene from, lounging casually on a nearby beam (where were some good snacks when you needed them?).
Hiccup was staring down an idiot with a sword (just an average Thorsday for them), but at least he had his own blazing blade out to answer this time.
Wait a minute.
He cackled to himself in silence- oh this was just too precious. Oh goodie, goodie, goodie- the fire breathing sword had gotten him mistaken for a Helheimian monster- this was going to be hilarious!
He was just as amused that Hiccup was trying to appeal anything to the guy. Really? You're gonna try to speak to this sad excuse of a human, he mused- thinking without Thinking, so the Viking below couldn't hear his silent commentary. The night-scale clad Viking wasn't even aware he was there (and wasn't that a rare thing). Even mere closeness had a habit of making it feel like the air was whispering each other's names between them. He was bound to figure it out at some point. Whether that was before or after he gave up on the lost cause of an idiot, he was waiting to find out. The brainless oaf was on this ship for a reason after all, and as far as he was concerned, anyone who manned such a vessel was an instant lost cause in brain cells and common decency.
Viking was only a loose term to describe these little, lesser creatures. They were almost a completely different species to Hiccup in his mind. Greedy, mindless and completely ignorant of the curses and cries of the dragons around them. They bagged children, muzzled mothers, layering cages upon cages of suffering. These were not the Vikings he knew.
These were what his kind furiously referred to, when they spat the name Redblood.
He'd never use the term himself (owing mostly to the blood that ran red beneath his own skin), but for these beasts? He had to admit he was tempted. On second thoughts, he decided that was way too intimidating for this human fart.
"Oh, I know a demon when I see one!" The fish-for-brains guard insisted, barely holding onto any sense or dignity. His sword shaking and useless as a senile Zippleback's fang less gums.
The Sky Dragon could just watch and see how this all played out, of course, but then he'd never been one to sit out on the sidelines without joining in the fun.
"This guy bothering you?" He queried, calmly, watching Hiccup and the dunce turn to notice him. Not a hint of surprise in the Viking's eyes (of course not, he'd just.. known).
"And what time do you call this?" He questioned, quirking an eyebrow beneath the jet black helmet.
"Mm…" he mock pondered, dancing across the rigging to land, effortlessly, at his side. "Dinner time?" He responded, innocently. Most definitely not reminding him of the time, and his empty stomach that could've been filled with fish by now if not for this impromptu raid (to which Hiccup also didn't silently remind him that he couldn't exactly time these things).
The dragon leather mask was lit by the scattered dance of flames from the blazing sword, the golden amber light of the flame casting mirrored sparks in his and the dragon-boy's eyes. They almost forgot about Stupidity Incarnate standing across from them- clearly not reading the room.
"Hey! You boy! Get away from there! That's a demon!" He cried.
It'd be a miserable kind of noble, if it wasn't so utterly pathetic.
The wavering point of his steel blade was getting a little too close for comfort this time, Hiccup had to shift back to get it out of his personal space, and the Sky Dragon watched his every move. A slightly ticked twitch pulling at his deceptively human lips at the nerve- the sheer gall this little rat had- to point a sword at his Hiccup.
It was writ into the stars as universal law at this point, not to mess with his Viking- and if no one had bothered to clue this guy in, well, it was his job to educate them.
The Sky Dragon had acquired a dangerous glint in his eye, just a little too sharp to be played off as amusement, eyeing up the definition of dense before them with disdain.
"A-a-ww, that's adorable." He smiled, dark, playful laughter in his teasing coo. Voice dipping ever so slightly sadistic as he let the real dragon bleed into his irises, piercing and cold.
"He thinks you're the demon."
He started shivering unnaturally (as though he'd ever known what it was to be cold a day in his life). Growing silver shapes shadowing the fog as ice blue eyes rose higher and higher upon an ice plated neck. Long, pointed, razor sharp crystals- glacial horns- protruded from the back of his head, disappearing along his frosted back. Hovering front limbs falling to the ground with resonant thud, daggered claws sinking into the weathered wood as jewelled fangs glistened within icy jaws. A malicious snarl curled up to reveal every deadly tooth.
It was beautiful, gloriously terrifying, and more than enough to send the brainless guard tearing across the ship with appropriately manic rendition of how to actually to react in the presence of a demon. Hightailing it out of there as fast as his jelly legs could carry him.
He managing a whole four seconds before a speedy skyward blur dropped onto his shoulders, slamming his hollow brained skull, with a satisfyingly clank, into the nearest wooden prison.
The Nadder-clad rider casually dusted herself off from the landing, like she hadn't felt the speed bump, hushing an apology at the little Scuttleclaw inside the cage she'd knocked him into, before standing and stretching cockily over the unconscious guard's body. The Sky Dragon stared- baffled, bemused, and just a little bit miffed someone else had got to him before they did.
'Out cold.' The Sky Dragon commented silently to his soulmate (never one to miss such a golden opportunity, much to Hiccup's eternal chagrin), shrinking back into human form to greet the new arrival with a resounding high five.
"Nice one!" He praised, grinning broadly. "Lemme guess, you've been learning that one from- "
"Astrid!" Hiccup called out welcomingly, moving to greet the new rider alongside the Sky Dragon, only to realise his hand was being left hanging in mid-air, as the rider and his human-form dragon fixed him with a weirdly distinct look.
What? Was it something he...?
The light of his sword came up to illuminated the armour scales. A bright purple- most definitely not Stormfly's sky blue.
…Oh.
Jack and Not-Astrid burst out into laughter, the latter pushing back the mask that'd caused the confusion to reveal the best and very finest of Berk academy's freshly graduated second generation of students.
"You brought Freya?!" Hiccup cried turning in affront to the Sky Dragon. His soulmate still in the midst of an altogether too over-the-top laughing fit. It was not that funny- one lean built, Nadder masked girl looked very much like the other. It was foggy!
'Not all of us have dragon noses.' He thought, none too quietly to make sure the Sky Dragon overheard. He was promptly ignored, the laughing fit continuing long after it stopped being funny. '…You know, if only there was some dragon I was mentally linked to who could've spared me the embarrassment.' He deadpanned.
'Yeah- if only.' Was the mentally linked reply. The Viking rolled his eyes, knowing it was pointless to expect any less from his personal headache.
"You're welcome to you too." Purple Astrid (more accurately dubbed Freya) drawled, perfectly reflecting back the sarcasm she'd picked up from her instructor over the years. Said instructor choosing to pass over the comment, in favour of grilling her other, completely unconcerned, instructor.
"What is she doing here?!" He demanded.
"What- she's a good kid." Jack reasoned, nonplussed.
"That doesn't make it a good idea for her to be out here!" Hiccup scolded back- whispering, despite the fact half the ship probably knew they were here by now.
"Come on, she can handle herself. She's fresh out of training- the best we've trained as you well know." The Sky Dragon added with a boasting smirk.
"Yeah? I'm gonna tell the other kids you said that." Hiccup warned. The dragon would've blanched if it was possible for him to go even the slightest shade lighter. His "everyone is my favourite" reputation was hanging on by a thread as it was, and Hiccup would definitely go there. Why the white haired had decided to bring an unpractised rider on a last minute raid without even consulting him first was beyond him.
"Hey, she was following us anyway." He shrugged, changing tact upon realising that hadn't made much of a difference. "And she's gotta learn somehow." He added. Hiccup unbidden, recalled the "learning on the job" approach that had made up the bulk of his own training, levelling a warning scowl at the Sky Dragon before he could press the point. He could admit- Gobber would've seen him and the former recruits out in the field long before this- he just didn't like the idea of her being out in the danger of an actual mission. Especially the stealth kind that the majority of Berk's veterans were still struggling to get a grasp on.
"…Since when do you do things the Berkian way?" He questioned, starting to relent.
"Excuse me, I'll have you know that's a very dragon way of thinking!" Jack countered, practically dancing at Hiccup's subtle concession. The Sky Dragon had decided to take his words as a victory, and Hiccup sighed mentally. For better or for worse, Freya was about as ready as she'll ever be and, well, who better than the two of them to watch out for her.
"Yeah? You were dropped off a few cliffs learning to fly?" Hiccup teased, snide amusement slowly bleeding through his false annoyance.
"Oh, at least fifteen." Jack answered easily, mirroring (if not outdoing) the Viking's broad smirk.
"Sure it's not closer to-? "
"Hey Lunkheads!" Freya interrupted, somehow having materialised halfway up the mast pole over the course of their squabbling. "When you two have finished bickering like an old married couple." She murmured with an impressive eyeroll, looking distinctly unimpressed at the two of them. "South side of the boat is clear- are you gonna help me out or what?" She remarked, smoothly pointing out the now complete silence of the crates around them.
Both of them stunned into silence at what was either Freya's extreme competence, or their extreme obliviousness.
Jack was the first to recover, slowly turning to Hiccup with just about the smuggest look a dragon could make. Slanted silver-blue eyes sliding towards his soul mate, even as the other refused to acknowledge him.
'Don't you say a word.' He told him. A phrase kind of mute when he could be just as insufferable without words.
"Oh yeah, Snot-for-brains over there just about woke up the whole ship, by the way. So you might wanna get a move on." Freya pointed out, perfectly calm. With all the sass of a student who knew the adult's let her get away with her attitude- and with those words, she reached out into the mist to grab onto her fly-by Nadder. Flipping herself coolly into the saddle, as they disappeared off into the ocean smoke.
The remaining two both took a second to admire the manoeuvre before her words sunk in.
'Woke up the whole ship.' Oh.
Hiccup snapped his face guard back into place as a nearing mass of footsteps suddenly came to the Sky Dragon's delicate attention. The Viking sheathed his blade as they turned to run silently across the ship, footsteps masking each other in almost perfect sync, until the Sky Dragon took off beside him, refusing to get left in the dust by a first-timer.
"I'm not so sure about this." The translated mumbles of a larger, four-winged dragon sounded out. All the way from the distant, tip-top peak of the ship, yet Hiccup could hear the perched dragon's uncertain growl with ease. He was always thankful for the extra awareness the Sky Dragon's brilliant hearing and ongoing translations gave him. This particular time, however, he was pretty sure he could stand to go without his mother (or her dragon)'s commentary on how much of a mess this so called 'stealth mission' had become. Yet, he got the pleasure of listening to the older dragon effortlessly point out everything that had gone wrong with the mission, with crystal clear clarity, anyway. "They lack focus, they've already alerted the ship to their presence, and they remain unable to work as a unit." Cloudjumper worried. The rider atop his back understanding his concern despite the rumble meaning nothing to her ears. Such was the bond between them.
"They'll get the hang of it, don't worry." Valka reassured him, though her face quietly shared her the exact same look of concern as her dragon. She was watching the same scene the same as he was after all. The Stormcutter hummed remained only half convinced by her reassurance.
"But was bringing the youngling really wise?" He questioned.
"HEY! THAT YOUNGLING'S KICKED FAR MORE BUTT THIS MISSION THAN YOU HAVE!"
Annnddd that was Jack, finally deciding to just give up any remaining attempt of stealth, and just erupt across the entire vessel with a deafening, draconic roar.
The cry's echo lasted just long enough for Hiccup to wonder why he even let the Sky Dragon come to these missions.
…Then. Chaos.
