Chapter 85
Hiccups POV:
It's been two weeks since my first trip to Berserker Island and in that time not much has happened besides the bazaar opening up and me being able to buy some of my favorite sugared dates. I had been able to draw up plans for my new dragon eye, which would look more like a nightfury than the other one, but I hadn't had the time to build it yet. I'd mostly been busy running through training moves with not only my dragons but also my animals back on my island since I had the feeling that I might be in need of their help with this new enemy. Just to be on the safe side I had made each of them thin gronkle iron armor that would both protect them but also made sure it wasn't going to restrict their movement.
Now however I was walking into the dragon stables with Toothless to check up on Sapphire who'd been acting surprisingly strangely as of late. She's been twitchy, moody and growls a lot while rolling around as if she were in pain for some reason and I couldn't understand why despite me checking up on her constantly. I turned to Toothless and gave him the signal to keep his guard up since if Sapphire's still acting the same way then she might release her spines at us again and last time I was barely able to shield myself. I heard her running around the stables on the inside and knew something was wrong so I opened up the door only for Sapphire to fly right into me and carry me on the front of her head before she tossed me up so I was on her neck. I tried telling her to stop but she wouldn't listen to me as I heard a roar from behind me and turned to see Toothless, flying close behind us but I could tell he was considering hitting Sapphire with a plasma blast. I signaled him to hold fire and just to continue following us since despite her odd behavior Sapphire was still Sapphire and like all my other dragons I loved her so I didn't want her to get hurt. Along with this when we got to where ever she was taking me we might be able to see what was wrong with her.
2 hours later
We were still flying and I could tell that we were getting close to where Sapphire wanted to be since she was shaking quite a bit in what I assume was excitement. As we flew I noticed an island in the distance but in the clouds I thought I saw women with wings but I think it was just my mind playing tricks on me. As we flew I gently rubbed Sapphires neck as I looked down at the clouds as they passed by before much to my shock a women with dark strawberry blond hair tied in a braid came out of the clouds beneath us using wings on her back to fly. She looked at Sapphire smiling as she said.
"What a beautiful razorwhip." She gently stroked Sapphires underside as Sapphire crooned. "And so well behaved." I shook out of my shock.
"Thanks, I've had Sapphire here for a while but if you don't mind me asking, who are you?" Two more girls flew up behind her.
"I am Atali, we are not here to harm you but to ask how it is you find yourself within our islands boarders."
"I'm Hiccup Haddock and the reason I'm here is Sapphire's been acting up lately and today when I opened the stable door she took off while also picking me up in the process."
"I see and is that dragon that is following yours as well?"
"You mean Toothless?" I pointed back at Toothless before Atali nodded. "Yeah he's mine to."
"Then I must ask that when we get to the island you mount him and leave as we do not normally allow men on our island."
"I'm sorry but I'm going to leave Sapphire alone on some island with people who I don't know." Before Atali could reply Sapphire growled at her before turning to look at me as she crooned.
"Very well as it seems your razorwhip trusts you enough but I must ask you follow our rules and show us respect."
"I'm happy to do so." Soon after that we landed but as soon as I dismounted Sapphire she took off but before I could go after her Atali put her hand on my shoulder.
"Let her go for how she is acting is only natural."
"You know why she's acting like this?"
"Indeed I do and normally we do not share our secrets with outsiders but I can see you truly care for that razorwhip."
"I love her like I love all my dragons and I'd do anything for her."
"Then let her be." I nodded feeling I could trust Atali but I kept my guard up. "While you wait we will provide you with a meal and shelter for the evening."
"Thank you Atali but would it be alright if I asked you a few questions?"
"Depending what the questions are you may."
"Well my first question is what's happening to Sapphire?" I looked back to where she flew off. "I've never seen her act like this before in all the time I've known her."
"She has merely come back to the place of her birth so she may now have eggs of her own."
"So she's simply acting up because it's time for her to find a mate and start a family." Atali nodded.
"Indeed and I can tell you have more questions but let us go to our village where we can discuss them as I show you where we live."
Sunset
Today had been interesting to say the least with everything that had happened after Sapphire took off. I learnt this tribe was an all female tribe known as the Wing Maidens who didn't let males integrate into their tribe because of their higher purpose that males would just get in the way of. When I asked Atali about this higher purpose she went onto explain how razorwhips are born blind and the males feed on them, which lead them to near extinction nearly a thousand years ago. That's when Freya gave the Wing Maidens the duty of looking after the hatchlings until they are able to stand and strong enough to fly before they fly on their backs until they are old enough to defend themselves at which point they are given back to their mothers. I learnt a lot more about the Wing Maidens and their tribe but my concern for Sapphire never ended but can you blame me since she is my dragon and I worry about her. Now I was leaning on the railing of one of the bridges that connected the huts that were built up in the trees and watching the sunset with Toothless behind me. I heard footsteps behind me and turned to see Atali approaching me as she said.
"Something troubles you Hiccup, I can see it but would you mind telling me what it is?"
"I'm just worried about Sapphire Atali."
"Your worry is understandable as we can tell you have a close bond with that dragon."
"Thank you." I then noticed she was smiling at me. "Is something on my face?" She shook her head.
"No, I am just grateful you during your stay with us you have shown us nothing but respect and kindness when normally we have to make men respect us through fear."
"Excuse me?"
"You see Hiccup there have been men on our island before but not all of them have been respectful like you." She looked down and waved her hands in front of her a bit. "Some have been arrogant, rude, mean, insulting, muscle bound, believe a woman's place is at home with the children and more."
"You just described my cousin Snotlout." She raised an eyebrow. "Yeah we don't get along too well."
"Well to deal with these men we use this old trick using sacred stew claiming they're going to be ingredients which normally gets them running and gets them to show women respect but on some occasions we are forced to end them." I sighed as I shook my head.
"Atali that isn't the way to go with things." She looked up at me. "I don't mean to insult your tribes customs but I've learnt things in my travels on how to deal with these kinds of people."
"May I ask what you have learnt then?"
"Well for starters in some cases they grow out of it when they realize how it's pushing people away." She nodded. "In cases like my uncle Spitelout they need a strong women like his wife to keep them in line, some of them just need a good knock on the head to put some sense into them and in some cases you just have to let them be and soon enough their behavior and ego will lead to their downfall."
"Have you ever seen the downfall of some of these people?"
"A few times like with this arrogant hunter who thought he was better than everyone."
"And what was his downfall?"
"He challenged me to a fight but when he lost he tried to kill me and was arrested for it before he was banished from the city he called home."
"But what of those who as you put it grow out of it."
"Well they mostly need to have what their doing pointed out to them but even when they see it, it takes time for them to change but Rome wasn't built in a day." She giggled at this.
"I'd like to hear more if you don't mind."
"I'd be happy to but do you think you could tell me how many days it'll be before Sapphire leaves?"
"These things normally take up to ten days for the eggs to hatch and five for the mother to part with their hatchlings but rest assured you are welcome to stay within our village for that time."
"Thank you Atali and if there's anything I can do to help your village let me know since it's the least I can do for your generosity." She smiled at me.
"Should you be able to help in any place I will let you know but for now it is time for dinner."
Fifteen days later
These past fifteen days have been pretty relaxing with not much going on with the Wing Maidens. I'd spent most of my days just helping to harvest herbs, plough the fields and just mostly farm work, as the Wing Maidens were rather proud of their hunting skills. Besides that I'd also been enjoying flights with Toothless but made sure to avoid the nesting sights since according to Atali the females would slaughter any male human or dragon that they sensed there. I'd also spent some time talking with a few of the Wing Maidens who were curious about how I'd come to befriend Sapphire and Toothless along with the places I've been. When they heard about my fights though more then a few of them challenged me to sparring matches but I always used one of their spears since I only had my crystal spear which would've been an unfair advantage. As for how the sparring matches went, none of the Wing Maidens ever won but when they lost I always helped them up along with some advice on how they could improve their fighting skills. They were all grateful for the advice on how they could improve before some of the others who didn't fight asked for a few tips to improve their skills.
As for Sapphire she came by five days ago and using her tail picked me up before carrying me to the hatchery where she introduced me to three newly hatched razorwhips that consisted of two girls and one male. I could tell Sapphire loved her little ones if how she licked and nuzzled them was any indication. This made it all the more challenging to take her away from them but with Atali there to help explain things to Sapphire she understood things but she spent five days with her hatchlings and I spent most of those days with her and the hatchlings. When we left Atali promised Sapphire the hatchlings would be safe and when the time came they'd be returned to her. Sapphire didn't like it but she accepted knowing it was the way things had to be as it was the nature of her species. After we cleared that up Atali told me that I had taught her and her Wing Maidens a lesson in tolerance and acceptance with the stories I told of my travels and my time on Berk and because of that I'd always be welcome on their island. Now I was looking at the wide endless ocean on my way back to dragon's edge and all I could wonder is what would life throw at me next.
Three weeks later
It's been three weeks since I met Atali and the Wingmaidens and I am happy to say that in those three weeks nothing has happened. Things have been nothing but peaceful for me and I'm happy about that since the days where I can just kick back and relax are rather rare for me these days. I didn't spend this time of peace just lounging around doing nothing however since that wasn't my style. I had been training my dragons by running them through some new obstacle courses we'd built but I'd also been building the parts for my new dragon eye. I had all the parts except the gems that would allow me to view the different types of lenses. I'd already gone back to my vault and knew I had the gems needed but they weren't the shape that was needed so I figure when I've built the dragon eye I can go to the Northern Market to see if they have what I need. Now however I was on the defenders of the wing Island with Toothless and Scardian for their changing of the guard celebration. Toothless was here for obvious reasons while Scardian was here because he wanted to meet the great protector since he was also a protector when it came to his pack. I was walking next to Mala as she said.
"I'm glad you were able to come to our changing of the guard celebration Hiccup Haddock as it would not be the same without you."
"It's alright Mala since I was hoping to ask you a few questions about the celebration."
"Well then by all means ask your questions."
"For starters what is this changing of the guard celebration about?" We walked up to the great protector as Throk answered.
"When a great protector is no longer able to fulfill its duties it leaves us to live out its golden years on Vanahime." I turned away from the eruptadon to look at Throk.
"I'm sorry but did you just say Vanahime?"
"Indeed and it shall be our great protectors final resting place after honoring us with its presence for four decades."
"But I thought Vanahime was just a legend which was said to be the mythical last resting place of all dragons." Mala replied.
"Vanahime is very real and has been apart of our culture for centuries."
"Have you seen it?"
"By the ancients no." I nodded.
"Good because I think that place is somewhere where humans shouldn't leave their marks." She smiled and nodded.
"I could not agree with you more Hiccup Haddock." Throk walked up to the eruptadon and began cleaning it with a wet silk cloth as Mala quietly said. "It's going to be difficult for Throk as he and that dragon have a special bond but it is with great happiness that they part."
"I don't know if I'd feel the same way if I had to say goodbye to Toothless since I'd be pretty sad."
"Sadness is a matter of perspective Hiccup." I raised an eyebrow. "It is how you view it that makes it that way like how for us this isn't a day to mourn but a day to rejoice for this is a well earned rest for the great protector." I looked back at the eruptadon. "We should all have been so lucky to live such a meaningful life." It was then the two younger eruptadons walked up and nuzzled their mother making me smile. A few minutes later we made our way to a nearby Cliffside where the elderly great protector made her way to the edge with Throk walking next to her. We watched as Throk said his final goodbyes to the great protector before it gave one last growl as it took off into the setting sun, which was a sight that actually brought a tear to my eye because of its beauty. I watched until the former great protector was completely gone from my vision, even if I used my eagle eye before I turned around to begin walking away. Sadly as I did one of the two eruptadons cut me off and crooned down at me as it lowered its head. I pet its nose and turned to Mala who was smiling as she said.
"That eruptadon has always liked you Hiccup." I nodded as I gave it a bit of a scratch.
"I know but when remember what a nightmare he was when we were making repairs to the village after the shellfire attack?" She giggled.
"I do recall him following you around like a lost puppy and how you had to constantly return to the lava pit to keep its hunger satisfied."
"Yeah but as strange as it might sound I rather miss those days when he'd follow me around and I'd be able to sit down and rub his back after he hopped onto my lap."
"Well it seems to have bonded well to you Hiccup and I believe it best that when you leave it goes with you." I turned away from the eruptadon to Mala.
"Excuse me?"
"Hiccup after you helped us rebuild our village we discovered a hidden cave with a chest in it that held a journal telling of one other time that the eruptadon had given birth to two eggs." I gestured for her to go on. "It claimed that it happens once every five-hundred years and while one eruptadon remains here to become the new great protector the other shall leave in order to find its own chosen path." I nodded.
"Are you sure he's the one who should leave?"
"From what we saw it is his sibling who shall protect us and he who shall leave to travel his own path which I believe he feels lies with you." I looked back up at the eruptadon.
"Do you really want to come with me big guy?" He growled and leaned into nuzzle me as I laughed. "Welcome to the team then but we'll need to give you a name." He tilted his head. "How's about we call you Logi after the norse fire giant, god and personification of fire since you practically live in fire?" The eruptadon looked down at me before nodding its head. "Welcome to the family Logi." After that we were offered shelter for the night to rest up for the long flight back to the edge.
Afternoon the next day
Today was not going so well with everything that has happened today all starting this morning when my dragons and I were flying home from Defenders of the Wing island with Loginow in tow. We ended up getting caught in a pretty bad storm that tossed all of us around and confused us quiet a bit. I knew we needed to find an island so we might be able to find our way back to the edge but sadly the island we landed on turned out to be Vanahime if the eruptadon who had retired yesterday being there was any indication. I knew we shouldn't be there since this was the island where dragons came to pass over to the other side but in my defense there were what I thought were stone sentinels built by people sitting all over the island so I thought there might be a village where I could find help on the island. When we landed I was able to figure out the defenders of the wing were South of Vanahime since the eruptadon travelled north when it left but when we tried to leave I discovered something very interesting about the sentinel statues. They aren't statues at all but actual dragons with stone like hides that didn't want us leaving and made sure we weren't going anywhere. I know I could just open up a portal door in the wall and go back to the edge but I didn't want to leave my mark on the area and Logididn't know about this kind of travel so it would probably scare him like it did my other dragons when they firs used it. All of this brings us to where we are now. Sitting or lying down in the cove where the sentinels trapped us as I thought about how to get out of here while enjoying a juicy pink fruit that seemed to be native to the island.
I stood up and looked around at the sentinels who were all standing completely still like statues and decided to check if I could get close enough to examine them. With Toothless, Scardian and Logi behind me we made our way up a path that lead to one of them but I kept my eagle shield ready. When we were right in front of it I saw it still wasn't moving as if it didn't even notice we were there but I know it saw us since when I mounted Toothless it began moving and growled at us until I dismounted him to show we weren't going anywhere. When it froze up again I walked right up to it and took a risk by touching its body but it still didn't move however I did notice it smelt like the fruit I'd eaten. We walked back down to the cove where I looked at my dragons and said.
"Okay guys it looks like we're not getting past these sentinels easily so we might have to find another way out of here." They all growled. "Let's go check out to see if there's another way off this island."
They all growled before we all began to walk off out of the valley to see what we could find but I hoped it was a way off this island. As we walked down the through the valley we came to find a path leading to a few small hills and after walking up to one of them I found we'd stumbled upon the dragon burial grounds. I knew this because there were caves dug into the hills all filled with dragon bones but there were things to tell what species were in these caves. The deadly nadders final resting place had multiple spines imbedded into the sides of the cave, the gronkles cave had boulders placed outside of it as if it were being offered to the dead gronkles and the monstrous nightmares final resting place was literally a pile of burning bones. As I looked around at the burial grounds I couldn't help but wonder who's the one who set them all up. After we walked looked at all the burial sights I noticed there weren't any burial sights for nightfuries meaning Toothless and me might be able to escape from here and get help. When we were back at the cove I looked at my dragons and said.
"Alright guys I don't think these sentinel dragons have ever faced a nightfury so me and Toothless might be able to escape but if we do I swear we'll be back for you both." They both growled and nodded as I mounted Toothless and we took off but as expected the sentinels flew towards us. "Just keep flying bud." He growled as the sentinels flew right into our path. "Barrel roll multiple blast!" Toothless quickly did a barrel roll while blasting at the sentinels who weren't affected by his blasts but were shocked enough to back off leaving an opening for us to fly through but as we did I noticed the eyes of the sentinels were milky white. "The sentinels are blind." When we hovered above the island I looked down at the island and realized some things as I looked down at Toothless. "We can't get help bud, the dragons we bring might get trapped here to and we definitely can't bring any humans here since they don't have the right to even know about this island." I looked at the sentinels. "We need to find a new perspective." We then flew back down to an area where the sentinels wouldn't take notice of us.
Morning
I'd spent the night studying the sentinels to try and find a weak point in their methods of stopping dragons and was surprised by more than a few things. Late in the night they actually tended to the island by fixing up the burial areas and surprisingly looking after the aged eruptadon by offering it the fruit they eat which explained why they smelt like the fruit. When I realized this the solution to escaping this island was clear as the light of day before me and Toothless flew off to do some fruit picking. This brings us to where I am now which is covered in the juices of the fruit with all my dragons also covered in the juices so we smelt exactly like the sentinels. We flew up and as expected the sentinels flew up to meet us but this time they just stared at us with their blind eyes as they sniffed us. I could tell they were a little suspicious but that suspicion was overcome with what I assume was a sense of duty as the elder eruptadon flew up to distract the sentinels who went to stop her. I looked back at her and waved goodbye as I yelled out a thank you to her before we took off back to the edge.
Six days later
It's been six days since we got back from Vanahime and those days have been pretty busy for me with helping Logiget comfortable in the volcano but he settled down enough to enjoy his new nest. In order to visit him in his new nest I built this lift that would lower me down to one of the ledges that turned into a path to his nest. I used the same lift design I had for my diving bell except instead of using a bell it lowered a square gronkle iron basket. Today though was definitely a sign that my peaceful days were reaching an end beginning with what was happening on Outcast Island. Earlier today a small boat with two Outcasts wearing wigs came to dragons edge asking for my help dealing with some bandits who'd taken Alvin hostage. They begged me to make sure I was stealthy with this since these bandits were on edge and as such they feared for Alvin's life. For these reasons my team consisted of my changewings, Diggs and Toothless. My whispering Deaths would stay underground in the tunnels until I blew the whistle I had made to summon them while my changewings would remain blended and silently follow with Toothless who was to stay too high up in the sky to be spotted until I blew his whistle.
Now I was wearing my stealth armor holding onto the bottom of a wagon full of ice tail pike, which was the ransom these men demanded for Alvin with my prosthetic loaded with a blue, purple, light green, red, orange and mist white crystals and on my belt were a few of my paralyzing bombs, speed stinger darts and a blowpipe. Earlier on the Outcasts had delivered this wagon to the bandits but the bandits didn't know I was holding onto the underside of it so they'd take me to where they're keeping Alvin. I stayed quiet and held on tight as I wondered what these men wanted with ice tail pike before the wagon came to a stop. From under the wagon I saw a man bald man with an eye patch walk in front of the wagon as he said.
"We'll only need one more load and then we can get out of here." One of the men asked.
"What are we going to do with Alvin when we get it?"
"We toss him over board since the boss doesn't want any loose ends."
I heard them all laugh at this while I began to worry for Alvin's life as the men all left the area. When they were all gone I dropped to the ground and rolled out from underneath the wagon and looked around at the surrounding area. From what I saw I was in one of the Outcast's caves where they kept prisoners and I should know since my whispering and I deaths helped make some of these tunnels. I let out a low silent whistle to tell my changewings to reveal themselves so I know where they were before they both revealed themselves on the roof of the cave. I nodded to them and they blended back into the caves color as I walked down the long cave checking the cells finding them all empty with no sign of Alvin until I heard footsteps behind me and turned to see two hunters walking down the cave talking. When they saw me though they took out their axes but and looked ready to yell but before they could my changewings slammed them together with their tails knocking them out. I smiled and gave my changewings thumbs up before I tied the men up with the rope my armor came with and tossed them into a cell. I continued walking down the hall until I came to a cell with two guards but fortunately they hadn't noticed m so it was a simple matter of hitting them both with a speed stinger dart from my blowpipe. I walked past the paralyzed guards and smiled at the sight of Alvin sitting there as I said.
"Hey Alvin, long time no see." He turned to face me as he stood up.
"Hiccup lad, it's good to see you."
"Good to see you to but we'll have to save the reunion till we're out of here."
"Couldn't agree with you more lad." I walked up the bars and using my prosthetic ripped the lock off the gate as Alvin watched with wide eyes. "Lad you've been working out." I just smiled at him and shook my head as I opened the door.
10 minutes later
We were now walking down the valley where the ransom was dropped off and so far things hadn't been too difficult with a few men showing up but we were quick to deal with them by either hitting them with darts, knocking them out from behind and in the case of when we encountered five men at once I just tossed a paralyzing bomb at them before they could do anything. Alvin picked up an axe from one of the downed men and a mace from another so if we encountered any more men he wouldn't be disarmed. Now though things were quiet, which was unnerving since if my past experiences have taught me anything it's that when things are quiet, that's when things are about to get very difficult. Sadly I was proven right when the leader of the bandits stepped out from behind one of the rocks with five men while ten men walked out behind us cutting off our exit and six men with bows aimed at us walked from the edges of the valley. The leader smirked at me as he slowly clapped and said.
"I have to admit lad I'm impressed with you getting this far." He stopped clapping. "Sadly this is as far as you'll be going."
"I have to disagree with you on that." The men chuckled.
"Oh please lad you think the two of you could take us on alone?" I smirked at him as I brought my whistle up to my lips and blew letting out a shrill sound before stopping with all the men staring at me.
"What was that meant to do lad?"
"It calls in my dragons." Before he could reply the ground shook as Diggs burst out of the ground behind us knocking some of the men back as my changewings unblended themselves and came to stand at my sides while I released my star sword. "So you want to give up now or are we going to have a fight." He just growled.
"GET THEM!"
The men charged at me but before the archers could fire familiar whistle cut through the air as a plasma blast shot down from the air knocking them down into the valley below as I signaled my dragons to take out the archers before I charged at the men in the valley. A hunter with an axe charged at me and swung his axe but I ducked underneath it before I tackled his body and threw him over my shoulder into a wall. I swept my leg underneath another charging man making him fall face first into the wall leaving him dazed. Before he could recover though I grabbed the arm of another hunter who tried to hit me from behind and swung him into the dazed hunter who was pushed back into the wall knocking them both out. Three men charged at me all holding their weapons high but were cut off by Diggs spines being fired into the sand in front of them before Phantom swatted them into each other from the right knocking them all down. I smiled at them before I dodged an arrow aimed at my head before I took out my blowpipe and quickly fired a dart at the archer standing on top of the valley wall. As soon as he was paralyzed he fell down into the valley landing on top of one of the men who Alvin just threw into the wall. I then held up my sword to block a coming axe before I channeled the whit crystal in my arm and punched the axe wielder in the stomach sending him flying into one of the remaining men. I looked around to see if there were any men left only to see one man left and he was running away so I just took out my blowpipe and let the dart fly. I hit him in the back of the neck before he fell to the ground paralyzed while I turned to Alvin and asked.
"Is that all of them?" He pushed one of the unconscious men out of the way and looked around.
"Looks like it lad." I nodded as I signaled Toothless and Angel to come down before I took out a pencil and parchment from Toothless' saddle and wrote a quick letter before tying it to Angel's leg.
"Get this letter to the men girl and then lead them back here." She nodded and took off as I turned back to Alvin. "Reinforcements will be here soon enough but are you alright Alvin?" He nodded.
"I'm fine lad." He puffed his chest out. "Those men didn't stand a chance against me." I rolled my eyes at him reminding me of Snotlout before I looked around at the downed bandits and noticed something.
"Alvin where's their leader?" He looked around and scowled.
"The coward must've run away when your dragons showed up." He clenched his fists. "Filthy coward!"
"So what do we do about these guys?"
"Don't worry about them, we still have plenty of cells for them."
"We'll need to interrogate them but they seem to be like the tight lipped type of men." I saw Alvin smile in a way that made me nervous.
"Don't worry Hiccup, I have a few old school techniques that I'd love to dust off that will pry those lips open in no time."
"Make sure to ask them why in the world they wanted ice tailed pike in the first place and see if you can find out what their leaders up to."
"With pleasure lad." It was then Angel returned with the Outcasts and we began taking the unconscious men towards the cells as I received multiple cheers, pats on the backs and handshakes for my latest victory.
AN: Hey all I hope you liked the chapter and are going to leave kind reviews because next chapter things will be heating up with 'Dawn of Destruction'. Till then review kindly and keep in mind that I take weekends off to write plus my computer's going in for a service so be patient and have a nice day.
