Of Gods and Monsters
Thunder woke up one morning. He yawned and stretched. He looked around to see Tom sitting near Edelweiss looking just as defeated as he did after the ordeal with the ballista. Thunder got to his feet and went over. He nudged his rider and laid down next to him. Tom stroked the dragon's head.
"I had it," he said. "But then Buzzsaw ruined it." He put his face in his hands. "I don't know what to do." He suddenly heard movement in front of him. He and Thunder looked over to find Edelweiss shifting around. It was the first time she'd moved in weeks. Tom and Thunder jumped to their feet and ran over to her.
"Edelweiss?" Tom said cautiously. The white dragon let out a low moan, then finally opened her eyes. She blinked a few times, then looked around at Tom.
"Hey," she said weakly.
"You're awake," Tom said.
"So it seems," Edelweiss said. She slowly sat up and shook her head. "What's eatin' you Tom? You look so down." Tom sat back down between her and Thunder.
He told her all about what happened with the ballista. Edelweiss listened while moving each of her limbs, getting feeling back into them.
"I feel like everything we try fails," Tom said. Edelweiss gave him a look of sympathy.
"I'm sorry you're feeling bad Tom," she said. "I wish I could have been there to help you. So looks like we all have regrets." At that moment the other dragons woke up, then Alex and the Wongs came into the Lair. Everyone lit up when they saw Edelweiss awake at last.
"Glad you're feeling better," Jun said.
"Yeah, me too," Edelweiss said. She shook her head again, now noticing the string of crystals tied to her horns. She tried to get them off with her talons.
"Here I'll get those," Jun said. Edelweiss lowered her head and Jun removed the crystals. "I was hoping they would give you the strength to pull through."
"I appreciate the gesture," Edelweiss said.
"Now you can take down that World Serpent in an epic battle," Eugene said eagerly.
"I'm not quite ready for a fight just yet," Edelweiss said. "But yes eventually." She got to her feet and shifted back to her human form. "Ah that's better." She then glanced around at everyone. "Where's D'Angelo?" For an answer D'Angelo stuck his head through the hole.
"Guys, Plowhorn's missing," he said. The riders and dragons headed out of the Lair. Edelweiss was about to follow them, but suddenly tripped over something. She looked to see what's she'd tripped on, seeing the long wooden staff tangled in her legs. She got back to her feet and picked it up.
"That's Valka's staff," she said.
"Yeah we found it in the Dark Realm," Tom explained as they headed out of the Lair. "I tried it on Jörmundgandr, but it didn't work."
"I see," Edelweiss said. She leaned on the staff as they headed for town.
"Do you know how to use that staff?" Jun asked.
"I don't," said Edelweiss. "I don't remember much about this staff. I just saw Valka use it to call her dragon. I do remember Valka though. She was so warm and kind."
The soon reached the town. Avalon and her group were patrolling around the town, keeping an eye on the fostered dragons. Edelweiss rattled the staff to get her dragons' attention. They paused and looked round. When they saw their friend the flew down to her. She hugged them all one at a time.
"Good to see you feeling better," Avalon said.
"You didn't notice?" Edelweiss asked.
"I knew you were getting stronger, but I couldn't really tell if you had woken up," Avalon said. The riders and their dragons approached them.
"Have you guys seen Plowhorn?" D'Angelo asked urgently.
"Plowhorn? No we haven't," said Avalon. "We just got back from hunting."
"Where'd you last see her?" Apollo asked. D'Angelo led them all back to his dome.
"She was right here last night," he said. "But when I woke up this morning she was gone." He looked so stressed out.
"Why wasn't she sleeping in the Lair?" Eugene asked.
"She likes to sleep out here, where she can be close to me," D'Angelo explained. "I've looked all over town."
"Maybe she got hungry," said Jun. "Or went for a morning flight."
"No, she wouldn't go without me," said D'Angelo.
"Okay, we'll look around and maybe Thunder can pick up a trail," Tom said, patted his dragon on the neck.
"No offense, but Thunder's not a tracking dragon," said D'Angelo. "Plowhorn has the nose that knows." He sat down and put his head in his hands.
"Well you don't really need a good sense of smell to track something," said Apollo.
"I once knew a young dragon that had the best eyesight of any dragon," Edelweiss said. "If there was something even the slightest out of place he would pick up on it instantly, even if he was a thousand feet in the air." D'Angelo sighed.
"It's worth a shot I guess," he said. Edelweiss mounted Black Widow with a satisfied sigh. Then they all headed out of town.
They wandered through the woods. The dragons sniffed about, looking for any clues. The riders followed, though there wasn't much they could to help. Thunder sniffed the ground, and caught the faint scent of gasoline. He followed it to its source. He roared at the riders to get their attention.
"Thunder's got something," Tom said. They all ran over to see a set of tire tracks leading away.
"Van tracks," Jun said.
"I bet it was Buzzsaw," said Eugene. "He's probably mad us for stealing his weapon and now he's trying settle the score."
"Buzzsaw doesn't have a van," said Jun.
"But Dr. Sledkin does," said Tom. D'Angelo took another look at the tracks.
"Look over here," he said, pointing to a drag mark. "Something was being dragged behind the van." Then he spotted something moving behind a nearby tree. He cautiously approached it, the others tensed up. Then D'Angelo reached around the tree and pulled out a very quiet Buzzsaw.
"Where's Plowhorn!?" D'Angelo demanded, pinning Buzzsaw to the tree. "What did you do to her?"
"I, I don't know," Buzzsaw said. He didn't sound quite as deranged as he normally did.
"What are you doing here Buzzsaw?" Tom asked.
"I need your guys' help," Buzzsaw said pleadingly. "It's Jack, I think he's dying." He sounded desperate. "He tried to save me from the World Serpent, and he took the full blast. He barely made it back to camp." He sat on a tree stump, looking worn out.
"Why should we believe you?" Tom asked bitterly.
"I wouldn't make something like this up," Buzzsaw insisted. But they all looked at him unconvincingly. "Okay I would, but I'm not. You have to believe me. I need you, Jack needs you." The riders and dragons exchanged a look.
"He's lying," Alex said.
"No, he's not," said Avalon calmly.
"And how would you know that?" Eugene asked suspiciously.
"Oh, I can always tell when someone's lying," said Avalon.
"I'll go help," D'Angelo decided. They all looked at him.
"You sure?" Tom asked worried. "What about Plowhorn?" D'Angelo didn't answer right away.
"I want to find her," he said. "But if there's a dragon dying, I have to help."
"I'll help too," said Edelweiss. "I've been sitting around useless for weeks, I want to make up for the lost time." The riders got on their dragons, D'Angelo got on Wu and Wei with Jun and Apollo allowed Buzzsaw to ride him. They took off and for the Ice Realm.
As they headed towards Buzzsaw's camp; Jun pulled Wu and Wei alongside Black Widow.
"Are you sure about this?" She asked. "Buzzsaw might be trying to trap us." Edelweiss thought a moment.
"I remember Hiccup told me stories about the enemies he's had to deal with," she said. "Pretty powerful and dangerous enemies they were too. But somehow those enemies turned into allies and Hiccup never would have won his battles without them." She shrugged.
"That's crazy," said Alex.
"Yeah, that's what he said too," said Edelweiss. "But what if I told you one of those enemies-turned-allies were Berserkers."
"Berserkers!?" Jun and Tom exclaimed at once. Edelweiss nodded, looking amused.
"The vikings that worked themselves into an unbridled rage when they went into battle?" Jun said.
"Yes them," Edelweiss said.
"Did you ever meet them?" Jun asked. "Did they actually go berserk?"
"I did meet them a few brief times," Edelweiss said. "But I never saw any of them go berserk." At that moment they arrived at Buzzsaw's camp. Buzzsaw ran a head.
"He's over here," he said. The riders and dragons hesitated.
"Well, he hasn't tried to kill us yet," said Alex. Edelweiss steered Black Widow after Buzzsaw, and D'Angelo cautiously followed. They found Buzzsaw kneeling beside Jack. The dragon did look very sick. His breathing was labored. Buzzsaw gently stroked his head.
"He took a big hit of that toxic mist," he said. "And I think his wing is broken." D'Angelo knelt beside Jack's head with is medical bag.
"I need to do my examinations," he explained.
"I can look at his wing," Edelweiss volunteered. "I've got a splint." She dismounted and pulled out her own medical bag. She knelt beside Jack's wing. D'Angelo pulled out a tub of ointment.
"This should help his lungs," he explained. He steered some of the ointment onto Jack's nostrils. The Timberjack inhaled it, and it seemed to bring him relief. Edelweiss pulled out a wing splint.
"So you said Plowhorn is gone?" Buzzsaw asked.
"Why, do you know something?" D'Angelo asked.
"No," said Buzzsaw. "I'm just surprised you came down here to help Jack when your dragon's missing."
"I've dedicated my life to helping animals," D'Angelo said. "No matter the situation."
"My mother never turned a patient away, no matter who it was," Edelweiss said, as she set Jack's wing. "Not even if she was asked to." She tightened the straps of the splint. When finished, she gave Jack a pat on the neck. "There, that should help some. You just got to take it easy Jack, stay off that wing." The Timberjack nodded and rested his head on the snow.
"He just needs rest now," said D'Angelo. "I don't know if he'll make it though."
"Think positive D'Angelo, he's not dead yet," said Edelweiss. They both gathered up their things. Edelweiss turned to Buzzsaw. "Keep him hydrated, it will help clear his system." Buzzsaw nodded, looking close to tears. D'Angelo and Edelweiss went back to the group.
"We've done all we can here," said D'Angelo. "Now lets go get Plowhorn."
"We've been scanning the Realms, but there's been no sign of Sledkin," Tom said. "She's like a ghost." Buzzsaw approached them.
"If it's Sledkin you want, I can help," he said. "She has a secret lab under my old lumber village. It's where she's been hiding out and probably where she's keeping Plowhorn."
"Thank you," D'Angelo said, smiling. "You stay with your dragon, he needs you." Buzzsaw nodded and ran back to his dragon. The riders got on their dragons and flew off.
They landed at the lumber village, in front of the only elevator on sight. It looked fine, but the riders still hesitated.
"Okay, let go in webs blazing," Eugene said enthusiastically.
"No, that's what Sledkin would be expecting," said Tom.
"If I know Sledkin, she'll have a trap waiting," said Jun. Alex then fired up her tablet.
"Looks like there's a back door to this place," she said. "That is if we can kick it down." The riders got back on their dragons and Alex led them to another entrance. They flew down a dark tunnel until they came to a dead end. The dragons combined their blast and busted through. They came out into an underground lab. When the dust cleared D'Angelo looked all over for Plowhorn, calling for her. He spotted a large cage in the back of the room. He went to get a better look, only to find the cage empty.
"She's gone," he said sadly.
"There must be some clue as to where they went," Jun said. Just then Thunder roared at something hiding behind a broken test tube. He fleshed out Linda, and Nibbles. Thunder gnashes his teeth at them, and Nibbles strained to get at him.
"Call off your dragon," Linda threatened. "I'm warning you. Or I set mine loose and I can't be responsible for what he does." But Thunder snarled and glared authoritatively, and Nibbles instantly quieted down.
"Where's Sledkin?" Tom asked.
"Where's Plowhorn?" D'Angelo asked.
"And don't even think about protecting her," Alex said.
"Protect her?" Linda said. "It's too late, she's already lost her mind. She used that gem dragon to help her find some kind of gem she saw in that Dragon Book."
"Dragoncite," said D'Angelo. "She's using Plowhorn to help sniff it out."
"She's hoping it'll lead her to some realm that she's been searching for," Linda said.
"She must be looking for the God's Realm," said Jun. "It's said to be the lungs of the Nine Realms. If Sledkin get a hold of it, it could jeopardize the whole Hidden World and all the dragons who live in it."
"You said all the dragons are in danger," said Linda, looking nervously down at Nibbles.
"Please, is there any way you can help us find them?" D'Angelo asked.
"All I know is she's been staring at a picture of the gem on her phone," said Linda. "Staring at it, talking to it. It's kind of creep to tell you the truth."
"On her phone?" Alex said with a sneer. "What's her phone number?" Linda gave it and Alex typed it in.
"You guys can go help Plowhorn," said Avalon. "We'll get Linda back to town." The riders got back on their dragons and set out again, Edelweiss and Black Widow right behind them.
They followed Alex who followed the tracker on her tablet. As they headed for the God's Realm; Tom brought Edelweiss up on everything that had happened while she'd been unconscious.
"So this Mr. Rekke owns that building?" Edelweiss asked. "And the buildings around it."
"Yeah," Tom said. "He's very eager for us to find something in the fissure."
"He sounds like a lively fellow," Edelweiss said. "But Olivia doesn't trust him with the dragons?"
"He picked Dr. Sledkin specifically," said Tom. "He could have a motive he's not letting one about."
"True," Edelweiss agreed. "Though Sledkin might have manipulated him. She's desperate enough to claw her way to fame and fortune by any means. " Tom considered that.
"That does sound possible," he agreed. "Hiccup said in his book that he hoped for a time when dragons and humans could live in harmony."
"Yes, he tried so hard to make that happen," Edelweiss said. "I must admit it would be nice to fly over populated areas without something bad happening."
They followed Alex down a dark tunnel made of purple glass. They came out into a space filled with large chunks of dragoncite. In the center three big shards of green crystal slated into a pyramid over a deep hole. Sitting at the very peak of the pyramid was a chunk of dragoncite the size of a pumpkin. Huge jets of blue flames shot out of the hole, heating up the center gem. The riders spotted Dr. Sledkin inching towards the gem. At her feet were two big green Gembreakers. The riders went to confront Dr. Sledkin. Edelweiss was about to join them when she spotted something shiny blue among the green crystals. She steered Black Widow over and landed next to it, and it was Plowhorn.
"There you are Plowhorn," said Edelweiss, as she dismounted.
"Oh, good to see you Edel," Plowhorn said.
"Are you hurt?" Edelweiss asked.
"Just a bit sore," said Plowhorn. "Sledkin kept poking me with that shocky stick." Edelweiss looked her over and saw deep rope burns in the dragon's neck. She pulled out her water canteen and gave some to Plowhorn. "Thanks for coming to find me." They suddenly heard a commotion and looked over to see the riders being chased by the other two Gembreakers.
"Who are those guys?" Black Widow asked.
"Dragon guards," Plowhorn said. "They protect the Heartstone." She looked over at the stone that Sledkin was now crawling towards. The riders were hiding from the dragon guards, and couldn't stop her.
"Can you still fly?" Edelweiss asked.
"Oh yes ma'am," said Plowhorn rolling her shoulders. Edelweiss smiled and got back on Black Widow. They took off and flew at the dragon guards who were cornering D'Angelo. Plowhorn knocked them back with her horn.
"Guys stop!" Edelweiss called to them in Dragontongue. The dragon guards looked at her shocked.
"You hearing this Agate?" One of them said to the other. "This human speaks dragon."
"Yes I hear that Shard," said Agate. "Doesn't change anything, we have to protect the Heartstone."
"Then it's her you want to go after," said Black Widow, pointing at Sledkin. They all turned in time to see Sledkin pluck the Heartstone from its spot. At once all the crystals around them went dark.
"Oh no, without that gem the whole realm will lose oxygen and die," Jun said.
"Which means there will be no dragons to stop me," Dr. Sledkin said nastily. Tom and Thunder landed in front of her.
"Dr. Sledkin stop," Tom said. "You don't know what you're doing."
"I know exactly what I'm doing," Sledkin sneered.
"You're going to destroy the whole Hidden World for what, fame?" Tom asked desperately.
"And money," said Sledkin. "Don't forget about the money." Just then a blue gray dragon the size of a bus crawled of the hole. He had crystal shapes spines down his back, small wings, and small whiskers on the upper lip of his paddle-like snout.
"Who's that?" Edelweiss asked.
"That's the Gem Blaster," said Agate. "He powers the Heartstone." The Gem Blaster shot blue fire at all the intruders. However all the dragons were soon starting to weaken from the lack of oxygen.
"Linda was right," Tom said. "You have lost your mind."
"And you're about to loose you beloved pets," Sledkin cackled. Just then the Gem Blaster lost his grip and slid back into his hole. It caused a big tremor. Sledkin lost her footing, and lost her hold on the Heartstone. Tom quickly ran forward and grabbed Sledkin's hand preventing her from falling into the hole. He couldn't pull her up though, she was too heavy. To make it harder, Sledkin kept tying to reach for the Heartstone.
"Forget the gem," Tom said strained. "Pull yourself up." But Sledkin ignored him and kept reaching for the gem. Tom felt his hand slipping. He held on all he could, but soon his grip gave way and Sledkin fell into the hole, disappearing. Tom lay there stunned. Thunder grabbed onto Tom's feet, keeping him from going down too. The Heartstone was about to fall of the ledge. Tom quickly grabbed it and Thunder pulled him back onto solid ground. Tom crawled towards the center of the pyramid and placed the Heartstone back in its spot. The Gem Blaster shot his blue fire at the gem. Soon all the dragoncite started glowing again. Tom sat up, trying to catch his breath and looked down into the hole. Then he buried his face in Thunder's neck. The other riders gathered around and looked down into the hole.
"Sledkin?" Jun said. No one spoke.
Later in the Kullersen dome; Tom told his mom everything that had happened. Olivia hugged him, and he returned the gesture.
"We tried to stop her but…" Tom said.
"You did everything you could," Olivia said. "I've known Wilma a very long time. Her greed and desire for glory finally got the better of her." Just then there came tapping on the window. Everyone looked to see Plowhorn tapping her horn on the glass.
"I better check on her," said D'Angelo. "She's pretty shaken up." He went outside. Olivia turned back to her son.
"You going to be okay boyo?" She asked.
"Yeah, when the World Serpent is back where it belongs," Tom said. "This is getting out of hand." The all agreed.