Greetings, my slaves of literature! I'll start off with some replies to some comments I've gotten recently.
Harry: You, sir, are one of my most frequent reviewers, and I love you for that! I'm so glad you like this story, but unfortunately I cannot give you any hints as to where this story will go. Also, I like the Idea of a Frozen Fever remake with dinosaurs for this story. I assure you, I'll certainly think about it, my friend.
Emperor of the Animal Kingdom: You are right, they would be shocked (severe understatement, I know.) Also, you have given me some I ideas... I think I can hear George Von Schwicke's evil laughter off in distance.
Along the western side of Outpost Island, Indi walked the edge of the cliff, scanning the horizon. Seeing no ships, he looked up at Lapsus, who towered over him. The large white animal looked down at her alpha, and gave a long yawn, flashing the rows of teeth that sat in her jaws, before giving a gruff bark. Indi nodded, before turning back to Dragons Edge for some breakfast.
"Hey, Hiccup," Indi said in greeting outside the of one-legged Viking's hut. "Nothing to report; the west side of the island is secure."
"Thanks, Indi. Great work." The squawk of a Deadly Nadder attracted their attention to the sky. Stormfly landed on the deck outside of Hiccup's hut, and Astrid dismounted. She appeared to be holding the Thorston twins' helmets.
"They didn't stand their watch, Hiccup," Astrid said. "Those dummies left two dummies in their place."
"You know," Hiccup said, leaning against the wall of his hut. "Those dummies could conceivably be just as effective as the twins."
"You're not wrong," Indi agreed.
"Not funny," Astrid said. "We built that watchtower so that-"
"I know why we built it, Astrid," Hiccup said.
"I just don't understand how this isn't making you both completely insane."
"Because then there would be three crazy people in this conversation," Hiccup said patiently.
"Which would probably resolve absolutely nothing," Indi added.
"Are you saying I'm-" Astrid began.
"Astrid, let me talk to the twins," Hiccup said, attempting to placate the blonde shield maiden. "I'll get their side of the story, then we can figure out what we need to do."
Astrid sighed. "I guess that's a start." As if on cue, a Zippleback carrying the aforementioned twins landed at Hiccup's hut. "Well, if it isn't our crack security team, now." She tossed the twins their helmets, which were promptly caught and placed on their owners' heads.
"Please, please," Tuffnut said. "There's no need to shower us with accolades."
"Tuff, you left two dummies to protect this entire base." Astrid said accusingly. "What were you thinking?"
A small green dragon landed on Hiccup's arm. The little dragon had a roll of paper tied to its leg. Removing the parchment, Hiccup said "Terror mail." Indi had been explained the concept of using Terrible Terrors to deliver notes like messenger pigeons. It was actually quite ingenious.
"Dummies you say?" Tuffnut said to Astrid.
"She does," Ruffnut said. "Poor, confused thing." Astrid was clearly annoyed.
"What you fail to realize, in your foggy morning state, is that those are not dummies. They are scareships!" Indi had to do a face palm.
"Scareships?" Astrid said, not really asking a question. "You're serious?"
"You didn't see any ships near the island did you?" Ruffnut said.
"I think not," Tuffnut said. "And why? They were appropriately scared away by the appropriately named scareships!"
"How do you know that it was your scareships and not the forty-foot long white monster that was patrolling the coast this morning?" Indi challenged. The twins had no answer to that.
Astrid turned to Hiccup. "Are you following any of this?"
"Not super closely," Hiccup said, reading the note, the green Terrible Terror sitting on his shoulder. "I'm actually reading this. It's from Johann. He's in trouble."
Within fifteen minutes, Toothless, Hookfang, and Meatlug were saddled and ready for flight. Toothless and Hookfang were wearing the latest batch of Gronkle iron Dragon Armor.
Astrid, Indi, and the twins walked up to the rescue party. Astrid was extremely displeased with the arrangements. "You are not leaving me with these two muttonheads."
"She knows we're standing right here, right?" Tuffnut asked.
"Look," Hiccup said. "Johann is surrounded by dragon hunters, and his ship is taking on water, we have to get out there and help him."
"Then let me saddle up Stormfly, I'll be there in-"
"Astrid, you need to stay here and hold down the Edge, and make sure nothing happens to the Dragon Eye." Hiccup handed Indi the cylindrical object.
"I can't believe what's happening!" Astrid exclaimed. "This actually may be the worst day in history."
"Believe me," Indi said shooting an humorless glare at Astrid. "You have no idea just how bad a day can get."
"Astrid, Snotlout and I have the only working dragon armor, and Meatlug is immune to the dragon hunters' arrows."
"You hear that girl?" Fishlegs said, hugging Meatlug. "Who's the special dragon? Meatlug is, that's who." Indi gave Fishlegs an odd look, which was mirrored by Hiccup and even Toothless.
"It just makes sense for us to be the ones to go," Hiccup continued.
"Hiccup, please," Astrid begged. "For all things sacred in Thor's world, you cannot leave me alone with these two-"
"What are you saying?" Tuffnut asked. "'Simpletons'? 'Blockheads'?"
"I was always partial to 'dimwit' myself," Ruffnut said. "It rolls trippingly off the tongue."
"Oh, yeah," Tuffnut agreed. "Watch this: 'What would dim the twins' wit, could wit dims?" The twins laughed lightly in amusement. "Say that five times fast."
"You see what I'm talking about, right?" Astrid said.
"Hey, it's not like we woke up this morning hoping to spend twenty-four seven with you two either," Tuffnut said. "I mean, you are not exactly a picnic. And I think you know what I'm saying. You have not ever been a blanket on a grassy knoll with delicious food." Hiccup face palmed with a groan. "But we are team players. We will do what is necessary for the good of the group. Hence, we shall remain behind, and enjoy your company, my fair Astrid, even if you have no blanket or grassy knolls to offer. Oh, and we'll enjoy your company as well, Indi." Astrid groaned.
"We'll be back by tomorrow at the latest," Hiccup said, resting a hand on Astrid's shoulder. "Do the best you can, okay? And, try to get along, please."
"No need to worry about us, young Hiccup," Tuffnut said.
"Oh, Astrid," Snotlout said. "I know these next twenty four hours will be hard for you…" Indi tuned him out, knowing exactly where this was going. Staying true to past occurences, Snotlout received a painful connecting with Hookfang's metal armor. The guy really didn't seem to be able to take a hint.
"Don't talk to any strange dragon hunters!" Snotlout said as he, Fishlegs, and Hiccup took off.
"Bye!" Tunnut said, waving. "We'll miss you! Write home often!" Soon, the three dragons were a fair ways off. "Okay, I think the first team-building exercise we should perform is that of going back to sleep. I mean as a team, of course."
"Couldn't agree more," Ruffnut said. "What say you, Astrid and Indi?"
"I have to go hide the Dragon Eye," Astrid said, receiving the artifact from Indi. "When I get back, I expect you two to be sweating profusely from hard work."
"And I'm going to check our defenses," Indi said, as he walked off, his pack following him.
After making sure that all of the defenses were in an acceptable condition, Indi went over to a watch tower, where Astrid and the twins were stacking logs. Feeling he could help, Indi picked up a log and set it on his shoulder. Lapsus understood it as a game, and grabbed two logs, one in her mouth and one in her hands, and carried them over.
"We've done all of these already?" Indi heard Tuffnut say after he and Lapsus set their logs down on the pile and were going back to get more. "Man, we are kicking some serious-"
"No, no, no," Astrid said. "That's your first one. All the others, Indi and I did by ourselves. 'Go team'." Shortly thereafter, Indi heard a very large crash followed by a smaller crunch. When he returned, Indi looked right at Astrid.
"Hey, where'd the wood go?"
Astrid pointed at the twins, who in turn pointed at each other. Indi scowled at the guilty party, before setting his load down.
"You know what?" Astrid said, clearly frustrated. "I'll get the rest of the lumber myself. You two start lashing together some poles for the first level of stairs. Do you think you can handing that?"
"Do you want me to finish helping with the lumber?"
"No, Indi," Astrid said. "I need you to make sure that all of the weapons large-scale weapons are operating perfectly." Indi nodded and walked off.
After checking that all of the ballistae were operable, and completing any repairs (There was one that needed a new support pole; a simple project.), Indi went back to the watch tower.
"Really," he heard Astrid say. "Where in Thor's name could you have..?"
The twins' cheering drew Indi's attention to a zip line, down which they were sliding. They slid up until they hit the watchtower, where they fell on top of the wood pile Astrid had reconstructed. Astrid looked away and Indi put his head to a tree as the lumber rolled away and went off a cliff. Again.
"Astrid, Indi, you have got to try this!" Tuffnut said as he and Ruffnut picked themselves up off the ground. "The landing's a little rough, but…"
"Astrid," Ruffnut continued for her brother. "We know this wasn't what you were planning, but we really think we're onto something here. The stairs have their own use for sure, but this can truly come in handy."
"It can, huh?" Indi said, removing his head from the tree and resting his shoulder against it.
"Yes. In the right situations…"
"And what situations would those be, exactly, Ruffnut?" Astrid asked.
"Oh, well, I mean, we could," Ruffnut said. "If we were in a-"
"You have no clue, do you?" Astrid asked. "Didn't think so."
"Is that a retoxical question?" Tuffnut asked.
"And do you know why?" Astrid said, ignoring Tuffnut's inquiry. "Because the two of you don't think. You don't plan. You just come up with these crazy ideas and you forge ahead, with no regard for logic, or what you're even supposed to be doing? What am I gonna do with you guys? Seriously, tell me!"
"Well, you can start by being kind!" Ruffnut said. "Oh, wait! You can't do that because kindness is nowhere in that scrawny little body of yours."
"What?" Astrid said in disbelief. Indi left the tree and walked over to the feuding trio.
"Easy, sis," Tuffnut said, taking his sister's arm.
"Back up, bro!" Ruffnut said, jerking her arm away from her brother. "I got this." She walked up closer to Astrid.
"You know what your problem is, Ruffnut?" Astrid began.
"Oh, you bet I do," Ruffnut said, stopping just short of Astrid. "I've got a list of problems of so long, I can't even keep track. Question is: do you know what your problem is, Astrid?"
"My problem? Are you serious?"
"Allow me to lay it out for you my flaxen-haired friend. You have no respect for the people around you who are just trying to help and be a part of the team. You have no respect for Fishlegs, certainly none for Snotlout, barely any for Indi, and you couldn't have less respect for the two of us!" Astrid looked visibly hurt at that. "Now, you can go ahead and shame the others," Indi saw that Astrid was starting to get agitated, and resolved to step in if they came to blows. "You can mock this entire island of dragons if you wish, but I am not gonna stand here and listen to you insult the entire Nut family tree!" Ruffnut stomped off angrily, Indi's eyes widened, and Astrid crossed her arms. Indi saw some guilt in her eyes. Tuffnut stepped up to Astrid.
"She's wrong, you know. I do, I…" Astrid sighed, before choking out the next phrase. "re-spect you guys."
"Oh, please," Tuffnut said. "You can barely even say it." Tuffnut began to walk away to join his sister. "So sad, Astrid. So, so sad."
As the twins left, Astrid turned to Indi. "You think they're right, don't you?"
Indi thought before a moment before motioning in the direction of Astrid's hut. "Let's talk up there."
On the wooden floor of the shield maiden's hut, Astrid sat with Stormfly behind her and Indi did the same with Lapsus behind him, and the three Velociraptors perched on the ground around him.
After a moment of silence, Indi spoke. "They're right, sort of."
"No, they are completely right," Astrid said, breaking eye contact with Indi. "I bet you side with them completely."
"Actually, no, I don't." Astrid looked up at him, confused. "In the most basic elements, they were right, though Ruffnut stepped way out of line. There were other ways they could have talked about it with you, preferably with Snotlout, Fishlegs, and Hiccup present."
"So, what do you think I should do now?"
"For starters, apologize. Now, they're not completely without fault, but when someone finally apologizes, the following conversations are a lot easier."
"How do you know so much about these sorts of things?" Astrid asked. "Vikings normally just hit each other over the head when they disagree."
"I just have a friend who is very good at peaceful conflict resolution."
A set of running footsteps thudded up the stairs accompanied by heavy breathing. As soon as the footsteps stopped, Tuffnut burst through the doorway, causing every reptilian head to turn in his direction.
"Tuff!" Astrid said as she and Indi stood. "You okay?" Tuffnut doubled over, breathing heavily. Astrid ran over to him. "Tuffnut, breathe. What's going on?"
"You have got to do something about those stairs," Tuffnut said, starting to regain his breath. "I mean, there must be hundreds of them. Like over ten, at least."
"That's it? The stairs?" Astrid asked incredulously.
"No, it's Ruffnut. They got Ruffnut!"
"Who did?"
"The dragon hunters." Indi snarled at this, and walked over to the doorway. Lapsus joined him, and sniffed the air, before growling and giving a short bark at Indi.
"He's right, Astrid," said Indi, after giving the air a sniff himself, not turning to face the Vikings. "They're here."
"Tuff, with me," Astrid said, climbing onto Stormfly. "Indi, can you meet us at the watchtower on the far side of the island?" Indi nodded, and climbed onto Lapsus, and the three raptors leapt to their feet.
Within fifteen minutes, Indi met the two at the agreed destination. Just as Stormfly was landing, Lapsus grabbed the back of his armor in her jaws, and tossed Indi up onto the landing. Astrid and Ruffnut dismounted, and Tuffnut looked off into the distance, over the ocean.
"What is it?" Astrid said, looking forward. Indi looked ahead as well, and scowled.
"There may not be a Ruffnut to apologize to," Tuffnut said. "In fact, there may not be any of us, at all." Out on the ocean was a fleet of dragon hunter ships, coming to the island.
The three warriors went to the clubhouse, where Astrid picked up a piece of paper and a charcoal stick.
"Okay, what's the plan?" Tuffnut asked. "We have to get my sister back."
"First thing is to send an S.O.S. to Berk." Astrid ran over to a Terrible Terror, which was perched on the back of a chair, and tied the note to its leg. "Fast. The auxiliary team." The small green dragon flew out the doorway of the building and into the distance.
"How do we know it will get there in time?!"
"We don't," Astrid said as Indi picked up a pile of weapons and set them on the rim of the fire pit.
"Well, how do we know they will get back here in time?!"
"We don't," Indi said, picking up a sword, and swinging it a few times, testing it out.
"Okay, there is a terrifying lack of clarity in those answers!"
"It's all gonna be okay, Tuffnut," Astrid said, placing her hands on the shoulders of the near-panicking male. "We're gonna hold down the Edge, defend this base, and we will get your sister back, okay?" She released Tuffnut's shoulders. "Say 'Okay, Astrid,'."
"Okay, Astrid," Tuffnut repeated.
"Now, there is no possible way we can defend the Edge against an all-out assault with only one flyable dragon. But maybe we can slow them down until help gets here if we use our spears and arrows sparingly."
"Wait!" Tuffnut said. "I know an even better way we can slow them down."
"Not now, Tuff, I need to think," Astrid said, blowing him off.
Astrid, Indi thought.
"No, seriously, Astrid!" Tuffnut said. "You need to hear this. Listen to me!"
"Alright, what? What is your idea?"
"Well, as you know, tricking is my area of expertise. I am the official Dragon's Edge Trickster, Trickster Extraordinaire, the mayor of Tricksville..."
"Yeah, I get it!" Astrid said. Indi knew her patience was thin enough from the stress of imminent battle. "We all know how tricky you are."
"But, they don't. So, I figure, we trick them into thinking there are more of us than there are. We can start with our scareships. And then build our own little tricking army." He scooped up the weapons. Indi could see how this plan could potentially work. "It will be awesome. Wait! I think I just had another idea. Woah! Do you know how many Lokious thoughts are running through my mind right now?!"
"Tuff," said Astrid.
"It's like a hurricane of practical jokes pounding on the inside of my head! Oh, here comes one!"
"Tuffnut!" Astrid shouted, taking the pile of weapons from the ecstatic male and placing back in their previous spot. "This is not the time for pranks or Loki-ing. This is a time for strategic thinking and precise preparation. There are times in life when you have to be serious. Deadly serious." She picked up a dagger. "Or people can die. We can die. Ruffnut can die." She slammed the small blade into the wooden counter that surrounded the fire pit. "Do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand," Tuffnut said as Astrid released the handle of the knife. "I am taking this seriously. I'm seriously a trickster, and I seriously have some ideas that can help!"
"Listen to me," Astrid said. "You know all those times in the morning where it's still dark outside and I'm out by myself on Stormfly?"
"Uh, well, I do now. Wait, is this gonna get weird?" Indi sure hoped it wouldn't.
"No," Astrid said. "What I'm doing is training. Day and night, I train myself for situations just like this. That's why we're gonna do this my way." Indi had to agree; Astrid did have a valid point.
"But I have ideas, good ideas," Tuffnut said, looking somewhat crushed.
"And, I believe you."
"No, you don't," Tuffnut said, turning his back to Astrid, putting his hands on his hips. "The only thing you believe is that I'll mess this up and get us all killed."
Astrid sighed. "No, that's not true… the only thing I believe right now is that we're wasting time arguing when we should be preparing." Astrid scooped up the weapons. "Come on, there's a lotta work to do."
"That's my sister out there, Astrid." Tuffnut said, turning around. Indi could read the worry on his face like a sign. "If this goes wrong, if you don't save her… I couldn't live with myself."
Astrid thought for a moment. "You know what? Your right. You do what you have to do, and I'm gonna set up our defenses. Then we'll come together, and the time is right, we'll decide which ones to use. Okay?"
Indi watched as a spark of determination appeared on Tuffnut's face. "Awesome plan. I like it! And we'll definitely end up using mine so it's great!"
"Good!" Astrid said. "Just so long as we understand and agree that I will lead the counter attack and you follow me." Indi watched as Tuffnut nodded before running out the door to work on his plans, when he turned to Astrid. "How was that?"
Indi smiled. "Better. I saw some progress."
Indi watched the dragon hunter ships from a patch of brush. He and Astrid both agreed that he should do some scouting. Using his enhanced vision, he saw many hunters on board several of the vessels, though a few looked empty or near-empty.
Lapsus shifted next to him; her camouflage would be indistinguishable from a distance. Once the sun started to color the sky in the pastels of morning, Indi and Lapsus went back to the outpost.
As he and his pack walked along the path, he passed by the twins' hut, where Tuffnut was in the process of tying more inflated balloons to the top of the structure, when he began to rise as the balloons he was tying float away. Indi and his pack craned their heads to watch in unison.
"Uh oh," the flying male said, floating higher. Astrid and Stormfly flew up to him, hovering. "Uh, regardless of how this looks right now, I can assure you I have a master plan for these balloons."
"I'm sure you do," Astrid said, before flying off.
"Um, Astrid, eh, just a little, quick thing: could you bring me back down to earth, before I fly into the sun." Astrid guided Stormfly back to the floating male, and helped Tuffnut back to the roof of his hut, where he tied secured the balloons. Indi walked up to the green hut, where Astrid sat on her dragon and Tuffnut sat on his roof.
"Is it time?" Tuffnut asked.
Indi looked up at him from the patio. He sniffed the air before giving his reply. "It's time."
Outside the stables, Indi called his pack before him. He told them of how proud he was of them, and that whatever came, they were the best packmates he could have asked for. Lapsus nuzzled him affectionately. Lacrima, Noctem, and Venator all rest their heads against him. When their embrace concluded, Indi led them up to Tuffnut's hut, where Astrid was in a similar embrace with Stormfly and Tuffnut was dragging out heavy box of weapons.
"What is that?" Indi asked his fellow male.
"Ta-da!" Tuffnut said. Astrid walked up to join the pair. "Only the solution to all our problems. I call Macy." Tuffnut gestured to a shiny mace. "You can have any of the others, except maybe this sword, and this axe." Astrid could only stare. Indi was still trying to get over the fact that Tuffnut named a mace "Macy". Astrid and Indi gave Tuffnut a look that said they were slightly creeped out. "Can't decide, huh. I can understand that."
"Tuff, these weapons are all for close combat," Astrid said. "We get to that point, there's three of us, and we're done."
"Oh," Tuffnut said. "W-well, I know that, but-"
"We don't have time," Astrid said. "Just one favor."
"Fine, but-"
"The ballistae on my roof," Astrid said gesturing to the large weapon on the building, Tuffnut look off into the distance. "You know how to use it, right?"
"Uh, it's a massively destructive weapon, yeah."
"Exactly, Astrid said. "So go up there, and massively destroy things. But on my command, not before. Got it?"
"Got it?" Tuffnut said. "Come on, Macy?" He picked up the mace, and walked off to man the oversized crossbow.
Indi and Astrid looked to the east, where the fleet of dragon hunter ships were coming in and the sun rising behind them. "You ready?"
"Yep," Indi said with a nod as an idea came to him. "Astrid, could I send a message to a friend?"
"Sure," Astrid said. "Just find a Terror, and tie the message to its leg. Tell it where by giving it the scent of something that came from where you want it to go."
Indi nodded his thanks, before walking to his ship, and retrieving a picture that Elsa had secretly placed on the ship. It was a painting of the queen, smiling passively. He quickly wrote a note, located a Terrible Terror in the clubhouse. After tying the note to its leg, he gave it Elsa's scent, which even he could sense lingering on the picture frame. After sniffing the image a few times, the small dragon flew south. Indi watch it leave with a longing sensation in his chest. He shoved the sensation down, and shook his head; he had a battle to join.
I know, I know: slight cliff hanger ending. The next chapter should be up eventually. I don't know when. I just started my senior year of high school this week, so I can make no promises. But here's a few questions for you all? sound off in the comments!
Were the twins right, or Astrid?
What did Indi write in his note to Elsa?
Will Indi return to his Indominus rex instincts?
Will Indi return to Arendelle?
Also, there have been some updates to my profile page. Go check them out. Psst! There's some contact info over there!
