Back on Berk, Hiccup was trying to help out the town with the dragon's troubles while he was looking around to make sure Dak and Leyla had returned. He made his way to the Blacksmiths stall and found Gobber was hard at work. They were also being visited by their friends across the lands with the likes of Dagur returning, a visit from his time away from Berserker island where he returned to lead his people. Olaf and Bruni were playing around with the children, giggling as they ran around Berk while the adults were busy with their work.
"Any sign of them?" Hiccup asked his two friends, in reference to his children.
"Ah, they've likely fallen off the world's edge by now," Gobber remarked, as he completed the matching metal teeth for the Zippleback. He lifted his welding guard, exposing a patch of skin untouched by soot. "You sure they don't have your blood? That boy is getting as reckless as you."
"He's fine. Dak is more mature than you think." Hiccup said.
At that moment, a sudden excitement in the crowd heralds they saw as Dak and Leyla landed with their dragons. They touched down on Winger and Summer and ran their way to the stall.
"Haha! There they are!" Hiccup cheered and pointed at Gobber to prove his point. "You guys okay? We were getting worried.
The Haddock twins walk up to the forge as they head toward Hiccup with urgency. "Look at who it is! Welcome back, my little niece and nephew." Dagur greeted as he gave the two a hug. "You two have gotten so big!"
"Oh good to see you too, Dagur!" Dak said as Dagur put him and Leyla down.
"Look who finally decided to show his face again. Yay." Gobber said sarcastically, as he waved his hammer, that his prosthetic arm was waving at them as they kept wanting to get away from things. "We were getting a little worried, ya know?"
"Sorry. Got held up." Dak quickly said to Gobber as he walked past him.
"You know I don't go anywhere without protecting my brother, Gobber." Leyla pointed out as Gobber nodded in agreement as he saw that point.
"Hey, Dad, could we have a word?" Dak asked their adoptive father in private.
"Uh, can we walk and talk?" Hiccup asked as he looked around. "I got a little behind on my duties." he began as he changed the rune on the "being served" placard. "Forty-one? Forty-" he called out to a customer number.
Since berk is now having multiple Vikings riding their own dragons, Gobber's business is booming since he created more saddles for them to put on their dragons and work on dragon's teeth at the same time.
"That's me! That's me! I'm next!" Starkard stated as he pushed his way through the other Vikings. "I was ahead of you! Excuse me, I've been here all day!" He told them as he reached the counter, giddy with excitement. "Okay, I want one of those high seaters, with lots of spikes and a big stowage compartment." He requested one of the saddles with a little style for him.
"Alright! You got it, sir!" Hiccup replies happily as he spins around, steering the kids back into the shop.
"Dad, this is actually a bit more important than building saddles," Leyla explained, as her father seemed not to understand the gravity of what they were discussing.
"Well, then tell me. What happened?" Hiccup retorted before he bumped into Gobber's Hotburple, Grump, "Excuse us, Grump." Hiccup said to Grump as he stepped over his tail Grump was stirring him awake with a fussy start.
"Grump! You let the forge die down again!" Gobber said to his dragon in disappointment.
Grump coughs a slug of molten lava into the forge. It splatters everywhere, igniting a rash of fires. The twins sidestep them as he gathers materials in the back of the stall. Gobber pulls the fire extinguisher, dumping water everywhere.
"That's it, Grump. You're going up for adoption!"
Toothless asked as he approached the stall, seeing the two dragons. "What is going on in here?"
"We need to tell them what we saw." Summer explained. "We ran into Dragon Trappers."
"Dragon Trappers?" Luna asked as she and Elsa approached. "Are you okay?"
"Got hit a little, but I am fine," Summer assured her.
"Where's Windshear and Heather?" Winger asked.
"Johann ran into some trouble. She should be on her way back." Elsa explained to them.
Hiccup fills a toolbox with tools from his old workbench. "One of these. And this…" he said as he picked the tools they needed. That's when the twins had enough of this.
"DAD!" The Twins called out but it was unhearable for their father as he found the right tool.
"There you go! Go on. Have away." Hiccup said to his children as he was listening now.
"But, seriously, we really need to tell you about this new land we came across." Leyla pointed out.
"Another one!?" Fishlegs cried as he made himself known and wondered how much and how big their world was.
"What'cha name this one?" Anna asked as she and Echo appeared from behind the stall.
Fishlegs walks in, followed by the other Riders. "Any new dragons?" he asked in excitement for any new dragons to be discovered.
Hiccup slaps a sheet of leather onto a dragon mold, and hands Dak pencil. Exasperated, Hiccup begins tracing an outline as he speaks. "We didn't stick around to find out." Leyla pointed out as she moved around the shop. "Those people weren't exactly friendly."
Gobber spins his prosthetic arm dispenser. "Oh, really? Your dragons didn't bring them cheering to the rooftops?" He asked, choosing which hook to use.
"No, this was different. Not the standard run-for-the-hills hoo-ha we've come to enjoy over the years. These guys were trappers. Dragon trappers." Dak explained.
"You should've seen their fort. All were blown apart and stuck in giant spikes of ice. It was weird." Leyla stated.
"I've never seen anything like it. And worst of all, they thought we did it!" Dak pointed out and was slightly annoyed by them getting blamed.
"They said it was because of a giant Ice spitting dragon they think we have!" Leyla pointed out.
"Ice spitting dragon?" Heather asked as she and Widshear returned. "Wow, what did I miss?"
Gobber pops off his prosthetic tongs and selects a wire brush from his dispenser. "Y'know, you kids are gonna get yourselves in serious trouble one of these days. Not everyone appreciates this way of life." Gobber stated as he knows that not everyone enjoys the dragons, except for Berk and some of their allies' home islands.
Hiccup takes the sheet of leather to the table saw. "Gobber's right, you two. We are teaching the world one island at a time, but we don't want to rush or scare people." He said as he started a contraption to begin cutting some wood. "We don't need them worried we are starting something."
Dak pulls the lever, shutting the saw down. "Dad... They're building a dragon army."
That froze the entire stall as even the passerbyers were frozen in shock to hear that.
"Or at least the guy they work for is." Leyla corrected her brother. "They said his name was... Dargo Bloody Fist or something like that."
Gobber seemed to be the only one who recognized that name and froze in fear.
Tuffnut came in behind Gobber. "I'll bloody his fist with my face if he tries to take my dragon!" He declared in an act of bravery.
"Or mine!" Ruffnut added with Fishlegs next to her
Tuffnut rolled his eyes at his sister. "You're such a moron," he said to her in annoyance.
Fishlegs got dreamy eyes on Ruffnut. "A beautiful moron," he said to her as Ruffnut grumbled, revolted by his advances.
Gobber whispered wide-eyed and intense. "Bludvist. Drago Bludvist..."
"Uh, yeah," Dak confirmed that was the correct way to say it. "That was it."
"Wait. You know him, Gobber?" Hiccup asked but didn't get an answer while the twins were still in shock at what he heard.
A little time later, Gobber rushes down a circular stone staircase into the vast, bustling cave that houses the dragon stables. "GROUND ALL DRAGONS!" he ordered the men.
Since he was second in command on Hiccup's account, he was able to demand such things, but Hiccup, Heather, and Elsa were chasing after him to figure out what was going on. The twins, Anna, and Heather were also following, but they weren't sure what was going on either.
"What? Why?!" Hiccup asked as he was trying to chase after Gobber, wondering what he was getting all upset over.
"SEAL THE GATES! LOWER THE STORM DOORS!" Gobber called out to his men as they did to do so.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait! What is happening?" Heather asked but didn't get an answer.
"You heard the man! Lock it down!" Spitelout yelled as behind him, the massive storm doors rattle as they're lowered.
"No Dragon or Viking sets foot off this island!" Gobber called out as the children came close to him.
"All of this because some guy you know is stirring up trouble in some faraway land?" Hiccup asked. "Gobber, what aren't you telling us?"
"Stoick warned me about this monster," Gobber explained to him as Hiccup stared at him wide-eyed. "Drago Bludvist is a madman. Without conscience or mercy..."
"How is he any different from the enemies we defeated before?" Anna asked, reminding him of their past enemies they defeated before.
"Because Drago is ten times more dangerous than the enemies you've faced before," Gobber stated as he continued shouting orders, leaving both Hiccup and Elsa stewing. "And if he's built a dragon army... Odin help us all."
"Then let's ride back out there." Hiccup tells Gobber. "We'll follow those trappers to Drago and talk some sense into him. It's our duty to keep the peace!"
"Peace is over, you two," Gobber said with a sigh. "I must prepare you both for war."
"War?" Elsa asks.
"Gobber, if Drago's coming for our dragons, we can't wait around for him to get here." Hiccup tells him. "Let's go find him and change his mind."
"Some minds won't be changed, kids," Gobble said to them, then turned towards Hiccup. "Berk is what you need to worry about, Hiccup," he said to his son in a reminder of Stoick's most important Chief lesson. "A chief protects his own."
"Now you're starting to sound like my dad." Hiccup commented with a scoff.
"Good. Then we're on the same page." Gobber said as he ran off.
Hiccup was now completely lost as he then turned to Elsa as it seemed they were both thinking the exact same thing. "We're going out there, aren't we?" She asked.
"We have to." Hiccup replied as he gave Heather a quick peck on her cheek. "Watch the Night Lights and the kids for me?"
"I got it," Heather promised. "Go keep the peace."
"They looked like they were heading north, with how the way they were dressed." Leyla offered some help as she handed out the map Dak added the location on.
"Okay, we'll head in that direction," Elsa said as she took the map. "Hopefully they haven't gotten far."
Hiccup and Elsa then ran off, making their way over to their dragons while the doors were getting shut. The Haddock kids try to fly through one door, but it seals shut.
"Come on guys!" Hiccup said to the Furies as Toothless and Luna spun around and dived through the gap in the second lowering storm door.
"Hiccup! Elsa!" Gobber called out but they were gone already.
"Gotta give it to 'em though, they know how to make a dramatic exit," Dagur commented as Heather glared at her brother. He raised his hands in defense of his words. "Just saying."
The Dragon Trapper's vessel sailed smoothly across the waves, with Eret positioned at the forefront, surveying the expansive sea. He remained vigilant, scanning the horizon for any sign of dragons, readying himself and his crew to ensnare any they encountered.
"Keep your eyes peeled, lads!" Erret ordered. "With this wind, we'll reach Drago by daybreak, so best we fill this ship up with dragons, and quick! It's no time to be picky!"
"Uh...Eret?" one of the other trappers said, tapping Eret's shoulder, his eyes fixated on the sky.
Eret didn't notice it yet. "Not if we want to keep our-" he started, stopping when he finally looked at the sky. Two dragons flew towards them with two riders mounted on their backs. "Heads!" He finished, excited to see the dragons. "Off the port quarter! Net 'em, lads! Take 'em down!"
"Up on the left!" another trapper shouted, and then, Eret got a good look at just who the riders were. "FIRE!" Nets flew up towards the dragons, but each one of them missed. "RELOAD!"
"Come on, reload!" another trapper yelled. "Ah, incoming!"
Elsa and Hiccup touched down on the ship's deck, dragons beneath them. Elsa stood ready, hands poised, while Hiccup removed his helmet, flipping his hair back with a suave smile.
"And here I was worried we might turn up empty-handed," Eret said as he drew his sword. "First a Switwing and now a Night Fury. This here is my lucky day."
Elsa bared her fists, ready to attack with the mist of her ice preparing to strike. Luna snarled as she then prepared and waited for him to tell them to attack. All they had to do was wait for Hiccup to give the word, and then...
"It sure is," Hiccup said casually. He then raised his hands over his head, still smiling casually. "We give up!" he said as he dismounted Toothless. "That's one Night Fury and one Light Fury..."
He grabbed a net from the trappers and threw it over Elsa as she dismounted her Fury. She was furious and threw the net off of her, ready to strike her brother.
"And two of the finest Dragon Riders west of Luk Tuk! That oughtta make the boss happy, right?" Hiccup shrugged as he shoved past trappers. "Excuse us."
Elsa was unsure of her brother's thoughts, yet her trust in him was unwavering. She held onto the hope that he had a solid plan in mind.
His track record was a mix of triumphs and failures. One strategy had successfully freed them from Viggo's clutches, while another had tragically cost him his leg. A different plan had nearly led to Dak and Leyla's abduction and near demise at Viggo's hands. Yet, another scheme had triumphed over the Dragon Hunters once and for all. Despite the unpredictability of his plans, Elsa's faith in her brother never wavered.
Hiccup then lifted up a compartment that led downward into some cages. "After you," Hiccup said to Elsa, and she stepped down, obviously too confused to ask any more questions. "watch your footing."
"I hope you have a plan," Elsa whispered as she followed along.
Hiccup said reassuringly. "I always have a plan."
Elsa rolled her eyes, seeing that didn't raise her confidence. "You and your dramatic flare," she grumbled as she sighed. "I better not regret this."
"You won't," Hiccup promised.
"You sure this is a good idea?" Toothless asks.
"It'll be fine." Hiccup said as he stepped down the hatch himself, and then, he closed the hatch. "The dragons don't really care for cramped spaces," Hiccup said, his voice echoing, "so they'll just hang out with you. They won't be any trouble."
Then the Dragon Trappers pulled their weapons and swords all around them, and Toothless yelped, baring his teeth along with Luna jumping in front of him and preparing to strike.
"Whoa!" Toothless cried.
"Don't even dare!" Luna snarled.
Hiccup slid the hatch open again and poked his head through it. "Unless you do that!" he said as he tried to calm them down. "You know...wooden boat, big ocean..."
"The Ice Queen..." Elsa listed, confirming who she was as she prepared to strike.
"H- how's your swimming?"
"Not good," one of the trappers said, his eyes wide as he realized as if it had just occurred to him.
Hiccup lit Inferno, and a burst of flame shot up from it. The trappers jumped at the sight of it, and Hiccup retracted the blade again. "Oops!" he said as he smacked himself. "Almost forgot!" He flicked his hair and handed the nearest trapper the weapon. "Can't have armed prisoners!" He then grabbed some chains and tossed them to Elsa. "Of course, my sister is a living weapon, so..."
"How is this a plan?" Elsa whispered, catching the chains he tossed.
Hiccup simply waved his hand at her. She knew better than to question his methods, really, she did...but it would help if she knew what he was planning at least this time.
One of the trappers took Inferno and held it cautiously, looking it over. He clicked one of the switches, and the pommel of the hilt began expelling green gas.
"Just whatever Dragon Trapper needs!" Hiccup said in a tone that sounded far too cheery for Elsa's liking. "One end coats the blade in Monstrous Nightmare saliva. The other half sprays Hideous Zippleback gas." He sank back into the hatch, keeping his head down. "All it takes is a spark, and…" he looked back at Elsa. "Duck."
They dove for cover instantly, while Elsa quickly created a small ice dome around them. Just as she did so, an explosion swept over the deck of the ship, followed by a thick smoke cloud. Hiccup looked back up the hatch, smiling in satisfaction.
Elsa then felt the ice shatter and began to think that she was thinking she was following what his plan was now. Show that they weren't a threat and that they weren't trying to harm them.
"Oh yeah, there you go!" Hiccup congratulated.
The trappers' faces were covered in soot, and they were holding Inferno as if it would kill them all then and there. Toothless stood up on his hind legs and began pawing at a floating spark in the air like a cat.
"Once they see you as one of their own, even the testiest dragon can be trained," Hiccup said. Toothless bounded over to him, and Hiccup rubbed his head. "Right, bud?"
Eret ran forward and ripped Inferno out of the trapper's hands. "Give me that!" he yelled, and just as soon after, hurled Inferno into the ocean. Luna spread her wings and flew after it.
"What game are you playing?" Eret growled at Hiccup.
"No game," Hiccup said honestly as Luna returned, holding one end of Inferno. She dropped it at Eret's feet, and he grabbed it and threw it in the opposite direction. Only for Luna to chase after it once again. "We just want to meet Drago."
"Why?" Eret asked.
"Because I'm going to change his mind about dragons," Hiccup said firmly.
Eret and his men laughed in unison. Windshear returned, dropping Inferno at Eret's feet once again. Eret's laughs trailed off, and he eyed the dragons in somewhat confusion.
Elsa moved up beside Hiccup with a shrug. "He can be really persuasive when he wants to be, and he is also persistent."
"Exactly," Hiccup said in reply. Toothless nuzzled him, and Hiccup scratched his head. "Once you've earned his loyalty, there is nothing a dragon won't do for you."
"Bah!" Eret waved his hand in disbelief. "You won't be changing any minds around here."
"I can change yours," Hiccup said. "Right here, right now." He pushed Toothless' tail lever forward, and the prosthetic tail fin opened. Hiccup rose to a stand, gesturing to his dragon. "Ah, may I?"
Suddenly, Hiccup was unexpectedly whisked away from the boat, prompting Elsa to let out a scream. In a reflexive move, she unleashed a blast of ice across the deck, sending the Dragon Trappers sprawling as they lost their footing. As she raised her gaze, ready to confront the assailant, Toothless and Luna were also gearing up for a rescue, scanning for the culprit. To their astonishment, it was Snotlout who had swooped in to abduct Hiccup.
"Huh?" Elsa asked, a little lost.