Dragons: Powerful Threats
Yes, yes, I know: I said I would possibly do a follow-up, and it's been forever since the series (both Netflix and films) ended. There was a point where I decided that I waited too long to go back and rewrite things the way I envisioned them; but then I thought, "Hell-ooo! FANfiction! I can do whatever I want, within certain limitations." Not to mention that I found a streaming service that allows me to see the ORIGINAL Dragons series (no, I've never seen all of it before, don't judge me!). I've also just really missed writing, so let's get to it!
Author's Note: This fanfic will take place before HTTYD 2 and during the final season of Race to the Edge.
Disclaimer: I own nothing pertaining to Dreamworks' Dragons, simply the characters I created for the purpose of my stories.
Previously on Dragons…
Ivy, Slygroff, Hiccup and the rest of the riders landed on the shore as Stormfly dropped Votch into the sand. Clearly outnumbered, Votch scrambled up and tried to run. SHING! An axe landed merely inches from his head. He looked up to see Slygroff with his arm outstretched. Ivy approached her uncle, a fiery look in her eyes.
"You are done hunting these dragons", she said, "and messing with my family and friends."
"You shall stand trial for your crimes back on Warrel, brother", said Slygroff, "and believe me when I say, it is taking every fiber of my being not to kill you for the things you have done."
"The Dragon Hunters are finished", said Hiccup.
Votch chuckled.
"You only think that they're finished, you foolish boy", he said. "But you all fail to see the bigger picture."
"What are you talking about?" Ivy demanded.
"You believe me to be the mastermind behind the Dragon Hunters?" said Votch. "Think again."
"If you're not the true leader of the Dragon Hunters", said Hiccup, "then who is?"
…
A mysterious stranger stepped over the guard he had taken out guarding the prison cells back on Warrel. Edmund stopped scraping his hooked hand over the brick wall as he heard footsteps approaching and scoffed when someone came into view.
"It's about time you showed up", he said, coming up to the bars. "I'm dying of boredom, here."
"Have you done what I've asked?" said the stranger, standing in front of the door.
"Yeah, every word", said Edmund. "Now get me out of here!"
"And the Dragon Riders?"
"They don't know anything about who they're really dealing with."
"Excellent."
The stranger produced the key he had taken from the guard.
"It has been tiring, playing the long game, but it will all be worth it once Berk is mine to control at last."
"And what about poison?"
"Ivy Ilsen and her Night Fury are essential to my plans, as are Hiccup and his dragon."
Edmund stepped back as the stranger let him out of his cell.
"Just remember our deal", he said, stepping out. "I get you the dragons, you get me my revenge."
"Patience, my young friend. As I said when we first met, you shall receive everything you seek."
"Yeah, but that was, like, 5 years ago."
Edmund gasped as the stranger pressed him against the wall, his own dagger at his throat.
"Do you dare to question my word?"
Edmund gulped.
"N-no, sir."
"Good."
The stranger dropped him and tossed the dagger to his side.
"You will proceed with Phase 3, as planned. Soon, Hiccup Haddock and his little dragon rider friends will answer to me, as will his father. It is only a matter of time."
Shadow growled as he flew through the clouds as fast as his wings could carry him. Atop his back Ivy Ilsen, her long brown hair blowing freely in the breeze, narrowed her eyes at the village below.
"Right on time", she said, and pointed her staff to the ground.
Her dragon responded immediately, and she tightened her grip on his back as Shadow came in for a landing just outside the village. Ivy dismounted the dragon's back and stroked his chin.
"Hey, Ivy!"
Ivy turned to see her friend Hiccup Haddock and his dragon Toothless behind her.
"It's good to see you; I feel like it's been a while."
"Hey, Hiccup."
Hiccup chuckled and pulled her in for a hug as the other riders landed close to Ivy.
"Ivy!" said Snotlout. "What's up, girl? Long time, no see."
"Hello, Snotlout", Ivy said annoyedly.
"Well, if it isn't the Lunatic."
Ruffnut and Tuffnut crossed their arms, staring at the girl.
"She seems different", said Tuffnut.
"Yeah, did you do something to your hair?" said Ruffnut.
Ivy chuckled.
"Yeah, I let it grow out", she said, running her fingers through it.
"I like it", said Astrid.
"Thanks!"
"Hiccup, it's almost time!" said Fishlegs, turning to head into town.
As the others followed suit, Ivy thought back on the last few months, when she and the dragon riders had parted ways. She had found out from her village that Edmund had escaped, though no one knew who freed him. She had spent days chasing his trail, never finding where he had gone or who he was now with. Her uncle had been tried and received a life sentence on Warrell, where he was currently locked up.
While Ivy was away, she received a terror message inviting her to the wedding of Dagur the Deranged and Queen Mala of Calera Cay. At this, her heart sank; nevertheless, she agreed to attend with the other riders after finding no trace of Edmund for several months.
"Hey", said Hiccup, pulling her out of her trance. "You okay?"
Ivy sighed.
"He's still out there, Hiccup", she said, balling her hands into fists. "I wasn't able to find him, and Shadow's life is in danger as long as he remains free."
"Don't worry, Ivy", said Hiccup. "We helped capture your uncle; we'll find Edmund, and whoever he's working for now. Right now, let's just enjoy the ceremony."
"Right", Ivy said, disheartened. "The ceremony."
Ivy politely clapped as she watched the marriage of Dagur and Mala. At the wedding reception afterwards, she greeted the new couple warmly; but she thought back to the kiss she had shared with Dagur, and while the bride and groom celebrated with their guests, she walked away.
…
Shadow roared as Ivy flew on his back, a good distance from the island.
"I know it was a nice party", she said to her dragon. "I just don't think I can be around Dagur right now."
Shadow seemed to roll his eyes as Ivy steered him out towards the water.
"I'll just take a little flight around the archipelago to clear my head, and then return to the happy couple", she said to herself. "They'll understand. Sometimes, you just need to-"
An arrow whizzed past Ivy's head, and she gasped, halting Shadow in the air. Ivy looked around frantically, searching the ocean, but she couldn't see anything through the dense fog around her.
"Okay", she said hesitantly, gripping her dragon's back. "Maybe we should go back now."
As she steered a course back to the island, a melee of arrows came up to meet them.
"Dive, Shadow!"
Shadow flew straight down as fast as he could, tucking in his wings for maximum speed. Ivy grabbed her staff from the pack attached to his side, brandishing it for battle as more arrows came their way. Ivy spun her staff, knocking away each blow. Shadow growled and swerved out of the way of an incoming arrow.
"I know, I know!" Ivy exclaimed. "We need to get back to Hiccup and the others."
Whoever was attacking them seemed to realize that just arrows weren't going to cut it. Ivy yelped as bolas and nets were launched into the air.
"Shadow! Distress signal!"
Her dragon complied, shooting three plasma blasts high into the air, one after another.
"Hopefully, that'll-UGH!"
Ivy grunted as an arrow dipped with dragon root plowed into her shoulder and she fell onto a rock fixture. Shadow roared worriedly and landed beside his fallen rider, nudging her side as voices overtook the seas.
"No, Shadow", Ivy managed, the wound already starting to make her weak. "I'll be fine; y-you have to go g…get help."
Shadow shook his head, urging her to get up.
"I can't do it, buddy", Ivy said weakly. "Whoever they are, they won't stop until they get you, too."
Shadow turned toward the threat as the voices got closer, one of them saying, "I think she's over here!"
"Shadow!"
Shadow turned back to Ivy and locked eyes with her.
"Please. I…I need you…to be o-okay."
Shadow growled sadly, touching his nose to Ivy's outstretched hand.
"There she is!" the voice said, and a light came into view.
"Now, Shadow", Ivy pleaded, weakly pushing her dragon friend away from her. "Y-you have to…let me g-go!"
Shadow turned toward the threat one last time, locked eyes with Ivy once more, and then took off into the night.
"Shoot it!" a man said, rushing past Ivy with his crossbow raised.
With her last bit of strength, Ivy rolled on the ground and tripped him.
"Why, you little-!"
"Go, Shadow…"
Ivy winced as strong arms hoisted her up. The man she had tripped tilted her chin up so she was forced to look at him.
"Your beast may have gotten away", he sneered, "but don't think that means it's safe."
Ivy was too weak to respond, her head hanging low in his grasp.
"Take her to the ship."
Ivy was hoisted over another man's shoulder with her wrists bound in front of her. The last thing she saw was her dragon disappearing in a flash.
…
Hiccup took a break from the festivities, exhausted from dancing. Toothless came up to him and nudged his side.
"Quite a party, huh, bud?"
Toothless warbled.
"Yeah, I'm really happy for Dagur. And Mala, for that matter."
"Brother Hiccup!"
Hiccup turned to see the happy couple standing behind him.
"Hiccup, have you seen Ivy?" Mala asked.
"Not since the beginning of the reception", said Hiccup.
"We really need to talk to her", said Dagur.
"Dagur told me about your adventures together", said Mala. "Seeing him with me can't be easy for her."
"I never got the chance to tell her how I-"
"Wait."
Hiccup stopped them as he noticed three flashes of light in the sky.
"Did you guys see that?"
Dagur and Mala faced the ocean, shaking their heads. Hiccup thought about what he had seen: Three purple flashes.
"That was a distress signal", he said. "And it was made by a Night Fury."
"But Toothless is here", said Dagur, "so that means-"
"-Ivy's in trouble", Hiccup finished. "Come on, bud. Party's over."
Hiccup mounted Toothless and took off, heading in the direction of the signal…when Shadow suddenly appeared out of the clouds and nearly flew right into them.
"Whoa!"
Hiccup steered Toothless away as the riderless dragon landed on the beach, looking absolutely exhausted.
"Shadow!"
Hiccup landed beside him as Dagur and Mala met them on the docks.
"Shadow, where is she? Where's Ivy, bud?"
The dragon looked sadly over its shoulder and out to the sea. Hiccup narrowed his eyes.
"Gather the riders", he said to Dagur.
…
It wasn't long before Hiccup, Astrid, Fishlegs, Snotlout, Ruffnut and Tuffnut, Dagur and Mala, and Heather were out on the seas, searching for Ivy.
"This better be a real emergency", said Snotlout. "I was gettin' my groove on back there!"
"Oh, is that what you called it?" Ruffnut said.
"We thought you'd gotten ice down your back", said Tuffnut.
"You know as well as I do that Ivy never goes anywhere without Shadow", said Hiccup.
"She could be in real danger, Snotlout", said Fishlegs.
"And no dance battle is worth potentially losing one of our own", said Astrid. "So keep looking!"
"Look where?" said Ruffnut.
"I can't see anything!" said Tuffnut. "This fog is too thick!"
"Well, it's a good thing you guys are riding a Zippleback, whose special skill is seeing through thick fog", said Heather.
"Oh, right", said the twins.
"Hiccup!" Fishlegs called. "Do you see that?"
Hiccup narrowed his eyes and saw something gleaming in the moonlight.
"Toothless, take us down!"
Toothless complied, diving low to retrieve the shiny object, as everyone else followed. Hiccup and Toothless hovered beside a rock fixture and Hiccup's eyes went wide. There, halfway submerged in the water, was Ivy's staff.
"Uh, I'm guessing she never goes anywhere without that, either?" said Snotlout.
"Hiccup, look at this!"
Hiccup turned to see Dagur and Mala aboard Sleuther just above him, pulling a dragon root-infused arrow out of the rock.
"Dragon hunters", said Mala. "It appears your friend was attacked."
"And they got her", said Hiccup.
"But, Hiccup…", said Fishlegs. "Isn't Ivy allergic to dragon root?"
"Deathly allergic", Hiccup corrected.
"So if someone shot her out of the sky, then-", Dagur began.
"She doesn't have a lot of time", said Hiccup. "We've got to find her. And fast."
…
Somewhere on a ship out to sea, Edmund observed the unconscious girl locked in the brig and smiled. Everything was going according to plan.
"With Poison as bait", he thought to himself, "her friends won't be far behind. And once her precious dragon leads them right to us, it'll be too late. Our trap will be set, and that will be the end of the riders."
Edmund used his hooked hand to bang on the bars of Ivy's cage.
"Wake up!" he called. "The boss would like a word with you."
But Ivy didn't stir. Edmund growled and banged again, even louder.
"I said get up, poison!"
When Ivy made no sign of moving, Edmund opened the cage and stepped inside. He was surprised to feel that her skin was hot, and there were hives on her arms and neck. He groaned.
"Oh, Thor", he mumbled. "If you die too early, that'll ruin everything."
Edmund carefully picked Ivy up and ran her up to the deck.
"We've got a problem", he said to a man standing on the quarterdeck of the ship, looking out over the foggy sea. "I think she's dying."
"How?" said the man, clutching the rail angrily.
"I don't know!" Edmund said fearfully. "The hunters' instructions were to capture her, not hurt her! This wasn't my fault!"
"Check her for injuries", said the man. "We can't let her die…not yet, at least."
Edmund set Ivy down and started examining her for wounds. It was then that he saw the rip by her shoulder. He stretched the fabric and looked to see a dark red puncture mark just below her shoulder blade. The skin around it was covered with hives.
"No way", said Edmund. "She's allergic to dragon root?"
"I thought you said that you've known this girl for years", the mysterious man said. "How could you possibly not know that about her?!"
"Well, it's not like we were close personal friends or anything!" said Edmund. "I hated her as a kid!"
"Very well. We've nearly arrived at our destination. Treat her with what we have on board, and we will see that she's properly taken care of until our trap can be set. In the meantime, take her back below. But make sure she's comfortable."
"Yes, sir."
As Edmund did what was asked, the mysterious man moved to the main deck.
"Youssef. Reybeck."
The two hunters that had captured Ivy immediately rushed forward.
"You are aware that I told you not to harm the girl, yes?"
"Yes, of course", said Youssef.
"And we didn't", said Reybeck. "We got her to you in one piece, just like you asked."
"Then why is it that she is now slowly being poisoned by dragon root, which she is allergic to?"
The two men looked at each other nervously.
"W-w-we thought if we brought down her dragon, she would-"
"Thinking. Your first mistake."
The mysterious man stepped out of the fog.
"And I'm afraid it will also be your last", said Johann. "Krogan? Dispose of them."
Johann's right-hand man suddenly appeared beside the men, who gulped.
As Edmund reached the brig, he overheard screams coming from the upper deck, followed by the roar of a dragon. He shrugged his shoulders.
"At least it's not me getting barbecued", he thought.
I'm gonna stop there for now, guys…if anyone is still reading, that is. If you like what you see, be sure to leave a review! Thank you, and I hope to see you again soon!
-Imagigirl20