Hiccup was working out the next version of his gliding wings in the forge and was just showing them off to Toothless. "So? What do you think, bud?"
Toothless groaned when he saw the wings were back.
"You got no love for the old Dragon Fly Two?" Hiccup asked as he approached Toothless. "Oh, come on. You love these wings. They let me fly beside you, they put us in precarious situations that you always have to save me from. It's terrific!" He then made his way over to the forge. "All right, I think this is probably gonna need some welding. Hey bud, can you fire up the forge?"
"I got it," Snotlout said, causing Hiccup to shriek.
"Oh, my!" Hiccup cried, looking up to see Snotlout was on Hookfang on top of the hut. "Snotlout! How many times have I told you to not sneak up on me like that?"
"Uh, well, if you count now, I would say I don't care." Sonotlout proclaimed with a laugh. "Let me light the forge for you."
Hookfang huffed at him.
"Us," Snotlout corrected himself. "Let "us" light the forge for you. Jeez, don't be so needy."
"Yeah, I think I'm okay." Hiccup tells him.
"Hiccup, aren't you always complaining that I never do anything around here? Well, here I am. Snotlout "the Volunteer" Jorgenson. Ready to do Thor's work." Snotlout proclaimed.
"And that's what I'm afraid of." Hiccup muttered.
"Watch and learn, Hiccup. Watch and learn." Snotlout said as he led Hookfang to the top of the forge. "Hookfang, hit it."
"No, no, no, no! Snotlout, you have to build it gradually!" Hiccup warned, but it was too late.
Steve and Stark were watching from a small distance as Hookfang shot a blast of heat, which turned into a blaze in a matter of seconds. Hiccup jumped back as he shrieked, watching his hut burst into flames. Steve and Stark were the only ones around as everyone else was doing their own thing. Wanda went with Astrid to the markets to get off the Edge for a while. Fishlegs was discovering these new dragons he found in a cave. Heather and Peter... they didn't really know. For someone who doesn't want to fall for someone, he spends a lot of time with her. Yet again, she is one of the only intelligent people in the group. And the twins? Nobody has really seen, they just kinda come and go.
Stark scoffed as he drank some water from a mug. "Look at them. Not listening to people with higher authority, only gets them into more trouble..."
Steve came to a halt, the weight of Stark's words hanging in the air around him.
He wore a new uniform that he fashioned the other day, a striking version of his old one, yet noticeably stripped of its iconic stars and stripes. The familiar symbols of his past had been deliberately removed, a choice made to avoid further corrupting a timeline already in chaos. While AIM seemed unbothered by the unraveling of the fabric of reality, Steve felt a profound responsibility to honor history rather than distort it further.
His eyes narrowed as he studied Stark, a swirl of thoughts brewing in his mind. Did Stark truly grasp the irony of his statement?
Stark notices Steve staring. "What?"
That was when they heard a splash, getting them to look over and notice that it was from the twins dropping a giant basket of water on the hut, stopping the fire. They then flew away without even saying a word while Snotlout flew down to Hiccup.
"They've changed." Snotlout scoffed as he jumped off Hookfang.
"No, Snotlout, they haven't changed. It's just that this is over the line." Hiccup stated. "Even for them."
"Relax, Hiccup. Don't get your tunic in a bunch. Everything's fine." Snotlout said as he walked over to the broken hut.
"Oh yeah, it's fine?" Hiccup asks. "It's fine? Does this look "fine" to you?"
"I guess I'm just an optimist, Hiccup," Snotlout said as he knocked on the hut, leaning on the scorched fragment. "I'm what you'd call a "hut half un-burned" kind of guy." That was when the fragment of the hut broke. "Whoa!"
Hiccup groaned. "Oh, for the love of gods."
Steve sighed as he approached Hiccup. "I know the feeling."
"You do?" Stark asked sarcastically.
"Down, Skullcrusher!" They heard someone call, getting them to look over and saw that it was Chief Stoick, Hiccup's father.
Steve and Stark haven't met Stoick up close before. And to say that they were shocked, to say the least when they saw just how huge Stoick was.
"That... is a man that Hulk would be jealous of," Steve said with surprise.
"His poor wife," Stark commented.
"Dad!" Hiccup was surprised to see his father.
"We need to talk right away," Stoick said as he approached the four of them.
"Yeah, sure thing. Let me just-"
"Not you, him," Stoick said when he saw Snotlout. That was when he saw Stark and Steve. "And you are...?"
"Steve Rogers, sir," Steve greeted. "Happy to meet you."
"Tony Stark," Stark greeted with a wave.
Stoick looked between the two and shrugged. "You can explain that later..."
"I mean, your father has always been... Well..." Stoick tried to explain as he was referring to Spitelout.
"Annoying?" Hiccup asks.
"Well, that's one word for it." Stoick scoffs. "Insufferable is another. I mean, nothing is ever easy with that man. Always second-guessing me. Constantly trying to show me up. He once nearly burned down the village even though I told him to mind those torches in the gale winds. Can you imagine?"
Steve looked over to Tony with a scoff and a large smile. "Huh. No, I can't imagine that. Even a little bit."
"What?" Tony asks. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Ever since he joined Astrid's auxiliary Dragon Riders, he's become intolerable on a whole different level," Stoick stated.
Oh, yeah, they also were informed how there was this incident a while before they arrived at this time where Dagur tried to attack Berk, and almost killed Astrid's parents. So since their best defense is the Dragon Riders, Astrid trained a secondary auxiliary team. Similar to what the Avengers did with their own team when they created the list of auxiliary Avengers in case anything were to happen to them. Thankfully they would have been informed by now if they don't make it back to the same time and space when Stark gets the time machine rebuilt.
"Tell me about it, Chief," Snotlout stated.
"The man suddenly has ideas on improving everything. Most of which are considerably above his place in the tribe or station in life." Stoick proclaimed.
"Way above." Snotlout scoffed.
"Most recently, he's been pushing a plan for a secret off-Berk cache of emergency food and supplies." Stoick proclaimed.
Hiccup thought of that one. "That's actually not a bad idea."
Stoick snarled when he heard his son side with his brother. "You're taking his side now, are you?"
Hiccup recognized his mistake. "Uh. No, no. Uh, I just-"
"It wouldn't be a bad idea if he didn't persist in telling it to me four times a day. I mean, how could he be so unaware and pigheaded?" Stoick asks.
"Welcome to my world," Tony stated with a chuckle.
Steve gave him another glare at thst one.
"Anyway, I finally told the old pain in my buttocks to go ahead and start searching," Stoick explained to them. "He's taken a number of reconnaissance trips as of late. Then, he went on his most recent expedition. And he hasn't returned."
"Relax, chief. He's a Jorgenson. He can take care of himself." Snotlout showed no concern.
"It's been a month, son," Stoick informed him.
Snotlout immediately changed his tune to one of fear. "A month? You didn't say it was a month. That's my dad out there!"
"He changed up pretty quickly," Stark commented.
"Okay, stay calm, son. Chief Stoick, sir, do you have any idea where Spitelout might have gone?" Steve asked as he tried to calm him down.
"No, he was too secretive," Stoick said as he showed off a map of sorts. "I did find this. Can you help me decipher it?"
"Now, clearly it's some sort of coded map." Steve guessed. "No type of code I've seen before."
"I've seen this before. But it's not code. It's just my dad's bad handwriting and terrible grammar." Why would you dangle a participle like that? And the penmanship.
"Just tell me where to look and-"
"I'm going with you," Snotlout said as he walked over to Hookfang. "I can't stay here if my dad's in trouble. What kind of son would I be? Besides, I can rub it in his face for once. What a muttonhead."
Hiccup sighed. "Right. Uh, I better tag along for backup.
"We can tag along if you would like," Steve offered as he stepped forward. "We really don't have much going on here, and there could possibly be a chance AIM is behind this."
"What makes you say that?" Stark wonders.
"A family member of an allay going missing?" Steve asked sarcastically. "That is always a sign of an abduction."
Stark shrugged with a sigh. "Fine."
Wanda had joined Astrid amidst the bustling stalls of the vibrant market, her head lowered as much as possible to avoid drawing attention. The discussions among the Avengers about being stuck in the past echoed in her mind; they had all agreed to tread lightly to avoid disrupting the timeline. However, being cooped up on the Edge with the others was beginning to wear her down. After much pleading, she had finally convinced Steve to allow her to venture out to the market, assuring him it would be safe. Even though she still possessed her powers, she had vowed to refrain from using them unless absolutely necessary.
With a makeshift hood pulled over her head, Wanda wandered through the market, taking in the sights and sounds around her. The air was filled with the rich scent of spices and sweet fruits, while the lively chatter of merchants bargaining with customers created a lively background symphony. Astrid was hard at work haggling for supplies, her voice ringing with determination, while Stormfly remained hidden in the nearby forest, patiently awaiting their return. As Wanda glanced around, she was struck by how similar this market was to those of her own time; it felt oddly comforting yet disorienting all at once.
It was then she caught sight of a young boy standing alone among the throng of people. Curiosity piqued, she approached him, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "Hello there," she said softly, her voice warm. "What are you doing here all by yourself? Are you lost?"
In an instant, the boy's gaze flickered to the brooch that hung from Wanda's neck. With lightning speed, he snatched it away and bolted into the crowd. A shockwave of disbelief surged through her—he had stolen it! Panic set in as she realized the significance of that medallion; it was the last vestige of her family, a precious reminder of her past. Without a second thought, she took off after him, weaving through the bustling market with determination.
Her pursuit led her to a secluded cabin nestled in the woods, not far from the market. She hesitated, knowing the teasing jabs the other Avengers would throw about her wandering into a cabin in the middle of nowhere, but her mission was too important. The boy had vanished inside, and she couldn't let him get away with her cherished medallion.
Stepping inside the dimly lit cabin, she was greeted by the warm glow of the fireplace, its crackling flames illuminating the rustic space. There, seated with her back turned, was a figure working diligently over the hearth. A strange familiarity washed over Wanda as if she should know this person from some forgotten memory. Unbeknownst to her, she had stumbled into the home of Agatha Harkness—the very witch who would, in a twist of fate, train the Wanda standing there in this moment, years before their destined encounter.
"Hello?" Wanda called, spooking the Witch.
"Oh!" Agatha called in surprise as she saw Wanda. "What has he done now?"
"I'm sorry?" Wanda said.
"Nicky," Agatha said with a sigh. "He is always getting into trouble." She then walked over to the doorway, seeing no one around. "I try to keep that boy out of trouble, but doing it all alone..."
"You are the boy's mother?" Wanda guessed, still trying to shake the familiarity off.
"Yes, I am," Agatha answered. "And who might you be, I wonder."
"I am just a wanderer," Wanda answered with a shrug. "But he did steal something from me. A brooch of importance to me."
Agatha then saw her son approach the back door. "Nicky. Did you steal something from this nice lady?"
Nicholas didn't answer with words but did nod to confirm.
"Get it back," Agatha demanded as her son raced to get it. "So... where are you from?"
"East," Wanda answered, wanting not to disturb history. "So, where is the boy's father?"
"We lost him a long time ago," Agatha said as she caressed the brooch around her own neck. "You have someone like that?"
"I never really had time to settle," Wanda laughed a little.
Nicholas then returned with the brooch and handed it to his mother. Agatha caressed the brooch and happened to turn it around and saw it had a date on the back engraved on it: 1998. That set off something in Agatha as she handed it off to Wanda. "I am sorry for the inconvenience."
"No worries, and what is your name?" Wanda wonders.
"Agnes." Agatha answered. "You?"
"Wanda," Wanda didn't know why she gave her real name but figured it did no harm.
Agatha then handed off the brooch while giving a small encantation under her breath that caused it to glow purple. She now had a way of tracking this girl as long as she wore the brooch. Wanda then left, no idea that Agatha now had a way to track her back home as she left, leaving the mother alone with her son.
"It is her... the Scarlet Witch," Agatha said in shock.
In the dense, shadowy woods of the Edge, Heather and Peter moved cautiously, their eyes scanning the underbrush for anything that could serve as sustenance or useful supplies. The crisp air was filled with the earthy scent of pine and damp soil, heightening their senses as they navigated the rugged terrain. Peter, with his remarkable strength, effortlessly felled sturdy trees, the sound of cracking wood echoing through the forest and making their task of gathering firewood seem almost effortless.
As they worked, Heather seized the opportunity to draw Peter into conversation, her voice cheerful and inquisitive. She peppered him with questions about his hopes and dreams when they returned to the future, eager to understand the man behind the quiet demeanor. But Peter, ever cautious, treaded lightly with his words, mindful of the delicate tapestry of history. Each shared moment was a balance of connection and restraint, their laughter mingling with the soft rustle of leaves as they ventured deeper into the embrace of the wilderness.
"So, what do you miss most?" Heather wonders.
"Indoor plumming is a good one," Peter said with a laugh. "Showering in a lagoon isn't my first choice."
"Really?" Heather asks. "What do you guys have in the future?"
"Separate bathrooms for one," Peter stated. "Speaking of which, I gotta wash this suit."
Heather chuckled as she chopped down a tree with one swing, allowing Peter to then rip it apart with his hans. "You do well with your hands."
"Thanks?" Peter guessed.
Heather looked back to the Edge and towards the lagoon in the distance. "You know... speaking of which, I have been meaning to take a bath. But been a little worried since I spotted Snotlout following."
"Well, saw he left on Hookfang with Stark and the others," Peter said, ripping a fragment of the wood, and wrapping it up in the pile that he started to carry. "You can go and I can take this back."
"Or... would you mind watching? Just to make sure this isn't a trick of his?" Heather asks.
Peter froze and looked up at her. "What?"
"Not watch me, but around me." Heather clarified.
"Oh," Peter wasn't sure what to say about that. She has been a little flurty with him and didn't know if this was just an attempt to get back at him or what. "Uh, sure?"
"Great," Heather said as she headed for the lagoon. "Hurry and drop that stuff at the storehouse. We can sort it later."
The team was now flying off into the skies, Stark flying his way around in his armor while Steve partnered up on Toothless with Hiccup flying. Snotlout was leading the way since he could read the map.
"Snotlout, I'm sure your dad is fine. And we will find him." Hiccup tried to assure Snotlout.
"I know he's fine, Hiccup. He's my dad and he's a Jorgenson." Snotlout said, but his voice showed worry.
They came across an island in the distance, getting them to check it out as the possible location where to find Spitelout. They flew around the island, searching for anything. That was when Toothless screeched, getting Hiccup's attention. What they saw was a completely finished storehouse with a giant S on the front near the door.
"Yeah, I see it, bud." Hiccup said.
"I thought you said Spitelout was only supposed to be scouting," Steve commented, noticing this is more than scouting.
"He was," Stoick confirmed.
"Well, looks like our British Viking had other things in mind," Tony stated.
"Um, hello? It's called "initiative"." Snotlout stated.
"It's called "insubordination"." Stoick corrected him.
"Tomayto, tomato..." Snotlout said.
Stoick was the first to land, and he began to look around the area. "Spitelout!"
"Stark, your scanners working?" Steve asked as he leaped off of Toothless.
"Not for long range, but short range," Stark said as he scanned as far as he could.
Hiccup approached the storehouse and opened the door to see nobody inside. "Stark?"
"Nothing human, but I am getting some sort of creature behind the hut," Stark replied.
Walking ahead and behind the shed, they saw that there was some sort of catapult attached to a yack, which only gave them all a confused feeling as to what Spitelout was doing out here.
"What is it?" Hiccup asks Snotlout.
"I'm having Asia Fondue. Something seems oddly familiar." Snotlout said, looking over the trap.
"Wait, are you trying to say "deja vu"?" Steve asks.
"How the hell do they even know that?" Stark wondered.
"Yeah, that's what I said," Snotloud said, getting a closer look at the trap. "Of course. It's a Jorgenson Yakmaster! Nice work, Dad!"
"Okay. Uh, care to fill us in or..." Stark asks.
"The Jorgenson Yakmaster is a specifically designed dragon trap," Snotlout said as he approached it, tripping on a wire, which set it off, scooping Toothless, Hookfang, and their riders in the process.
"Would you stop that?"
"That's not your arm. That is my arm."
"Son, are you all right?" Stoick asked as he ran up to the net.
"No!" Snotlout cried.
"We're fine, Dad." Hiccup promised.
"Get us out of here!" Snotlout cried.
That was when the slingshot went off, sending the yak flying and crashing.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa Ow!"
"Oh, this is so much worse."
"Stark?" Steve asks.
"Yeah, yeah," Tony said as he approached and aimed a small later on his wrist. "Hang on, don't shake so much, my targeting computer was one of the first systems to die in the time stream." He then sighed as he prepared to shoot the laser. "I'm gonna have to eyeball it."
"Hey, so, why does your dad have a dragon trap anyway?" Hiccup asks, but that was answered when they heard some sort of roar in the sky, getting them to look upward to see a dragon in the sky. "Oh, my Thor. Dad?"
This dragon has a wide, flat body and a long tail. They have four wings, like a Thunderdrum, but with the bigger pair being set lower on its back. They have a spiky face with chameleon-like eyes that allow them to see in multiple directions, as well as several big, sharp spikes along their backs and tails.
They have eight extremities (four wings and four legs), two more than most other dragons, and with the rearmost pair seemingly a modified pair of extra hind limbs unlike the Stormcutter, which has all four forelimbs as wings.
"Well, that's great," Stark said with a sigh. "Now I wish we brought Wanda."
"Odin's ghost!"
"We're gonna die. We're all gonna die. We're all gonna die!" Snotlout cried, shaking the net around.
"We've got you covered!" Steve said as he raised his shield.
The dragon shot off fireballs literally like they were made out of real fireballs. Steve used the shield to block off the fireball before it could hit their captured friends. That was when Stoick took flight and chased after the dragon, using Skullcrusher to ram the dragon, chasing it away as Skullcrusher shot out fire blasts while Stark shot out a few blasts from his iron gauntlets. That was when they saw that their combined forces scared off the dragon, sending it back to wherever it came from.
"Chew on that, you fire-snortin' reptile!" Stoick screamed out, earning a groan from Skullcrusher. "No offense, boy." When he came back to the ground, that was when they looked back up and saw that the dragon was coming back for more. "I see him, Skullcrusher."
Stark sighed as he saw that they needed to hurry and aimed the laser toward the net.
"What are you doing? What is he doing?" Snotlout asked in a panic.
"Stay still. This is tricky without my AI," Stark said as he sighed, removing his helmet to get a clearer view of what he was doing.
"Do it, take the shot!" Hiccup said.
"No, don't take the shot. Didn't you just hear what he said?" Snotlout asks. "He said "Tricky"."
"Tony, watch it!"
Stark then saw the dragon coming back around and jumped out of the way to dodge a fireball.
"You've gotta leave us!" Hiccup said.
"That is not an option!" Steve stated with pride, preparing to fight it off. "We stand together!"
When the Singetail came over and prepared to strike again, that was when Spitelout came flying past on his Nadder. "Yes! Come and get me, you hideous beast!"
"Dad? Dad!" Snotlout cheered as the dragon chased after him.
"Oh, hey, he's okay," Stark was honestly surprised.
"I've seen that dragon before. I just can't remember where." Hiccup said.
"Who cares? Whatever it is, it's chasing my dad!" Snotlout cried.
"Go, Skullcrusher!" Stoick cried as he flew off.
"And now my dad is chasing it." Hiccup said with a sigh.
Stark then looked over and aimed the laser again. "Stay still..."
Then he fired the laser, finally cutting the net and causing the four of them to fall and cut free. "OW!
They weren't sure what happened, but they figured it didn't end well for the two other adults as they returned with a Few bruises on them and their dragons.
"Whoa. Some beast, eh?" Spitelout asks. "Been tangling with it for the last-"
"That's all you've got to say, Spitelout? "Some beast"?" Stoick asks. "You almost got us singed alive!"
"I tried to warn you about the tail, Stoick," Spitelout said, referring to the Singetail having a fire in its tail. "But as usual, you paid no attention, and did what you wished."
"I did what I wished?" Stoick asks.
"Singetail!" Hiccup called out, getting everyone's attention. "What? I remembered the name of the dragon."
"That would have been helpful five minutes ago, son," Stoick commented. "But at least it would have actually been helpful."
"You know, I'm wracking my brain, Stoick, but I don't recall asking you to come here," Spitelout stated.
"When you disappeared for a month, I took it as an invite," Stoick replied.
"Oh, don't pretend to care about me. You never have and you never will." Spitelout proclaimed.
"Oh, great, now the adults act like the kids," Stark stated with a groan, looking over to Steve with a scoff and rolling his eyes.
Steve looked at the others arguing and gave Stark a look without moving his head. "Okay, you have to be messing with me now."
"What?" Stark asks in confusion.
"Stark, come on, that guy is just a snottier version of you... pun unintentional," Steve replied as he gestured to the group arguing.
"What? I am nothing like him," Stark states as he crosses his arms.
"Really?" Steve asked sarcastically. "The disobeying of orders, doing whatever you want, tell me, how did Ultron come to be again?"
Stark wasn't sure how to respond as he tried to find out how to. "Well, if you wanna start drawing comparisons-"
"Don't even go there," Steve cut him off there. "Comparing me to either the leader or the Chief would literally be a compliment considering their job is to defend people and keep them alive."
"He's the chief. And he wouldn't have to be a "control freak" if others weren't so out of control." Hiccup said, getting them to focus on the group argument. "Your father's like some kind of reckless renegade."
"Reckless renegade? Reckless renegade? You know what?" Snotlout then thought of it. "I like that."
Hiccup groaned. "Well, you would."
"Come, boy-o. I'll show you around the place," Spitelout said as he showed Snotlout the area. "At least one of you will appreciate my work."
"Yeah, what a jerk," Snotlout said as he ran to his father's side.
Steve, Stoick, and Hiccup all rolled their eyes and crossed their arms. Stark looked at the three of them and felt a little left out so he copied their movement.
"When I found this place, boy-o, I knew it was perfect. I was about to head back to Berk when I thought "All that's gonna happen is Stoick is gonna insist on seeing it. And then he's going to want to see my plans to construct it. And then he's going to want to change those plans. Again. And again. And again. And again. And again," By the time all of that transpired, I could have built the darn thing myself. So, I did." Spitelout stated as he showed off the storehouse to his son.
"Ha! That's right, you did. Well, I think it's amazing, Dad." Snotlout said as he looked it over.
"First off, I wouldn't have picked an island with a fire-happy dragon to build a structure out of wood," Stoick proclaimed. "Another ill-conceived Jorgenson special."
"I checked the island, over and over for anything that might get in the way of the construction." Spitelout defended himself, tossing his axe backward. "That Singetail only arrived after it was finished! Came out of nowhere. Started setting fires all over the island."
"I mean, it isn't unlikely," Stark shrugged, getting an eye from Steve. "Hey. Don't look at me like that."
"Hey, as far as I'm concerned, it's got the Jorgenson stamp of approval," Snotlout said as he pointed to the S. "I mean, it's even got an "S" on it for "Spitelout". Or for "Snotlout"?"
"Uh, storehouse, boy-o. The "S" is for "storehouse"." Spitelout admitted.
"Ha! I knew that." Snotlout cried.
Stark looked over to Steve and back to Snotlout. "Me? Like that?"
"You created Ultron to one-up Pym," Steve replied in a snarky tone he usually doesn't use.
"You say the Singetail has been setting fires all over the island?" Hiccup asks, getting back on topic as he approaches Spitelout.
"Aye," Spitelout stated.
"It's obviously trying to mark its territory." Hiccup guessed.
"The storehouse was here first!" Spitelout proclaimed.
Hiccup rolled his eyes. "You should go explain that to the Singetail, I'm sure he'll be very understanding."
"Save your breath because we're not staying," Stoick stated as he prepared to leave.
"I agree with the boss," Steve nodded. "This is nature being nature. Can't really fight that."
"Trust him on that one, we tried," Stark admitted.
"You would never abandon something you'd built with your own two hands, Stoick. Bit of a double standard, don't you think?" Spitelout asks.
"Yeah, when was the last time you Haddocks gave us Jorgensons any respect?" Snotlout asks.
"Respect is earned, son," Stoick stated.
"Okay. Okay. Uh, everyone has their opinions." Hiccup said. "Not saying which ones are correct. Obviously, Spitelout felt this location was a good one.
Spitelout scoffed. "It is a good one!"
"Yeah. It is a good one." Snotlout mimicked his dad.
"Okay, now I am starting to understand you," Stark said to Steve.
"Thank you," Steve said with a scoff.
"And- And he says he was on the island first so we should give him the benefit of the doubt." Hiccup said.
""Benefit of the doubt"? Either you believe me or you don't." Spitelout stated.
"You calling my dad a liar?" Snotlout asks.
"Yes." Hiccup said a little too quickly. "I mean, no. I mean, look. There are four of us and four dragons. I think that if we work together we can run that dragon off and save the storehouse." That was when they heard what sounded like something approaching and the Singetail approached, setting fires off around them and attacking the Storehouse. "Uh. We have to get in the air! He'll pick us off down here. Next time he passes by, get to your dragons."
"I'm not waiting for that beast to destroy what's ours!" Spitelout cried as he and Snotlout ran to their dragons, taking off into the air.
"And what on Thor's green Earth makes you think they'll listen to you?" Stoick asked.
"You wanna take him from the sky? I'll hold off the ground?" Steve asks.
"Thought you'd never ask!" Stark stated as he took off to the skies.
Snotlout and Spitelout took a direct approach and attacked the Singetail from above. That didn't seem to harm the creature as it fired back and then used its tail to fight off Stoick and Hiccup as they came from below. The Singetail spun around, shooting fire from both ends, and Stoick was knocked off his dragon in the process.
"Whoa! Dad!" Hiccup cried as he flew to save his father.
Spitelout was quick to follow and the two abandoned their assault to save their father. Hiccup grabbed Stoick while Snotlout got Spitelout and they returned to the ground. Stark however didn't get his chance yet as he opened fire, shooting several repulsor blasts that only bounced off the skin.
"What the hell?" Stark said in shock, seeing this dragon had strong skin. "JARVIS, give me a-" He then shook himself for forgetting. "Right, no network, no JARVIS. Gotta get used to that in these situat- WHOA!"
The Singetail fired back, launching fireballs at Stark as he flew. He spun out of the way to dodge the blast and prepared to fire using his chest plate arc. But as it did, the suit began to malfunction, reminding him that there were still a dozen fragments of the suit not functioning. Annoyed, he prepared to shoot dozens of mini-missiles trying to find a weak point he could exploit, all saw was the belly of the Singetail lighting up and shooting fire. The missiles went off, and Stark took most of the blast, sending him falling from the air and screaming as he crashed into the ground.
"Stark!" Steve ran over to the crater and saw Stark climbing out.
Stark groaned and got back up seeing the suit still functioning at minimal capacity. "This dragon was something, that was for sure."
"That thing had eyes on the back of its head!" Snotlout cried.
"And it can attack with both its mouth and tail." Hiccup commented.
"And it's underbelly," Stark informed them. "Learned that the hard way."
"We can take him! Come on, boy-o!" Spitelout was preparing to get back up there.
"No, Spitelout! Look, he's an unconventional dragon. Which means we have to fight him unconventionally. It's too strong to take on from the front or behind. The only place it might be vulnerable is above it."
"Okay, I'll draw it out. Boy-o, you get in there and take the shot." Spitelout said.
"What?" Snotlout asks. "Yeah. I'll take the shot."
"Guys, Toothless is the fastest and has the most accurate blast. We should take the shot." Hiccup said.
"I don't like it. I know this dragon. It should be us." Spitelout stated.
"No. Hiccup is right." Stoick agrees. "The rest of us draw it out and Toothless takes the shot. End of story."
They took to the skies, searching for the Singetail and Steve was on the back of Skullcrusher so to not get in Hiccup's path. They watched as the entire island was being set on fire.
"See what I mean?" Spitelout said. "The thing sets fires everywhere it goes."
"Definitely marking its territory," Stoick said.
"But if the Singetail were marking its territory, the fires would be more concentrated. Something's wrong." Hiccup muttered.
"There!" Spitelout spotted it.
They flew in with Stark sending several repulsor blasts to get its attention and causing the Singetail to screech at him. Steve then tossed his shield, watching it get the dragon's attention focused on them. Stoick then came in and rammed the creature before it had the chance to strike. Spitelout came in and shot with his Nadder, followed by Hookfang's fire.
"Keep firing! Don't let up!" Stoick cried.
Hiccup flew upward and began to dive downward to try and strike it from above. "Now, bud! Toothless!" That was when the Singetail attacked as the tail spun fast enough to attack from above, sending Hiccup falling as the fire hit Toothless. "Whoa! Oh!"
Stark stopped and flew downward to save Hiccup, tossing him back onto Toothless. They then returned to the Storehouse and saw that they needed to come up with another plan.
"Okay, so, it is fast, able to attack on all ends, and we are stuck with nothing to really fight. It is impenetrable from all ends and can attack from all ends." Stark recapped. "This is seriously becoming a neverending battle."
"Spitelout, anything to say?" Steve asks.
"Oh, you think I knew about that and would set you up?" Spitelout asks.
"We never know how far you Jorgenson's will go," Stoick stated.
Hiccup approached and tried to soothe the situation. "Dad."
Stoick then raised his hand to silence Hiccup. "Well, there it is, then," Spitelout said.
"I've had enough of this dragon and this place. Contrary to other thinking, our lives are not worth an empty building." Stoick stated as he approached Skullcrusher.
"Go, then. The two of you. We are staying." Spitelout said.
"What? Dad?" Snotlout asks.
"Jorgensons don't go where they're not trusted or wanted. We'll stay here, protect what's ours." Spitelout said.
"Fine, if that's the way you want it," Stoick said as he approached his dragon.
"It's the way it has to be," Spitelout stated.
"Should we butt in?" Stark asks.
Steve looked between the two fo them and modded. "Okay, adults, grown-ups, I think it's time we step in here."
"Okay, we are butting in," Stark said.
"Now, listen, I get the feeling we are all in," Steve told both ends. "Every family has one of these kind of people."
"We're family?" Stark asks.
"The point is... I've fought amongst a lot of people who are like this, Stoick, Hiccup... someone who seems that he's constantly going out of the way to do the opposite of what I want him to do."
"Hey," Stark felt offended.
"Disobeying every single order." Steve continued to list.
"I mean..." Stark muttered.
"Trying to "one up" and show off." Steve continued.
"Couldn't have put it better myself," Stoick stated.
"The thing is, in this particular case, who are they trying to show off to?" Steve asked them, looking over towards Spitelout and Snotlout.
"I think I get it," Hiccup said to his father. "What if all their craziness and disobedience had nothing to do with them and everything to do with us? Just- Just think about it. Snotlout's incident with the forge could be directly tied to his desire to prove himself to me in his own little twisted way. And Spitelout-"
"What? Needs to put us all at risk over something so inane as a storehouse that could have been built anywhere at any time?" Stoick asks.
"No, Dad, don't you get it? Spitelout built the storehouse to prove himself to you." Hiccup explained.
Stoick looked over to Snotlout and Spitelout and groaned. "Fine!"
"Wait, what?" Stark asks. "That worked?"
"Look at that, I am good at this," Steve said as he approached Stark. "So, what's the plan?"
Spitelout and Snotlout took an approach on top of the Storehouse and were prepared when they saw there was the Singetail closing in.
"Wait for it! Wait for it. Now!" Spitelout cried as he and Hookfang fired on the Singetail.
Stark came out of the trees and aimed two repulsers at him, charged up and ready to fire. "Hi! Remember me!"
Stark fired on the Singetail with full power, but all it did was lightly push the creature, and they saw Steve coming out and getting ready to toss his shield when he saw something through the fire.
"Stark! Watch out, there's two of 'em!" Steve called.
"What!?" Stark cried, turning just to be shot out of the sky and sent crashing into the ground. "OW!"
Steve ran in and slammed the shield against the fireball that almost hit Stark. "Get up, Stark! The fight isn't over yet!"
"Where did the second one come from?" Stark groaned.
"I don't know. Maybe it was drawn to the fires?" Steve guessed.
Hiccup was flying over and happened to hear that idea. "Yes! That's it. It wasn't marking its territory with the fires. It was calling for backup!"
"Well, the four of us can take down two Singetails," Stoick stated.
"What about three?" Stark asked, pointing through the smoke, which revealed there were more. "Or four?"
"Dad!" Hiccup cried.
"No! We stay! We hold! We fight!"
"There are too many of them, Stoick," Spitelout said.
"We can do this, Spitelout!" Stoick promised.
Spitelout looked around and saw the chaos and how they were easily outnumbered. "No, we can't. And we won't. It's okay, Chief. We will find another island."
"And we'll build another storehouse," Stoick promised.
"Together." Spitelout agreed.
"Oh, thank Thor! Now, let's blow this yaksicle stand!" Snotlout cried as they flew off.
"Right behind you!" Stark cried as he blasted off, carrying Steve onto Toothless as they flew off.
Snotlout then noticed they forgot something and went back for the yack. "What? I had to go back to Yakkity. Yakkity yak." The yak groaned. "Hey! What did we say about talking back?"
"Wait!" Stoick flew off.
"That is it, Dad?" Hiccup asks.
Stoick returned carrying the S from the storehouse. "Can't rebuild a storehouse without the "S", right?"
"Even though it stands for "Spitelout"," Spitelout muttered as they flew off.
Peter stood quietly at the edge of the woods, his gaze fixed firmly ahead, determined to shield Heather's privacy as she bathed nearby. The distant sound of the waterfall cascaded down, mingling with the rustling leaves, creating a serene backdrop that contrasted sharply with the tension he felt. He felt the urge to glance over, but he resisted, focusing instead on the dappled light filtering through the trees.
Finally, he saw her return, her skin glistening from the water and her hair slightly damp, clinging to the delicate curves of her shoulders. She had fresh clothes on, though some of them clung to her form, the fabric darkened from the water. As she caught sight of him, a playful giggle escaped her lips, her eyes sparkling with amusement. It was clear she found humor in his struggle, surprised to see someone as composed as Peter so visibly nervous in her presence. The sight of her laughter softened the air between them, a moment of lightness amidst the tension.
"Thanks for watching over me," Heather told him.
"Don't mention it," Peter said. "Ever. Like, the others would hold this over me forever."
"Seriously?" Heather asked as they headed back.
As they strolled back towards the Edge, Peter glanced sideways at Heather, his expression a mix of thoughtfulness and vulnerability. "They think I keep to myself too much," he admitted, kicking a small pebble along the path as they walked. "That I should date more." He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "This team... it's less of a team and more like a family. Clint is like the eccentric uncle, always scheming to set me up with anyone he can find. Stark is the boisterous older brother, full of charm and mischief. Then there's Nat, the nurturing mother, always looking out for us. Thor... well, he's the enthusiastic one charging forward with ideas. Bruce is our voice of reason, the cautious soul among us, while Steve, with that proud, protective demeanor, is unmistakably the dad of the group. Wanda, meanwhile, is like the wise older sister, keeping the balance and the rest of us in check. And then there's me... the baby of the family. They love to tease me about it. I don't mind, really. But... I don't dip my toes into dating or anything like that."
"How come?" Heather inquired, her voice gentle and curious.
Peter's brow furrowed, and he muttered, "Bad things happen to the people that I get close to."
His words hung in the air like an unresolved chord, heavy with the weight of unspoken history as they continued their walk down the woods. The atmosphere tinged with nostalgia seemed to pulse around them. Heather instinctively stepped back, a subtle gesture that betrayed her keen intuition; she could feel the palpable undercurrent of grief nestled just beneath the surface of his playful banter. A bittersweet understanding flickered to life in her mind, illuminating the poignant sadness that lurked behind the cheerful facade of his smile.
Much like Peter, Heather had become adept at wearing masks, skillfully crafting a façade that allowed her to navigate through life while silently wrestling with her own profound losses. In that moment of shared reflection, she felt an invisible tether drawing her closer to him, as if their concealed sorrows were intertwining, forging an intimacy rooted in understanding. Yet, even as he physically distanced himself, the connection between them deepened, suspended delicately in the silence that followed his heartfelt pronouncement.