Ghost's Reign Chapter 60: Drago, a How to Train Your Dragon + Big Hero 6 Crossover fanfic

Chapter 60, everybody! Downsides of warmer weather, everything online ends up being done around midnight.

In other news...Hiccup's whole plan here and in canon was to go to Drago and have tea and a nice chat, there was a hole in his logic you could fly a Bewilderbeast through. Obake, older and more cynical, does not have this problem. Obake's also banking on his reputation saving his bacon here. And yes that's a Pirates of the Caribbean reference there, as well as a passing reference to Frozen and We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story. Dibs, meanwhile, is fully quoting Will Smith from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Good news, flying did a good job of waking him up.

Bad news: it made him all too aware of his current situation, i.e., dealing with a headstrong stubborn mule of a Viking who didn't listen to reason. If this guy made Stoick the Vast balk, then this Drago was bad news indeed.

Drago, Drago…why did that name ring a bell? Ah, right, the fellow that he still didn't have enough information on.

"This fellow we're heading to see," he asked Hiccup when Tadashi drifted close enough. "Who is he?"

"I don't know," Hiccup admitted, glancing over. "According to Dad, he showed up at a meeting of chiefs and tried to get them to bow to him, saying that he'd take care of the dragon war if they served him. Apparently when they laughed him off he left and some armored dragons came in and tore the whole place down, killed everyone but Dad. He thinks there's causation."

That's because he had a functioning brain and some common sense, which could not be said for his son. "And you want to go and talk to this man?"

"Look, he's got dragons that follow him, he can't be that bad—dragons are excellent judges of character, aren't you bud?" he asked Toothless, scratching his neck. The Night Fury crooned and warbled at the affection.

Obake exchanged glances with Tadashi—the expression was either the idiocy we're following or don't even try it, he wasn't sure which. "You've already heard that he murdered a cabal of chiefs," Obake told Hiccup. "None of this raises a red flag?"

Hiccup looked at him evenly. "You want we should review your history?"

Oh good grief. "And you have a lot of comparisons where dragon approval turned out to work for the best? Aside from Berk."

"And you."

"Answer the question."

"A couple of other tribes," Hiccup admitted. "But it consistently turns out for the better. Or was there a different reason you suddenly changed your behavior?"

Obake clenched his jaw at that—he had been wanting a way out for a while, it was just that downing a dragon he could train that finally gave him that out. If he hadn't shot Hiro down…well chances were he'd either still be under Callaghan or would be dead by now.

Granted, depending on how this went, the latter would be a certainty soon.

"Okay, so. How do we want to play this?" Hiccup asked once the armada was in sight on the horizon.

"Oh? You're actually asking my opinion?" Obake asked snarkily.

"Actually I was asking Toothless, but sure," Hiccup said, snarking back. He was actually starting to really enjoy the Yokai's company, he could sass and chat and not worry about the conversation spiraling somewhere way different like when he talked with the twins.

Obake narrowed his eyes, exchanged glances with Tadashi—

Tadashi angled, forcing Toothless to do the same to avoid a collision.

"Hey," Hiccup bit out.

"Hush, you," Obake said, Tadashi landing and barking at Toothless. Toothless glanced at Hiccup, followed suit, ears flipping up when Obake fished his mask out.

"So are we getting an explanation or are you just used to doing your thing without anyone questioning it?" Hiccup asked.

"I'm going in," Obake said, tugging his mask on. "You and the dragons stay out of sight and eavesdrop."

"So…the second one," Hiccup decided.

"Funny," Obake said drily. "The general rule of thumb is that the Yokai are fearsome mercenaries and any marauding army would want them in their corner. I'm playing to Drago's expectations."

"And if he decides to pop your head off?"

"Now, he's too friendly for that, remember?" Obake asked, voice and movement dripping with sarcasm. "If that happens you kill him. Period. Maybe my death will be the object lesson you need to realize that some people can't be reasoned with. But I doubt it."

"Har har. Let's at least find the guy first before you go traipsing through there—what, you figure your reputation is enough to get you through?" Made a face at Obake lifting his mask to raise an eyebrow at him. "Seriously?"

"Maybe the next time your father tells you about the various threats in the Archipelago, pay. Attention."

Hiccup did his best not to roll his eyes at that as Toothless followed Tadashi—yes Stoick had told him about the threat the Yokai posed and how dangerous they were, and he had definitely reviewed the specifics on Obake after Hiccup had brought him to Berk…but it bore asking the question of how one man managed even half of what Obake had apparently done. To hear talk ninety percent of Yokai's misdeeds had been the realized plots of one man, that being the one in front of him. It was like going and claiming that the Red Death was responsible for every dragon attack the world over.

Although…one man was certainly claiming responsibility for this whole fleet, he reflected, feeling his intestines tying into knots as they snuck along the yardarms, trusting their dragons to stay hidden and quiet as they maneuvered. This fleet just kept going, and here, there, and everywhere armored dragons were dozing, only a few chained down and obviously there against their will…except something about that felt off, somehow. Seemed to be nearing the largest ship, allowed himself a moment of surprise that it wasn't in the middle of the fleet before realizing that the fleet continued in a wide arc to either side, small lights evident further on. For some reason, the fleet was leaving a huge hole in their center. To make themselves look bigger, perhaps?

"This would be his ship, wouldn't it?" Hiccup whispered to Obake.

"I'd like confirmation as to his location first," Obake whispered back, scanning as their dragons cautiously circled—stiffened the same time Hiccup spotted the big man in a low room with the sides open, lattice above, discussing his plans with what were probably captains directly under him, who would then spread the word. Look at Obake to point him out—

Obake was gone.

Look around, surprised, back at Tadashi and Hiro—they were hunkered down and looking in a certain direction, scanned there to try and see—

"Lovely fleet you have—are you compensating for poor planning, or did you intend to win through sheer numbers?"

The men at the table stiffened, Drago turning—

One of the captains screamed and dove off the ship at the sight of Obake standing there in the doorway as bold as you please.

"Well well well, what's this?" Drago asked, the other captains backing up nervously and fingering their weapons. "Callaghan's pet ghost. How did you get here?"

"You already gave the answer to that question," Obake said, pushing himself off the doorjamb and lifting his chin at the mountain of a man before him. "The question you want answered is why I'm here."

Drago examined him, looked behind him, at the other opening, back to Obake. "I highly doubt Callaghan would send you in his stead."

"He would, because he knows I can get in and out of here with no fuss." Push his mask up, revealing—

Hiccup's chest thumped painfully out of beat for a moment when he realized half of Obake's face was flaring, something that just—didn't happen with normal people.

"Now, shall I answer your real question?" Obake asked silkily, practically feasting on the other captains' nervousness.

"I can guess," Drago said—if he was affected by the glowing skull face he didn't show it. "What parlay does Callaghan want?"

"It's not so much what the Yokai want as what you want," Obake said, tossing his head slightly to encompass the armada around them. "One doesn't amass such a following for peaceable means; we're offering a knife to go with your little club."

Drago actually barked out a laugh at that. "Offering your services to the winning team? That's one way to survive a coming storm." Seemed to darken as he loomed over Obake. "But I have no need of your services."

"I came in here with no one the wiser and I'll leave the same way; I really think you do. Ah-ah-ah," he chimed when Drago lifted his arm. "Did you hear what happened to the Moss-Huts? I'd hate for you to do all this work and then end up the same way—especially when I passed some intriguing points of interest on the way here."

Drago narrowed his eyes, lowered his hand. "You're not here on behalf of the Yokai," he said. "You're here on behalf of yourself. I know Callaghan, he would never sign off on any dragon but a dead one."

"Hmm, true," Obake said, circling around, eyeing the map on the table and possibly deriving some pleasure from the men doing their best to avoid looking like they were quailing away from him. "I knew from the first live dragon I saw that this would not be an endeavor that Callaghan would approve of." Pause when he was across the table from Drago, a thin smirk slashing across his face. "Now, me, on the other hand...I am intrigued. Convince me, and I'll bring the Yokai to your corner."

Drago arched an eyebrow. "And Callaghan?"

"As I said, I am the one you have to convince now. Whether or not you succeed steers my decisions afterwards."

"You're proposing betraying your chief—what assurance do I have you won't do the same to me?"

"Is that what we're calling it now?" Obake asked mildly, continuing his circuit of the table. "You asked a Thing of chiefs to betray their people's interests to join you, but you balk at me offering to do the same? Or perhaps," he hissed, head tipping oddly, like a dragon going in for the kill. "You know the issue here. Callaghan is starting to bore me, and you come along with something intriguing to toy with. Perhaps," he said, straightening up and getting nose-to-nose with Drago, face flaring again. "You know the consequences, should you fail to live up to the initial impression." Eyes narrowed, smirk a thin cut. "So will it be Callaghan's head on the chopping block, or yours? Answer correctly, and you'll have someone much more potent on your side."

Drago started chuckling, apparently amused at Obake's gall. "Oh, but I already have something much more potent on my side."

"Show me."

Drago blinked at the impertinence. "Excuse me?"

"You're not excused—I'm calling your bluff. Show me, or deal with the consequences."

Drago tipped his head slightly as he considered Obake, as though debating on dealing with him or just killing him now and dealing with whatever curse befell obake killers instead. "Don't do it, Drago," one of his captains whispered fearfully.

"Hmph," Drago noised. "It may be worth bringing you back down to earth, ghost." Turned and walked to the back of his ship. "Follow me."

Obake arched an eyebrow, looked around at the rest of the captains, unmoving—Hiccup guessed that whatever Drago was going to show him, they had already seen and were terrified of it. Or, perhaps, they didn't want to be within range when Drago got cursed.

Either way, Obake did follow; Hiccup tapped Toothless' head, although the Night Furies were already moving to track the Yokai.

"Oh yes, this is a lovely bit of carpentry; do it yourself?" Obake asked once they were on a broad wooden platform on the back of the ship, one whose purpose Hiccup could only guess at; it looked like a landing platform for dragons, but it was so low that it would get swamped easily. Seafaring dragons, perhaps?

"You wanted to glimpse greatness," Drago said, extending his staff and shaking it over the water. "I'm answering that request."

The water bubbled, frothed—

Hiccup felt his body empty of organs as the massive head rose out of the water, spines and feelers twitching and flicking sea spray off—bigger than any of the ships, so big that one twitch of its head would capsize the ship they were on—the size of the space the ships were circling...that was how big this beast was, that was how much space they had to give it to keep from it crushing one of their ships.

Toothless twitched his head, prompting Hiccup to look and see Tadashi bristling, growling soundlessly—reached out and put a hand to his neck, causing him to twitch and look at him with a slitted eye. "Hey," he whispered. "It's okay, bud." Look back down—

Obake had frozen at the sight of the behemoth, ramrod straight, staring at the monster, the monster staring down at him, growling in something that was almost amusement—

Finally broke away, pacing back to the back of the ship a few steps, straightening his coat like it had gotten ruffled somehow, the behemoth slipping soundlessly back beneath the waves—

"Well?" Drago prompted, expression triumphant—of course it was, that thing was the size of the Red Death easily, and a dragon that size—

An alpha. It had to be. That was why these dragons were here and not chained—the alpha controlled them—

A painful thump—and Drago controlled the alpha. His father was right, there would be no negotiating with him.

Obake had to realize this, ramrod straight and dead still, not facing Drago, head tipped slightly, face smoothing into a blank mask—

"My offer still stands."

Hiccup and Drago both blinked at that. "What?"

Obake turned enough to face Drago. "My offer to assist you still stands."

Judging by the way Drago was arching an eyebrow, he wasn't expecting this response. "And what of Callaghan?"

"Callaghan is a fanatic, I've already told you my opinion of him."

A bit of a smile ghosted across Drago's face, possibly agreement. "Unfortunately for you, you don't bring anything to the table."

"Don't I?" Obake asked, turning to face him. "Are you telling me there's no power in these waters that you're just a tad nervous about? One that's already turned away one armada, and trains dragons to boot?"

"Is that why Callaghan sent you up this way? To learn of dragon riders?"

"You were the priority; the riders of Berk were a happy accident." Tip his head. "One you're focused on, if the trajectory of your fleet is any indication."

"And you think to be of assistance, is that it?"

"I know I can—matter of fact, I can serve you Berk on a silver platter."

"How?" Drago asked, intrigued despite himself.

"Because that fool son of a chief will show anyone who offers him the remotest kindness his loyalty—you're sailing to Berk. I suggest you angle south some, hit a particular dragon nest I spied on the way here. It'll take you a week, at the speed your armada is travelling currently."

"To swell my forces? What of all that talk of sharp knives?"

"That's where I come in," Obake said, stepping forward. "You're heading to Berk, and in doing so you'll be fighting them on their territory, where they can dig in and do battle with all the stubbornness Vikings are known for. But they will follow their chief's son, their own personal dragon tamer—and currently, I have his leash. In one week, I will have Berk's fighting forces on that dragon nest, having spun a tale of woe that those dragons are in danger." The way his head moved suggested he was rolling his eyes, like concern for a dragon's wellbeing was foolishness. "And there, they won't have the advantage. You, with an alpha, will. Berk, on a silver platter, with you able to destroy the man that defied you once and for all."

"Stoick," Drago growled. Eyed Obake warily. "And you can make this happen?"

"My dear man, I've yet to meet a plot I can't enable," Obake said, affecting the sort of gentleman's bow those further east entertained. "One week, and you'll have the slaughter you wanted ahead of schedule. One week, and the biggest obstacle to your advancement is out of your way. Do we have an accord?"

Drago eyed him narrowly, obviously debating—Hiccup, in the rafters with the dragons, feeling cold and stiff—his father was right about everything, everything—

Drago finally nodded, stepped forward.

"Agreed."

Obake maintained his stiff gentleman air that his old chief had taught him, until he was absolutely certain that he was away from prying eyes—

Finally allowed his legs to wobble, sagged against the nearest wall, a hand to his erratically flickering face—

Violet, that baby alpha dragon—the buzzing he had felt in his head and face he had suspiciously attributed to her, wondering if perhaps alpha dragons were telepathic and could control other dragons that way—

That giant dragon added fuel to that theory; he had felt its presence so overwhelmingly he thought his head would split. Being the primary focus of it had been painful, violating, the feeling that that dragon had...what, been trying to impose its will upon him, dig his head open and see what he was thinking?

And then the expression, the head tilt, the look in its eyes—it knew, it knew it had him pinned like a bug under a glass and was enjoying it.

Could it do it to other people? Was it the one operating this whole thing, using Drago as a puppet? He didn't know how to ask and find out, didn't want to get near that thing again—

He would have to. He needed to be rid of this threat, now that he reminded Drago that the Yokai existed they'd be the next domino to fall—

I should hope that's not to scale.

Those tusks—that was why it seemed familiar, despite him never seeing such a dragon before. That meant there was a way out of this, his original plan could still be salvaged—push himself back up, keep walking—

Was tackled, felt a hand grip his collar as a dagger was aimed at his eye—

Let the panic flare his face up but kept everything else cool. "You kill me and you won't get out of this alive."

"How could you!?" Hiccup hissed, slightly deterred by the skull pattern but still looking furious. "I trusted you!"

"That was your mistake," Obake hissed back. "As will be any future decisions you make. Now, I've given you all the information you need: this man is not interested in negotiations unless it's you surrendering. He intends to wipe you and your village out and has the means to do so. He will be at a different island within a week to swell his forces. This will, at the very least, allow you to face him without worrying about the young and the elderly. Are you telling me that you can't formulate a plan between now and then?"

Hiccup eyed him narrowly. "And how is what you're telling me any different from what you told him? You—you fork-tongued snake!"

Now was probably a bad time to mention that all snakes had forked tongues. "The difference is, I would rather you win this coming altercation," Obake told him. "I intend to help you win the coming altercation, but if you persist as-is that offer is going to be considered null and void." Liar—he was going to need the Berkians to keep Drago distracted if his plan wanted to have even a snowball's chance in the Southern Isles of success. "But by all means, stab me—let Drago know that someone else was here, and lose your one chance at tipping the scales in your favor."

Hiccup looked like he was seriously considering that, skewed chances or no—

Hiro was suddenly there, clinging to Obake's chest and glaring up at Hiccup, daring him to go through the little Fury first—dangit Hiro no—tried to push him off, he didn't need Hiro getting caught in the crossfire—

Hiccup wavered, glancing between Obake and Hiro...finally relented, letting go and backing off, giving Obake some much-needed air.

"You have a week," Obake rasped finally, rubbing at his throat. "I suggest you get started."

Hiccup glared at him...did finally leave at Toothless' huff, hopping on the Night Fury's back and flying away.

"So much for that alliance," Obake told Hiro quietly, hugging him close and glancing about—spotted Tadashi, started to head for him—stopped when Tadashi stepped back, looking more mutinous than he had seen in a long while. "Now's a bad time."

Hiro chuffed something that might have been agreement, because at least Tadashi let him get on his back and fly them away. High, very high, flipped at the apex to angle away, affording Obake a spectacular view of just how massive this armada was—Drago had likely been swelling his forces for a while and would march unopposed across the Archipelago if this plan failed.

He couldn't let the plan fail.

"Back to Yokai, as fast as you can," Obake ordered, making sure he was securely strapped in even as Tadashi angled south, moving on to focus on making sure Hiro was secure. "We don't have any time to waste."

Tadashi made a rumbling noise as soon as they were clear of the armada, glancing back at Obake with a suspicious cant to his eyes.

"Or you could take your sweet time, it's not like there's a massive armada led by a man with a pet monster dragon to worry about," Obake offered drily. Hiro chirped something—

Tadashi huffed, shook his head, pumped his wings to speed them along. It had taken several days of relatively lazy flying to get here; direct flight, in haste, might see them back with a day shaved off. One day to do what needed to be done, then the same travel time to get back to the dragon nest. It could be done, narrowly.

Grit his teeth and hunker down, reducing Tadashi's drag and focusing on ironing out the details—he would get one shot at this, one, and he couldn't afford to fail. Kept glancing back on the flight, trying to make sure they weren't followed—looked back forward as Tadashi skimmed through clouds tinted orange by the late afternoon sun, out into clear air—

"Woah! Hit the brakes!"

He started at that call, Tadashi flapping out of time in startlement, already angling away from the shapes looming up—

Realized he recognized the shapes as Wasabi and Fred, Dibs and Felony Carl on their backs—the third shape resolving itself into Gogo as she circled around, angling so Momakase could leer at him.

"What," she asked. "Thought you could go on vacation without me?"

Drat that woman—the plan didn't need a complication, and that was precisely what this was shaping up to be. "Now's a bad time."

"Oh I'm sure where have you been?" Dibs demanded, jabbing a finger at Obake. "And don't give us some song and dance number about...oh my gosh that's my mom's finger get it off me!"

Scrub at his face, not needing this irritation on top of it—shot a look back, ordered Tadashi to fly around. "I'll explain on the way." Maybe he'd be lucky and they'd be satisfied with the brief explanation.