#furou's wishing well

[minatoiskyuubismate]

New chapter of my dagurized fanfic

Part 9: A time to Skrill

 In this episode the first time the Nordic gods made their appearance. They will be more of them in later Episodes. Loki looks a bit like the Marvel comic version of himself.

 Dragon talk and thoughts -italic

  In a dark night, a few days later, a lone glacier far out in the sea began to shake waking two Terrible Terrors roughly. They shrieked in fear and flew into the darkness.

As Thor himself swung his mighty Mjölnir, a bolt of lightning came out of the clouds and struck right in the middle of the glacier, forming a huge crack in the icy surface. From inside the crack came a shriek, and an explosion let the crack widen and finally open. With a wild roar, the Skrill, Hiccup trapped three years ago in this glacier, shot out of his icy prison, finally free again after such a long time.

“You really think this was a wise move?” a deep voice asked.

Thor swung his Mjölnir hammer over his shoulder and looked to the man who was standing to his side on his flying chariot. Taningrisnir and Tanngrnjostr, the two white goats were snorting nervously and pulling at their harness. They were hovering with the chariot over the clouds as they watched the Skrill flying away, heading south.

“It’s the destiny of this dragon, Loki. He can´t be trapped here forever.” Thor the mighty God of Thunder said. Loki, a man with a black goatee and an golden helmet with inward curled horns, frowned. “Sometimes I really don’t like Skulds prophercies.”

“Lets return to Asgard. My work here is done. Taningrinir! Tanngrnjostr! Onward, my mounts!”

The goats bleated, reared with their front legs and fell into a fast gallop.

And the golden chariot sailed up to the sky and vanished between the clouds.

 When the Dragon Riders reached Outcast Island it looked a lot worse than the time the screaming death had attacked. Alwin and the Outcasts were nowhere seen.

“Weird, I see  no arrows or spears.” said Hiccup.

“And no boulders from Catapults.” Fishlegs said.

“This really doesn’t look like a Dragon Hunter attack.”

“And where did everyone go?”

“They must have evacuated the whole island.”

“But what could possibly scare Outcasts from their own island?” Astrid asked.

Hiccup then noticed something he had already seen. Something that he wished never to see again.

“I think this has something to do with it.” he said.

Everyone turned and saw a large crack within a rock and there were scorch marks around it. The whole think looked like a flash.

“I have a baaad feeling.” Fishlegs gulped.

 A few moments later they were on their dragons again and heading towards the glacier. Hiccup remembered exactly where he trapped the dangerous dragon three years ago.

“Yep, the Skrill is gone.” Snotlout said, as they looked down the big crack in the ice.

“How did this happen?” Fishlegs asked puzzled.

“It could be any number of reasons, an earthquake or maybe a lightning storm.”

“Yeah, a mighty lightining-caused by the great Hammer of Thor! Mjölnir!” Tuffnut declared loudly.

Hiccup and the others rolled their eyes.

“Why should the mighty Thor free the Skrill?” Fishlegs asked.

“It doesn’t matter now how it got out.” said Hiccup getting to his feet. “We have to get him back before he hurts anyone else -or before Dagur gets a hold of him.”

“Do you really think, Dagur would use the big Skrill against us?” asked Astrid. “You think, this Dragon could cause him to get deranged again?”

“No, I don’t think he will fall into his old scheme. But we must return this Skrill back here into his icy prison! He is too dangerous.”

“Okay, since the Skrill graviatates toward storms to channel its lightning I would say its following that storm heading south from Outcast island.”

“Fishlegs eyes widened. “Hiccup, isn’t Berk in that way…-oh no.”

 At Berk the thunderstorm was right over the island at the moment and the Skrill had followed suit. Lightning has just stroked the chief´s house and as the black smoke faded, the violet dragon appeared on the roof, shrieking angrily as electricity surged through his body. Then he flew up and began to attack the village!

Astrids Team tried the best to drive the Skrill away but one after another got shot down by the fierce dragon, when Hiccup and his riders arrived. The last one who remained was Spitelout on his Nadder who was able to dodge the attacks so far.

“Is that the best you´ve got, you sparky lizard?!” he yelled. Then he looked down at his Nadder. “No offence to you, of course.”

The Skrill growled and blasted again at him. This time Spitelout got a direct hit with the lightning and he fell off his dragon.

“Dad!” Snotlout yelled and dived on Hookfang towards him.

“Cover the downed riders!” Hiccup ordered.

They began to sore downwards, when Toothless came to a sudden stop.

“Toothless? No! What are you doing?” Hiccup said. The Nightfury turned and faced the Skrill above him.

“Enemy.” the Skrill snarled.

“I show you this time!” Toothless hissed. Both dragons prepare their blasts to fire!

“Toothless! No!” Hiccup yelled and tried to pull the Nightfury back. But it was too late. The two dragons fired and when the two blasts collided, it caused a massive shock wave that sent them flying and knocked Hiccup off of Toothless.

“OAAH! I saw this coming!” Hiccup cursed as he fell down, the Nightfury a few meters below him, who tried to fly on his own, but without his rider he was not able to stay in the air. So he slammed into several carts.

“Toothless!”

Hiccup opend his folded wings on his back, slipped the arms through the slings. So he glided down till he landed on Skullcrushers back behind his father Stoik. The chief wondered and asked where this wings came from and Hiccup told him he would explain it later.

“Father, please land, I must look for Toothless!” the Hooligan heir said.

Luckily the Nightfury was okay, as he crawled out of the smashed carts.

“Toothless, thank the gods you are unharmed! But why must have you pulled such a stupid stunt? You could have been injured!” Hiccup scolded his dragon.

Toothless nudged the hand of his rider and warbled an apology.

“Next time, do as I say, okay? I know you don’t like the Skrill, but you can´t attack him without thinking!” Hiccup said and gave him a playful smack on the right ear.

 Soon the other riders landed and Snotlout appeared with his father over his shoulders.

“Snotlout, is he okay?” Astrid asked.

“Its my dad.” the jounger Jorgenson answered. “He bludgeon his own head for sport. Of course he is fine.”

Spitelout tried to speak, but it just sounded like gibberisch babbling. He clutches his throat and looked extremely furous.

“Like I said, he is fine.” said Snotlout and leaned towards Astrid. “Except for that blast of lightning that hit his head.”

Spitelout looked extremely furious as he tried to say something.

“Yea, I am proud of you too, Dad.” Snotlout smiled and patted his father on the back.

“Well, all the huts seem to be in fairly good condition.” said Fishlegs as he looked around.

“All exept one.” said Astrid pointing to the chief´s hut which was smoking quite badly, the entire wood of the outer walls were charred.

“My house!” Stoik yelled.

“Weird that Stoiks House is the only one the Skrill has attacked.” Astrid said.

“Not directly. He scented me and Toothless there. He is looking for us.” Hiccup answered.

“You are right! And Outcast Island is the last place it saw you guys, before…”

“Before we led him into the crevasse and sealed him in the ice.” Hiccup finished Astrids words.

“He is mad at you!” said Snotlout.

“You are right, Cous´. The Skrill is mad at me and Toothless. And he is looking for revenge for trapping him in that glacier three years ago.” Hiccup nodded.

“We had no other choice. He was too dangerous and if Dagur would have kept him…” Astrid pointed out.

“Explain that to the Skrill.” Hiccup suggested. “The moment he awoke he was hunted relentlessly and then captured by the Outcasts, forced to attacks by Dagur and on top of all frozen in his icy prison again by me and Toothless. I can understand this guy. I tried to get his attention back then, but he was full of hate from the beginning. He trusts no one.”

“Enemy!” Toothless snarled. Hiccup placed a hand on his snout to calm him down.

“Tooth, relax! I know you don’t like him, but try to understand him too, bud. We dealt with the Skrill before, we will deal with him again.”

“Is it just me or is Snotlouts dad acting a little more violent than usual?” Tuff noted as Spitlout swung his axe around and tried to say something.

“Looks like not only the Skrill is out for revenge. -Fear not, dear father. You will be avenged.” Snotlout said and balled his fists.

“If the Skrill is coming again back to Berk for you and Toothless, we need to be ready.” Astrid said.

“We are not waiting for him, Astrid!” Hiccup said with a grim face and mounted Toothless.

 Moments later the Riders were just outside the arena preparing to take off.

“You are sure this is the way you want to play it?” Astrid said, as she approached Hiccup.

“Yeah, there is no way you can handle that Skrill alone, especially you of all people should know that.” Fishlegs said.

“He wants only me and Toothless. And it´s us he is gonna get!” Hiccup said.

“But don’t you think it would be better if we were there?” Astrid asked. “He doesn’t stand a chance against all of us.”

“He knows that. And he will not show up unless he knows it will only be me and Toothless. This Skrill is not dumb.” Hiccup answered.

“All right, you hear our great leader. Let´s saddle up.”

Everyone were mounting their dragons and Spitelout had a conversation with his son, though he still has problems with his speech and Snotlout couldn´t understand a word.

Spitelout then shoved his son out of the way and mounted Hookfang. When Snotlout turned to say something to his friends he saw that they were already gone.

Snotlout and his father soon joined up with the other Riders , who were just flying above Berk as Hiccup was about to set off on his own.

“Okay, guys! We will see you soon! The Skrill will be coming back to Berk as soon as he sees that we are alone. “

The Riders flew off leaving Hiccup and Toothless alone to await the Skrill.

“All right, Bud. Lets see if we can get his attention.” Hiccup said and they soared towards the clouds.

“I know you are here! Its me and my bud you want, right? So come out, here we are!” the Hooligan heir shouted. Toothless then fired a plasma blast into the cloud and they waited, but nothing happened.

“Come out, enemy! Don’t hide you coward!” the Nightfury roared. “I and my human don’t fear you!”

“Want to shoo him out too, eh, bud?”

 Then all of a sudden lightning flashed and they saw the shadow of the Skrill deep within the clouds. Seconds later he merged out of them with lightning charging around his body and the violet dragon looked very angry when he saw Hiccup and Toothless.

“I am no coward!” the Skrill roared.

“Tooth-now!” Hiccup yelled and the Nightfury dived just as the Skrill fired a lightning blast! He then soared above the ocean and the Skrill-despite being so close to the water -followed them.

“Nice move, bud. Now keep him close but not too close. “ Hiccup said. Toothless did his best, but it wasn´t easy to fly straight and dodging the lightning blasts at the same time.

“Come on, just a little longer…”

 Meanwhile, at the glacier, the other Riders were preparing the trap to recapture the Skrill, not knowing that they were watched by two men in a chariot high over the clouds.

“You think this will work?” Loki asked as the two looked at the glacier and the busy riders through a small hole in the clouds.

“We will see.” answered Thor. “We only watch-and did not interfere.”

 “Okay, this trench is definitely deeper than the last one.” said Fishlegs, as he and Meatlug finished melting the ice to create a much deeper trench. “I hope it will hold the Skrill this time.”

Spitelout was shaking his arms furiously.

“You mean after the Jorgensons finished with their revenge, right? We should be the least the ones who melt him into that hole.” Snotlout said.

“Here he comes!” Fishlegs said pointing skywards.

“Okay, as soon as it is inside and Hiccup and Toothless are clear, we seal it up.” said Astrid as they flew off to a safe distance. Spitelout grumbled something, while he was sitting with crossed arms and a grim face behind his son.

“Yeah, she always acts as the boss, when little cous´ is busy.“ Snotlout nodded.

 Hiccup and Toothless were making their way to the glacier and the Skrill was not far behind them.

“Tooth, aim for the tunnel!” said Hiccup. The Nightfury accelerated towards the glacier and flew straight into the tunnel. But the Skrill came to a sudden stop.

The other riders watched the scene from a ridge.

“Uh-oh.” Fishlegs murmured.

“Whats going on? Why did it stop?” Snotlout asked.

“Call me crazy, but I think he knows it’s a trap.”

“Smart boy.” said Ruffnut.

 “This dragon is indeed smart.” Loki mused as he and Thor watched the scene from high over the clouds.

 “Isn´t it obvious? It’s the same trap we used on him three years ago. He had not forgotten it.” Fishlegs said.

Hiccup and Toothless were still flying through the tunnel unaware of this event. It wasn’t until they were quite deep into the tunnel that Hiccup noticed that the Skrill wasn’t following them anymore.

“Dragon dung! This isn’t good! – Bud, turn!”

Hiccup forced the Nightfury to make a sharp U-turn and flew the way back to the entrance.

When they arrived at the opening, they heard the Skrill screeching angrily.

“Not this time!” Toothless understands and in the next moment the violet dragon began blasting the tunnel with a lightning blast, letting the entrance collapse!

“Bud, back!” Hiccup shouted and let Toothless fall back to prevent him and the Nightfury from being hit by the ice chunks.

 The Skrill then flew straight at the riders who quickly scattered in all directions. But instead attacking them it concentrated his blasts to the glacier.

“It´s trying to seal Hiccup and Toothless inside!” Astrid yelled.

“Who knew that dragons had a sense of poetic justice.” Tuffnut said.

Then out of nowhere Spitelout forced Hookfang down and charged straight towards the Skrill!

“Watch out!” Snotlout yelled.

The Skrill fired a lightning blast that grazed Hookfang forcing him down. The Nightmare crashed into the snow his two riders were thrown off him in the process. The Skrill then began to attack the other riders trying to shoot them down too.

Meanwhile, on the ground, the two Jorgensons got back onto their feet and Spitelout started to yell and babble and swung two axes, still not able to speak normal. The Skrill heard the yells and turned to face them.

“Bring it on, Sparky!” shouted Snotlout as he grabbed one of the axes of his father. The Skrill charged straight towards them but before it could attack, a plasma blast shot through the collapsed cave entrance and everyone saw Hiccup and Toothless break through the new made opening completely unscathed.

“That’s for trapping us in an ice tunnel!” Hiccup said.

“Hey, how come he gets revenge?” Snotlout asked. Toothless fired a second plasma blast at the Skrill, but it dogded it, answering with a lightning blast, who the Nightfury avoid with a barrel roll. Then he flew off out to the open sea.

“Okay, this did not work. Now I need another plan.” the Hooligan Heir grumbled. He tried to loose the Skrill within a sea stack maze, but the purple dragon was just as swift as Toothless and continued to fire lightning blasts at the Nightfury and his rider.

“How much blasts did this guy still have?” Hiccup cursed, as the blasts got more and more just inches away from him. “We need to find save cover! -Ah, and I know exactly, where that is. Toothless, head north!”

The Nightfury flew as Hiccup told him and the Skrill followed, continuing to blast lightning at them. Fortunately, they were able to survive long enough to reach their destination, the ship Graveyard.

Suddenly Hiccup felt one of the Skrill lightning blasts shot past his ear, singeing some of his hair and he felt a sharp pain shot through his forehead.

“AH!” the Hooligan heir cried out and sagged in the saddle. Half-conscious he saw that Toothless Tailfin was on fire!

“Holon, brd…hld rrn…” he groaned, trying his best to held the Nightfury aloft. They passed an assortment of different ships and Toothless made a hard landing on the deck of the nearest abandoned ship. Hiccup was thrown off Toohtless back and landed unconscious on the planks.

 Toothless was the first who got on his feet again. He whined and nudged his rider, licking him over his face. Luckily the shipyard was surrounded by thick fog, so the Skrill could not see where they have landed. After a few moments, Hiccup finally opened his eyes again. He groaned and sat up.

“Toofplsss….uhh..nuuh! Nuw mf gf ht lkr Sptltff!” Hiccup tried to speak. (Toothless-oh no! No I got hit like Spitelout!) But he felt that it was not a direct hit, maybe the symptoms would be go away faster.

Groggily, Hiccup pulled himself to his feet.

First he looked around for the Skrill, but since they were blasted, they had lost it in the fog. He then turned to Toothless.

“Okhh…. Lts hrrv a lrrk ut thrrt trrll.(Okay, lets have a look at your tail)” he mumbled. Toothless looked at him puzzled with wide eyes. Hiccup grunted angrily and sighed.

Toothless showed his tail fin and it was beyond repair. The fabric had been burned off and the rods were pointing in all sorts of directions.

“Okahh, al´l gt yrrr sprrrt. (Okay, I will get your spare.) “ Hiccup said and looked through his satchel, but found nothing. “Jrrst grrt! Thrt wrs thrrr sparrr alrrrdrr! Wlll, at rrrst wl lst thrrr Skrrrrll. (Just great! That was the spare already. Well, at least we lost the Skrill.)”

 Suddenly out of nowhere lightning rained down on top of them, and since there was a lightning storm above them that could only mean one thing. The Skrill was right over them but Hiccup noticed the shots were completely random and not directly fixed on them.

“Hrr sss trng trr to sshh sss uut! (He is trying to shoo us out!)” blubbered Hiccup. Damn speech problems, he cursed inwardly. His tounge felt like he had a piece of fur in his mouth.

Dragon and Rider began running over the deck, searching for cover. I need something to fix Tooth´s Tail, the Hooligan heir thought. He crouched behind a barrel when he noticed that the lightning blasts had stopped. And that the thunderstorm had moved.

“That’s our chance.” he thought when he saw the mast falling straight towards them!

“Thhttllsss! Loorrrk ourrrrt! (Toothless, look out!) Hiccup yelled as he shoved the Nightfury out of the way-just in time.

The mast landed right where they were standing moments ago, smashing the barrel to pieces. Then he noticed the piece of sail that was flapping in the wind and he found exactly what he needed to fix Toothless tailfin.

“Thrrrks, Drrgn Hutrrrs. (Thanks, Dragon Hunters.)” Hiccup said smiling. Then he started to work. He cut a big piece of the remaining sail and placed it on the rods for measurement.

 During the repair Hiccup kept constantly talking, reciting nursery rimes he remembered and other stuff. And he heard his speech ability slowly coming back. And the unconfortable feeling on his tounge vanished too. Some time later the repairs were finished.

“Now this shrrd get urrs up in thr air again. But how are wrr going to take out thrr Skrill? I am sure he is strll here…” Hiccup murmured. Then he got an idea as he climbed into Tootless saddle.

“Maybe we don’t have to. I bet those Drrgn Hunters wrrld love to see this guy in actrrn.”

Just then a lightning blast shot out of the fog, this time a lot closer than the previous ones. Hiccup looked up and discovered the Skrill hovering over them and roaring.

“You will not get away from my wrath!” Toothless heard the purple dragon growling.

“Up, bud! Lets get thrrt Skrill to frllow us!” said Hiccup and the Nightfury took off into the air. The hunt was on again.

 Not far from the ship graveyard Rykers ship was sailing through the waves.

“Captain, there is a storm approaching! Should we change the course, sir?” called the watch in the crows nest.

Ryker looked at the dark clouds.

“Aye! Tell about, due south!” he commands.

“Wait! Nobody move!” said Dagur looking at the storm through his spyglass.

“What now Dagur?” Ryker grumbled looking slightly annoyed.

“That’s no storm! I know those magnificent flashes anywhere That’s my Skrill!” the Berserker said. Then he looked to the helmsman. “Head towards it!”

“What? Another Skrill?” Ryker asked. “They are very rare and valuable.”

“This one is a grown-up! A fierce one and in his best ages!”

“You have seen this one before, too?”

“Well, I practically owned it! Like I am doing with little Cloudstorm. He was mine!” Dagur then looked quite teary eyed. “After all this years, my big baby has returned! Come to me, Skrilly, I missed you!”

“What a jerk!” one of the hunters grumbled and Ryker rolled his eyes.

 Hiccup, who really diddn´t miss the Skrill was trying not to get hit by another lightning blast. Toothless was flying as fast as he could and performing quite a few manoeveres to dodge the blasts of lightning whizzing past him.

“There! A hunter ship! Come on, bud! We are going low then they wont see us. Not while that light show going on up there.” said Hiccup and went down so that they were gliding a few steps above the water surface.

 On the ship Dagur was looking through his spyglass and saw the Skrill emerging from the storm clouds.

“Yeah! Its him! I would recognize my fierce buddy everywhere!” he said exited.

As Hiccup predicted no one on the ship took notice of him and the Nightfury as they flew low towards them. When Dagur noticed that two of the Hunters moved a catapult in position he growled:” Don’t even think about it! That’s my dragon up there!”

“Let him handle this! He knows the dragon better than any of us!” Ryker said to his men.

 Hiccup and Toothless flew closer and closer towards the ship. “Just a moment-now!”

When they reached the front of the ship, the Nightfury shot upward, giving Dagur quite a scare that he fell over.

“Hiccup! I knew it! Where this Skrill is he can not be far away! But why would he lead a Skrill right to us? Has he lost his mind?” he murmured and pulled himself up. Then he noticed something. “I see. He is chasing them! He is after Hiccup and the Nightfury! My little Freckle must have angered him some way. -  Hey, Skrilly! Leave the little runt alone and come to me! Come to daddy Dagur!” he shouted with outstretched arms.

Ryker rolled his eyes. Sometimes this Berserker really behaved like a jerk, he thought.

“If I only had Shattermaster here, then I could go and help my brother! But he is with Heather on another ship!” Dagur thought desperately, as he watched the sky. “Okay! Be ready! When the Skrill get spotted, it will run for the clouds. And we don’t want to channel the lightning.”

The Skrill was getting closer and firing lightning everywhere.

“Archers-Fire!” the Berserker commanded.

The Hunters began to fire as many arrows as they could at the Skrill and one of them struck the tail of the dragon. They heard the Skrill screeching before it fell from the sky and slammed into the water. Dagur and Ryker chuckled evilly at the sight.

Up in the air, Hiccup saw what happened.

“Okay, the Hunters fell for it. Lets get him out of the water before they did!” he said and they turned and flew downwards straight towards the ship. “Come on, bud. If Dagur and Ryker get that dragon, they well be impossible to deal with, even if he is at our side now. I am a bit afraid the Skrill could change his mind and he could fall in his old scheme again.”

The Hooligan hoped that it would not happen, even if Dagur would make the Skrill his own. But he wanted to play safe.

The Hunters were just lauching a net into the water and snacked the Skrill when one of the men spotted the incoming rider.

“Sir! Its this Nightfury with his rider again!” he shouted pointing upwards.

“Hold the course, bud!” Hiccup said as the got closer towards the railing where the net was hauled in. He pulled out his sword to cut the net, but a couple of arrows came flying before he got the chance and his weapon was knocked out of his hand by one of them.

“Dragondung!” Hiccup cursed.

“Stay away from my Skrill, runt!” Dagur roared as the flew past. “Hurry! Hurry! Bring him to me!”

More Hunters fired arrows at Hiccup but they were already out of range.

“Forget them! We had what we want.” Ryker grinned.

“Thanks for the gift, Hiccup! It will make an excellent weapon.” Dagur smirked, as they pulled the Skrill onboard.

“And if not, its hide will fetch a good price.” said Ryker, looking at their new acquisition.

 Hiccup looked down at the ship horrified.

“What did I just do! I have led the Skrill right in the hands of our enemies.”

But he couldn’t do nothing more at the moment. With a sigh he turned Toothless and made his way back to the edge.

 Dagur watched silently as the still stunned Skrill was put in a cage.

“We must held him in Water. Then he can´t fire his cursed lightning blasts!” he ordered then.

Bring the cage down in the holds under the water line. There is a bit seawater leaking in there.” Ryker ordered.

When nobody looked, Dagur turned and walked to the bow, where he stared in the direction Hiccup flew.

“Don’t worry, little freckle. He will be in good hands.” he smiled, but it was not an evil smile.

 When Hiccup returned to the edge, he told his friends of the failure of his plan and that the Hunters now had the Skrill, and that Dagur himself had helped to catch it.

“You let the Dragon Hunters capture Skrill? And especially when Dagur was on board of that ship?” said Astrid in disbelief.

“That wasn’t the plan! They were supposed to take it down and then I and Tooth would swoop in and grab it away. But..-“

“They got it first.” Fishlegs finished.

“So Dagur has the Skrill again? The big, wild, fierce one who shoot his lightning at all who came in his way? Just great!” Snotlout growled. “Now he will chain that beast up like a puppet and take him on a great attack run through the archipelago!”

“No, I don’t think he will do that! Even if he now has the most dangerous dragon in his hands, I don’t think he will use him as a weapon again! It could even be, that he will find a way to let him escape.” Hiccup said.

“Or he tries to tame him, like he had done it with Shattermaster.” Tuffnut said.

“This dragon is NOT tamable, Tuff. This Skrill is not like Cloudstorm. And Dagur knows this. This dragon is full of hate for humans. He had too much bad experiences with us -and now he is caught again. “

“Hiccup is right. Even he was not able to pull him at our side.” Fishlegs said.

“Nevertheless, I made a mistake leading him to the hunters, but this guy was hard on our heels and I saw no other option!” the Hooligan sighed. “I really messed up. And I am not sure how to fix it.”

“But-you never said that before.” Tuffnut said. “You always found a solution.”

“Yeah, but I am not perfect.” Hiccup sighed.

“Hiccup, everything you did, you did to protect that dragon and to protect all of us.” said Astrid.

“She is right. We all make mistakes and that’s how we learn from them. Even Dagur did.” said Fishlegs and smiled a bit.

“He is right. The question isn’t how you fix it, its how we all fix it. As a team.” said Astrid. “Aand…maybe….with a little backup from a particular berserker.”

All riders walked over to Hiccup smiling.

“My dad says we are letting you off to easy, but we are still in.” said Snotlout.

“Now we just have the figure out a way to find the hunters.” said Astrid.

“Hiccup which way was the storm heading?” asked Fishlegs.

“East.”

“Then they will be going west. Because the Skrill can´t collect the lightning and attack them.”

“They would also choose a place that has easy access to the water so they can contain the Skrill without any fear of it shooting any lightning and some ideal cover. “ said Astrid.

“Good thinking, guys. There is a group of islands just east of where we were. Lots of secluded beaches and a covered hide in.” Hiccup nodded. “We took flight in one hour.”

 On told islands the Hunters had moored the ship and unloaded the cages. One of them was put in the water near the shore and covered with a big tarpaulin, as mostly of the cages.

The Skrill stood still in his prison, his feet ankle -deep in the water, his eyes closed. But they snapped open when he heard the footsteps of a human coming into his direction.

“I don’t think we would meet again.” someone said.

The Skrill turned his head to the source of the voice. The tarpaulin was lifted a bit up and the dragon looked into a face with red hair and beard. The scent of this human was very familiar but his appearance has changed. But he would recognize this human every time. The human who put this harness on him and forced him to shoot on other humans! His cackling laughter. The events from three years ago were still fresh in his mind.

 “My little brother told me he had freezed you in a glacier three years ago, to prevent that I could get again my hands on you. But it seems you were able to free yourself-only to be again hunted and captured.” Dagur told in a calm, low voice.

When he stretched his hand through the bars, the Skrill growled and snapped at it with his teeth. The berserker quickly pulled it back and smiled sadly.

“Shhh… Easy, bud. I don’t want to harm you anymore. What did Hiccup think to lure you to Rykers ship? Were you hunting him? Are you still mad at him, because he froze you again in the ice three years ago? I am sure he had his reasons. You were full of hate. And I am mostly the cause of it.” Dagur sighed and walked away from the cage. “I know you are angry-and afraid, because of the water you can´t use your lightning. But don’t worry. Hiccup and the others will come and free you.”

Dagur sat down on the shore and continued talking quietly to the caged Skrill. “If I could I would free you myself, but I can´t blow my cover and by the looks you showed me you would be kill me for sure if I would open the cage.-Look, I am sorry for what I have done to you in the past, but hey, my body ached days after you electrocuted me. I always wanted to have a Skrill on my own and do you know what? I found one . Cloudstorm is his name. He is still a hatchling, but he is well treated and cared at home on my island. He lost his mommy, a death song caught and ate her! So I am trying to fix with the little one what I have done wrong with you. I think you don’t even have a name, right?”

The Skrill in his cage held still and only grumbled. Redhair was talking a lot. Redhair had a low calm voice. Bud he did not understand his human words.

“I think, I name you Mjölnir. Aye, you are as fierce and strong as Thors mighty hammer. I don’t know if you understand one word of my babbling, but I am really sorry for the bad treatment and all the chasing and hunting you got so far. You are a desired dragon for a lot of people. But I will help and do everything I can for you to regain your freedom. As Hiccup helped me to regain mine. I owe you something, bud.”

 “DAGUR! Where in Thors name are you, you useless Berserker?” Rykers voice boomed over the dark place. Then he spotted him.

“Ah, observing your dragon of desire? You don’t think you can train it?” the bald hunter smirked.

“You cant ride a skrill. The outcharges would kill you in an instant.” Dagur answered calm. “You know my little Cloudstorm? His lightning strikes are getting more powerful every day. And what did you think this one here could do if he gets free again? He did not forgive so easy.”

When the two men trudged away and up the shore, the Skrill watched them leave and grumbled. He remembered the redhaired human. Once he put an harness on him and forced him to hunt another smaller human and a Nightfury. Hunted, Caged, forced to fight. It was always the same. First he was trapped in this icy mountain when he tried to hide from his Hunters for he don’t know how long. Then again after a rough awakening, he was hunted again, captured and used as a weapon. Tricked and freezed again in his icy prison. Then this strange bolt who helped him escaping again. It seems an never ending circle. The Redhair was older now, and he had changed. He talked to him with a calm voice -but what if it was a trick again? He don’t know. But the Redhair gave him a name. A human name, but it had a good sound. All he could do for now was wait. Wait for his chance to get free again. He don’t want to lay down and give up.

 Later that night, the dragon riders headed west and found the islands soon after. Fishlegs had gone first to scout since Meatlug was the smallest of their dragons and the one who made the most less noise.

He soon returned and flew beside Hiccup.

“I think, I found them. There is a campfire and a lot of singing in deep voices around at the other side of the main island.” said Immerman.

“Okay, lead the way.” said Hiccup.

“Follow me.”

Fishlegs led them towards the area he mentioned. The landed behind a few bushes and rocks and looked over to see several Hunters around a campfire and cages with dragons behind them.

Hiccup looked at the othes.

“Okay, they haven’t noticed us yet. We´ll quietly make our way along this tree line over to the cages. That must be where they hold the Skrill.” he whispered.

But Spitelout didn´t thought of that. He jumped up, swung his axe and shouted in his jumbled speech.

“My dad says that´s a terrible plan and we should just attack.” Snotlout translated. Then he gasped. “Wait, what?”

But it was too late. Spitelout already rushed past the riders and charged straight forward at the Hunters, who jumped up and grabbed their weapons.

“Who is this lunatic?” one of the Hunters asked.

“Maybe one who stranded here and got insane from the isolation. This guy can even talk normal anymore.” answered another who blocked Spitlouts axe.

 Hiccup facepalmed himself.

“Okay, change of plan. We will use Spitelout as a distraction. Snotlout, you and your father keep the Hunters busy while the rest of us look for the Skrill.” he said. His cousin nodded and mounted Hookfang before heading over to his father for backup. The others ran with their dragons along the trees till they reached the cages. There were several dragons inside them, but no Skrill.

“There! That one in the water! This must be it!” Hiccup whispered, as he spotted a single cage standing in the shallow water and covered with a tarpaulin.

Hiccup slowly approached the cage and removed the tarpaulin. There, standing in the middle of it, was the Skrill and he didn´t look happy. Hiccup probably feel the same way if he was trapped in a cage with his ankles in the water and facing the person that froze him inside a glacier. The purple dragon growled.

“I know, I know. You cant fire while you are in the water.” said the Hooligan holding his hands up defensively. “But don’t worry. We are here to help.”

Help to free me and put me again in the icy prison, the Skrill thought. But the little human with the Nightfury was here, as Redhair told.

Hiccup slowly made his way onto the pier and approached the Skrill as calmly as possible. He stretched his hand out, to try again, if the purple dragon was this time ready to cooperate, but he quickly pulled it back, when the Skrill snapped at it. Toothless roared at him immediately.

“Leave my human! He wants to help, dumbdragon!”

“Bud, no! Stay quiet! And you too! Or the Hunters will hear us! Okay?” Hiccup hissed to his dragon and to the Skrill.

“Well, it´s too late for that.” said a familiar voice.

Hiccups heart dropped as he turned around and saw that they were surrounded by Hunters aiming their arrows at them. Toothless was netted. The remaining dragons were put in cages and the riders were soon joined by Snotlout and Spitelout.

Ryker pointed with his sword at them and then Dagur approached with an evil smirk on his face.

“Told you, he would come back to free my Skrill.” the Berserker said as he approached Hiccup. “How could you? We barely had time to get reacquainted.”

Dagur then walked over to the Skrills cage and chuckled. The Skrill roared at him. What was Redhair up to? Then Dagur winked at the purple dragon and turned so that the others only saw his back.

“Be prepared, Mjölnir. I am sure, Hiccup and his Nightfury will free you soon.” he whispered so silent, that only the Skrill could hear it.

 “Never mind that, Dagur.” said Ryker. “Just look at all the new dragons your friend has brought us.”

The Berserker turned and grabbed Hiccup by the shoulders.

“Lock em up. And muzzle the Nightfury.” Ryker ordered. Some Hunters were shoving Toothless into a cage while another man placed the muzzle over his snout. The Nightfury did all to get not into the cage and fought back as good as he could. Hiccup were shoved to the other captives.

The Hooligan looked around and smirked.

“I know that look.” Fishlegs said with a low voice.

“What are you thinking?” Astrid whispered.

Hiccup looked at the Skrill, which was trying to break free from his cage. And then at Dagur who made a secret finger sign that he was prepared.

“The enemy of my enemy-“

“Might kill us all?” Astrid offered.

“Yes, but he also might help us.”

Hiccup suddenly whirled around and charged towards Dagur. He gave him a good shove, and although the Berserker did not loose his balance really, he did as if he had and let himself fall back at the two Hunters that were still trying to shove the Nightfury in the cage, knocking them over.

“Bud! The cage!” Hiccup yelled.

With the net halfway tangled around him and the muzzle around his snot, Toothless made a three-legged run for the Skrills cage, rammed it and began to push it over. The dragon couldn’t belive it. His enemy helped him?

With one final push he was able to roll the cage onto the pier and the Skrills legs were no longer in the water. The Nightfury jumped away from the cage just as a lightning bold struck it! All had to cover their eyes from the blinding light, but when they looked again, they saw that the Skrill was now free-and very angry. He fired a lightning blast that knocked several hunters off their feet. In the meantime Toothless tried to pry himself out of the tangled net. Growling he tried to bite through the ropes.

“Mjölnir! Go!” Dagur hissed who had jumped behind a rock and made a corresponding wave with his hand. Ryker grabbed one of the fallen bows and aimed an arrow at the Skrill. The Skrill tried to take off but one of the spikes of his tail was caught between the cage bars. He shrieked in fury and tried to free himself.

“NO!” Hiccup shouted, ran between Ryker and the Skrill and stretched his arms out. “NO!”

But Ryker released the arrow, apparently not caring if he had the Skrill or not.

“Well, then it´s you, stupid boy!” he growled.

But Dagur jumped out and threw himself and the Hooligan out of the arrows range. The tip only scraped Dagurs armor and changed his direction, so that the Skrill was not hit.

“Stupid boy! Will you let yourself killed?” he growled at Hiccup.

“Dagur! You idiot!” Ryker cursed.

The Skrill finally was able to free his tail and fired! The impact hit Ryker who was knocked out before he had the chance for a second arrow shot. Then the enraged dragon spotted Toothless who was still trying to free himself.

“Toothless!” Hiccup cried. The Skrill stopped in midair and turned his head to the desperate voice.

The little Human. He feared for his dragon.

Dagur, who still hold Hiccup down shook his head and his mouth formed a quiet “NO”. The Skrill saw it, understood and swiped over the captured Nightfury to attack the remained hunters. Redhair has not tried to catch him again. Redhair has begged to spare the trapped Nightfury. Redhair wanted him to be free.

“Yes, you have understood it, Mjölnir.” Dagur thought relieved. “Good boy. Now go!”

“Mjölnir?”

“Its time to give him a name, don’t you think? Look at him! He strikes like Thors mighty hammer, what Name would fit him better than that?”

 Suddenly the Skrill shrieked, began to wobble and crashed to the ground.

“NO! Not again!” Dagur groaned as he saw Spitelout waving the bow Ryker has dropped when he was knocked out and heard the Jorgenson cheering.

“At last, my dad has gotten his revenge.” Snotlout sighed.

“I am sorry, Dagur. But this Skrill is too dangerous and too desired.” Hiccup sighed.

 Dagur was the first who was near the fallen Skrill, while Hiccup helped Toothless to get out of his bindings. Now for the first time he could have a better look at this mighty creature. He looked like his little Cloudstorm, only much bigger.

Careful, he stretched out his hand and touched the head of the immobile and stunned dragon.

“I am sorry, bud. I wished we could become friends, but your hate for humans is too big.” he murmured.

“Dagur….we must take him back to the glacier, where he was frozen.” Hiccup said.

“And I really can´t keep him?”

“Dagur!” Astrid growled. “Do you think, he would welcome you with open wings? After what you did to him?”

“You are right. He doesn’t trust anyone. Especially not humans.”

 A net was put around the Skrill and before the Hunters woke up again the Riders were on the way back to the glacier, after the other caged dragons were freed. The Skrill watched it through clouded eyes. They freed the dragons. Redhair freed the caged dragons. But why not him? Then Redhair returned with a sad face.

Dagur watched the netted Skrill and sighed.

“I am sorry, Mjölnir. But the others overwoved me.”

 The next morning, at the glacier.

The net with the Skrill was carried by Meatlug, who was steered by Fishlegs over the ravine.

“Okay, Fishlegs, a little to the left.” said Astrid, as the Gronkle descended towards the ravine. “Now a little bit right-that´s it. Lower him in.”

Hiccup and Dagur watched as Fishlegs lowered the net with the Skrill into the ravine. When looking into his eyes, the Hooligan couldn’t help but feel guilty about trapping him in the icy prison again. And he saw the unhappy look in the Berserkers face.

“I promised him, that you would save him, little one. Hiccup…must we really put him back in the ice again?” Dagur asked. “He spend the last three years in it and before that Gods know how long. Its like being imprisoned. And I know of what I am speaking!”

Hiccup held his chin.

“You are right, I have the same in my mind. Its not right. I gave you a second chance. Why not him too?”

“Yeah, I know you would think the same.” Dagur smiled.

The Skrill watched silently the speech of the two humans. The smaller one who always tried to make contact with him, he even tried to save him from getting hit by this arrow. And the older, red haired one, who was now trying to prevent him from being frozen into the glacier again. Redhair has changed. Redhair wanted to help.

“Hiccup, the Skrill hates you and Toothless. It hates Dagur and all humans. It wanted to kill you!” Astrid reminded.

“But it didn’t. It saved us. And it risked his own life saving us. If we do this, we are not better than the Dragon hunters.” said Hiccup and pointed to the Skrill. “We are just using a different cage. And he doesn’t deserve that. I gave Dagur a chance-and I will give him the same chance too.”

“Besides-showing mercy is how Hiccup made a friendship with Toothless-and with Dagur.“ Fishlegs said.

Astrid nodded, pulled out her axe and gave it to the Hooligan Heir.

 “May I, brother?” Dagur asked.

Hiccup smiled, nodded and gave Dagur the axe. With one swift move he sliced net open and made some steps back to Hiccups side. The Skrill roared as electricity surged through his body. Redhair hat cut the net. Redhair has freed him.

“Shhh…calm down, my friend. I told you, that Hiccup will save you. This time we don’t want to freeze you again. You are now free to go, great Mjölnir.” the Berserker said and laid down the axe in the snow. He had found out, that Cloudstorm got calm, when he made low shushing noises.

When the Berserker hold out his hands in a soothing manner, Mjölnir stopped his flashing and bowed his head. It was his gesture of trust. Redhair smiled. Redhair bowed too.

“You are free now. Go and search for a safe place to live, a place with no humans. But don’t forget. On berserker island, there is always a home place for you. In freedom.” Dagur said, as Hiccup and the dragons bowed their heads too.

The Skrill looked at Hiccup, then at Dagur.

Then the purple dragon made a step near the Berserker, closed his eyes and touched Dagurs head with his snout, before he turned around and shot up in the air.

“Wow! This time the dragon made the first step! He touches you like I touch them when I reach out my hand!” Hiccup said astonished.

“He accepted my apologizes. Thank you, my friend.” Dagur says touched by the trust the Skrill gave him. The Skrill growled and for the first time he remembered, he felt a bit happiness. Redhair and the small human gave him a chance. Redhair apologized. And he forgave him.

But then the dragon remembered, that there was at least one thing to do. He fired a lightning bolt into the sky.

The next moment a smaller bolt hit Spitelout on the head, bringing him another shocking experience.

“How did you know that he wouldn’t turn on us, as we let him go?” Astrid asked Hiccup as he returned the axe to her.

“Dagur told me, that he spoke calmly and low to him, when he was captured. And when he wanted to attack Toothless, Dagur gave him a sign not to do it. And he spared Tooth. He spared even him. “ Hiccup smiled and laid a hand on Dagurs shoulder.

“Huff, you two really live dangerously.” Fishlegs sighed.

“Well, my dad said, he is very proud of us, especially me. His favourite son.”

Spitelout crossed his arms and glared at his son.

“I didn’t say that.” he said with a clear voice.

Snotlout´s eyes widened and he slowly turned towards his father. “Dad, you got your voice back! That’s great!”

“Is it really?”

Spitelout grabbed his sons shoulder before he could run off.

“We will see about that. We have a lot to talk about, boy.” he grumbled.

“Uncle, please be not too harsh with him. We need him back soon.” Hiccup smiled and the other Riders laughed. When Dagur looked up into the sky he still could see the lightning between the clouds, who were slowly vanished into the distance.

“I wish you all the best, great Mjölnir.”

 Much later, in the night, in a small secluded hut in the woods at Dragons edge.

Hiccup and Dagur had cuddled together in their warm furs and let the events of the last two days passing by.

“I am very proud of you, Dag. How you handled the Skrill, that he not attacked us. You have improved a lot when it comes to interact with dragons. Mjölnir trusted you in the end and even touched you.” said Hiccup.

“Well, it seemed, part of my babbling at least reached his mind. Cloudstorm held still too when I am talking to him and listen to my words. Then he started to croon and warble and flapped his small wings. When I returned home I will test how he will react when I bow my head before him.”

“I am sure it’s a part of his body language. Sigh, there is so much to learn from them.”

“Heh, we are a great team, are we? But you really wanted to risk your life for Mjölnir?”

“Well, you saved me from being shot by Ryker. Thanks again for that. And for saving Toothless in the process. And you were a good actor, playing the bad guy.”

“Well, I have years of experience. “ Dagur grinned. Then his face went serious. “Do you think, my little Cloudstorm would leave me, when he is grown-up?” he asked.

“I cant say it, Dag. It depends on a lot of things. Remember when Hookfang ran away to protect the eggs of the female Nightmare? We first thought he would run wild again, but we were wrong.”

“I hope he will not leave me.”

“Dagur. When Cloudstorm choose one day to be a free and wild dragon again, promise me, that you will let him go -and not force him to stay or even cage him.”

“Dagur sighed. “I promise. I could never hurt this little buddy.”

“And even if he leaves you and Berserker island, you can be very proud of yourself. You saved his life and raised him. And I am sure he will be thankful for that. But if he wanted to go, you must let him go.”

“Would you do this for Toothless too, if he wanted to go separate ways?”

“Well, he could not fly on his own for now, but I would invent something, to fulfill his wish, if he really wants one day to leave me. -But I doubt that he will.”

“Well, if this day will come-I will never leave you, my little brother.” Dagur said and smiled. Hiccup smiled back and laid his head on the Berserkers broad chest.

 They did not know, that on a rock, in some distance to their secluded little hut, a purple Skrill watched them with intense yellow eyes through the open hatch. His tooth-staring mouth turned into a small smile.

Then he turned around to face a great brown scaled monstrous Nightmare with golden eyes.

“So this was a test.” the Skrill growled. “For me and these humans?”

“Yeah, I am sorry for that-but in the end you got your freedom, eh?” the Nightmare purred. “But the way of the gods can be strange sometimes.”

“Grmm….they really can.” the Skrill grumbled. Then he bowed before the Nightmare, opened his wings and flew away. The other dragon watched him, till he vanished between the clouds. Then he flew away too in the opsite direction.

 to be continued…- in Maces and Talons.

#httyd rtte #httyd hiccup #dagur the deranged #httyd fanfiction