The dawn broke with an eerie quiet, the first rays of sunlight painting the Scourge ships in shades of crimson and gold. Astrid adjusted her axe strapped to her back and nodded at the dragon riders gathered behind her. Above them, their dragons waited silently, hidden in the cliffs, ready to strike at the first signal.
"Alright," Astrid began, her voice steady despite the tension gripping her chest. "We stick to the plan. Dagur, you and Eret will create a diversion on the starboard side. Snotlout, you're with Fishlegs. Find and secure Toothless. I'll head to the lower deck to find Hiccup. Heather, keep the skies clear. Everyone understand?"
The group nodded, their hardened expressions reflecting the weight of years of battles and close calls.
Dagur smirked, his axe gleaming in the dawn’s light. "You can count on me to make some noise."
"Too much noise," Snotlout muttered under his breath.
Astrid ignored the banter, her focus on the looming ship. “Let’s move.”
As the riders slipped into the water, Ruffnut and Tuffnut remained standing, watching the group go.
Tuffnut scratched his head. “I mean, I’m not the smartest guy, but it feels like we were forgotten.”
Ruffnut shrugged. “Astrid’s too emotional right now. Snotlout and Fishlegs probably won’t even find Toothless in time. So, we may as well check it out ourselves.”
Tuffnut grinned. “Leave it to Astrid to send two knuckleheads into battle, am I right?”
The riders swam through the cold waters, their movements silent as shadows. Dagur and Eret reached the starboard side first, placing incendiary devices along the hull. Moments later, an explosion rocked the ship, flames licking the sides as Scourge warriors scrambled to contain the chaos.
Using the distraction, Snotlout and Fishlegs climbed aboard and began searching for the deck where Toothless was caged. Their progress halted when a group of soldiers emerged, forcing them to hide in the shadows.
“Great,” Snotlout whispered. “Now how are we supposed to get over there?”
Fishlegs scanned their surroundings. “Maybe we look for something useful until they move on?”
“Fine,” Snotlout sighed. “You go that way. I’ll go this way.”
Meanwhile, Astrid slipped into the ship's lower decks, her heart pounding as she navigated the dimly lit corridors. The air reeked of salt and damp wood, and the sound of boots echoed faintly above her.
She turned a corner and froze. At the end of the corridor, Hiccup sat at a table, his face partially hidden in the shadows. He looked up slowly as if sensing her presence.
“Hiccup,” Astrid breathed, relief flooding her. She stepped closer. “I’m here to get you out. Let’s go.”
He didn’t move. Instead, he leaned back, his expression unreadable. “Why would I leave? I’m right where I need to be.”
Astrid’s heart sank. Something was wrong. She tightened her grip on her axe. “Hiccup, what are you talking about? This isn’t you. They’ve done something to you.”
He chuckled softly, a sound so unlike him it sent chills down her spine. “Done something to me? No, Astrid. They’ve shown me the truth.”
Her breath caught. “What truth?”
“That dragons were never meant to be part of our world,” he said, his tone cold and distant. “They upset the balance. The Scourge understands that.”
Astrid shook her head, stepping closer. “No. That’s not you talking. You’d never believe that.”
Hiccup stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. Stepping into the light, Astrid saw his eyes, once so full of warmth, now cold and lifeless.
“You don’t understand, Astrid,” he said. “But you will. In time.”
“I’m not leaving without you,” she said firmly, raising her axe defensively.
A faint smile played on his lips. “We think so alike, Astrid. I was just thinking the same about you.”
In an instant, he lunged, his movements swift and unrelenting. Astrid barely dodged, her axe coming up to block his next strike.
“Hiccup, stop!” she shouted, parrying his blows. “This isn’t you!”
He didn’t respond, his attacks relentless. Desperation clawed at her as she searched for a way to break through. She disarmed him with a swift movement, grabbing his collar.
“Hiccup, listen to me!” she pleaded. “You’re stronger than this. Fight it!”
For a moment, his eyes flickered, a glimmer of recognition breaking through. “Astrid…” he whispered.
Before she could say more, footsteps thundered down the corridor. Heather appeared, her sword drawn.
“Astrid, we have to go!” she urged. “They’re coming. If we bring him, he might lead them straight to us. We’ll come back for him, I swear.”
Astrid hesitated, her heart breaking as she released him. “I’ll come back,” she promised.
Hiccup didn’t respond, his expression unreadable as soldiers closed in.
Astrid turned and ran, following Heather back to the deck. The riders regrouped, mounting their dragons under a hail of arrows.
As Stormfly soared into the sky, Astrid glanced back, her resolve hardening. “I’ll get you back, Hiccup,” she whispered. “No matter what.”
The island buzzed with activity as the young Vikings toiled on their makeshift ship, patching sails and reinforcing the hull. Every creak of wood and clank of metal reminded them of the urgency of their mission. The humid air carried the scent of salt and moss, mingling with the quiet murmur of determination in their voices.
Zephyr and Nuffink, ever the determined siblings, volunteered to scout the area together. Shadow, Nuffink’s loyal dragon, stood ready, his scales gleaming in the filtered sunlight.
“Stay alert,” Zephyr warned as she climbed onto Shadow’s back, wrapping her arms tightly around her brother’s waist. The dragon glided silently above the jungle canopy, the dense forest below like a sea of green.
“You think I don’t know that?” Nuffink shot back, his tone edged with nervous energy. “I’ve got this under control.”
Zephyr smirked. “You sure sound like it.”
“Hey, a man has to warm up to these things, all right?” Nuffink muttered.
Shadow landed softly on a rocky outcrop, his claws gripping the uneven surface with ease. Nuffink dismounted and gestured for Zephyr to follow him into the thick foliage. They crouched low as muffled voices echoed through the trees. Carefully, they parted the leaves to peer into a clearing.
At the center of the group of Scourge soldiers stood a massive dragon—something entirely unfamiliar. Its muscular body resembled a lion, with sleek black fur blending into iridescent scales along its wings and tail. Golden eyes glowed like molten fire, scanning the soldiers with an aura of authority and menace.
Zephyr’s breath caught. “What is that?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
“I have no idea,” Nuffink replied, his voice tight with awe and fear. His gaze swept over the creature’s whip-like tail and clawed limbs. “It’s like… a saber-tooth tiger and a dragon had a baby.”
Zephyr gave him a sharp look. “This isn’t the time to joke.”
“I’m not joking. We have to call it something, right? I’m naming it a Ligon.”
Zephyr rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. The name suited the beast’s otherworldly presence.
Their attention shifted as a figure dismounted the Ligon. Clad in jet-black armor, the knight moved with a precision that demanded silence from the soldiers. His crimson cape billowed behind him, and a mask with sharp, angular features obscured his face. When he spoke, his voice was a low, echoing growl that sent chills through the siblings.
“Prepare to advance,” the knight commanded. “New Berk will be our foothold. From there, we will control the Archipelago.”
The soldiers murmured in agreement, their loyalty evident. As the knight turned back to the Ligon, his gaze swept the clearing. Zephyr and Nuffink ducked lower, holding their breaths as he mounted the creature. With a powerful leap, the Ligon launched into the sky, its wings stirring a gale through the treetops before disappearing into the clouds.
Back at the camp, Zephyr and Nuffink burst through the treeline, their urgency drawing everyone’s attention.
“They’re planning to take New Berk!” Zephyr exclaimed, her voice sharp with alarm.
“And you’ll never believe what they’ve got,” Nuffink added, eyes wide. “A new dragon—or something like it. I’m calling it a Ligon. It’s like nothing we’ve ever seen.”
“A Ligon?” Star raised an eyebrow. “What kind of name is that?”
“A good one,” Nuffink snapped. “That’s not the point. The knight riding it, NightWing, they called him, is setting up a base in New Berk. If we go back, we’re walking straight into their hands.”
The group fell silent, the weight of his words heavy on their minds.
“So... that’s it?” Gus asked, his usual playful demeanor replaced with unease. “We’re stuck here?”
“For now,” Zephyr said firmly. “But we’re not giving up. We’ll make this island our stronghold. If they come for us, they won’t find an easy target.”
Nuffink nodded. “We’ll scout the area, build traps, and fortify this place. This is our home base now.”
The young Vikings threw themselves into action. Star and Shade set traps in the forest, Jack and Juliette transformed the caves into livable quarters, while Axel and Gus reinforced their makeshift shelter. Zephyr and Everette worked on mapping the island, marking key locations and defenses.
As they sketched, Everette glanced at Zephyr, his shyness momentarily melting away. “You’ve got a good eye for detail.”
Zephyr smirked. “Comes with the job of being the chief’s daughter. They say I take a lot after my father.”
Everette hesitated, then blurted, “You’re really smart and brave. So... yeah, they’re right.”
Zephyr blinked, her cheeks tinged pink. “Do you really think that?”
Everette fumbled for words, his own face reddening. “I... I didn’t mean, I mean, I did, but...”
“Are you okay?” Zephyr asked softly, a small smile tugging at her lips.
“Yeah! Fine!” Everette muttered, letting his dark hair fall over his eyes as he concentrated on the map.
Their hands brushed when they reached for the same marker, and Everette quickly looked away. From a nearby rock, Nuffink watched the exchange with a scowl.
“Really,” he muttered, “I don’t know what she sees in him.”
Shadow nudged him impatiently, and Nuffink sighed. “All right, all right. Stop being so pushy.”
By nightfall, the base was fortified. Pit traps were hidden, alarms were set, and safe zones marked. Sitting by the fire, Zephyr and Nuffink studied their map.
“We’ve got a good setup,” Nuffink said. “It’s not New Berk, but it’ll do for now.”
Zephyr leaned against him, her exhaustion clear. “We’ll make it work. And when the time comes, we’ll take back New Berk, and Dad.”
Nuffink placed a hand on her shoulder, his grip firm. “We will. Together.”
The firelight reflected their determination. This island wasn’t just a refuge, it was the first step in their fight to reclaim everything they’d lost.
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