Hello there world, hope you enjoy this chapter and I hope the format came through alright. That's all I have to say at the start, see ya at the end!

---Line Break---

Hiccup didn't need to hear what his mother was saying as she embraced him in a hug that could have rivaled his dad's. Meanwhile, Windshear came flying down and landed next to Zahnlos.

"I'm so glad to see you guys are awake and doing ok!" She chortled, causing the Night Fury to blush, known only to his rider.

"Yes, you had us all worried coming back and immediately passing out," Specter rumbled as he joined growing group while Unole and Mason got off his back. The two riders approached Hiccup, Mason patted him on the back while Unole embraced him. Once Unole had let go of the young man Valka turned to the group.

You scared all of us! She signed, which earned her a nod from the other two, who sighed and turned toward the auburn-haired man.

I didn't mean to, sorry. Hiccup responded to them. Valka just passed it off as if that was nothing.

We know you didn't, but you are fine now. Why did both of you pass out? Valka asked her son. Hiccup didn't respond right away, thinking about how he would explain what had happened.

Zahnlos and I fully bonded.

What happened at the nest? Mason asked, the most curious about what had happened of the three. At that same time, Windshear asked Zahnlos the same question.

"What happened to you two before you guys passed out?" She asked, concern evident in her voice.

We snuck into the nest and the mystery cave. There are indeed other riders working for the Queen, two females and three males. All were gone at the time but after some time the Queen sensed us and chased us away. Hiccup informed them, giving only general details, enough to sound convincing. However, both of them told Windshear the full story at almost the same time, which not only slightly overloaded the poor Razorwhip, but their bond was exemplified in the fluidity of their tandem explanation, unlike ever before.

Then why did you two arrive unconscious? Valka asked.

The bonding process took almost all our strength which is why we were out for some time. That answer seemed to placate their curiosity into the subject. And while Hiccup no longer partook in the draconic conversation, he followed it closely.

So there are other riders working for the Queen? Why has she not killed them? Mason asked as Zahnlos and Hiccup had made it farther into the nest then they had on previous attempts.

Yes, I have no idea why she hasn't kill them but I have a theory, Hiccup responded and the three adults made no move to interrupt so he continued, What if She has let them live as long as they lead the raids for Her? That would explain why the raids have become more effective.

But how? Which side do you think they would take if we were to attack the Nest? Mason asked, always thinking ahead.

I'm not sure how this works or where their true loyalties rest when it comes to the Queen, but I'm betting if push comes to shove they will care more about their dragons before Her.

Zahnlos had just finished telling Windshear everything she wanted to know as the three adults shared a look between them.

Thanks for telling us Hiccup. Now go get some rest, you deserve it. Valka signed as she said something to the others and they turned and left, all heading back up to the cave were Penumbra was recovering.

"So what's it's like to be completely bonded with somebody?" Windshear asked Zahnlos.

"The only difference is that I can feel how Hiccup feels," came the Night Fury's response.

"And the same goes for me, being able to feel how he feels almost instinctively; there aren't really any words to describe it." Hiccup injected, glancing to Zahnlos.

"I see. Well you two must be tired, I will let you go get some rest." Windshear said as the two subconsciously drifted together, leaning on one another. They exchanged glances and Hiccup got on Zahnlos. With a quick nod to Windshear, the Night Fury leapt into the air, pulling toward their cave to rest.

^*^One Time Skip Later^*^

It had been a week since the pair had gone on their scouting run and bonded. In that time, they had become accustomed to the after effects of their bonding and Hiccup had grown stronger in his mental prowess. Not only that but Penumbra had healed up in that time as well. Talk had been going around about how to end the raids, with hope of ending three-hundred years of war. Try as they did, no plan was put forth on how to kill the Queen that did not involve using the King as the primary method to kill her and killing outside of self defense was something the King was very much against. Their plan was simple, capture the riders that acted as leaders of the raids which would effectively cripple the leadership of the nest and hopefully decrease the severity of the raids on the Vikings while allowing them time to think of a plan to kill the Queen.

Ok, let's go over the plan one last time before we leave. Valka signed to everybody after getting their attention. The rest of the group nodded and Valka continued. We need to try and get the riders away from the nest and back to the sanctuary. We know where their cave is and that the Queen is least observant once the raids have all come back so that is when we will strike. No direct contact with any of the other dragons or the Queen unless absolutely unavoidable. Get in, grab one of the riders and get out. Their dragons should follow after them if they truly have a bond. The rest of the group, which consisted of Hiccup, Zahnlos, Mason, Specter, Unole and Penumbra all nodded before everybody readied themselves for the journey. Once they were all set Valka gave the signal and the group took off into the night sky, heading towards the Nest to enact their plan.

At the same time, a very similar conversation was happening in the air above the archipelago.

"We can't keep serving Her; We all have to get out, before something changes." The rider on the Gronkle said, with the agreement of the other riders.

"We all agree on that point Earthen, but how are we going to do it? As soon as we try our brothers and sisters will get ensnared by Her again. Remember last time that happened?" The Monstrous Nightmare's rider, Blaze, responded, earning shivers from the group as they remembered the last time they tried to run away. It had been a horrible experience that had cemented their servitude, one they would never speak of again.

"What if we went after the raids? You knew She doesn't pay attention when She is feeding."

"That might work..." The Nadder's rider, Aqria, said. "Though if we do this, we have to be quiet and fast or she might notice us." She glanced to the Zippleback and its two riders, Spark and Boom, who mocked insult.

"Why Aqria, we would never think of pranking the Queen just before leaving," Spark said.

"It would be unethical," Boom stated sarcastically, to which the other three riders and their dragons glared at the Zippleback and its riders.

"Well as long as those two don't do anything stupid we should be fine," Blaze spoke.

"Then after the raids tonight it is." Aqria summed up before they all went their separate ways to "command" the raids.

Each group flew on into the night, blissfully unaware of the others' plans. One planning to try and run away, while the other to kidnap, but with the same end goal. While the Queen's Riders carried out their mission of destruction, waiting for the right moment to escape and be free from the monster that had controlled them for as long as they could remember. The King's Riders flew towards their mission of mercy on those who would seek to do them harm if they were to be discovered.

*^*A Few Hours Later*^*

The King's Riders arrived at the Nest just before the first of the raids returned. They circled at high altitude, waiting and watching.

"Two of the riders have returned, still waiting on the other three." Specter said as they kept circling the Volcano.

"I see the other three coming in." Penumbra stated after about a minute.

"Ok, this is it. Once they all enter we wait for a few minutes before diving straight down the top of the volcano. Head straight to their cave, grab a rider and get out. Do not engage their dragons but let them follow if they want." Cloudjumper said as the three remaining riders, the Zippleback and Nightmare riders, entered the Nest ahead of their raiding parties. They waited for the last dragon to enter the nest before starting an internal clock to track the time. The whole group waiting in the air silently, nobody saying anything as even though they knew no dragon from the Nest could hear them they still did not want to take the chance.

After a few minutes had passed, all the dragons could feel the influence that She sent out decrease to an almost unnoticeable degree. That signaled that the time to strike was now, so all the dragons stopped banking and dove straight at the mouth of the volcano in which the Nest was located; their riders following their signals and adjusting accordingly.

Being Night Furies and a Stormcutter they were quite fast in the dive. The group zoomed into the nest, sticking near the walls as a precaution and as soon as they reached the level of the other rider's cave one after another broke from formation in short intervals so one pair was going in as another was exiting the cave. They had expected to need to quiet the other riders somehow so they couldn't shout out for help but that never happened. The only noise they made was a short grunt when grabbed but other than that they stayed quiet. It was in this manner that the King's Riders extracted the Queen's Riders in only a few short minutes before they were flying high above the ground.

"Hiccup, we have company." Zahnlos said as he looked behind them. Instead of turning his head around Hiccup used his new ability to see through Zahnlos's eyes to see a small group of four dragons flying after them.

"Hey bud, I think I see saddles on them. Think they are the riders dragons?" Hiccup asked his dragon while looking down at the blonde haired female that was hanging in Zahnlos's claws.

"Most likely. I don't think the Queen would only send four dragons after us to get Her riders back." Came the response from Zahnlos. Hiccup look up and around at the other three dragons flying in formation and the people hanging from grasped talons.

"Agreed." Hiccup said before actually turning around to look at the four dragons following them. The riders dragons were slowly gaining on them as the group was only flying at cruising speed instead of their max speed. Hiccup turned back around to face forward but stretched his mind to behind him so he could connect with the dragons gaining on them.

Masking his presence, he felt for the emotions coming off the dragons and what he felt was something he had become familiar with; it was a combination of fear and longing. Fear for their riders and a longing to be with them once again. Hiccup had felt that same thing, but on a larger scale, for Zahnlos during the early stages of their bond whenever they were away from each other for longer than five minutes. As time went on the feeling subsided and they both learned how to deal with it when they did have to be away from each other for long periods of time.

After poking around the edges Hiccup decided to jump right in.

Hiccup the retreated back into his own mind and shared everything he had learned with Zahnlos.

"What do you think we should do bud? Tell the others and decide what to do or don't tell them and keep flying?" Hiccup asked his friend as they kept flying along.

"I suggest contacting the dragons that are following us and telling them what is going on so that they do not attack us." Zahnlos said, causing Hiccup to glance back at the dragons chasing them while thinking it over.

"hat's a good idea Zahnlos, keep us flying straight I'm going back there." Hiccup told him before laying down atop the Night Fury and stretched his mind back to the four dragons following them.

"I know you must be afraid but there is nothing to fear." Hiccup said to all four at the same time. The response from the dragons was a mix of questions about who was it talking to them and what was their plans for their riders. Hiccup put to bed those questions real quick while at the same time infiltrating their minds to clear them of the lingering influence of the Queen.

"Fear not, we wish no ill will upon your riders nor upon you. As a gesture of goodwill, I have removed your connection with Her so you might live your life free from Her tyranny." Hiccup said, which got an overall pleasant response from them.

"Then what do you plan to do with our riders?" The Nadder asked him.

"Simple, we plan nothing. All we wanted to do was remove your riders from the influence of the Queen." Hiccup responded. That surprised the dragons as they had expected a more dastardly plan for their riders.

---Line Beak---

So uhm, hehe. Sorry this has been so long in the making. As some of you know I had some major personal problems happen about two months ago and that took away my will to write. I started to slowly get back into it and now here is this chapter! It also doesn't help that the Steam Summer Sale is going on so I got a few new games.....hehe, sorry.

So there is something of an importance that happened this chapter and how do you guys think this went? And yes, y'all finally get to see the gang, but they are not the gang you know and love. And in other news I now have a Beta for this story! Moonchaser the Night Fury, wonderful guy that he is, has agreed to beta for me and is going through the past chapters as well so shout out to him for all that help!

Well untill I see you next on any of my stories:

Semper Fi,

Thearizona