"Ugh, again?!" Stonescale grumbled.

"Stonescale, something is happening here!  We're connecting."

"I doubt that."

Hanna was rummaging in the kitchen once again, looking for things she could bring for a long trip.

The previous day, she had spent on horseback with Darius.  She had learned the names of the large creatures by a subtle question she had asked Hiccup. 

When she returned home late last night, Hiccup was in his forge, messing with the dragon eye.  He scolded her for being gone so long, and had told her about the dragon he had run into while out looking for her.

The Deathsong, as he had learned the name, he had looked up in the Dragon Eye as soon as he returned home.  It was a territorial Dragon that lured its food in with an irresistible song-like call.

Now, the sun was just rising, and Hanna couldn't wait to get back to Darius. 

He had convinced her.  He cared about her, and if he liked those horses, than he would certainly like a much more intelligent creature, such as a dragon.

Hanna pulled the bag she was filling shut and walked over to her dragon.  She was ready.  He just misunderstood dragons.  They were way better than horses.  Maybe, once Darius saw how incredible dragons were, she and him could introduce his village to them.  Then, they would all get dragons, and she and Darius would get married, and they'd live a life of peace and happiness.

Hanna mounted Stonescale and they took off into the Sanctuary.

Silence.

Then, "You ready, bud?"

"Ready.  Let's do this."

Toothless dropped from his hanging position on the ceiling, and Hiccup dropped into the saddle.  They took flight silently into the Sanctuary.

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"You need to choose!"

"Between what?"

"You never pay attention in class, you hesitate to fire during raids, and you're never where you should be when you're out on the ships! It's almost as if you're on the side of the dragons!"

"It's not my fault -"

"No, Darius.  When something happens, it's always your fault.  You need to pick yourself up and dust yourself off.  I don't know what's going on, but if I don't see improvement when it comes to dragons, you'll be going into bread-making!"

"I-"

"This conversation's over.  Go feed the horses."

Darius knew better than to argue.  He stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him.  He would show his father, he would show his father once and for all.

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"Darius?"

"Yeah?"

Hanna and Darius were sitting on their cliff, legs dangling over the edge.

"I - I watch to see you something."

"You want to show me something?"

Hanna nodded, before standing up.  She mounted her horse, and Darius followed.  They trotted through the woods, until Hanna found a spot that she figured would be good.

It was the afternoon.  She had arrived that morning, and once again, they had been hanging out all day.  She was ready.  He wouldn't hurt her dragon.  She was sure of it.

She called.  The roar rang through the forest.

Then, he came.

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"Bud, stop," Hiccup commanded when the roar echoed through the forest.

"Stonescale!"

Hiccup scanned the tree tops.  Then, birds took flight out of the corner of his eye.  He turned just in time to see a certain Hobblegrunt fly up.

"Down, Toothless."

The pair ducked beneath the trees to watch the dragon fly over.

"Alright."

They dropped into the air below the trees, and soared silently, following the shadow of Stonescale.

Ahead in the trees, Hiccup spotted two horses, a guy, and his sister.

"Why did I have to get stuck with such a muttonhead of a sister," Hiccup muttered as he and Toothless stopped to watch.

They watched as Stonescale lighted down next to his rider, but then jumped back into the air when he spotted Darius.

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When he saw the Hobblegrunt, his hand immediately went to the dagger on his belt.  Darius's first instincts were to kill the beast, but he hesitated.  That wasn't how things worked on his island.  You were supposed to capture the creature so you could trade it to other tribes.  It was much more profitable that way.

Plus, it didn't seem as if this Dragon was much of a threat.  Once it had spotted him, it had took to the air in fright.  However, it seemed as if Hanna was talking to it.

A series of growls and squwaks emitted from her mouth, and the dragon seemed to calm.  He squwaked back at her, and after a little conversation, the Hobblegrunt landed hesitantly next to her.

Hanna's hands were resting on the creature's scaly flank, as she looked to Darius.

He eyed the creature with hesitation.  His dad's words drifted into his head.

'but if I don't see improvement when it comes to dragons, you'll be going into bread-making!'

Darius did not want to make bread for the rest of his life.  He had to capture this dragon. 

But he'd never be able to do that alone.  He'd have to wait.

He feinted interest.

Hanna looked at him with wonder.  "Come?"

Darius nodded, unsurly.  He stepped forward.  Hanna took his hand.  He felt chills rise up his spine, but they had nothing to do with his fear.

Hanna guided his hand to the snout if the beast.  She set it between its nostrils.  The Dragon huffed in annoyance.

Then she leapt onto its back.  Darius looked at her in shock and surprise, before realizing he barely knew this girl.  She had been a mystery, just showing up at his house and befriending him.  He had never seen her, and before now, he had reasoned she must live in the forest.

However, now he had a different perspective.  Judging by her actions, she was a friend to dragons.  A dragon rider, like that girl and her Flightmare.  Hanna probably didn't even live on the island.

Darius thought of a plan.

But, she's your friend! His brain said.

Once again, his father's words were there.  Darius was not on the dragon's side, and this was his chance to prove it.

Hanna held out her hand from above him, and he took it.  He pulled himself up, and soon they were in the air.

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Hiccup watched the scene unfold.  When it seemed as if Darius was open to the idea, he relaxed.

"Maybe she's not as dumb as we thought..." Hiccup said, watching as Stonescale took flight with Hanna and Darius on his back.

"Wow," Toothless breathed.  "You're right.  It seems she was right about him."

"I guess he is okay, but still, he's attacked us multiple times.  She should take more caution."

"Maybe she has.  She's probably been visiting him regularly for months!"

"She should tell Mom," Hiccup sighed.

"You're just jealous that she's getting along with her crush and you're not."

"You know Astrid would never react like that.  In fact, she didn't react like that!  In case you don't remember, she tried to kill you!"

"I remember."

Hiccup sighed.  "Whatever.  Should we follow them?" He asked, referring to the small dot that was slowly disappearing.

"Yes.  Just to make sure she's safe."

"Alright, but if she discovers us, we're dead."

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"See?  It's not that bad, Stonster!" Hanna told her dragon as they flew over the island.

"Whoa," Darius breathed, looking around.

"So you like?" Hanna asked in her thick accent.

Darius nodded.  "It's incredible!  Do you do this often?"

Hanna chuckled, before nodding.

"Wow.  Hey, do you think you could land down there?  I want to show you something."

"Hanna, he wants to land in the village," Stonescale cautioned.

"Sure," she answered, blinded by the happiness.  Darius wasn't angry or bloodthirsty towards her dragon.

Hanna directed Stonescale down towards the village.  They landed behind a merchant, next to the blacksmith's shop.

Hanna dismounted, and Darius slid off ungracefully.  He ran out from behind the shop and began shouting things to the village.

Hanna couldn't understand what he was saying.

"He must be explaining to the village that dragons are good," she spoke to Stonescale, "I'll go help; they won't believe him on his own."

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Once they landed, Darius was torn.  This creature was amazing.  Why did his village attack them?  The Dragon riders were way smarter than them.  They had seen something in these creatures that his tribe refused to see.

Still, his father made a point.  He had to prove himself.  And who's to say the dragon wasn't just on its good behavior?  It was probably extremely ill-tempered.  And all the dragons in training.  Why weren't they nice?

Because it wasn't in their nature.  Dragons were bad, and they always would be.

Darius jumped off the Hobblegrunt's back and ran into the heart of the village, one thing on his mind.

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"Dragon Rider!  Seize her!"

The cry rang out over the village, and into the woods beyond it.

"Uh, Hiccup?"

"Oh, this isn't good..." Hiccup mumbled, hearing the cries from the village.  "C'mon, bud!"

Toothless roared as they shot over the trees, heading for the village.

"Whoa!"

Toothless slowed at his rider's exclamation.  They stared out over the village at a war zone.

Vikings, bearing all weapons imaginable, were advancing on a Hobblegrunt and red-haired girl, both of which were entangled in a net.

Hiccup spotted Darius, standing smuggly next to his captures, and being pat on the back by men and teens alike.

"Come on, Toothless!" Hiccup roared in fury.  They sped out over the village, firing Plasma Blasts at the Vikings.

For a moment, the Vikings scattered in fear. 

However, they soon returned in double numbers, all holding bows aimed to fire.

"Whoa, bud!  Evasive maneuvers!"

They twirled and looped around arrows.  When bolas started to appear up next to them as well, Hiccup had to admit defeat.

"Back off, bud.  We can't get to them."

Toothless let out a roar of strain, before turning and flying off to the cover of the forest.

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What?  No, Hanna thought as Vikings began to encircle her.  He wouldn't.  He liked Stonescale!  He was supposed to tell his village dragons aren't harmful!

"Hanna!"

The familiar roar of her dragon comforted her.  Stonescale shot out from behind the shop and stood in front of her in a protective pose.

His wings and crown were spread to make him appear larger.  His scales where a frightening color of blood red with anger.  He swiped his tail back and forth and roared at the surrounding Vikings.

"Back off!  I will rip your skulls from your necks and crush them! Your limbs will become fire logs and fish food!  You're entire population on this puny island will disappear if you take one step closer!" Stonescale threatened.

Hanna watched her dragon with pride.  He would save her.  And then she would never come back to this place again.

A yelp startled her fantasies.  She looked up in time to see Stonescale's crown shear back against his skull and the black color of fear spread across his scales.  The next moment, he was laying next to her, encased in a net.

She spun around to see who threw it, just in time to watch as Darius released another one from his hand. 

The net hit home, and Hanna found herself laying next to her dragon in the same situation.

"Nice one, Darius."

"Yeah!"

"Great job!"

Vikings came up and pat the teen on the back.  A few of his friends came up to him and gave him highfives.

Hanna stared in disgust, but her gaze was torn away when a familiar sound reached her ears.

"Hiccup!"

Her brother soared over the vikings, scattering them with Plasma Blasts.

Screams and cries of fear made Hanna smirk once again.

"C'mon, Stonescale, how do we get these off?" She asked, fumbling with the net that bound her.

"Hanna," Stonescale whimpered. 

"What?" she looked up, and saw a hundred arrows pointed at her brother and his Night Fury.  "Oh, no.  Hiccup!"

The Vikings fired, first with arrows and then with bolas.

"He has to leave us," Hanna whispered.

"He's no good to us if he gets captured too!" Stonescale complained.

The pair watched as Hiccup and Toothless turned with a sorrowful roar, and flew off.