Clank of hammers and the crash of thunder
Pound within

〰〰〰𖠳 〰〰〰

𝔸𝕊 the ships sailed into the distance, Frida remained fixed on the horizon, her gaze distant and troubled. Astor approached her quietly, his presence a silent comfort amidst the turmoil. "It's a mess. You must feel horrible. You've lost everything: Your father, your tribe, your best friend," Astor remarked, his voice tinged with sympathy. Frida rolled her eyes slightly at his observation. "Thank you for summing that up," she quipped before returning her attention to the ships sailing away.

"Why couldn't I have killed that dragon when I found him in the woods? Would have been better for everyone," Frida mused aloud, her voice heavy with regret.

Astor considered her words for a moment before responding, "Yep. The rest of us would've done it."

He turned to look at her, his eyes searching hers for answers. "So why didn't you?" he pressed, his tone gentle but insistent. Frida's gaze fell to the ground as she struggled to articulate her feelings. "I don't know. I couldn't," she admitted quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Astor's gaze softened as he listened to Frida's words, his hand still resting gently on her shoulder. "That's not an answer," he reiterated softly, his concern evident in his voice. Frida sighed, feeling the weight of the question bearing down on her. "Why is this so important to you all of a sudden?" she questioned, her tone tinged with frustration. Placing his hand reassuringly on her shoulder, Astor replied, "Because I want to remember what you say right now." Frida turned to face him, her expression a mixture of annoyance and exasperation. "Oh for the love of... I was a coward. I was weak. I wouldn't kill a dragon," she confessed, her voice tinged with self-condemnation.

Astor couldn't help but smirk at her response. "You said 'wouldn't' that time," he pointed out teasingly, trying to lighten the mood. Rolling her eyes, Frida retorted, "Whatever! I wouldn't! Three hundred years and I'm the first Viking who wouldn't kill a dragon." Astor's smirk softened into a gentle smile as he regarded her. "First one to ride one, though. So?" he remarked, his tone filled with admiration.

Frida's expression softened as she considered his words, her voice growing softer. "I wouldn't kill him because he looked as frightened as I was. I looked at him and I saw myself," she confessed, her eyes meeting Astor's with a mix of vulnerability and determination.

Astor's gaze held hers for a moment, understanding dawning in his eyes as he recognized the depth of Frida's empathy. "I bet he's really frightened now. What are you going to do about it?" he asked gently, his voice filled with quiet support.

Frida smirked at Astor's comment, a spark of determination igniting in her eyes. "Probably something stupid," she replied with a hint of mischief, her mind already racing with possibilities. Astor chuckled, shaking his head at her response. "Good, but you've already done that," he remarked playfully, his eyes bright with anticipation.

Frida's face lit up with an idea, her grin widening as she turned around to face Astor. "Then something crazy," she declared, her voice filled with excitement and determination.

Without another word, Frida bolted forward, her feet pounding against the ground as she dashed ahead with newfound purpose. Astor watched her go, a fond smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "That's more like it," he said to himself, his smile growing as he followed after her, ready to embark on whatever wild adventure she had in mind.

↟↟

Stoick scanned the horizon as the ships entered the dense fog, his voice firm as he commanded, "Sound your positions. Stay within earshot," ensuring the Vikings maintained their formations amidst the foggy haze.

Meanwhile, Gobber approached Stoick, his tone cautious yet curious. "Listen... Stoick... I was overhearing some of the men just now and, well, some of them are wondering what it is we're up to here, not me of course, I know you're always the man with the plan, but some, not me, are wondering if there is in fact a plan at all, what it might be?" Gobber inquired, seeking clarity amidst the uncertainty.

Stoick's expression remained resolute as he replied with unwavering determination, "Find the nest and take it," his words echoing with the weight of their mission.

Gobber nodded, understanding Stoick's directive. "Ah, of course. Send them running, the old Viking fallback. Nice and simple," he remarked, acknowledging the straightforward approach. However, Stoick's attention shifted as he noticed Toothless's ears twitching, indicating a sense of alertness. With a decisive stride, Stoick moved toward the ship's wheel, his demeanor focused as he instructed a Viking crewmate, "Step aside," before taking control of the wheel himself. With a steady hand, Stoick adjusted the ship's course, following Toothless's subtle cues as if the dragon served as their guiding compass, his determination driving them forward into the unknown depths of the fog.

↟↟

In the bustling atmosphere of the ring, Astor arrived with the group, greeted by playful banter. Fishlegs chimed in first, his tone lighthearted, "If you're planning on getting eaten, I'd definitely go with the Gronckle," eliciting a chuckle from the group. Tuffnut, marching forward with determination, interrupted Fishlegs as he bumped into his sister, quipping, "You were wise to seek help from the world's most deadly weapon. It's me," a boastful declaration of her own prowess. However, Snotlout wasn't to be outdone, pushing Tuffnut aside as he faced Frida, his enthusiasm palpable. "I love this plan," he exclaimed eagerly, his confidence evident.

Frida, slightly taken aback by the sudden attention, attempted to interject, "I didn't..." but was promptly cut off by Ruffnut, who shoved Snotlout aside with playful enthusiasm. "You're crazy. We're going to be the best of friends," she declared, her tone brimming with excitement.

Frida sighed in resignation as Astor, ever the peacemaker, intervened by pulling Tuffnut's braid gently. With a warm smile, Astor positioned himself in front of Frida, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "So, what's the plan?" he inquired, eager to lend his support. Frida returned his smile, her own expression brightening.

↟↟

As the ships sailed deeper into the fog, the eerie atmosphere thickened around them. Lost vessels, long forgotten and wrecked, loomed ominously in the mist. Gobber observed the scene with a hint of dry humor, remarking, "Oh. I was wondering where that went," as he watched the damaged ships pass by.

Stoick, undeterred by the unsettling surroundings, maintained a steely composure. He issued orders to the crew with authority, commanding them to remain vigilant and prepare their weapons for any potential threats ahead.

Amidst the tension, Toothless began to show signs of distress, his agitation palpable. Stoick, however, remained unperturbed, a determined smile gracing his features as he caught sight of a dragon's tail protruding from the mountain ahead.

"We're here," Stoick declared with conviction, his voice carrying a sense of anticipation as he disembarked from the ship and set foot on the unfamiliar ground, ready to face whatever awaited them.

↟↟

Frida strode confidently out of the cage room, her hand extended toward the Monstrous Nightmare that trailed behind her, its fiery gaze fixed unwaveringly on her. The group watched in awe, anticipation, and pride evident on their faces. Astor, in particular, beamed with admiration at Frida's remarkable feat. However, amidst the excitement, Snotlout's nerves got the better of him. He bent down, his hand reaching for a spearhead, but Astor intervened swiftly, slapping his arm and shaking his head in a silent warning. Snotlout, chastened, dropped the weapon and straightened up, his eyes fixed on Frida and the approaching dragon.

As Frida drew closer to Snotlout, she exuded an air of calm assurance, gently placing his hand on the dragon's nose. "Wait! What are you?" Snotlout exclaimed, his voice tinged with nervousness. But Frida's reassuring words cut him off. "Relax. It's okay. It's okay," she reassured him, her demeanor soothing and confident.

The dragon responded to Snotlout's touch with a contented purr, its gaze softening as it regarded him. Snotlout couldn't help but laugh happily at the unexpected connection, but his joy was short-lived as he noticed Frida beginning to move away. "Where are you going?" he called after her, his tone betraying his apprehension. Frida turned back, pulling a rope out of a nearby box. "You'll need something to help you hold on," she explained, her voice steady and composed.

The group turned to see the other dragons standing before them, each one poised as if waiting to be ridden, a silent invitation to embark on an adventure unlike any other.

↟↟

As they arrived at the chaotic scene, the Vikings scrambled for cover amidst the fiery wreckage of the ships. The menacing figure of the Red Death loomed large, its fiery breath poised to rain destruction upon Stoick and Gobber, who valiantly stood their ground to buy time for the rest.

Amidst the chaos, Stoick and Gobber fired their weapons at the colossal dragon, drawing its attention away momentarily. Stoick's gaze lifted, and his heart swelled with a mix of pride and worry as he spotted his daughter, Frida, astride a Nadder with Astor holding onto her tightly behind. The rest of the group were mounted on various other dragons, ready for battle.

"Frida!" Stoick called out, his voice laced with concern and admiration.

Frida wasted no time in taking charge, directing her companions with urgency. "Ruff, Tuff! Watch your backs! Move Fishlegs!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. Ruffnut, caught up in the exhilaration of the moment, couldn't contain her excitement. "Look at us! We're on a dragon. We're on dragons! All of us!" she exclaimed, her words tinged with jubilation. Frida shook her head, a small chuckle escaping her lips at Ruffnut's exuberance, before focusing on the task at hand. Together, they began to circle around the Red Death, their dragons weaving through the tumultuous skies.

Gobber, standing steadfast beside Stoick, couldn't help but admire his friend's unwavering determination. "Every bit the boar-headed stubborn Viking you ever were!" he remarked, a hint of pride in his voice. Meanwhile, Frida directed Fishlegs to analyze the Red Death's weaknesses. "Fishlegs, break it down!" she commanded.

Fishlegs, ever the strategist, swiftly assessed the situation. "Okay. Heavily armored skull and tail made for bashing and crushing! Steer clear of both. Small eyes, large nostrils! Relies on hearing and smell!" he reported, his voice steady despite the chaos surrounding them.

"Okay, Lout, Legs! Hang in its blind spot, make noise, keep it confused!" Frida directed Snoutlout and Fishlegs, her voice firm and authoritative amidst the chaos of battle. Turning to the twins, she issued her next orders. "Ruff, Tuff, find out if it has a shot limit! Make it mad!" Ruffnut responded eagerly, "That's my specialty!" while her brother chimed in, "Since when?! Everyone knows I'm more irritating! See." He then proceeded to hang upside down, making a comically weird face. Frida rolled her eyes, exasperated. "Just do what I told you! I'll be back as soon as I can!" With that, she turned and left, soaring over the flaming ships toward the source of Toothless's cry.

"There!" Frida exclaimed as they neared the ship, and Astor took control of flying the Nadder dragon. Landing on the ship, Frida quickly assessed the situation before turning to Astor and giving him his next task. "Go help the others!" she instructed, urgency in her voice.

Astor nodded and swiftly departed, leaving Frida to focus on freeing Toothless from his binds. "Okay, hold on. Hold on," she muttered determinedly as she worked to release Toothless's mouth from the restraints. With a grunt of effort, she pulled at the binds, eventually freeing his mouth. Moving quickly, she attempted to break the chains binding him to the ship.

Suddenly, the Red Death's tail struck the ships, causing them to lurch and sending Frida tumbling. As the massive dragon stomped its foot down, the ship began to sink, dragging Toothless and Frida into the depths. Frida kicked and thrashed through the water, desperately trying to reach Toothless. When she finally reached him, she pulled at the chains with all her strength, her lungs burning for air.

As darkness threatened to overtake her, Frida felt her father's strong grip around her waist, pulling her toward the surface. Gasping for breath, she broke through the water, coughing and sputtering. "Dad," she managed to choke out, her eyes wide with fear and gratitude.

Stoick dove back into the water, freeing Toothless from his restraints. The dragon seized him and rocketed out of the water, dropping Stoick onto the ground before calling out to Frida. "You got it, bud," she affirmed, climbing onto Toothless's back. Before they could take off, Stoick grabbed Frida's arm, his expression heavy with regret. "Frida! I'm sorry... for everything," he apologized, his voice thick with emotion. Frida met her father's gaze, a bittersweet smile playing on her lips. "Yeah. Me too," she replied softly.

Stoick squeezed her hand gently. "You don't have to go up there," he insisted.

Frida's smile widened. "We're Vikings. It's an occupational hazard," she quipped, a hint of pride in her voice.

Stoick held her hand tightly, his eyes filled with pride and love. "I'm proud to call you my daughter," he declared. Frida's heart swelled with warmth. "Thanks, Dad," she murmured gratefully. With that, she and Toothless soared into the sky, leaving Stoick behind smiling proudly at her. "She's up!" Astor exclaimed, his smile spreading across his face as he watched Frida take to the sky. Turning to the twins, he instructed, "Get Snotlout out of there." The twins nodded in agreement, immediately setting off to assist, their bickering accompanying their actions.

Meanwhile, Snotlout leaped onto the dragon's back, eager for the ride. But as Astor flew past, The Red Death suddenly opened its massive jaws, aiming to engulf Astor and the Nadder. Before disaster struck, Toothless intervened, firing a shot at the dragon and causing the Nadder to veer away. Astor, left free-falling, braced for impact, only to be caught by Toothless just before hitting the ground.

"Did you get him?" Frida inquired anxiously, her eyes fixed on Astor. Toothless glanced at Astor, who was grinning up at him. With a reassuring nod, Toothless gently set Astor down on the ground before swiftly taking off toward The Red Death.

"Go," Astor muttered under his breath, his determination evident despite his worry.

"That thing has wings. Okay, let's see if it can use them!" Frida exclaimed, her voice tinged with determination as Toothless dove down, launching an attack on the dragon. With a powerful blast, they knocked The Red Death off balance, causing it to spread its wings and take flight.

"You think that did it?" Frida questioned, glancing over her shoulder to assess the situation. But to her dismay, she saw the dragon still in pursuit, its massive form looming ominously behind them.

"Well, he can fly," she remarked dryly, a hint of concern in her voice, as they continued to soar through the skies with the dragon hot on their trail.

As they approached a bank of dark clouds overhead, Frida made a decision. "Okay, Toothless, time to disappear. Come on, bud!" she urged, guiding Toothless upward into the thick, concealing mist. The pursuing dragon lunged forward, attempting to snap at Toothless, but it was too late. They vanished into the enveloping darkness, leaving the dragon bewildered and empty-handed.

As The Red Death frantically scanned the skies in search of Toothless and Frida, it found itself disoriented by shots coming from various directions. Growing increasingly frustrated, it unleashed torrents of fire in every direction, attempting to flush out its elusive prey. Toothless expertly maneuvered through the flames, narrowly avoiding being singed, but a stray burst of fire caught the fake wing attached to his tail, igniting it in a blaze.

Frida watched the unfolding chaos and seized the moment. "Okay, time's up! Let's see if this works," she declared, determination ringing in her voice. Toothless, despite the burning wing, flew boldly toward the enraged dragon, Frida goading it further. "Come on! Is that the best you can do?!" she taunted, her voice carrying over the roar of the flames.

As The Red Death bore down on them, Frida issued a command. "Hold, Toothless," she instructed, her voice steady with resolve. Just as the dragon opened its massive jaws, ready to consume them, Frida gave the signal. "Now! Eldur!" Toothless spun around and unleashed a powerful blast directly into the dragon's mouth. The flames erupted, engulfing The Red Death in a fiery inferno.

Toothless spread his wings and ascended swiftly, seeking to escape the burning behemoth below. But as they climbed, Frida's heart sank. The fake wing was entirely consumed by the flames, and the dragon's tail swung menacingly in their direction.

"No," Frida uttered in dismay as she watched the fiery tail hurtling toward them. "No!" With a sickening thud, the tail struck them, sending them tumbling through the air. Frida, unconscious from the impact, fell limp, and Toothless, with unwavering loyalty, dove after her, even as the flames closed in around them.

〰〰〰𖠳 〰〰〰

By: SilverMist707

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