The 'Dragon Defender'

History And Mythology

"Indigo!"

Plasma catches me just as I'm leaving the caverns. "Oh, hey," I greet him. "Did everything go alright?" He asks me, landing beside me and morphing into human form. "As alright as I expected," I confirm. "I'm going back to do some damage control, but there's no immediate concerns. Asher's more or less back to his old self, he and Adriana are with Selene."

Plasma nods, looking relieved. "I'm glad you're all okay. Good job out there. You seem to have the humans eating out of your hand."

"I wish I had that much control over them," I chuckle. "The one that tried to follow you is still so stubborn. I'll have to deal with him when I return."

"If you need any help with that, I'm more than willing to put a stop to him," Plasma offers, though I shake my head. "That won't be necessary, but thank you. I only plan to erase a few memories. If all goes smoothly, you'll have no reason to concern yourselves over Berk."

"That's a relief. My father's been quite worried about that," Plasma admits. "I hope my showing up didn't complicate things."

"Nothing that we can't smooth over," I assure. "I'm going to take care of everything. They won't even remember your presence."

"You really can do that, huh?"

"Erase memories? I've definitely done it before. Never on a scale like this, though, or in an open space."

"Incredible..."

I chuckle at this. "You're interested?" I ask him. "Very," he confirms, combing his fingers through his dark hair to remove it from his eyes. "Do you mind if I ask how it works?"

"Changewings," I answer him. "They have the power to hypnotise. Got two at the Sanctuary, so I plan to fly them out to Berk with me and erase any memories the humans may have that put us in a compromising position."

"Hypnosis..." he repeats, purple eyes widening slightly in utter fascination. "That's brilliant. I never would have guessed. And the Dragon Sanctuary? Freedom Island?"

"All real," I confirm. "I'll have to take you some day, if you're that interested."

"... I'll be honest with you, Indigo, if you agree not to laugh."

"Does that seem like something I would do?"

Plasma messes with his hair again, something that he seems to do when feeling awkward or embarrassed. "I suppose not... I've always enjoyed hearing all the myths and legends of the world. It started when I was a kid, my father would tell me all the more appropriate ones. Human deities, mostly, or the myths about Morphwings or other skinwalkers, in case they held any merit. And when I was a bit younger and I got to hear the legends about the Dragon Defender... you quickly became the most fascinating tale I'd ever heard. And so, knowing now that you're real, that almost all of it is real... it's truly an honour to know you, Indigo."

I blink at Plasma's words. Does he really mean all that? He spoke so openly, so honestly. I adjust my mask, forcing my parted lips to close. He just likes the myths. He's intrigued by make-believe becoming a reality. He meant nothing more and nothing less by it.

"It's an honour to know you, too, Plasma," I reply after a few moments. "... Thank you. For admitting that to me."

"I'm sure others have told you that before."

"None so sincerely."

I can hardly meet his dark violet eyes and he can hardly meet mine. He ends up chuckling softly, shaking his head. "I've kept you long enough, I think. You have your work to attend to. Good luck... Nightling."

"Oh, are we back to that, now?" I tease, laughing a little. "Things were growing too awkward for my taste," he replies, a faint hint of a smile on his lips. "Can I expect you back once you're done?"

"Mm," I nod. "My family will want to know that everything is alright, I suppose. And I definitely want to make sure Asher is okay after everything."

"I understand completely," Plasma nods back. "Stay safe, okay?"

"Same to you."

~•~

"Ind- um, Artemis? What are you doing back?"

Valka is understandably surprised to see me back only a day later. "There was just something I left behind," I wave it off. "Just wanted to grab it and head back out."

Valka nods, frowning. "Go for it. But since you're here, do you know anything about the Book of Dragons going missing?"

"It's missing?" I blink, feigning ignorance. So they found out. "Fishlegs went to get it this morning and it's just vanished," Valka sighs, shaking her head in bewilderment. "Did you show your brother the book at any point?"

"I've told him about it, but I don't think he ever actually saw it," I shake my head. "If you're suspecting him or Adriana, I don't know how you expect either of them to have taken it without being caught. We showed up with only what we could carry, there was no way for any of us to hide it on our persons."

"I'm not accusing anyone, dear," Valka promises immediately. "I'm just going through options, that's all. The last time the book went missing it fell right into the hands of a man known as Alvin the Treacherous. Hiccup seemed particularly conflicted about that interaction again."

"I would have thought. Do you need me to help you search?"

"That would be a big help, thank you," Valka smiles, looking very relieved as she sets a hand on my shoulder. "It's been quite the hectic morning. It is good to see you again, at least. I've missed our talks, I truly have."

"... As have I," I agree after a moment, frowning slightly beneath my mask. She just had to make this more difficult, didn't she?

"Do it."

"What? What are you-?"

Valka is cut off when Camo reveals himself behind me, his neck craning just over my head to look Valka dead in the eyes. She immediately recoils, gasping, but doesn't get far before her expression softens and her body relaxes. A few moments later and she's out cold on the ground.

"You will forget about the Dragon Master being Indigo North," I command, crouching next to Valka. "You will forget about the existence of Morphwings. You will forget about the Sanctuary and it's location. You will forget any personal information of the Dragon Master. You will forget this hypnosis, but remember your orders. You will never remember me or my dragons hypnotising you or others, and you will not intervene with the process. Now... wake up."

Camo disappears again as Valka starts to blink awake. "Huh...? Wha- what happened?"

"Are you okay?" I ask her, helping her to her feet. She seems a little surprised to see me. "I... yes, thank you... what on earth happened?"

"I only found you like this," I tell her. "Perhaps you should go lie down, ma'am."

"Yes, that would probably be for the best," she agrees, visibly confused. "Thank you."

She heads off to her hut, a little dazed. I reach my hand up, feeling Camo's snout nuzzle against my palm.

"Good job, buddy. Valka's forgotten all about me."