The Viking and Princess (A Httyd Fanfiction)

Chapter 5: Forming bonds

A/N: Alright, so if the title of the chapter isn't any indication, Berk's Vikings will witness their younger members attempt to train dragons so that the rest of them can as well and be prepared to raid Corona. I won't waste any time, let's get to it

(Normal pov— Germany)

For the first time in her very long life, Gothel had felt something she had not felt in decades— surprised. Not only did she return to the tower earlier than expected from her errands but she also found Rapunzel and what belongings she valued gone.

She left.

Frantic over the loss of what was keeping her alive, Gothel took a moment to compose and gather herself. Once she had calmed down, she entered her room and collected a chest that contained the bones of a creature that was once a thriving species when she was but a child— Dreamwings or Wish Dragons. These dragons were sentient beings, they were intelligent enough to be able to not only reason and bargain with, but also deceive. But that wasn't what made these dragons so special, they possessed a unique magical power known as Wish Magic. This power was named such because it relied on preying on the ambitions and desires of those not strong-willed enough to contest with the Dreamwings. However, there was a catch in using Wish Magic, for every wish that was granted, there would be a terrible price to pay, one that would come at the cost of the one seeking a wish, or someone close to them. With this revelation, the Dreamwing dragons were hunted to extinction, but a small handful managed to survive the purge of their species, never to be seen again.

Despite the Dreamwing dragons being all but extinct, their bones still held the power of Wish Magic and they could still grant wishes to those who sought them. She had been using the bones of these once flourishing dragons to preserve her youth for centuries, and the bones she now held were the last of the Dreamwing dragons in Germany. In the past, she had no need for the bones because Rapunzel's magical hair was what kept her young and healthy. Now, however, Gothel would have need of the bones in her possession. She quickly made her wish when she felt her body and health rapidly failing her, once the wish had been made, Gothel could feel her youth and health return for the time being. However, the cost of using this wish was that she wasn't entirely back to her younger self, she could still feel the agony of decaying flesh and decrepit bones.

Though the wish worked, it would only work for a short while, which meant Gothel's time was short. She needed to have words with an old acquaintance of hers to discuss her current dilemma.

Currently, Gothel found herself in the Bondsman Guild, sitting in a shadowed corner, the woman had draped in a cloak, her hood obscuring her face as she waited patiently for her acquaintance. Eventually, after what felt like a lifetime of waiting, a hooded figure sat across from Gothel. Lowering their hood, the figure revealed themselves to be one of Corona's nobles, one who had considerable ambitions, and one of those ambitions was to overthrow Frederic and Arianna and take the kingdom of Corona for himself and his son.

"You're late, Werner," Gothel hissed. "Where were you?"

"I am a noble of Corona, Gothel, I had pressing matters to attend to," Noble Werner said dismissively while pouring himself a cup of ale. After taking a drink, he narrowed his eyes at the kidnapper of the current ruler's daughter. "Why have you summoned me?"

Growling lowly, Gothel still found it hard to believe that Rapunzel actually left the tower, however, she was also amused by the girl's act of boldness and defiance; she had never been outside the tower and she was now out in a world that will use and abuse her given the chance. Where will Rapunzel go when the weight of adapting to this world becomes too much for her to bear?

"Gothel! Why. Am. I. Here?" Werner demanded in a low, yet menacing tone.

"I lost Rapunzel," she said nonchalantly. "Or, more accurately, she left the tower, and now she's out there in the world."