The Night Rider (A How To Train Your Dragon AU)

Chapter Twenty Two - Breakpoint

A couple of weeks had passed since the Haddock family was revealed to be far bigger than expected. And in the late hours of the morning, far south of Dragon's Edge, a group of Berkians began setting up catapults for a pre-arranged training exercise. Led by Gobber. and consisting of Bucket Mulch and Silent Sven, the scenario being, tactical retreat.

Gobber: "Ah, nothing like starting the morning with a good ambush!"

He calls out as he stretches, before being tapped on the shoulder by silent Sven, letting him know the riders were approaching. Meanwhile in the air, Hiccup gives one final brief to the squad before they go in.

Hiccup: "Okay I'm going over this one more time, it's likely the enemy will have catapults again. If possible, avoid them or fire back. That means you too Heather, as even though a Timberjack's wings can cut through trees like yak butter, I'm not too keen on testing Bushwhacker's ability on stone."

Heather: "Understood!"

Hiccup: "Fishlegs! Dagur! You guys don't have to reload your ammo as you both have Gronckles, meaning Meatlug and Shattermaster, can just eat the projectiles and spit them right back."

Dagur: "Charming visage brother, but I can get behind that."

Hiccup: "And remember! Only aim for the ammunition, not the catapults! We don't want Berk's defences lowered when the Outcasts arrive."

Astrid: "Or, this new threat of Dragon Hunters."

Hiccup: "Oh, yes, thanks for the reminder honey. Alright gang! Forward we soar!"

He calls out, with him and Toothless leading the Riders to the training ground. Gobber seeing them approach instructs the rest of his troop to fire the catapults, thus beginning the training module.

Fishlegs: "AMBUSH!"

Snotlout: "Alright, locked and loaded!"

Hiccup: "Toothless! Plasma blast!"

As hiccup calls this out, the great purple flash hurtles towards the boulder, and obliterates it completely. Another one flies right into Meatlug's mouth, who then eats it without hesitation. Astrid and Heather deftly dodge their aimed attacks while Dagur and Shattermaster fire back. Gobber finds himself wrestling with his catapult as the release mechanism got jammed, but one swift whack from his hammer hand sends the next boulder hurtling out towards the riders. The wave of stones, comes charging through to the twins, who pull off corkscrew roll to avoid.

Ruffnut: "Whoa! That thing almost took my head off!"

Tuffnut: "It did!? Gobber! Do it again!"

Astrid: "Don't encourage this you muttonhead!"

She yells to the twins as another boulder flies past Hiccup and Toothless.

Hiccup: "Ah! Fall back everyone! There's too many of them!"

He calls out as one by one they turn tail and head back, however, Snotlout refuses.

Snotlout: "You fall back! I'm going in to finish this!"

Hiccup: "What!? Snotlout, that is not the exercise! Retreat!"

Snotlout ignores Hiccup's cries and dives towards the catapults.

Snotlout: "I've got your retreat!"

Gobber: "Take cover!"

He screams as Snotlout and Hookfang swoop down on Silent Sven's catapult, looping back, and launching a flaming ribbon of Monstrous Nightmare gel, onto the catapult. This however triggers the release mechanism and fires another boulder, brushing past the terrible two, and thanks to some quick thinking from Toothless, avoids hitting Hiccup. Astrid on the other hand just manages to dodge it, but falls off of Stormfly. Screaming on the way down as Hiccup notices and calls out.