Captain Fury: Pirate of Berk

48: The Biggest Dragon

Forty-Eight: The biggest dragon

Drago's flagship was closing as the seastacks of Dragon island came into sight-and the crew of the Night Fury gaped as they saw the shattered columns of rock, battered aside by the brute force of the giant vessel chasing them. They had seen them before, swathed in mist but on a clear day, the sight was even more shocking...especially as they were being chased by the monster vessel that had destroyed them.

"Stay alert!" Hiccup ordered them, his cold gaze sweeping over the crew, seeing uncertain faces. "Keep the sails full and don't go too close to the shore. Set course for Freya's Cove. Fish, a word..." He took the husky First mate's arm and led him to one side. Fishlegs immediately looked guilty: it was a reflex.

"Um...what's wrong?" he squeaked, recognising the destination. "I know I didn't miss anything..."

"Fishlegs...why did the dragon come?" Hiccup asked directly. Blue eyes popped wide and his big anxious face worked.

"It wasn't me!" he squeaked. "I swear I didn't do anything..." Sighing, Hiccup rolled his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose wearily.

"What did the twins do?" he sighed.

"Um...fought?" Fishlegs squeaked, looking embarrassed.

"Astrid told me to speak to you, Fish," Hiccup said with forced patience. "She must have seen something and she mentioned the twins specifically. I wasn't there. But something made the dragon crash through the cave and come out onto the beach..." Twisting his fingers, the larger man thought back to the time in the cave, filtering out the memory of Mildew and Mathilda interfering and trying just to focus on the antics of the twins...

"No one's been here for years!"

"Yeah,there's nothing here...Just this staff and some scrolls..."

"Hey-I saw that first! It's mine!"

"Just once, it would be nice if they behaved like adults..." he had thought to himself as the twins tumbled over the floor, wrestling for the staff.

The rattling, jingling sound echoed through the chamber eerily.

It was answered by a shattering roar.

"There was a staff...Tuff has it, I think..." Fishlegs admitted quietly. "The twins were fighting over it and it made this...jingling noise...the dragon attacked after that..."

"Jingling?" Hiccup groaned, face-palming. He sighed again. "Look-make sure the Typhoomerang is ready and on deck. I'm going to beach or sink Drago if it's the last thing I do!"

"You use that thing, it may be the last thing we all do!" Fishlegs told him shortly but Hiccup gave a small, knowing smile.

"Not this time," he told his friend. "This time, I know what it does...and my wife and child need me." He turned. "Be ready...and if you hear yelling, it will be me kicking Tuff's ass!"

oOo

They reached the cove late in the afternoon, the watery amber light of the setting sun gilding the ruptured mountain, and swung the Night Fury round to face the oncoming flagship. Hiccup had a sword on each hip and the staff in his right hand. Tuff was casting him resentful looks and muttering 'Tyrant!' every time he met his Captain's eye.

"Battle stations!" Hiccup commanded, running his fingers through his messy auburn hair. "Tuff, Ruff-get the Thunderdrum ready. I want you to do as much damage as you can!"

"Yessir!"

"Tyrant!"

"I am not a tyrant!"

"Of course not...tyrant!'