How to Save a Dragon Rider

Not an Option

When the mercenary entered the small harbor on Blank island, Victoria watched from her hut. Only one ship returned. One.
Rage was an understatement.

She ripped the bow hanging on the wall and angrily gripped three arrows in her fist as she marched down to the pier. Shoving people aside she met the boat as it came to a stop. The mercenary was the first off the ship.

"Milady," he bowed low. He acted calm but she could see the sweat falling from his brow.

She held two arrows in her mouth, clenched between her teeth. Faster than he could blink she pulled back the other and shot it. It lodged itself in the pier wood, right between his feet. Snatching another arrow out of her mouth she moved closer aiming for his chest. The mercenary began backing up his clawed hands raised in the air.

"Mistress. I've brought you what you asked." Wrong choice of words. She released another arrow, it nearly hit him in the arm striking a post on the
Pier. She quickly reloaded. He was almost at the end of the dock. His men on the boat watched in horror.

"You've brought me nothing." She hissed between closed teeth. "Where is the rest of my fleet!"

"Gone." He panted nervously. "We were attacked by a flock of dragons."

"What about survivors?"

"Taken, probably by dragons or riders."

Her eyes shot open even wider. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. She thought.  They will give up the location of my base.

"You imbecile." She could barely say the words, as they stumbled out, filled with rage.

"Mistress. Please. I brought you riders just like you want-"

She released her last arrow. And this time she didn't miss.

.     .     .

She climbed below deck and eyed the ten people locked in the cage. They were all standing, looking at her unafraid. I'll make them afraid she thought. She hated them with every fiber of her being for what the riders had done to her.

"In five days." she spoke pacing Infront of the cell. "You will be publicly paralyzed. Yes it will hurt. Yes you may not survive. But if you do. You will witness the fall of the great dragon riders. And you will never." She let her words sink in. "Never, be able to fly again."

No emotion showed on her face. She didn't take the time to look at them. That's what the mad genius taught her. Never look in their eyes. It makes it harder. And never show emotion to your victims.

The image of the mad genius lying on the ground, bloodied and defeated, was enough to fuel her motivation. His last words had been; "destroy them, destroy Hiccup Haddock, destroy the dragon riders." 

.    .    .

"Victoria." Leif knocked on the door. He nervously tapped his feet.

"What." A dark voice answered.

"May I speak with you?"

"Come in." She was curled up near the window a permanent scowl on her face.

"The men and villagers are asking why you are waiting to disable the riders." She looked at him like she didn't care.

"Because Leif, the anticipation will make it far worse for them."

"Right," he said nervously. "I will tell the crew."

"Leif- wait." She called.

"Yes mistress?"

"Will you sit here for a moment?"

Leif would've loved nothing more in the world, yet he didnt show it. He rigidly sat across from her admiring her. No words were passed between them for a while. They only watched as white snow gently cascaded out of the silver sky.

"Leif."

" Yes?"

"Do you hate the dragon riders as much as I." She asked. This question surprised him. He thought carefully before answering.

"Milady, I have no personal quarell with them." Her eyes turned to his and he caught his breath. "But I could never love that which you hate. If they are as bad as you say, I will fight with you." She studied him then quietly asked;

"Do you know why I want to take their ability to fly?"

"Because you want dragon riders extinct." He replied sharply.

"No. Leif. I want to take it away because when they took my father, the mad genius, from me, they took my ability to soar. I am nothing without him."

Looking at her, he still had a hard time believing she was only 18. She had become so  mature so much older and beautiful. She had been through much but never showed.

"Drago Bludvist was a strong man." He said hoping the words would somehow comfort her.

"Yes my father really was." She pinched her eyebrows together. "That is why failure is not an option." 

.    .    . 

A small squirmish trader stood in the harbor as he watched the ten dragon riders be dragged through the small town on Blank island. His heart beat fast in his chest. An angry crowd followed them and he trailed behind. Why did the towns people hate them so much? Soon he found out what was in store for the poor Vikings. He had to find out more.

At the local tavern he gathered all of the gossip he could get his ears on. The villagers had a lot to say about how awful and barbaric the drgaon riders were. None of which, the merchant knew, was  actually true. He listened to their perposterous stories and then proceeded to ask who had told them of these things. Although many claimed to have heard it from several sources, the main one was a woman by the name of Victoria and severel of her well known men.

As soon has he left the bar, he proceeded to get the information to Hiccup Haddock. 

 Dear master Hiccup,

I do regret to tell you that 10 dragon riders are to be publicly  paralyzed in as soon as five days. By the time this reaches you, you will only have three days to rescue these poor souls. They are being held on Blank Island. Everyone here seems to hate riders like yourself so tread carefully. Also a villain named Victoria is stationed here. She appears to be in command of a particularly large fleet. 

Trader Yohan

.     .     . 

When the terror mail message reached Hiccup, he was in the process of helping move the last boulder from the island. Cleanup had been productive and quick. Soon the rebuilding would began and Berk would eventually recover. There was no doubt they would make it. His people were strong.

As he read the message, his anxiety levels sky rocketed. He crumpled the paper and tossed it aside. He would save those riders. But this time he wouldn't do it alone. He looked up, his green eyes flared. 

He was coming for her, and defeat  wasn't an option this time.