Warring Worlds (Mericcup fanfic) [COMPLETED]

Chapter 4

Hiccup and Merida barely made it back through the woods to leap onto Toothless's back and launch straight up through the trees. The white dragons were almost literally on Toothless's tail, shooting ice blasts that the intruders barely dodged. Merida chanced a look back and saw that the dragons were gaining on them. Even faster than a Night Fury. Imagine that. Suddenly she had an idea. "Hiccup!" she shouted in his ear. "Fly back!"

"What?" he shouted back. Then he understood. "Oh. Right! Toothless, plasma blast!" As the plasma blast whine grew higher and higher, Hiccup pulled back on the saddle warning Merida to hold on. Toothless flipped over to face the dragon herd and fired. Any dragons that didn't fall stunned to the ground hovered out of the path of the strange blast. The Night Fury plunged speedily through the gap in the herd and had to fire only twice more before he had carried his charges away from the white dragons and over the mountains.

The travelers were pursued off shore for only a few miles before the satisfied dragons returned to their home in the valley. Hiccup and Merida caught their breath after such a close call. "What would you call those dragons?" the princess asked with her hand over her still drumming heart.

Thinking back to Merida's personal encounter with the youngling, Hiccup grinned. "I dunno. Why don't you name 'em?"

Merida beamed at him, pleased to have the honor. Gazing back at the Polar Islands, she dubbed the ice-breathers, "Polar Serpents."

Hiccup nodded. "Good choice."

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Their next destination was, of course, Berserker Island to find any leaves the Berserker had brought back from the Loki's Hearts. As they drew nearer to the forsaken land, the air grew noticeably warmer, almost too warm compared to the Polar Islands' atmosphere.

Right away Hiccup was able to recognize the Berserker home base which he'd visited many times before. Toothless smelled the Berserker scent and growled uneasily. "I know, bud." Hiccup patted his friend's shoulders. "We'll be quick."

"Why's he worried?" Merida asked in genuine concern. If a Night Fury's worried . . .

"He just doesn't like Dagur the Deranged, the chief of the Berserkers. Most Berserkers are just a little odd, but Dagur is the craziest of them all. And he has it set in his mind to kill Toothless and me (he's not really picky about who goes first) and tries to fulfill his life-long ambition every time we meet."

Merida paused. "He must be crazy if he's named after a weapon."

Hiccup barely smiled at the joke. "Not that kind of dagger." He focused his solemn attention on the Berserker island up ahead. Viking huts blending in with the bare trees and rocks stretched from the west shore to the base of a mountain in the middle of the barren island. Other military outposts were stationed at random along the coast.

Hiccup quickly studied the land and then whispered to his dragon, "Fly low, Toothless. Go in quick." The Night Fury suddenly dove towards the surface of the ocean and flew only a few feet above the water. He beat his strong wings against the air and landed on top of a cliff. The Viking hurriedly urged his mount behind a rocky outcropping. The three of them listened for any alarms. None sounded.

"All right," Hiccup murmured to his passenger. "Here's the plan. We scout ahead on foot. It'll be easier to hide us instead of Toothless if someone suddenly comes walking by. Once we find somewhere to keep him hidden, we'll sneak into the village and find the store of herbs." He dismounted.