I Love You to the Edge and Back (A How to Train your Dragon Fanfiction)

Chapter Twenty: Journey to Goodwing Island Pt.2

"I hope that you have a plan," Astrid said, throwing a log on the flame.

"And that is why?" Hiccup asked, watching the embers shoot up.

"Because! If this island is just a way to lure us in, you need a plan to get the info!"

"And what if I dragged all of us here, in hopes of finally finding out more about Toothless? What if there is no information, and it's just an outpost?" Hiccup asked.

"Then, we search forever until we do find what we're looking for, wherever it is," Astrid said, gazing into the flame. She tried to soften her voice, so she didn't aggravate Hiccup anymore.

For about ten minutes, the couple looked back on the adventures they had taken, counted this as one of them, and just enjoyed each other's company. That was, until Astrid fell asleep, leaning up against Hiccup.

Astrid awoke, the sound of Hiccup hurrying outside doing so."I've found what I've been looking for. Now I just need to make sure I don't lose it."

"What do you mean?" Astrid asked, wiping the sleep from her eye.

"I saw someone, just go that way. I, I think they took your betrothal gift," Hiccup said, climbing in Toothless's back. Astrid ran toward Nightfire, practically jumping on her back. The two took off, searching for the intruder.

"I'll take the western and northern sides of the mountain," Astrid instructed. Before they could follow through with their plan, a dragon scream was heard.

"There!" They say in unison, their dragons leading them to the source of the noise.  "Where'd they go?" Astrid asked when they got to the shore.

"There!" Hiccup pointed, the dark shape of a dragon moving towards Goodwing.

"Well?" Astrid asked.

"We go after him," Hiccup answered, nudging Toothless's side. The dragon picked up speed, following the female, who seemed to be faster.

"You haven't been feeding her chicken, have you?" Hiccup asked, smiling.

"No, but you never know if I've been feeding your dragon something," Astrid replied, urging Nightfire to move faster. The couple, so absorbed in themselves, didn't notice the trap that was flying towards them.

"Hiccup, look out!" Astrid cried, preparing to blast the net. Her efforts, were however, in vain. The net trapped all four of them in it. Before Astrid could grab her axe, a purplish gas filled the small area, making them all fall asleep.

Ten minutes later, when they get to the island.

"Alright, it looks like we have two Night Furies, and two humans," a middle-aged lady said. Someone walked nearer to Astrid's head. She fought the urge to look at who it was, because she had a suspicion Hiccup was still awake, and pretending to be asleep. She didn't want to ruin anything he was working to accomplish.

"Okay, have you identified where the humans are from?" The man asked. Astrid guessed this one was behind her head.

"No. But, because they have Valka's gift, I'm thinking they are Berserker," the lady replied. She spat the word Berserker out like it was bad mutton.

Hey, that's my gift, Astrid thought.

"Well, hold them in the basement until they wake up," the lady replied. The man signalled for a dragon, who picked up the net with it's teeth. Astrid had to bite her lip discreetly from screaming. Her face was right next to the dragon's mouth.

"Hiccup, Hiccup, are you awake?" Astrid asked into the darkness after their captors left.

"Yeah, I'm here," came the reply.

"Where is Toothless? And Nightfire?" Astrid asked.

"They took them to a pen outside. Because they think we're Berserkers, they'll set them free far away from here," Hiccup replied.

"How are you so calm?" Astrid asked.

"Because, I know who they are," Hiccup remarked.  Astrid was a little taken aback.

"Who are they?" Astrid asked.

"Merida's parents."

"How do you know?"

"Um, until I was five, they raised me."

"Fair point, but are you sure?"

"Would I tell you if I wasn't sure?"

"Yes, you tell me everything."

"Good enough, but yes, I'm sure."

"Alright. So they are trustworthy?"

"I hope so, they were dad's best friends."

"Okay, let's let them know we're awake."

"Hey! Where are we?" Hiccup shouted, feigning shock.

Footsteps thumped from one end of the basement to the other, stopping at the door. The door was unlatched, and the footsteps continued down the stairs.

"Well well well, who do we have here?" The man asked. He was hunched over, and looked a lot like Mildew.

"I'm Chief Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, Chief of Berk. This is my wife, Astrid Haddock."

"Hiccup?" The man asked.

"The very same," Hiccup replied.

"Martha, Martha. How did you not recognize them?" The man asked, hurrying to the stairs.

"Your the one that kidnapped them," Martha replied, rushing to the top of the stairs. She pulled a lever, and the whole basement lit. Toothless and Nightfire, along with other dragons, became visible.

"You said they were taken to pens," Hiccup accused.

"We had to take precautions, in case you were awake, and an enemy," the man replied.

"Well, I would suggest you give him to me. This place will be destroyed if you don't," Hiccup said, noting the blue blooming on Toothless's back.

"Oh, yes, of course," Martha said, pulling a different latch. Toothless and Nightfire immediately ran to Hiccup and Astrid.

"I see they like you," the old man remarked, scratching his rough goatee. "Ah, and this must be your's. I'm sorry. We figured that you got this in an attack." He handed the small pendant to Astrid, who pursued to slip it over her head. No one was taking it from her.

"Well, Nightfire has been around for a week and Toothless has been around for five, almost six years. She just knows not to upset Toothless," Astrid replied, scratching her dragon on the chin. Nightfire purred in return. Even the stubborn Night Fury admitted to her submissiveness toward the male.

"By the way," Hiccup said. "What really compelled you to leave?"