Twenty-Three: Where is our Night Fury?

"...and where is our damned Night Fury?"

Stoick stared at the Major of the 5th troop of the 19th Nadder cavalry and tried to process his words. He had sent a telegraph to the Governor detailing the situation in Berk, his complete lack of deputies and back-up and the large number of his problems. But since then, Ryder...or Hiccup, as he should probably think about the man...had done as he had promised and taken matters into his own hands, setting the two gangs against one another, rescuing the kidnapped Astrid Hofferson and killing Alvin's adopted son before being almost killed and returning to gun down the entire Berserker gang in a fury of vengeance for the captivity and torture of his improbably alive uncle, Leo. He blinked. It was pretty hard to summarise for himself and he had watched the whole thing happen! And the Governor had never responded so he had given up on a reply...

"I wasn't aware the dragon belonged to you?" he murmured. Then he shook himself. "A civic-minded citizen has disposed of the Berserkers who had killed much of Alvin's gang. However, Alvin and his most trusted men escaped and it is certain that he will return with his brother, Drago Darkheart."

"So you do not, in fact..."

"Yes, we do!" Stoick growled. "Alvin is the man whose men kidnapped and killed by wife and kidnapped my son. My brother-in-law followed the evidence and was gravely wounded...though he lives..."

"Then we need to speak to him..." Marshal Larson growled and Stoick sighed.

"He's in the hostel," he admitted, "but he was badly hurt by Dagur and the Berserker gang when they were searching for Ryder..."

"Ryder?" Marshal Olson asked gruffly. He was a stocky man with dark hair and eyes and a lined, hard-looking face.

"The public-spirited citizen who gunned down the entire Berserker gang," Stoick said sarcastically.

"A gunslinger?" Marshal Arvidson growled, his hazel eyes squinting. He was weathered and balding with a small moustache that was greying. "Is the scum in the jail?"

"Actually, no, he..."

"Find him!" Larson snapped. "Odin in Valhalla! No wonder this place is such a mess if you can't even arrest a damned stone-cold murderer. Which way did he go?"

oOo

The twins sank down behind the fence of their yard and shared a worried glance. They had witnessed the arrival of the troops with a sense of deja vu and a small flutter of gratitude that Ryder had insisted they had to bury the murdered soldiers decently.

"They're after Ryder," Ruff hissed.

"After the dude wiped out the whole of the Berserkers? Harsh!" Tuff agreed.

"And it sounds like they wanna give Uncle Hopalong a tough time as well," Ruff hissed again.

"And they want to steal his dragon!" Tuff huffed. "Is there no end to their no-funness?"

"Doesn't sound like, it," she sighed and peered through the gap in the fence again to see the cavalry dismounting and taking their dragons to water at the troughs laid out before the Dragon Master's shop. Fishlegs was standing on his front walkway, watching with some concern. He could sense a bad atmosphere when he felt it...and he had seen the Night Fury come when the lean gunslinger called. The two had clearly formed a close bond...which meant the dragon would never go willingly with the soldiers. "Okay, bro-get along to Ryder and warn him...I'll see Uncle Hopalong!"

Tuff flashed a grin and immediately leapt to the hostel, swarming up the corner of the building and swinging up, parkour-style-onto the roof. He ran lightly along, leapt down onto the neighbouring shops and ran along the top of the verandahs, swinging down and leaping across hand-rails and tying-up posts to hide behind a water-butt and crawl on his belly to the next water trough. Stoick and the Marshals watched him with bemusement.

"What is he doing?" Arvidson asked pointedly.

"Don't ask me," Stoick sighed. "Crazy. Always have been..." Undaunted, Tuff scooched along a wall, then dive-rolled and vanished behind the Berserker compound. Stoick just shrugged. "Crazy," he murmured.

oOo

Ruffnut landed in the room next to Leo's and sneaked along the corridor into the room where the man was lying curled on his side, his eyes closed and grey-streaked hair flopped across his scarred face. She paused at the door and stared at the man: they had only known him for a couple of years and very intermittently at that, but he was a good man and the twins had been willing to sacrifice their neutrality for him. Hel, they were both holding pistols and shotguns when Ryder had rode into town...

...and neither of the twins liked the look of the Marshals or the army. As far as the twins were concerned, just about everything had ended fine...except that Alvin and his evil bandit brother Drago Darkheart were on the way to raze Berk to the ground. Yet somehow, with Ryder and his Night Fury, there had been hope. The soldiers just seemed to suck that hope away.

"Are you going to stand there all day, Rebekah, or are you going to do something crazy?" Leo asked gruffly, not opening his eyes. Ruff started.

"Uncle Hopalong-you were stone asleep!" she protested. "How in Loki's name did you actually know I was here? And NO ONE calls me Rebekah!"

"I recall when you and Tyree were born," Leo murmured, a small smile lifting his lips. "I know Val was incredibly excited...she was having problems having a child and had lost a few...and then your mother, Ylva, had twins...just as my mother did. Val was very close to your mother until she was taken and helped with you two...and Ylva helped her a lot when she had Hiccup. She was sick for a long time and Hiccup, though small, was determined and very strong. He never sickened, never gave up...always kept going..."

"Yeah, well he doesn't seem to have changed any since he returned," Ruff admitted with a grin. Leo finally opened his eyes and his normal green eye sparkled slightly with amusement.

"Reminds me of me...though he's far more sarcastic," he admitted and carefully pushed his arms into the bed to lever his battered shape up to a pained sitting position. He grimaced and gave a slight hiss of pain. "I guess I'm not getting any rest...whassup?"

"Stoick sent for Marshals to arrest the Berserkers..." she reported.

"Only ten years too late," Leo sighed, painfully sliding his legs over the side of the bed. He grimaced and clutched at his side as he pulled his stitches. "And his timing stinks. Hiccup is no saint...he's killed a couple of dozen men since he's been at Berk...and while I guess most of them could be justified, he's still a killer...and lawmen don't like that..."

"Actually, I'm more worried about the army guys..."Ruff admitted, walking to the window and peering through at the troop, who were still watering their Nadders. Leo lifted his head.

"Army guys, Rebekah?" he asked pointedly, grimacing as he shimmied to the edge of the bed, his prosthetic slowly finding the ground.

"Fifth Cavalry has come in search of the guys Dagur murdered to get the Night Fury...and they want the Night Fury..." Ruff scowled. "Um...you know Ryder's dragon?" Leo groaned.

"Toothless," he sighed. "They are bonded...already a very solid bond." He frowned. "It's past the point where it could be broken. Toothless is his..." Ruff frowned.

"Not sure the army guys know that..." she admitted as steps closed and Leo grimaced as the Marshals and the Major walked into the room, lifting his head and staring up at the men towering over him. His battered face adopted a calm expression as Ruff backed up a step. "Sirs? Can I help you?" They loomed over him.

"Marshals Larson, Olson and Arvidson," Larson began. "This is Major Finn Haagen of the 5th Troop of the 19th Nadder Cavalry. We believe we have some questions for you, Mister..." Leo sighed.

"Leo Gudmundir," he said roughly. "This is Rebekah Thorston, a friend. Um...what are you asking about? It had better be about the kidnapping and murder of my sister and her infant son, about the man who tortured me and left me to die in a Whispering Death infested mine and who is coming back here to raze Berk to the ground..."

"Where is the Night Fury?" Major Haagen growled.

"One track mind," Ruff muttered.

"Why do you want it?" Leo asked pointedly, blinking as a wave of dizziness broke over him. The Major frowned as Ruff took a pace forward and grasped his shoulder. He gave a small nod.

"Night Furies are so rare and so powerful the army has decided they are a national resource and all should be tendered to us immediately," he growled. Leo frowned.

"Um...I think Federal Law states that any bonded dragon is the property of his bonded human and that takes priority over any other claim," he murmured.

"The army's claim..."

"Cannot supersede that," Leo said more firmly.

"But...how would a ragamuffin like you...?" Marshal Olson sneered.

"Trained Dragon Master," Leo said quietly. "So I ask again-why do you really want the Night Fury? None have been seen for over fifty years and there certainly isn't a breeding pair. A bonded dragon won't serve you and will escape to his rider. What's your agenda, Major?" The man gaped in shock, his eyes wide: this half-blinded and very battered man had punctured his pretensions in one deliberate lunge.

"Hybrids," he managed at last as Leo and Ruff shared a look. "You are correct...we can't wait to find another Night Fury...but Colonel Halvard telegraphed that he had caught a male and thus he provides opportunities for cross-breeding..."

"Assuming hybrids are viable," Leo murmured.

"Our husbandry and blood-stock experts believe they are and have identified the most promising hybridisations for optimal aggression and preservation of Night Fury characteristics and speed, accuracy and firepower," the Major said smugly.

"What are you talking about?" Larson asked, scowling.

"Deadly Furies and Nightmare Furies," Haagen smirked. "Deadly Nadder and Monstrous Nightmare hybrids..." Ruff stared at him in surprise.

"Assuming Toothless finds any of them attractive," she commented. "I mean...he could just be...like bleurgh!" All eyes turned to her.

"Toothless?" Olson asked sharply. "You have seen the beast?" Leo groaned and face-palmed as Ruff scowled in anger at the tone-and at herself.

"Everyone here has!" she retorted. "He's Ryder's bonded dragon!"

"Ryder!" Larsson snapped. "Every time something has happened in this town, it seems to be that killer, Ryder. Where is he?" Leo stared at them and shook his head.

"Y'know, getting a lot of deja vu right about now..." he murmured as Arvidson and Olson grabbed his arms and hauled him up.

"hey!" Ruff protested as she was shoved aside. "He's injured! The Berserkers really hurt him to get him to give up Ryder..."

"So you know where he is?" Larsson growled. Leo shook his head.

"I knew where he was," he breathed, his green gaze defiant, promising non-cooperation. The Marshal jerked his head and Leo was dragged out of the room.

"Take him to the Sheriff's office," Larsson commanded. "I'm sure he'll be happy to help us find out where that murderer is hiding..."

"Here we go again..." Leo murmured.

oOo

Astrid had concluded as she watched Ryder that he was a natural dragon wrangler...and that he was never happier than when he was working with the beasts. He had moved effortlessly through the frightened and hostile dragons, calming and soothing them, delivering water and far more generous meals than she had every witnessed Dagur's men giving them. A couple of dragons were extremely hostile and Toothless-who had followed Ryder around the whole time, unwilling to let the man out of his sight-had stepped in and roared challengingly at the recalcitrant lizards. Laughing, Ryder had rested his hand on the dragon's flattened head and tried to calm the irate dragon down.

"Easy, bud," he murmured. "They're just scared and haven't been treated well...just like you." Toothless gave a small warble, rubbing against the man's lean body firmly. "Yeah, bud-love you too," he murmured, smiling. In that moment, Astrid froze, seeing him unguarded with his dragon: his face was completely open and lit with a smile, his emerald eyes shining with happiness, his auburn hair casually tousled and stubble outlining his sharp jaw. For a second, his gaze flicked up and she felt herself smiling back at his utterly relaxed and happy expression...

"Dude!" Tuff's words broke the spell and Ryder and Astrid snapped round to face the male twin, who was crouching under a bench.

"What are you doing down there?" Ryder asked incredulously, the faintest growl of irritation in his voice.

"Get out of there!" Astrid added irritably. Tuff peered up.

"Army!" he said in a strangled whisper. Ryder rolled his green eyes.

"For the love of..." he muttered and peered upwards. "Not giving me much of a break, are you?"

"Hiccup-is that a problem?" Astrid asked, frowning. The gunslinger gave a self-conscious shrug.

"Considering I am kind of a witness to Dagur, Eret and their men gunning down the whole of the troop who captured Toothless using a Gatling gun and leaving their bodies to rot...it may be," he admitted. Her eyes popped wide and he lurched forward, grasping her upper arms gently and staring into her eyes. "I got the twins to give them all decent burials!" he said quickly. "But I have the Night Fury and I can guarantee they will want him..."

"But he's yours," she protested. "I thought a bond superseded all other claims..."

"Um...it does...but when you think about it, there is a way to deal with that," he said looking concerned. Tuff poked his head out.

"Yeah..." he said and made a slicing motion across his neck. Ryder rolled his eyes and Astrid looked at him in concern, grasping his hand. She moved closer to him, staring gently up into his eyes.

"Shouldn't you just go?" she murmured, pressing closer to him. Her fingers twined with his and he leaned closer. "I-I love you and I don't want you to leave...but if it's safer...I-I don;t want anything to happen to you..."

"Astrid, I can't leave you and Leo and Gobber and the rest," he murmured. "I know Toothless is a powerful dragon...and you need everything you can get to protect you from Alvin and his allies." He paused and lifted her chin, wrapping an arm around her. "And if I run now, Milady, they'll always be after me. I have to stand up for what is mine...and by whatever measure you have, Toothless is my bonded dragon."

"Dude-from what I've seen, I doubt they care-especially that Major," Tuff pointed out from under bench.

"Tuff-why are you still under there?" Ryder asked him pointedly.

"Being stealthy, dude!" the male twin assured him with a grin. Ryder paused then turned to Astrid and silently asked permission, before leaning into a kiss. She kissed him back, tentative at first but more confident as he gently raised his hands to run through her hair, his thumbs ghosting across her cheeks. Finally, he pulled away as Toothless's ear flaps suddenly pricked up and a growl rumbled through his chest. He scowled at the wreckage of the wall and gates.

"Stay calm," he murmured and shooed the Night Fury back as the Marshals and the Major walked into the compound. He turned to the nearest cage and gentled the scared Zippleback within. Astrid turned to the men and folded her arms.

"Can I help you gentlemen?" she asked firmly, her eyes cool. She saw their eyes sweep over the compound, the caged dragons, the wreckage and the tall, lean shape of her assistant.

"And you are...?" Larsson asked.

"Astrid Hofferson," she told him shortly. "I own this compound and everything within it!" He scoffed at her then pointed at Ryder.

"And him?" Olson asked. "He fits the description of a murderer we're seeking..." Ryder's head snapped up and his emerald eyes looked briefly concerned.

"I'm just her head wrangler and stockman," he told them calmly. "My name is Hiccup Gudmundir." The Marshals frowned.

"As in Leo?" the Major asked. "That one-eyed, one-legged vagrant..." Hiccup's fists clenched, his eyes glittering with anger at the cruel assessment of the brave and loyal man.

"My Uncle," he said honestly. "You've seen him?" Marshal Larson grinned.

"Yeah...he's real stubborn," he commented, his big face folded in a nasty smile. Astrid flicked a glance at Hiccup, who turned slowly to face the men, his eyes arctic.

"What did you do to him?" he asked coldly. Arvidson smiled.

"Just asked him a few questions-and when he wouldn't answer, we locked him in the jail..."

"WHAT?" Ryder turned and stared past them. "He should be in the healer's, not a cell!"

"We are looking for the killer, Ryder," Larsson snapped, his eyes running over the lean shape of the gunslinger, noting the pistol comfortably slung over his left hip, the fading bruising and scarring on the back of his hand. The auburn-haired man snapped his head round and narrowed his emerald eyes.

"As you know, we are also looking for the stolen Night Fury," the Major began and Astrid stepped forward, her eyes hard.

"I believe the Night Fury was caught from the wild and found again in the wild after the troop left here," she said coldly. "He was recaptured by Dagur B'serk and registered in his name via the National and State Dragon Registries. He is now my possessions since I repossessed these premises and all their contents in recompense for delinquent rent for some years. And the dragon has bonded with my wrangler."

All eyes turned to the stiff shape of Ryder as the Major lurched forward.

"Where is MY dragon?" he growled. The gunslinger whistled through his teeth and Toothless emerged, his back arched, back-ridge raised and pupils narrowed, a fierce growl vibrating through him. Ryder stuck his hand out and the dragon walked up and pressed his head up against the hand, going silent but still baring his teeth at the man.

"I think he's my dragon," Ryder said firmly. "We are a bonded pair...and that means your claim is superseded..." Then the Major pulled his gun and pointed it straight at Ryder's head, a nasty smile on his face.

"We can sort that out," he threatened. Astrid's eyes widened and she stared at the Marshals as Tuff popped his head out.

"Told you, dude!" he smirked.

"You can't let him threaten Hiccup!" she protested to the State Marshals. "He's the bonded rider of that dragon and it is HIS! I thought you were supposed to be lawmen!"

"Oh, we are, little lady!" Arvidson sneered, grabbing her. Immediately Toothless roared and leapt on the Major as the Marshals tugged Astrid aside and Ryder reached for his gun. A click sounded.

"I think you should unbuckle the belt now...before something happens to this little lady," Arvidson snarled, his gun digging into Astrid's neck, the hammer cocked. "And get that reptile under control...or you can look for a new boss!" Green eyes flicked to the ashen Astrid and he forced himself to smile, carefully unbuckling his gun-belt and letting it drop to the ground. He waved his hand and Toothless glanced at him...then fattened his ear-flaps and gave a small croon. Astrid's eyes swum with tears and she shook her head slightly.

"Hiccup...no..." she murmured. Arvidson pressed the muzzle of his pistol harder into her neck.

"It'll be okay," he assured her calmly as Toothless backed away at his command and sat quietly behind the man.

"Ryder-you're under arrest for dragon rustling, the murder of the twenty-two soldiers of the 1st Troop of the 19th Nadder Cavalry and twenty civilians!" Larsson announced, his cold eyes narrowed with triumph. He slowly raised his hands and gave a lazy grin as the Marshals all levelled their guns at him.

"I don't suppose I could claim mistaken identity?" he suggested. "There may well be several other tall, skinny sarcastic red-headed gunslingers in this territory..." He saw the large shape of Stoick arrived at the compound as Larsson grabbed his hands and cuffed them behind his back. The Sheriff looked stricken.

"Son..." he breathed.

"It's okay," said Ryder. "I'll come quietly..."

A/N: Thanks to ShadowSpirt020 for inventing the concept, name and design of Deadly Furies!!