𖣯 ✹ 🌷(makligr) ꏍ ！┈─❟
╰───►chapter one; yrsa
❝ three years peace! ❞

    IN THREE years, Berk has changed a lot.

Sure, it was still unusual━very unusual. At first glimpse, of course, it looked rather normal; boring in fact. Just a small island north of the great Archipelago shrouded with mountains and cliffs and their very own glacier. But it was far from unusual, that was for sure. And in the three years since the battle against the Red Death, and the Berserker War━oh, the tales Yrsa could tell━things in Berk finally started to settle down.

The only thing that didn't settle, were the pets.

Well, you see, while most places have dogs or horses.

Here, on Berk, they had:

    Dragons.

And in the three years since, dragons have made Berk their home, and the Vikings who lived on the island welcomed them with open arms. Sure, they had a lot of their troubles, but they've learned to live with it, to work around it and alongside it. Now, they were at peace. Everything was over, and they could live their lives. No Outcasts, no Berserkers, no Screaming Deaths. Yrsa Olofsdotter was starting to finally grow up. And so we're the rest of her friends.

The menace that was Snotlout Jorgenson now worked at the armoury. It required little brain cells, so the mean young adult could think little and do more, because who else would let himself be titled the 'Official Weapons Tester'? Yrsa saw his brick-square-faced self be thrown out of far too many catapults for it to be healthy. But hey, it was better than having him be thrown off Hookfang twenty-four seven ... except that still happens, too. The Twins, to no ones surprise, decided to dedicate their lives to Loki, the god of mischief. Of course, those who had the━uh━pleasure to know them sometimes couldn't even tell them apart. Ruffnut and Tuffnut were freakishly identical despite being of differing genders. Fishlegs, as expected, has taken on teaching the young children of Berk the history of dragons. He was a big boy, with little chin and a potbelly from all the chicken he consumed. When he wasn't spoiling his dragon, Meatlug, or showing around small scout tours, one could find his large, round nose in the Book of Dragons, reading over the notes they've made dozens and dozens of times. And, of course, Astrid took to joining the Berk Guard, ready to defend her home with her Nadder, Stormfly at any given moment. She was still the ever-promising, ever-striking shield maiden as she was three years ago━if not more. Beautiful, blond-haired, blue-eyed; Astrid was the perfect example of what to achieve to be.

Yrsa, herself, still knew exactly what she was doing ... well, somewhat. She was still the same snobby, elegant (and a little crazy) Viking as she ever was, with bangs that were not so choppy anymore, and braids dangling either side of her face. But she was three years senior, now. Yrsa was growing to be quite the regal woman, and knew that very well. But she wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty. She and her Devilish Dervish, Helrose, might be found helping Vikings build the new and upcoming Hangar, or perhaps taking orders in the blacksmith's forge. She was starting to become everything Berk needed in a future chief's wife ... only problem was, while everyone assumed, and everyone knew, looking at Yrsa with pride and excitement, she and Hiccup were still ... well ...

It was complicated.

Right now, Yrsa focused on one thing, and one thing only; being one of his closest and most trusted friends.

He wasn't taking Astrid's news of joining the Berk Guard too well. As the three years passed, there became little need for the Academy. There were no threats, Dagur was safely in prison, no new islands nor dragons. One by one, they all started to leave and go their own way. Now, all there was left was Hiccup and Toothless, and Yrsa knew that he was too stubborn to admit that the search could be over. He was getting older now, and part of Yrsa wondered whether he wasn't just wanting to explore ... but was also using it as an excuse to escape his future responsibilities.

Yrsa took Helrose for a flight to find him. It wasn't long before she saw him and Toothless sitting on the edge of a sea stack, staring out at the open horizon, as if expecting something to show up. Nothing has showed up for three years aside from Johann's trade and annual treaty signings. Yrsa didn't know how to explain it to him, but she knew she had to be blunt━she always was with him, and he appreciated it.

She faltered in her flight a little to see him so upset; hunched over and defeated. Helrose hovered over the rock, her shadow making Hiccup and Toothless glance back. In seeing Yrsa, the Night Fury lit up with excitement. As she set down, he bounded over to her and Yrsa slipped off the saddle, chuckling.

"Hello," she greeted him, letting him leap up and pull her into a hug━he was so human. Yrsa chuckled again, patting his black scales. "All right, bud━yes, I'm happy to see you too, come on, down you get. There you go..." he set back down and Yrsa could hold her own weight again. The Night Fury purred at Helrose and the two of them bobbed their heads in a small conversation as Yrsa made her way over to Hiccup.

"Hey," she said, softer this time, "Astrid told me what happened."

Yrsa took the spot beside him, the two friends sitting at the edge of the sea stack. Her boots swung and she set her hands back, leaning against them. She sighed out to the horizon, thinking of what to say.

Hiccup knew she came here to talk to him about it all, and she knew that, too. He anticipated her blurt of, "They do all have a point."

He shook his head, looking away. Yrsa frowned at him gently, "You know they do," she told him. "We've visited every island, every sea stack and every rock in the Archipelago twice, and we haven't spotted a new dragon in a long time."

Hiccup slumped even more. He glanced at Yrsa, "This can't be all there is," he murmured. His eyes set out towards the ocean, longing. "There has to be something more out there."

"And what if there isn't?" she arched a brow. He pursed his lips. Behind them, their dragons had stopped playing to look over, watching their riders intently━as if, like everyone else at Berk, waiting for something to happen. "What if we're done?"

She risked holding out a hand and gently setting it over his, leaning forward to meet his brooding gaze. Hiccup hung his head. "What if the search is over?"

He glanced at their hands. "It can't be," he said, determined. Hiccup's gaze flickered distantly over to Toothless and Yrsa realised.

She pursed her lips. She looked over at Toothless, too, feeling her heart ache for him. He wasn't alone, of course. He had them, and he had the other dragons. But Night Fury's were incredibly loyal━at least, from what Bork's Papers have said. They mated for life; family and kin were an extreme part of their being. And while Toothless chose his kin in Hiccup and Yrsa, they always wished for there to be another Night Fury out there. A true kin.

Hiccup sighed, returning his gaze in front of him. Yrsa carefully pulled her hand away and didn't notice the flicker of disappointment cross his features. "Look," she said, "maybe you should give some thought to what's next for you and Toothless. You can't run away from those responsibilities forever. It might be time to start ... preparing for the day you're going to have to take over."

Yrsa then stood up, leaving him to think it all out. She scratched Toothless under the chin before stepping up into her saddle. Helrose murmured a guttural moan of concern to Hiccup. Yrsa patted her neck, "Come on, girl, the boys need some time alone."

◞ ★ ꒱꒱◜

    "HOW did you not notice Johann on the back of your saddle?"

Yrsa flung her hands out to the Twins the next morning. The old Dragon Riders had all met up in the Academy with the map of the Archipelago already set out. The Twins had just been trying to prank poor Mulch and Bucket on their fishing trip when Johann appeared out of nowhere, declaring Dagur had escaped from Outcast Prison.

Tuffnut gasped at her, clearly offended. "Are you calling me a liar?"

"Are you calling us a liar?" Ruff added, gesturing between the two of them. Yrsa rolled her eyes, turning up her nose. "Because we━young lady━are very disappointed you'd accuse such a thing!"

"Yeah! What if we called you a liar, hmm?"

Yrsa arched a brow. Beside her, Snotlout took the chance to purr, "I'd never call you a liar, sweetheart━whoa! Hey!" she shoved him away until he stumbled, almost falling to the ground. Astrid laughed at him.

She was glad when Hiccup arrived. He walked towards the map, and Yrsa didn't know whether he was worried or excited. It has been three years without any trouble from Dagur the Deranged, the Berserker Chief, but now that he was out━how did he even get out?

Toothless nudged Yrsa's leg as he came to sit next to her. She set a hand on his neck, tracing patterns in his scales. It was strange to be back here, all together like nothing had ever changed. But, there was a part of Yrsa that felt a thrill━that had missed it.

"All right, gang," said Hiccup, turning to face the Dragon Riders. "All we got out of Johann before he passed out was this: Dagur escaped from Outcast Island by commandeering his ship. He threw Johann overboard about here━" he pointed to a small island on the map.

Snotlout arched a brow, arms crossed, "So, what you're saying is Dagur could be anywhere by now."

Hiccup winced, "Well, technically, yes."

"Oh, great! Great, great, great," Snotlout nodded sarcastically. "So, that just leaves━I don't know, let me think about this━the entire ocean to search! No, thank you."

Yrsa scowled at him, ready to say something in response when Johann's thin voice interrupted, "Master Hiccup," he purred, shuffling in through to the front.

Hiccup chuckled in surprise, "Johann!" he exclaimed. "You're awake?"

"And feeling much better, thank you for asking!" said the traveller; Yrsa shared an incredulous glance with Astrid. "More importantly," went on Johann, "I have more than a strong suspicion where our nefarious foe may be heading━" he gestured to the map; high to the edge of the fog bank.

Yrsa set her hands on her hips, gazing up to where Johann pointed. "Outside the Archipelago?" she asked.

"No!" said Johann. She arched a brow. "Just inside the fog bank in our outer group of islands."

"We've never been out that far ..." murmured Hiccup nervously, glancing at Yrsa briefly.

"When Dagur commandeered my precious ship," said Trader Johann, "he also came into possession of a very important map━one that leads to a graveyard of ships hidden in that fog bank."

Snotlout rolled his eyes, "Wow," he said loudly. "That's the first place I'd go."

Johann sent him a harsh glare, "If I may be allowed to finish?"

"Johann, last time we allowed you to finish, we ended up on Breakneck Bog! So, no━no finishing━!"

Hiccup held up a hand, silencing Snotlout with a short, "Enough," he turned back to Johann. "What's so special about the graveyard and why would he go there?"

He chuckled, "Ah, well, you see━"

"The short version, please?"

Johann narrowed his eyes, annoyed, "It's where I store all my treasures and wares."

Silence. The Riders all stared at Johann in amazement. Tuffnut closed Snotlout's gaping jaw and said, "Wow ... concise, to the point. Who knew he had it in him?"

"Aha!" the trader pointed an excited finger at him, "which reminds me of a time I was labelled as 'conscise!' He was a young man, very ugly, actually ..." and Yrsa had already tuned out. Hiccup snapped him back to focus. "Yes?"

"Is there anything else?"

"Oh! As a matter of fact, there is one ship you must avoid at all cost. It's called ..." he paused for dramatic effect. Yrsa rolled her eyes. "'The Reaper'." She and Astrid scoffed as Fishlegs whimpered. "Riddled with booby traps from stem to stern. Barely made it out of with my life the only time I dared venture aboard!"

Hiccup nodded. "Okay, Toothless," the Night Fury perked up from where he was enjoying a nice scratch from yrsa, "let's go. Unless━of course━any of you can make time out of your busy schedules to capture a dangerous maniac?"

Yrsa shoved him with an amused scoff, "Yes, sure, Horrendous, go ahead and be smug about it."

He smirked.

◞ ★ ꒱꒱◜

EVEN though Yrsa was one to keep her excitement to herself and hold onto her composure, a grin formed onto her lips as she soared through the clouds. Helrose roared defiantly towards the distance. Even if they were heading out further than they have ever before, out to stop a deranged lunatic, Yrsa could feel her heart racing with the thrill of what awaited. She sat straight-backed in her saddle, her posture as good as her mother always drilled into her, but the freedom was in her eyes. The sparkle of the dark hues that lit up the sky more than the sun did. With her braids flying behind her, she looked free despite it all. Her guard was down.

She glanced to the side, seeing Astrid cry out into the distance the Hooligan battle cry, beyond joyful to be out here again. Yrsa couldn't help but chuckle. Hiccup flying in front of her looked back, and she gave him a grin━just for him and no one else. His face lit up just at the sight of it.

And then, she caught sight of the flicker of mischief dancing amongst his green eyes.

Without hesitation, he sat forward and sprung out his arms, "V' Formation!"

Yrsa knew what he was doing. She scoffed, easily pulling Helrose outwards into her old position on the right just diagonal from Hiccup and in front of Astrid. Hiccup arched a brow, shrugging, "Not bad..." he mused. "How about━Diamond Formation!"

Tuffnut's scoff echoed out as they parted into the right lines. "Pppht. How rusty does this guy think we are?"

Below, Fishlegs wheezed. He tried to urge Meatlug out from underneath, but was squeezed against the underbelly of Barf and Belch. "Uh, guys ... little tight on the diamond, aren't we?"

Hiccup chuckled at the sight; they relaxed into a simple flight. Yrsa fixed the flyaways from her braids. "Just like old times..."

Warm blazes of fire startled Yrsa from her calm state. She gasped, veering Helrose out of the way just in time of Snotlout and Hookfang━lit from snout to tail━shoot past, screaming: "Five thousand pounds of flaming muscle coming through!"

Yrsa glowered after him.

Hiccup sighed, "Ever a class act."

They reached the outer fog banks by evening. For once, Yrsa found Johann's description to be on-point━a graveyard of ships set out in front of them. Over a dozen shipwrecks surfaced on the rocks hidden by the fog, looking in the night amongst the whistling wind like ghosts with their ripped sails shivering and their old oars creaking from rotting wood. With the moon rising in the distance, hovering over the horizon line, it looked like the places of horror told in stories to scare children. The group of them soared over the watery graves.

"I knew it," Hiccup scowled at the wreckage. "I knew there was more."

"Some of these ships?" Yrsa spoke up, eyeing the slashed sails and broken masts. "The insignias?" She glanced at him briefly, feeling a little twist in her gut. "I've never seen anything like them before."

Hiccup pursed his lips. He frowned at the strange patterns on the sterns and the unfamiliar imagery stitched into the ripped sails. Yrsa knew that the people who had manned these boats weren't from the Archipelago, but out beyond this fog bank. Helrose's neck vibrated with a low and worried purr, eyeing the waters with a skittish gaze. Yrsa ran her fingers down her neck to try and calm her down.

"Okay," said Hiccup finally, "everybody fan out. If you see any trace of Dagur, send a signal."

They split up, scouring the dark and foggy rock-faces and jagged shipwrecks. Yrsa was thankful for Helrose's esteemed vision, for she nearly ran them into some gruesome crashes into sharp rocks too many times. She was staggered in her flight, wanting to pull back and return the way they came. Yrsa gripped her saddle tighter, peering in through the darkness and onto the old rotting decks. "It's okay, girl," she assured, though she felt the same nerves bottle at the pit of her stomach. She felt as though something lurked within these waters. "We're okay."

Finding nothing, Yrsa met back up with the others on one of the centre ships. The deck creaked underfoot, but still seemed steady enough to hold them and their dragons. Circling together, Yrsa crossed her arms, frowning out towards the distance as if she expected Dagur's ships to arrive from nowhere. Toothless jumped off from the edge of the ship, walking up to her to rub against her side. He always knew when she was tense and stressed; he and Helrose had a knack for it. Yrsa smiled a little, letting her fingers run along his smooth scales while Helrose took time to groom her claws.

"No sign of Dagur," sighed Hiccup, hands on his hips as he thought.

Astrid pursed her lips from beside Yrsa. "Looks like we got here first. What's the plan?"

Hiccup considered this for a moment. "We wait."

Fishlegs double-tracked. "Wait, wait━wait a minute. For how long? This fog really gives Meatlug the willies," he gave his beloved dragon a rub at the mention.

"He has a point," stated Astrid. "We can't wait around here forever."

"Well, we can't just leave Johann's treasure here either," Hiccup frowned, facing her. "Dagur will steal them."

"Yeah, I know," she said. "And then use the profits to build a new armada."

Ruffnut snickered and shared a mean glance with her brother, "Not if we steal them first."

Tuff shook his head with a scoff, "Now that is the dumbest idea I've ever heard." Crossing his arms, he put his nose to the sky and declared, "I hereby disown you!" His sister rolled her eyes.

Hiccup blinked, "Actually," he said, "you know what? I sort of like it."

Tuffnut soon grinned. "Welcome back to the family!" He told Ruff. She didn't look too amused.

"Okay," started the chief's son, "here's the plan: we search the ships, gather up Johann's treasure and take it back to Berk. But keep your eye open for Dagur, he could show up at any time."

A collection of hisses erupted from the water, making them all gasp. Yrsa's hairs stood on end and she gripped Toothless's saddle in sudden fright. Astrid stepped back and reached for her axe. "What is that?"

"Uh ..." Tuff glanced warily to the fog. "Has Dagur's voice changed?"

Hiccup ran to a break in the wood, peering down at the water. His eyes widened, "Eels!" he spun back to them, urged. "Everybody━get to your dragons before they get spooked and take off!"

Too late. Yrsa cried for Helrose to stay, but she and the other dragons took off in the night with roars and screeches of fear. Toothless━the only one who couldn't fly on his own, roared in defiance, shuffling back against the stern. "Oh, come on!" Yrsa grumbled after her dragon. "Helrose!"

She went to run to the edge of the ship only for the wood to break away and up onto the deck landed the largest eel Yrsa has ever seen━twice her size in length, at the very least, and teeth that could rival a dragon's. "Oh, that's got to be a joke from the gods..." she managed before it lashed out. Snotlout, who had been near her, screamed at the top of his lungs and ran away. Yrsa reached for her axe, but Astrid had her back━like always. With a mighty yell, she whacked her axe across the gigantic eel's head, and it was knocked to the side. She pulled Yrsa out of there before the eel could resurface.

Toothless let out a shriek, shuffling further back away from the eels. Hiccup raced to him, hand out with a rushed, but comforting, "Hey, hey, hey━calm down, bud," he climbed onto the saddle. "It's only a couple of eels!" He readied the two of them to take flight, staring at the eels slithering up the sides of the ship and rocking it side to side with crazy strength. "Really big ... screaming, mean, eels ..."

They took to the air, hoping to scare them off while the others huddled together at the centre of the deck. With the boat being pushed around, it was best to keep their weight as rigid and level as they could.

But as the ship titled downwards, it was hard to keep steady. Yrsa's eyes were wide, watching the large eels wrap their long bodies around the stem, tugging it down into the water.

"The eels are pulling the ship down!"

"I can see that Fishlegs━WHOA!" Yrsa lost her footing as the deck turned vertical. She let out a scream as she and the others slid down towards the waters where the eels were waiting.

Snotlout somehow managed to grab hold of the bottom of the broken mast and cried out, "Fishlegs! Grab my foot!" He did so and Snotlout yelped as he was tugged downwards. Whimpering a little, he fastened his grip on the mast. "Oh, you ate a full breakfast━" the rest of them latched on, "━Oh, you ate everyone's breakfast!"

Yrsa clinged onto Tuffnut's boot, swaying a little as she glanced down a the eels. They hissed at her, continuing to wrap their bodies like snakes constricting air from their food.

"We're gonna live!" exclaimed Tuff in triumph.

There was a nasty shudder as the boat lurched further into the water. The impact send a tremor through Yrsa's arm and before she knew it, her grip around Tuffnut's foot was shocked free.

"TUFF!" Yrsa screamed, trying to grab his hand again. He reacted too late.

He wailed in misery after her falling figure, "Most of us are gonna live!"

Yrsa flailed her arms and legs, heart racing as another scream tore through her throat. The water grew closer and closer━inches away. Hiccup realised and spun Toothless around. His eyes widened. "YRSA━!"

His voice grew muffled as she hit the ocean.

The impact jolted Yrsa with a strike of numbness. Cold seeped through her furs, chilling her to the bone in murky, dark depths. She did her best to hold her breath, forcing her eyes open even though they stung. She couldn't see much in the depths, but even with water coursing around her, she heard the eels. From everywhere and nowhere. She caught glimpses of their yellow colour and tried to reach for her axe. Her lungs screamed raw, begging for air as she swiped desperately to keep one away. But it was useless━her blade would do no damage here. There was no way for momentum; the water lagged her down like sacks of flour.

She would have been eaten if not for the blast of blinding light breaking through the surface. The eels scattered and Yrsa looked up.

Her heart leapt in relief to see Hiccup and Toothless diving down towards her. Kicking her legs, she reached a hand to meet them halfway. Hiccup grasped her wrist; he tugged━

As soon as she was out of the water, Yrsa coughed and spluttered, unable to gasp the air her lungs craved. Clothes and hair completely drenched, she shivered against Hiccup's back on the saddle, holding on with trembling arms around his waist.

"You okay?!" He asked her as he swooped back around to the ship. "Yrs━you good?!"

She coughed a little more, but could manage a long breath into her lungs. "Y━yeah, I'm ... I'm okay. Thank you."

The eels descended back into the depths and the ship hit the water back on its stern with a mighty splash! Toothless had scared them off for now.

They landed back down. Yrsa let go of Hiccup as he slipped off the saddle, turning back to her with deep concern.

"I'm fine," she promised despite her shivers. But she took the hand he offered her anyway, her boots squelching in between her toes. Now annoyed, Yrsa ringed the water from her hair━great! Now her furs were all ruined!

Toothless warbled at her, keeping his side pressed against her despite her determination. As if scared she'd slip.

"Pardon me," said Snotlout as things settled. Hiccup stepped away from Yrsa to arch a brow, already sending the sarcasm. "Does anyone else think that Johann could have warned us about━I don't know━the giant screaming eels?!"

Yrsa just rolled her eyes, continuing to squeeze the water from her braids.

"Snotlout, would you relax?" chided Hiccup, not in the mood. "The dragons will be back. In the meantime, we stick with the plan. We find Johann's treasure━quietly."

"Snotlout doesn't know how to be quiet," muttered Yrsa moodily.

"Shut up, Yrsa!"

She didn't even glance at him as he stormed off. The others followed him downstairs and around the ship in search of Johann's many treasures. Yrsa stayed back a little, deciding to just push her wet bangs off her face.

Hiccup gave her a final, concerned look. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Hiccup if you spend the rest of this mission doting on me," said Yrsa sharply, "I will run you through with my axe."

He smiled slightly at that, knowing that at least she was back to her snappy self. But it soon faded as he glanced out at a ship in the distance. Lonesome from the others, Yrsa could see the glints of metal cages on its deck. She had a feeling she knew exactly what ship that was.

"That's the Reaper, isn't it," it wasn't a question━more of a sigh in realisation that Hiccup was most definitely going to head over to the one ship Johann told them to avoid. Yrsa walked up to his side. "I know what you're thinking. And the answer is: definitely a bad idea."

Hiccup met her gaze, matching her blank, reluctant stare. "You heard what Johann said: a ship covered with booby-traps from stem to stern. I'm thinking, what is on there they don't want people to find?"

"Maybe it's their mothers' cooking recipes."

He arched a brow, unamused at her sarcasm. She met it with one of her own. When the staring contest got nowhere, Yrsa sighed and said. "At least let me come along."

"No," said Hiccup, shaking his head. "You stay here and search with the others. I'll go in with Toothless. If it is full of traps, a smaller party will be better off, besides, Helrose isn't around." And the frown on her face, Hiccup squeezed her arm. "I'll be careful."

Yrsa just glanced down at Toothless. "Make sure he doesn't lose his other leg."

The Night Fury huffed a nod while Hiccup rolled his eyes, "Yeah, yeah," he took to the saddle, "hilarious, Yrsa, really."

She sent him a sarcastic smile before flicking her braid over her shoulder and following after the others with her chin raised high.

◞ ★ ꒱꒱◜

      YRSA picked at the locks on chests to check the contents inside. So far, she hadn't found anything worth keeping. Most of these were ink bottles, botany books and leisure items that Dagur would have no interest in stealing to gather money. She didn't know what the others had found, but her luck has so far gone dry. She sighed and closed the lid, moving onto the next chest. She tried not to get stressed and frustrated, but she kept wondering whether Hiccup was okay━how he was going on the Reaper. Traps from stem to stern ... if he made one wrong step ...

She knew he handled himself perfectly fine with Toothless, but she still wanted to be there with him, just to have his back in case. Yrsa was used to following him everywhere in these sort of things━it had been like such ever since they found Toothless. But some things they had to alone. That was what a team was, and Yrsa was still trying to learn that.

Her worries and thoughts distracted her━so much she didn't realise someone was behind her until they locked her around the neck. Yrsa gasped, struggling to reach her axe━but this person kept her disarmed, laughing a familiar, chill-striking laugh that made her shiver with fresh fear.

"Yrsa!" greeted Dagur the Deranged. Yrsa couldn't look over and catch a glance of him, but he was definitely taller in the last three years, and even stronger. He managed to pick her up, kicking and struggling in scar-ridden arms. "Long time━no see!" His laughter returned, ringing painfully in his ears. "Look at you, all grown up! I feel emotional━so emotional━" and then, like that, his amusement fell away and he gripped her tighter, sneering into her ear. "I would stay quiet, or your friends might just reach their end quicker than planned."

Yrsa struggled defiantly, but she kept her mouth shut, glaring daggers at the deranged Berserker as he set her down, taking her father's axe and shoving her along. Her heart raced at the thought of him taking her axe━he won't be giving it back. She walked along obediently, but felt her hands twist in the grip behind her back, wanting to punch that smug look off his face.

The Reaper was much worse up close. The Dragon Riders were forced up onto his mist-shrouded deck as the dawn started to rise. Even with the light seeping through the clouds, the Ship Graveyard didn't seem to get the idea that it was early morning. Instead, it stayed in the depths of night.

Yrsa and her friends were shoved into a cage on the Reaper, Dagur laughing in their faces as he closed the latch. Yrsa slammed against the bars in her frustration; they were green with rust, but as strong as if they were brand new. With a glare, she turned back to the others. It was a ... strange sight. Ruffnut couldn't speak for her mouth was filled to the brim with ... something, while Snotlout looked like he belonged to their family with blond braids cascading down under his helmet. She arched a brow, weirded out.

The Dragon Riders huddled together, stuck under the armed crossbows of Dagur's men as he waited for Hiccup to return out of the open hatch to the deck below. Yrsa clung her hands around the iron bars, trying to see over Dagur's shoulder and looking for any way out, or any way to somehow alarm Hiccup that it was a trap. But they were all just sitting ducks; sitting ducks with one's head covered in a blonde-haired wig and another with jewels shoved to the brim in her mouth.

(Ugh, why does she hang around these guys?)

When Hiccup and Toothless finally emerged. Yrsa's heart was in her throat. She tugged at the bars to try and get Hiccup's attention━a last minute chance to warn him━but he didn't notice.

The trapdoor fell closed and Hiccup saw. Toothless opened his maw to blast, but the son of the chief threw his hand out, "Toothless, hold!"

Dagur grinned and held out his arms for a hug, "Hiccup! Did you miss me? 'Cause I sure missed you." Hiccup glared at him and Yrsa pulled harder against the bars. "Every day for three years I thought about you ..." he stepped aside and the Dragon Riders suck behind the bars finally reached Hiccup's gaze.

His eyes widened, freezing up, "Yrsa!"

He held something in his hand; a cylinder wrapped with leather. He must have found it here, and naturally, Dagur was sure to want it. The Berserker's gaze settled on Toothless and he chuckled, "And you, too, Mr. Night Fury."

Yrsa eyed the axe in Dagur's hand━her axe; the axe her father gave her. "Sorry, Hiccup," she said as he stepped closer, gaze hardening. "He got the drop on us while we were searching━"

"Ugh, quiet!" Dagur whacked her axe against the cage. She dropped her hands, breath hitching. "Can't you see my brother and I are having a moment?!"

Hiccup clenched his hands, "I'm not your brother and we are definitely not having a moment!"

Dagur's shoulders fell, "Oh ..." he was taken aback for a second. Yrsa gritted her teeth. "Well, I was. Look at you!" he soon grinned at Hiccup again. "All grown up! And quite the ladies' man, I'd wager━" he leaned forward and pointed a finger back at Yrsa, all-knowing. "Hmm? Hmm?"

"Dagur, what do you want?"

"Duh, he wants the jewels," Snotlout blew a braid out of his face from the wig. Astrid threw her gaze to the cage ceiling in annoyance.

"He's not getting my family's jewels!" declared Tuffnut. "No way! And I'll protect them at all cost! Also," he frowned at Snotlout, "what is with that hair?"

"Ha!" Snotlout puffed his chest out. "It's royal hair, I'll have you know."

Astrid turned her nose up at him and stepped away closer to Fishlegs who whimpered in the corner. Dagur arched a brow, "Haven't gotten rid of the Greek chorus, I see. Anyway, yes," he clasped his hands behind his back and stared them dow. "I'll take the jewels. His too."

The guard next to Ruffnut jammed her belly and she doubled over, spitting out all the jewels she held in her mouth. "Watch it, pal!" she coughed. The guard laughed at her, and in response, she spat the final jewel at him and it got lodged in his throat. It was his turn to double over, clutching at his throat and trying to cough it out.

Dagur rolled his eyes at his soldier, as if to say, imbecile. "Oops, thought that was the guy," he then said, frowning at Ruff. "Never can tell with those two." The guard managed to cough the jewell out and it hit the side of Dagur's face. He flinched, glaring. He turned back to Hiccup. "And I'll also take whatever it is you're hiding behind your back."

Toothless growled, prowling up beside Hiccup. The chief's son scowled, not making a single move.

Dagur sighed, frustrated, "Come on━" he pointed Yrsa's axe at him. She fumed, "━hand it over like a good boy." He nodded back at his men and they fixed their grip on their crossbows back at the gang. A clear message: hand it over or your friends are dead. "Brothers share, you know."

Despite the situation, Hiccup kept the cylinder in his grasp. "Give me Yrsa's axe, first."

Yrsa's eyes widened, confused. Is he seriously━? (Don't risk your life and the others life for my axe! She wanted to scream. But the fact that he was ready to bargain it back for whatever he found, knowing Dagur could do something with it purely because he knew how much it meant to her, and the carvings her father made, caused Yrsa's heart to flutter).

"Oh, boy," said Dagur, "here we go. Must we always do the same dance, Hiccup, you and I?" He pulled the chief's son into a grip at his side, squeezing tightly. "Not that you're not a fabulous dancer."

Hiccup just glared at him. Dagur let out a whine, annoyed, but he passed Yrsa's axe back. Hiccup took it and exchanged the object he had found. Dagur examined it with a grin, like an excited child about to open Snoggletog presents.

Toothless's growl grew, and the men aimed their crossbows on the Night Fury. Yrsa's heart clenched. Hiccup raced to his side, one hand holding her axe and the other pressed gently on his snout. "Easy, bud," he murmured, "not yet."

"That's right, Mr. Night Fury," cackled Dagur, still eyeing the object. "Today is not the day, but it's coming! And soon. Now! If you'll excuse me. I've got people to see, an army to build, revenge to plot. Oh! So much to do and so little time! Isn't this exciting, Hiccup? You━you must have been so bored over the last three years."

"Yeah, he's got a point about that," shrugged Tuffnut. "Not enough explosions."

"Alas," sighed Dagur dramatically, spinning on his heel and making his way to the edge of the Reaper boat, "my time here has come to an end. Farewell for now, brother. Until we meet again on the field of battle."

He and his men stepped over the side and down onto the boat below. Yrsa could hear Dagur's laugh erupt out, fading away slowly as he and his Berserker's made the quick journey back to their ship.

Hiccup raced to the cage door, examining the strange lock.

"Forget about us!" said Astrid. "Go after him!"

"Yeah!" Snotlout pushed in beside Yrsa, blowing a braid out of his face. "What are you waiting for?"

Hiccup was still hesitant. He glanced between the group of them and Dagur's boat getting closer to his ship in the distance. "Are you guys sure you'll be okay?"

"We'll be fine!" Yrsa told him, hands wrapped around the metal to peer at him. He met her gaze, and she tried to show how grateful she was that he got her father's axe back. "Go!"

He pursed his lips, but did as they said. Running to Toothless, he jumped onto his saddle and the two of them were up into the morning air after Dagur. As they did, Yrsa and Astrid searched for a way out, peering at the lock and trying to force it open. But it was far stronger than anything they've experienced. Even with the force of them all hitting the door together, it wouldn't even budge.

"Ugh!" Yrsa threw up her hands. "What is with this thing?!"

Fishlegs noticed something flying towards them. "Uh, guys?"

Yrsa wasn't paying attention. She kicked the door in fury. "First giant eels, now this━?"

"Guys!"

She shut up. All of them turned around. Heading straight for them was a giant holder from one of Dagur's catapults. It hit the hulm, and they started to gain water.

They were sinking; and fast.

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a/n: first episode donneee!!!!! (dagur is inconic; 'nuff said)

i made a quick rtte design for yrsa! kinda combined her httyd i and httyd ii design together and got this hehehe:

i'm sorry if there are any mistakes!!

let this journey begin ahahah! i have no idea how i have managed to do so many httyd stories at this point and made them different ... how am i still sane? i don't get it.

(anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter! see you in the next!!)