Art not mine grrrr

The episode where Snotlout dresses up undercover. But instead it's Ace dressed up as an unknown viking, along the way they meet a very special person who Ace has known and missed for a very long time. With the two of them, both foreigners far from beyond the archipelago, they have to go undercover and infiltrate the grimborn auction. Except Viggo soon finds out the unknown vikings are working for the dragon riders and is intrigued to know the real identity of Ace and his friend.

AN: holy shit 5480 words

-

After Dagur’s sacrifice and note, the dragons riders all agreed they should infiltrate the auction with stealth. Johann managed to steal a map that led to the dragon auction. And now all of the dragon riders are in the hall of their edge gathered for a meeting.

“Extra ships on the perimeter. Guards everywhere. Catapults and watchtowers on the cliffs. Dragon root arrow launchers on every sea stack within a half mile. There's no way in or out, period.” Hiccup exclaimed, a serious frown plastered all over his face. Tuffnut on the other hand attempted to cheer their leader up, but to no avail. “This is however, the perfect opportunity to put a big dent on Viggo's dragon trade.” Hiccup exclaimed. “But how?” Astrid spoke up, followed by a laugh behind her from Fishlegs. “Astrid, I’m sure Hiccup has an idea!” he spoke confidently, but perked up at the brunette, his smile vanishing. “You do have an idea, right?”

Snotlout began as he stood beside hookfang, leaning on a wall. “Let me guess, cruise right into the place and announce ourselves!” followed by a bellowing laughter, but Hiccup didn't oppose the idea. “You know, I think we need someone to get close to Viggo.” The brunette placed a hand under his chin, “Keep him busy while we find the rest of those dragons.”

“Now it has to be someone Viggo wouldn't suspect even once, because he's never seen him up close or never at all..” Snotlout stuck his pinky finger on his nose, but Hiccup was looking at somebody else otherwise. He stared at Ace as a dragon, but everyone mistook his gaze at Snotlout and both Astrid and Heather exclaimed in disgust. “Seriously, him? You've got to be kidding.” the blonde began. “What- what? No, not Snotlout. Sure Viggo’s never seen him before, but I've got somebody else in mind.”

.

“I will fry you up.” Ace snarled at his human while Hiccup stared at his dragon back at their house in the evening. Two days before the grimborn auction and they have to fly back to berk to get their gold. “I’m sorry, you have to do this, for us, for the dragons.” The brunette begged, rubbing his hand over Ace’s snout then scratched his chin, which tempted the dragon-human to give in, but Ace isn't giving in so easily. “I’ll think about it. Give me time until we get to berk.”

And so morning arrives, the dragon riders head to berk to ask for the chief’s permission for taking berk's entire cache of gold. Ace returned to his human form and ran off to different directions in berk while Hiccup headed for the meade hall for a private meeting with Gobber and Stoick. The dragon and his rider both agreed to meet up at the kill ring after a few minutes. Laughter erupted from the two men in the mead hall, while Hiccup stared at them seriously. “Oh sure! Take berk's entire cache of gold!” the chief spoke sarcastically but noticed how quiet his son has been the whole time. “Here, take it all!” Gobber added, placing his peg leg on the table and then his silver tooth. But as soon as Gobber regained his senses and glanced at Stoick, his head snapped at the brunette. “Not funny Hiccup.”

“If you weren't my son, I’d lock you up right now!” Stoick began seriously, pointing a finger at his boy. “You have no idea what you're suggesting boy!”

“Viggo Grimborn is the most ruthless viking we've ever come in contact with.” Hiccup began, arms on his hip. “If we don't do something to disrupt this auction, Viggo will make so much gold, he'll be able to buy an armada of dragon-hunting ships and reinforce his empire. No dragon will be safe, and eventually set his sights on berk and on our dragons.”

Stoick thought about it, glancing at Skullcrusher warming up his rock bed and then back at Hiccup who had a frown on his face. He cleared his throat. “Well?” “'Well' what?” Hiccup questioned. “Well son, I’m assuming you didn't fly all the way here without a plan.” and the brunette perked up, smiling at his father for being considerate.

-

“Hmm, a special envoy you say?” Stoick questioned with his hands behind his back.

“That’s right.” Hiccup confirmed while they walked inside the kill ring.

“Going into the auction under an assumed identity.” The chief continued.

“Exactly.” The brunette crossed his arms with a smirk.

“Very clever my boy. Well that person has to be smart, crafty, quick on his feet and most importantly.. Wait, where is he?”

“He’s running late.”

If Stoick is going to be honest, he expected Ace. The man Hiccup’s been friends with, the pirate who can shapeshift into a dragon, a night fury. However the lad didn't want to reveal himself even to the dragon riders. Only Gobber and the chief himself. If that's the case, how did Hiccup manage to convince the pirate to agree with the boy’s plan?

“Hiccup! I've got news for you!” Ace came running in the kill ring. The dragon riders gaped, and Snotlout swore this man often comes and goes whenever Hiccup asks him to. “You’re late.” The brunette placed his hands on his hip and glared at the pirate. “Yeah but I-”

“It’s Rouge!!” Snotlout beamed excited and ran to the male, the chief approached Ace and patted his shoulder. “You be the man chosen for the job eh?” he questioned but Ace ignored the question.

“An enemy has infiltrated berk.” Ace announced and everyone froze on the spot. “What.. Did you see where he went?” The chief began to ask in seriousness and Hiccup tapped his foot. This was not the right time for an enemy to infiltrate berk. “He went to the forest raven point.” the raven-haired informed and Stoick sent some vikings to check the forest. But Ace hasn't said anything about them being a dragon hunter. “Dragon hunter?” Hiccup questioned to confirm, and Ace shook his head. “He’s not usually dressed in dragon hunting attire, but I have a feeling he is.”

Outside of berk and into the forests, a man in cloaks finally found a hiding spot and sat in the cove panting for air heavily. He ran ahead from the vikings' sights. Suppose Ace had informed the villagers of the island, but what was Ace doing there and why? “Ace..”, the man whispered, his hand on his chest, immense frown plastered on his face. This man definitely knew the fire fist. He was wearing attire, a viking kind of attire, a red orange tunic and his casual shorts and boots and his unmistakable orange hat.

Unaware, a dragon and his rider sneaked inside the cove, and jumped out of nowhere, dragon standing in front of the unknown man and his human saddled up above him. “You have nowhere to go. Unless you wanna be shot with a dragon's fire I suggest you start talking about why you're in our village and reveal who you are.” Hiccup demanded sternly, getting off Ace and walking closer to the unknown man. The said man had no choice, he could have outrun the boy, but he cannot leave the dragon continued to be captive and strapped next to the brunette, so as one who's been around dragons before, he dropped his weapons, and placed a hand in front of the night fury. (Which he doesn't know is a night fury.)

“What are you?!” Hiccup questioned shocked. Ace cautiously snarled at the incoming hand, but as he got closer he immediately scratched his head, his snout, and his chin. The brunette watched in amazement, but this was not the right time to be surprised by an enemy trying to tame his dragon. “What are you doing to my dragon?!”

“Making sure he's docile enough to follow my order. You and those damned dragon hunters.”

“Hold on, so you think I'm part of the dragon hunters, keeping my dragon captive and- No! He's my best friend!” Hiccup countered offended, the unknown man had the same thoughts about dragon hunters, but had mistook the brunette as one. Ace however, recoiled from the unknown man wearing his cloak, draconic eyes widened, he was sure he's heard of his voice before, Ace thought and he stepped closer to the man, sniffing him before dragging his cloak to reveal, Thatch.

Thatch, the man who's often seen wearing his bread bun hair and is the greatest cook of the whitebeard pirates, is the man who was in cloaks and infiltrating berk. Hiccup didn't react from the man's reveal from his cloaks, but to his dragon, immediately worried and questioned if his dragon is okay, and seemed like Thatch gave him a worried look too, the same look he often gave the raven-haired whenever Ace had been acting up and wasn't like himself. Tears prickled his eyes, and this was probably the first and last time Thatch had been able to see a dragon cry.

The man wasn't in his bread bun hairstyle, rather it was down and ragged, but there was a ponytail from behind, oddly suiting him, with the same usual goatee and a scar running down his face, around his left eye. There was no mistake, this is the man whom blackbeard killed for the devil fruit Thatch had acquired. “Ace, what.. Hey, Ace, snap out of it- what's wrong?!”

Hearing the name had gotten Thatch to react, stepping backwards and almost falling out of balance. The dragon had the same name as Ace, Portgas D. Ace, his crewmate, his brother, and the fierce Fire Fist Ace, second in command of his division of the whitebeards. But the older man shook his head, bold of him to think of Ace because the dragon coincidentally has the same name after the brunette called out for it. But that doesn't stop right there. In that very moment Ace used a blur of smoke and fog to return into his human form, causing Thatch and Hiccup to inhale bits of smoke and cough. A voice called out to the cook, making his heart drop. “Thatch.”

That voice, with enough familiarity as proof, the man glanced up at Ace walking up to him, wearing the same outfit he wore as they saw and met each other's eyes while they strolled around berk with different paths to take. Thatch laughed nervously at the figure of Ace approaching him. “To think I'm going crazy because your dragon has the same name as my friend!” he blurted out, but seeing the brunette look up at Ace as if it wasn't a hallucination, Thatch widened his eyes. Before he could even react, Ace launched himself towards the man and hugged him, tightly. Tears streaming down the freckled man’s eyes along with snot dropping from his nose. This man has been his friend ever since he and the spades arrive at the crew. There were conflicts and misunderstandings but Thatch often stood still beside him whenever nobody was around, encouraging him and letting him train rather than trying to stop the raven-haired from trying to kill their captain. “You-! You died! Teach- Teach murdered you! How are you alive!?”

Thatch’s lips quivered, holding his best not to cry. He had a lot to explain, but Ace wasn't going to let him anytime. “Calm down you big baby.” the older male patted his back and it was odd that Ace was wearing clothing yet again considering he was often seen shirtless to show off his whitebeard tattoo mark on his back.

Hiccup watched this scenario in front of him. The unknown man seemed to be who Ace knew in the end and it wasn't something that you often get to see your dragon-human cry. Seeing how sorrowful Ace looked in Hiccup’s perspective, he decided to let them be and let the freckled male to calm down before they begin to explain.

-

Walking back to the kill ring with Thatch, Ace explained he died not long after trying to go after teach only to be defeated by him and be turned in to the marines, having this execution and that everyone from the whitebeards and their friends who had connections with the whitebeard crew, along with his little brother all trying to hard to save him and then die at the hands of a magma user.

“This is why you should've learnt armament haki when you had the chance.” Thatch deadpanned and Ace rolled his eyes. The fire fist then explained he was reincarnated as a dragon, a night fury, and became a friend of a scrawny viking boy who was walking in the middle of their small group, and Thatch was surprised because of all species, Ace had become a dragon-human kind of hybrid, making the cook burst out in laughter and Ace’s face was all red and angry, but before Thatch can even explain his reincarnation, Hiccup defended Ace in the most innocent way possible. “I think it's cool, a cool power to shapeshift as a human and dragon whenever.” surprised by this, Thatch turned to Ace with a pleading smile.

“Ace can I keep him?”

“No, get going.”

Outside of the kill ring, Stoick and Gobber along with the other dragon riders waited for Hiccup and 'Rouge' when another one walked alongside the taller man. “Dad, this is Thatch. The one that infiltrated our village.”

“So, mind explainin’ why you were out and looking all suspicious around the village?” the chief began and Ace nudged Thatch, causing the older man to react and snarl at his younger brother. “To steal something to eat and keep myself alive, good sir. My little boat and I had gone into ferocious storm that had me washed up to this island’s shore since four days ago. No villagers of yours noticed because I’ve been a master in stealth.” the man responded calmly and politely as if he wasn't a potential threat in the village before.

Hiccup has thought about it, maybe Ace and Thatch can infiltrate the dragon auction if the said man said himself he was a master in stealth.

He poked Ace to catch his attention. “You’ll still going to do the plan right? The plan about Viggo’s auction.” he questioned. “I almost forgot about that.”

“I was wondering if you can bring Thatch into the mission you know, the two of you-”

“Not so fast. You're trusting a stranger to come along A- Rouge’s infiltration quest carrying berk's gold?” The chief walked up to his son, placing a hand on the brunette’s shoulder. “Look dad, if he trusts Thatch enough then I will too. Now before you shoot this down, and by the way, you have every reason in the entire archipelago that you should,” Hiccup swallowed the lump that formed on his throat.

“There is a method to my-”

“Madness?” Stoick interjected, eyebrows furrowing.

“Yes.” Hiccup answer simply.

“I need you to trust me on this dad. It's foolproof.” he begged his father. Stoick glanced up at Thatch placing his hands on his hips while glaring at Ace looking like a whining puppy that had done something wrong. “"Fool," maybe, "proof"? Not quite with you on that.”

Hiccup glared at his father. “Oh don't look at me like that, son.” Stoick grunted, looking away, but as he glanced back to his son’s expression, the brunette’s glare never wavered. Finally, the chief gave in by giving a sigh. “Fine, on one condition.”

.

“Did I ever tell you how much I didn't want to get involved in this mission right now.” Thatch began, wearing more viking-like attire except his attire has gold around his crevices of his tunic like Ace. Except for his orange hat, the raven-haired wore a yellow viking helmet and Ace did not like the choice of clothing he was forced to wear, both of them having a few rings on their fingers. “And you think I wanted this?!” Ace responded snarky. “Quit your babbling, we're here.” Gobber announced before setting a plank to the bridge for the men to cross. “Hear ye, hear ye. The honorable men; Sir Gunhild and Sir Sigrun.”

“Let me do the talking.” Thatch muttered towards Ace before they crossed the bridge. “Can’t you believe dragons are being sold off? We can buy a few with so much of our gold!” the older man fake grinned, patting Ace on the head as they walked. Without Gobber having been told to carry the chest, he approached Ace and carried it around his meaty arm. As Viggo and Ryker approached the two, for some reason Viggo felt intimidated by their heights and builds. “Sir-”

“Sigrun. This is my younger brother Gunhild.” Thatch interjected, with a polite smile on his face.

“Of?” Viggo raised an eyebrow. He clearly doesn't know or even seen any of these guys, but as foreign as they look, they seem worthy clients. The man introduced as Gunhild rolled his eyes. “Does it matter?”

A light smack was heard and they slightly recoiled from how violent Sigrun approached his little brother. “Be nice now Gunhild, these guys are the Grimborn brothers. Displease them and we're going to be kicked out during the auction.”

Viggo swore he felt Gunhild glaring right at him whenever his gaze landed on the younger grimborn brother. As if he knows Viggo from somewhere and had been holding a grudge. As Gunhild often disappeared from Sigrun’s side, that's when Viggo slowly had become more intrigued with the man.

As Johann attempted to offer Viggo the dragon rider's dragons, the younger grimborn felt suspicion, but trusted Johann and accepted the dragons offered to them.

“Gobber, I swear if Gunhild doesn't come back any second, I will be counting the gold coins myself.” Thatch began, as they walked to Viggo’s tent without any supervision. “Gobber, watch the tent, give me ten seconds.” he spoke, entering Viggo’s tent and scrambled to search for the auction manifest as Hiccup requested. While Gobber awaited outside the tent, he noticed a dragon approaching him, mostly the iron scraps close to the bush. “Look at that big guy..” Gobber spoke softly, and Thatch just left the tent in time, hiding a scroll in his tunic. He glanced at where his 'valet' was looking and smiled at the lazy dragon falling asleep as he ate the scraps, reminding him of Ace and his narcolepsy. “Isn’t he beautiful?”

Gobber hummed and nodded in agreement, approaching the lazy dragon and giving him a hug. But Ryker stepped on the dragon, irritating Gobber. “Out of my way grump, fat beast.”

“Do you auction off this 'ugly fat' dragon as well?” Gobber questioned and Ryker laughed, ignoring the question and asking who would buy him, and gave his opinion that the dragon can be used as a food source instead, cooking his meat served with yak butter. But also told them why the dragon 'grump' has been spared, saying his little brother Viggo sees his worth and usefulness as a dragon who can eat scraps of iron and the only dragon to bite through dragon-proof cage. Ace approached the men not long, then passed out in the middle of their conversation, shocking Ryker but Thatch coughed. “Don’t worry, that's just how Gunhild is.”

“Auction starts in five minutes. I'll come back to get you.” Ryker informed, leaving the brothers and their valet behind for their personal space, trusting them not to enter Viggo’s tent. “Hiccup and the riders have successfully infiltrated the island, what about the auction manifest?” Ace suddenly popped up, as if he just acted on passing out and rose back up as soon as their enemy had left them alone. Thatch jumped from the sudden voice, immediately using his instincts to smack (with haki) whoever was behind him, and unfortunately the raven-haired was in the way, unaware of the incoming hand.

Gobber watched this madness in front of him, how strong Thatch had been to send Ace, the seemingly strong man and undefeatable at that, to be flung back to where he came from, the elder blonde gaping at how somebody can inflict damage right at the man in flames.

Well, they did know each other so perhaps that was the case after all.

Ryker came back only for him to see Gunhild to limp back to his big brother Sigrun as if he had just been ambushed by a few goons. “The bidding is about to begin.” Ryker informed. As they walked as a line, Thatch was the last to follow. Quickly, he snatched the auction manifest scroll from his tunic, noticing a shadow figure from the bushes and dropped the scroll behind him. Only for Hiccup to run through, picking up the said scroll from the ground and hid at the side of the tent. As he opened the scroll, he smiled, enough to show the contents inside was the one he needed to see. Ace not long slipped out from the line and walked towards Hiccup, giving a low growl to let him know he’s with the brunette.

-

As they were seated, Ryker questioned where has Gunhild gone. He only gave an excuse that he's a restless man, a wanderer that sometimes he strays from the right path for letting his curiosity get the better of him. Beside Thatch however, was the special guest Viggo and Ryker were expecting. As the first dragon cage was unwrapped from its blankets, the thorston siblings were clinging at the sides, making the viewers gasp at the sight and Thatch facepalm, then lean close to Gobber, “Is Hiccup’s team that dumb or..”

Gobber can only grunt, confirming his answer to the other.

Quickly, Viggo show no mercy, capturing every dragon rider wandering around the island close to the dragon cages, and eventually, Hiccup and his dragon had been caught. Now on his muzzle and chained up, Ace glared at Viggo grinning at his unexpected guests now bundled up on the same cage. “This one will fetch a considerable price. Almost a pity to sell the night fury, but I’ll get over it.” he spat right in front of Hiccup, caressing the dragon chin which only resulted with Ace recoiling from the hand, snarling and growling at Viggo. He could have bitten off the man’s hand if not for the muzzle keeping his mouth closed and still. “If you're good, I may even let you watch.” and they left with smug smiles on their faces.

Luckily, Gobber and Thatch were spared from being seized, considering Viggo barely suspected them, however as the younger grimborn came back to the auction, he noticed both guests gone, well, three, considering Ryker had explained that 'Gunhild' often wanders around and strays from his group. He only then realizes something, asking Ryker to send a few men back at the cage and grab Hiccup in the meantime to show how memorable it will be to see his dragon being auctioned off.

“Hiccup, we have to get out of here and stop them from selling out dragons!!” Fishlegs spoke frantically, mostly worrying about his dragon meatlug. “I know we will, we just find a-”

“Honestly, I didn't expect how idiotic and sloppy your team are during stealth missions. If we have time I might even list a few stories of how my crew and I-”

“Thatch!” all dragon riders perked up in unison. “Where’s Rouge?” Snotlout questioned as Gobber followed behind the taller man with a dragon beside him.

“Snoozing anywhere, he'll come back eventually. He can handle himself, maybe even burn the whole island down while he's at it.” the cook responded smugly. “How are you going to get us out of here? You guys need a key!” Fishlegs began to question, and Gobber glanced at grump. But Thatch gave the blonde elder a hand gesture, “Don’t worry Gobber, I’ll take care of their cage. You let grump bite the other cages and free the dragons.” and as if on cue they separate again. The cook pulled out two simple kitchen knives but their lengths a little longer and slightly curved. The dragon riders wondered how he managed to keep those weapons behind him but Thatch simply ignored their curiosity. However Fishlegs had doubt whether Thatch would be successful with slicing up the cage, but his doubts disappearing as the older man swung his weapon at a speed they can't even comprehend that happened and the cage door fell into bits and pieces, leaving everyone amazed. “Next time, do better on your stealth missions ” he advised and the riders nodded.

Back at the auction, Ace barely glanced up at the crowd, and his narcolepsy set in, falling asleep as soon as the crowd laid their eyes on him. “That’s right folks, your eyes do not deceive you, a night fury. The night fury. The only one in existence. The prized centerpiece of any collection.” Viggo bragged, and most of the crowd smiled. “Let us open the bidding at-” however a viking interjected, “Oi, I think your night fury is dead!” and Viggo immediately ran to the dragon, attempting on checking his pulse but as soon as Ace awoke, his head accidentally hitting the younger grimborn on the chin, causing him to fly back and crash to the ground, earning a laughter from the crowd watching.

Among with those laughter Ace was one of them, letting a unique dragon smug chuckle right at Viggo and the special guest of the auction observed the dragon closely. “So you are unique as they say, with a mind that holds human emotions. Although do not worry night fury. You'll be sold off to another master, away from your rider, damned beast.” Viggo cursed and the night fury barely flinched at the man’s threat, trusting Thatch to free the riders at this moment and cause chaos, and as if on cue, they did, scaring the crowd away and the special guest walking off.

Jumping out of the fire barrier, Hiccup began giving orders, “Ace!” he muttered and the brunette immediately ran for the auction platform, separating from his group so the others could get to their dragons. “Ryker, it’s over!”

“Says the one-legged boy with no backup.” Ryker countered, and pulled out his sword from behind, jumping down the platform to attack Hiccup, but Thatch speedily ran and stood in the enemy’s way with his own two knives against two swords. “Why don't ya pick on somebody your own size?” he spoke, his tone snarky, looking down on Ryker who was shorter than him. Whilst Hiccup ran for his dragon, pulling out his pipe from his belt and broke the chains in a few seconds, and then, removing the muzzle.

With all the dragons free and berk’s gold in the chest secured in Gobber’s hand, the mission was a complete success, Thatch having to ride on Ace, sitting behind Hiccup. “Where’s Rouge?” Snotlout yet again asked, and Thatch almost began to stammer. “He’s be on the island, burnin’ it down and then travel by ship. Don’t worry, he can manage.” Gobber excused as he was riding grump and opened the chest in his hand, confirming it's inside being gold.

“You won’t get away.” Viggo angrily declared, desperately ordering his men on shooting a few dragon root arrows and boulders at the dragon riders. “Fly ahead! Go, go!” Hiccup hollered and the dragons and their riders flew off, with Hiccup, Thatch and Ace being last to leave, however the dragon root arrow shot right at Ace’s leg, causing them to fall, crashing into the ocean and Ace ignored the pain of the root arrow, trying to dive further down the ocean to grab Hiccup whose hand attempted to reach for his dragon before the water begun to flood his lungs and his air blocked. Grabbing his shirt collar by his mouth he swam back up, flapping his wings to get higher and higher, except he was slow in the water as a dragon. But he needed to leave quickly before his scrawny human drowns. However another dragon picked up Ace and Hiccup and threw them on his back, his two pair of wings flapping faster and they immediately got out, already in the air and Hiccup’s consciousness returned, coughing out water harshly, along with his dragon beside him growling low and wrapping a wing around Hiccup’s wet clothed body to keep the brunette from being cold. As soon as they were in the air, they were no longer in sight of Viggo and his ships. “Augh.. Ace, I’m sorry you got shot.”

“It’s fine, I wasn't flying fast enough either way.” Ace spoke.

“You two done with your blabbering? Are we good to go?” Thatch began to speak, and Hiccup perked up, almost forgetting about Ace’s friend. He couldn't find the said man however, but he noticed he and Ace were riding a bigger dragon. “Thatch! Where-?!” his frantic question quickly cut as soon and the dragon growled, laughing and flew off in the direction of the dragon riders waiting for them. “Who do you think this dragon you're sitting on is?” and Hiccup widened his eyes. As he glanced down, the dragon was looking at him, his neck surprisingly like an owl, letting him stretch his head until it was completely facing the brunette with his pupils expanding. Realizing just now, Hiccup gaped. Thatch was also reincarnated as a dragon. While Ace grunted, never forgetting the fact the cook laughed in his face as he confessed being a dragon-human and scoffed. “You're! A dragon!! What- What species, class-” Hiccup perked up excitedly, observing Thatch and the brunette gasped at how gigantic the dragon is compared to Ace’s night fury form, Thatch’s dragon form times three bigger than any other dragons.

“Stormcutter at your service. A much better species than Ace’s legendary night fury species.”

“Puh-lease. I’m the only one the last to exist, stupid cook.”

“And you think I'm not? Why do you think I spent four years traveling on foot?!”

“Guys calm down-”

“Hiccup!!” the riders hollered in unison, all of them coming back with worried looks. Hiccup’s wet hair still drying as he grinned nervously at his friends. “Ace got shot by a dragon root.” he explained, and on cue Ace growled in pain, his leg showing off the dragon root still stuck on his leg. “Quit whining you big baby, an arrow on your leg isn't that bad.”

“I AM A LOGIA FRUIT USER FOR GOD’S SAKE THATCH, WHY DO YOU THINK I'M BEING LIKE THIS?!” Ace growled at Thatch, and Thatch growled back respectfully.

“What- oh my gods, and- and a dragon this magnificent saved you both?!” Fishlegs piped up, his eyes sparkling at the sight of the bigger dragon flapping his four wings. Hiccup nodded, “A dragon species we’ve never seen before. Gang, this is a Stormcutter, also and probably the only one in existence.” he exclaimed. The stormcutter glanced down at the dragon riders, all of them gaping at his dragon form, burnt/cider orange body, light orange underbelly and dark blue highlights, then beige and gold color highlights on his wings and underbelly. “Hear that Ace? I’m magnificent.” Thatch spoke smugly, translated into a soft dragon growl in front of the dragon riders and Ace rolled his eyes. “Where is Thatch?!” Tuffnut quickly popped up and Hiccup tensed up, he eventually has to think of something and this time to make sure he's not lying in their perspectives.

“Went back to the burning island to either assist Rouge with burning the island or drag him out of there. Rouge can't swim as soon as the island burns down to ashes.” and Hiccup gave Gobber a quick glance, his eyes averting to Ace then Thatch as a dragon.

“Aye, seems we won't be seeing them for a while looks like it.” Gobber added to keep the excuse believable.

Hiccup sighed in relief as everyone believed their lie, for Hiccup has been known for being a bad liar. “Let’s go home guys. I'm glad this mission has gone into success.” Hiccup said, smiling warmly at everyone and they all agreed to his words, returning a smile from each of them to their leader.