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7deadlycinderellas · 4 years

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If the summer of our lives could just come again, ch31

Ao3 link

Winterfell

Everyone was beyond exhausted. Bags under the eyes, sluggish movements and dim conversation had become the norm.

Then the mammoth showed up. It’s stride barely even notices the trench, now widened the earth shaking.

The Free Folk all hope that the Night King did not count any of the giants among his soldiers.

Ygritte’s arm shakes as she looses arrow after arrow trying to fell the beast. All the others in line do the same. The arm she took the arrow in has begun to feel warm, but she does not fear corruption so much as reopening the wound.

It’s just as the beast over the castle walls has been hit enough to stumble, that Rowan comes behind the archers to warn of an impending call to the trees, so that they could kneel and brace themselves.

The first time they had had an archer fall clear over the ramparts, his neck broken. He’d risen far too quickly, and they’d been forced to burn him. Remembering it made the hair on the back of Ygritte’s neck stand up. They still hadn’t seen any sign of the Night King.

Close to the pull of sleep, Arya had told her once about it before, muttering with her eyes half closed about how she had stabbed him with her little dagger and he had shattered as if made of glass.

This time, Arya is woken from sleep by the shaking of the earth. She sputters a bit before turning to Ygritte.

“Do they need me back?”

Ygritte shakes her head. Better to let her sleep. Arya was a damn good archer, but there wasn’t much that could be done until the snow let up and the visibility improved.

Other than trying to keep them from climbing the walls.

In the Great Hall, Ned’s shoulder still burned, even as he left his cot. He went against Maester Luwin’s advice the minute he’d heard.

The Hunter’s gate was overrun. Val and the other Free Folk were cutting down all they could see, slashing and cutting down the wights left and right.

“Best we’re trying is to let the bodies pile up and block the opening,” she tells him, hacking at a wight dragging along the ground with her dragon glass axe. “And once they do, we’ll set fire to the lot.”

The plan works, to Ned’s shock. Once the fire is burning and the pile stops twitching, several of the largest of the Free Folk make to block the broken gate with empty wagons full of whatever they can find to weigh them down.

But while they are doing this, a cluster of wights have made their way inside the keep.

The one Ned sees used to be a woman, he thinks. She lumbers, jumping on a young squire from behind, before one of the other squires slices her skull from the rest of her, and scooping her remains into the fire.

With a start, Ned realizes the fighter carrying the dismembered wight is Rickon. His youngest son is now a figured smeared in dirt and blood, his hair slicked with sweat and snow.

Ned spins, following the sounds of the screams, the clang of steel, waiting to find a target he could direct them to. Eventually, a scream he recognizes pierces through.

He follows as fast as he can, finding Robb on the ground, a wight’s teeth sunk into one arm, his other flailing, trying to reach his sword where it had fallen. His arm is already beginning to take on an icy hue.

Ned’s muscles snap as he springs as fast as he can. But his movement isn’t necessary, as the wight is seized by one of the Free Folk and pulled away. But even as the threat is gone, Ned sees Robb’s arm, torn to bits, with lines running down it glowing an eerie unworldly blue.

The sight makes him freeze nearly, the sight of his first born child, the sounds of the battle rattling in the back of his head. His stillness is interrupted when Val comes to him, picks up the sword from the cobblestones and in a single quick movement, with barely a grunt of effort and a sickening crack, severs Robb’s arm at the shoulder.

His screams ring out through Winterfell.

“Give me your torch,” she tells one of the Free Folk, and Ned watches as she holds the fire to the wound until it seals and the smell of perverse cooked meat fills the air.

“Help me get him to the Great Hall,” she orders, and though Ned moves to help, he realizes Val’s words were directed at Gendry off beside him, who takes the fallen torch in one hand, and carefully lift’s Robb’s uninjured arm over his shoulder.

Once they are out of sight, that part of the keep is once again quiet of screams, at least for this moment. Ned’s shoulder burns worse than before.

Ned is later glad that he isn’t on the east side when it happens.

Brienne watches later as Gendry pulls two soldiers onto the back of his horse.

“The same fever?” she asks him. An illness of some sort had been passing through those stationed on the east side. With no time for proper food or rest, those who caught it had been dropping like flies. Brienne feared it wouldn’t be too long before it spread to other parts of the keep.

Gendry nods.

“Luwin’s having me quarantine them in one hallway outside the Great Hall. He fears them infecting the injured.”

He doesn’t tell her about the one he’d left a few days ago who had had a violent seizure when he’d come to check on them, his limbs shaking and mumbling fever dreams.

He nods to Brienne before turning to leave with the ill men.

Brienne surveys the meager forces manning the east wall again, as if by going through them again, they might suddenly grow, might suddenly be less haggard and starved.

As if they somehow might stand a chance.

As Brienne dismounts to go and check the archers on this side of the wall, the ground shakes, but not like before. Not like what the trees did.

And she hears the telltale sounds of stone beginning to crumble. The tiny chinks that have built up as the dead continued to slam and pile up against it, until parts of the east wall begin to crack and fall.

In the Godswood, Jon wakes with a start, to find Rowan shaking him.

“Your glove began to peel off,” she tells him, and he rights it. “You must be careful of frostbite.”

Yes, Jon thinks, frostbite.

Even trying to reclaim his tiny bits of sleep, he reaches out to the outside. He sees the second mammoth, the one who rammed the east wall and caused it to begin to crumble, and his eyes snap awake.

The trees don’t know too much of what to make of the Night King, other than he is heading south, fast, far too fast. Jon thanks all the gods that he seems to be limited by normal means of transportation.

The trees speak again to Jon now, unbidden. They say they will help again, but he does not understand their words this time. He feels the touch they would give to him, the assurance. That what they are about to do will take a lot out of him, and that he should brace himself, but not just physically.

Stumbling wildly out of the visions, Jon backs himself to the trunk of the weirwood, and lowers himself to the ground. Rowan presses closer to his side, and with his eyes trailing shut once again, Jon wishes Ygritte could be here with him too.

When the images pass through his mind, images of another him and another battle, he just lets it slip through him.

Greywater Watch

Sansa and Shireen pour over the harp for days that turn into weeks that turn into months.

“I learned to play in King’s Landing,” Sansa muses, “From Leonette Fossoway. But I was so anxious and frightened all the time, I’m afraid I was quite a poor student.”

“I learned a bit in lessons as a girl,” Shireen adds, “But not too much. I wanted to learn the lute instead.”

And a frozen bog in hiding from the rising dead isn’t quite the best place to try and relearn, but they do what they can.

“Great-grandfather’s fiddle’s around here somewhere,” Meera tells Jojen one afternoon when the soft pings of the plucked strings are ringing out again.

“Waiting for a Reed who’s not an embarrassment to the art of music,” Jojen agrees.

At that moment, the scene is interrupted by Bran sticking his head in from outside and calling out to Sansa. He’s holding a rolled up scroll from the leg of a bird, so Meera and Jojen both follow Sansa to find out what’s going on.

Shireen looks around the table and realizes she’s alone again. Oh well, it never lasts long, there’s not too many places to hide in a keep this size.

It doesn’t even last five minutes, as Lord Reed re-enters from the back end and sits on the opposite side of the table from her.

Shireen nods, and greets him. She never learned too much about House Reed, aside from its allegiance to the north, but they’ve been good enough hosts.

There’s a long bit of silence, when he asks.

“You’re an only child aren’t you Shireen?”

Shireen nods. She remembers having always wanted siblings, but thinking on her parents as nearly an adult, she suspects it might be better that she didn’t.

“I heard about your father at the Wall. I’m sorry.”

Shireen nods again. She’s tried so hard not to think about it.

“With him gone, I guess I should go home to Dragonstone after this. I don’t know if my mother- I should probably just try and do my duty.”

Howland studies her. His gaze isn’t penetrating, but she still feels exposed.

“Is that what you want though?”

She smiles softly.

“I don’t want my house to die out, though I did think I would have a little more time...When I was little, I used to listen to Maester Cressen talk about his training, and I wished I could go to the citadel. I know they don’t let women in, but I always thought maybe I could sneak in at night, or something of the sort. I do at least have a huge stack of writings that I might be able to convince them to be worth reading now.”

Howland’s face has turned serious, and Shireen wonders what it was she’d said. The others have returned from whatever was being carried on the raven, but are on the other side of the room. He watches as Shireen tries to catch Jojen’s eye, hoping for a hint of if the letter was important.

“Are the two of you close?”

Shireen’s face turns pink.

“We’ve found some...very unusual common ground.”

Howland puts his face in his hands. His voice softens so the others don’t over hear, but is unexpectedly rough,

“When this is over, and you leave this place...convince him to go with you, in whatever capacity that is.”

Shireen blinks in shock.

“Don’t you want him home, safe?”

“Of course I do. But I don’t think he will be safe if he’s home. It’s not so bad here in the winter, but come spring...this environment is harsh. Illnesses spread through us like wildfire. In the spring the swamp gas rises. Jojen’s already fallen to Greywater fever once. I don’t worry about Meera, she’s strong-”

Shireen chuckles. A few days prior, Meera had climbed part way onto the roof of the keep to free Una when she had become entangled in a snare, with very little regard to her rapidly swelling abdomen.

“But Jojen never has been. He was always a fragile boy. And even though his mother and I always told him how important his visions were...we all knew that this was not a good place for him. I don’t want him to leave home and die like last time, but I want him to die earlier than he needs to even less.”

Shireen watches the others, solemn.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

The moons go on, and Sansa and her can’t make heads or tails of the harp. Once, when Sansa plays, Shireen notes that one of the runes on the side seems to light up, but despite her scribbling it down as fast as she can, they have yet to get that reaction from any of the other runes.

One morning, one the Reed’s lookouts come to report that men have been spotted marching along the causeway from the south.

“What? What banners are they carrying?” Sansa demands.

The lookout couldn’t see them in the snow, so Bran sends Una south.

When she reaches the men, Bran reports.

“House Tyrell, but they aren’t displaying their banners, I could only tell by their armor. And they’re being led by Jamie Lannister.”

The distaste in his voice is prominent.

“Should we tell the men to try and stop them from getting through?” Meera asks.

There’s a long pause.

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Bran says slowly. “They’re not traveling under the banner of the crown. We should at least see what happens if they make it through and encounter the Others.”

There are nods all around. Bran spends the next weeks in and out of Una trying to discover why a company of soldiers, but not from King’s Landing, would be coming north.

One night when he had left her and nearly immediately fallen asleep, he dreams of the Night King coming for him in the Godswood. It wakes him in a cold sweat.

He’s just managed to calm his heart, when he realizes Meera’s sitting up on her side of the bed, hunched over.

“Hey-” he reaches out to touch her on the shoulder. “Is it the babe, should we call for the midwife?”

She shakes her head, and Bran sighs in relief. She should have at least a moon’s turn left.

“It was back before, when I left Winterfell,” her voice shakes. “It was snowing so hard, and I could barely sleep. I hadn’t slept alone, or been alone at all really, in so long…”

He rubs his hand along her shoulder and reaches for his cane beside the bed.

“Come on, lets get some tea.”

But when they reach the table, they aren’t alone.

Shireen’s muttering about fire, and Sansa says something about the crypts. But it’s not just them, but others within the keep, awake and speaking quietly.

Jojen is the last to join them, looking confused at everyone else.

When he sits, his only words are.

“That was a green dream. But I’ve never had one like that before.”

“Doesn’t make sense,” Sansa responds, “The things we saw really happened.”

There’s a long silence, interrupted only by the rustling of the others waking.

“But only you lot remember that these things happened,” Shireen says slowly, “The rest of us see this as new.”

They sit in silence again as this washes over them.

White Harbour

At White Harbour, Theon sits up with a jolt. They’re still on the ship, surveying before they disembark.

In the dark, he gropes his way out of the cabin before finding Yara on watch. Her eyes meet his, and her terror he feels must be mirrored on his own.

Yara stares at him steadily, before looking back out to the land in front of them.

“We do not sow. Remember our house words. We are here, we are Ironborn. We will not go down with the dead.”

Her words are enough, at least safely at sea.

Gliding on the air above them all, Danaerys jumps when her vision shifts, finding herself aboard Rhaegal again instead of Drogon like she had in the vision, and wonders at what could have made that seemingly small thing different. Much moreso, she is confused by the memory of her own feelings, her nearly arrogant certainty. She steels herself in the darkness, running a hand along Rhaegal’s scales. It would be wrong to admit she has no such certainty now.

The Kingsroad

Jamie’s arm is too light. This is the first thing that registers when he wakes. His arm is too light and it seems to flop around of its own accord.

But it’s not just his arm weighing him down, but the memory of Cersei’s betrayal.

She had begged him to find a way to stop Father sending her back to Casterly Rock, and he’d been plagued by guilt over it. Now he questions why. His whole life he’d tried to spend in her service, and what did he get in return for it? Now with this memory, though hazy and rapidly fading, his guilt begins to lighten.

When the first light comes, he orders the men on. His guilt does begin to rise, when he recalls what he suspects they will find at the end of the Kingsroad.

King’s Landing

Margaery had found the necklace among her things ages ago, and she had also noticed the stone that came loose. She had kept it in her personal effects, close, planning to bide her time.

In the moons since she had sent Jamie away, Joffrey had become increasingly paranoid. Rambling on during council meetings about the rumors and correspondences with the Targaryen girl, even lashing out after being reprimanded by his Hand, his own grandfather.

She spends several days observing routines, finding the best time. Night time would be too obvious, too many servants who might take the blame.

The visions that pass over them all don’t even seem to phase Joffrey at all, to Margaery’s disgust. Breakfast provides the perfect distraction. Especially since breakfast today is fried fish, complete with their tiny bones.

Especially since it seems everyone else in the keep awoke in the same fugue state Margaery found herself in. Her maid had looked at her as though she had seen a ghost. She fingers the jewel tucked into her pocket. Her dream did nothing but spur her on.

In the Great Hall, everyone has gathered among the breakfast spread, no one much meeting others eyes and bumbling about, confused. Only Joffrey is already eating, licking the greasy batter of the fried fish from his fingers.

The jewel dropped its way easily into the goblet of red wine. She hasn’t even have the opportunity to sit down before Joffrey’s hand snatches it away.

“Far too early for a queen. Wouldn’t want you ending up like my dearest mother.”

Margaery lets him take the goblet and place it to his lips. And she waits.

Winterfell

Ned’s shoulder burns anew when he wakes. At least he knows he’s alive.

Robb jerks awake on the cot in the Great Hall. Only an arm, at least there’s that.

Gendry doesn’t even quit moving as he drags a man with a broken leg from the rubble of the east wall.

Brienne grips her sword tighter, the word ‘knight’ echoing in her mind.

Up on the ramparts, Arya stares straight ahead. She squeezes the dagger at her waist, and dares the Night King to come this time.

Beside her, Ygritte rolls on her side and mutters, “Gods, I hope someone killed that fuckin’ kid.”

In the Broken Tower, Benjen stares across the horizon, looking for the figure he imagines must still be coming for him.

In the Godswood, Jon touches his stomach and chest where the stab wounds had been, takes a deep breath, and tells the trees thank you.

“Do you think this will help?” he asks them, the tongue feeling more natural on voice now somehow.

“Unknown. But we’ve done what we can.”

Jon hopes that it’s enough.

#game of thrones #A Song of Ice and Fire #time travel fix it #gendrya #fic

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soulxism-archive · 4 years

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vєrsєs - ** Triggering Stuff

Main Verse ** v. Requiem of a Solder [ Main ]

Headcanons - > || X || X || X || X || X || Dabbles -> || X || X || X || Important Stuff -> || X || X || Aesthetics -> || X || Part One of Backgroud -> || X ||

What if…? v. What if…? [ Another Timeline ]

What if…Aiden never deployed and lived a normal life up until the Revolution? Instead of enlisting he went to college and studied Criminal Justice and attended the Police Academy before working at Cyberlife as a security guard. He didn’t experience the trauma that he did if he would have enlisted so he is completely human.

During the revolution, his family evacuated to this grandparent's ranch but he stayed behind as peacekeepers or as many of them were known as Cyberlife’s clean up crew. He was very pro-android as he watched the revolution unfold and hated how the Androids were treated and rounded up like cattle at a slaughterhouse. So he and a few humans that were pro-androids did everything to help other deviants escape Cyberlife’s prosecution. He would easily allow the deviants to raid warehouses for parts and their fellow Androids that were in storage containers.

Much like Rose, he began to help many scared Androids that did not want to fight, escape to the south towards the ranch where many of them stayed sheltered.

Hoist the colors! v. Dead men tell no tells [ Pirate ]

Aiden was an Admiral to the Royal Navy’s The Conqueror. He was a loyal man to those pulling the string as he hunted pirate ships with little remorse. That was until he was betrayed by his own crew on orders of the crown for disobeying direct orders.

He was left for dead when his crew forced him to abandon ship with nothing but the clothes on his back. It wasn’t until hours later that he was picked up by a pirate ship. He was given a choice between living by their rules or dying and he chose to live. The Captain took him under his wing and he shed his past self as he became the very thing he once swore to hunt down.

When the current Captain passed he was given the role of Captain Barnes of The Howling Rift and all of her crew. He made the ship home as the crew accepted him in their little ragtime family. He soon became a force to be reckoned with as they sunk Navy ships, plunder Navy strongholds and pass the treasures out to those in need.

Dragon heart v. Heart of valor lend me your strength [ Dragon ]

Aiden was part of the Gentlefield clan of dragons, as the name states, he was a gentle dragon who was slightly slimmer and shorter than other dragons who were born to fight alongside the humans. He was barely out of his egg when an army of human soldiers and dragons stormed the village they protected and when the smoke cleared and the sun rose, he was the only one left.

The general took him among their ranks and gave him to one of the soldiers, the young human and dragon grew to form a bond that no other rider had and Aiden learned to fight, due to his slim structure he was fast and the details to his wings he flew at night and none of their enemies saw them coming.

Unfortunately, during one of these battles, he made a grave mistake that cost him his human’s life. Seeing what he did he fled from everything and secluded himself in the mountainside. He hordes colored glass and rocks that shine if the lights hit it just right.

God of War v. To the skies I raise my spear…onward to war [God verse]

Aiden is represented by the god of war, Ares from Greek mythology. Depending on what time period he is in he could have a few differences between how he is written. In the Ancient Greek times, he mostly hangs out in Sparta, he’s a player, and he bickers with Athena at any chance he gets. In a modern era, he’s similar to his main verse where he’s in the Marines but doesn’t carry the same trauma as his main verse. He loves to work out and to fool around when he’s not on the clock.

Secret Service v. The eagle has landed [ Secret Service ]

Aiden was still a Marine, still fought on Russian lands under the American flag, still had a small team of highly trained operative and they were still ambushed. The only difference is that he received his robotic prosthetics on American soil in a top-secret government program to enhance soldiers.

Aiden was given a job as a secret service agent and with his credentials, he rose to the rank of Head agent. He’s the president’s silent guardian as he protects their commander in chief with every fiber of his being.

When the Revolution happened, chaos erupted. The androids nationwide were in a panic. This verse could be in the line where Markus was peacefully leading until he’s killed. Desperate androids flooded the capital for help but among them were anti-human androids that wanted to rule them and enslave them like the humans did to them.

This is based on Olympus has Fallen where they’re on a lock-down in the White House. Aiden is alone as he fights against angry androids and trying to protect the president. This could go multiple ways, either they escape and they’re on the run or like the movies, he has to rescue the president from kidnappers.

Supernatural v. Wolfsbane and a silver bullet [ werewolf ]

More Information here -> || X || X ||

Single Dad v. Keep on fighting for you [ single dad ]

On one of his leaves back to the US he ran into an old friend of his, they were best friends until life drifted them apart. Morgan was her name and they had one night together before he left and life once again drifted them apart. This was before he met Ryan, He never thought that one night would give him another reason to fight the demons in his heart. He didn’t know about the child until he returned years later and there was a CPS agent holding a three-year-old in her arms.

The little girl was named Samantha and Aiden found out that Morgan had died in a car accident but she had left a letter to him explaining everything. Now he takes care of Riley and their new addition. || X ||

I’m a wizard! v. A loyal heart to test the masses [ Hogwarts au ]

Year:5-6th (Verse Dependent) House: Hufflepuff Patronus: Wolf Lineage: Half-Blood Wand: 11 1/2 inch || Solid || Rowan || Unicorn Hair Quidditch Position:Chaser Aspiring to be: Auror

Star Wars v. Darkness within a dying star [ Star Wars ] ( Verse One )

Home Planet: Alderaan Moved to: Bespin then to Coruscant

Verse One - Sith path || X || X || X || X || Verse Two - Jedi path || X || Verse Three - Bounty Hunter || X || Verse Four - Fallen Order Jedi/Fallen Jedi || X || Verse Five - Inquisitor ( First Brother ) || X ||

Titanic v. The lady of the sea [ Titanic ]

More information here -> || X ||

Watch Dogs v. No secret is safe - No crime goes unpunished [ Watch Dogs ]

More information here -> || X || X ||

Futuristic/Deus Ex Inspired v. A new frontier [ Futuristic ]

More information here -> || X ||

ABO ** v. More than a label; More than my biology [ ABO ]

More Information here -> || X ||

Mafia ** v. Detriot’s notorious commander [ Mafia ]

More information here -> || X || X ||

Winter Soldier ** v. A caged wolf is deadlier than an AK [ Winter Soldier ]

More information here -> || X ||

Once upon a Time/ Fairytale v. Hearts of hearts; A Huntsman without a heart [ Once Upon a Time AU ]

More information here -> || X || X ||

Fallen Angel v. Broken wings and angel tears [ Fallen ]

More information here -> || X || X || X ||

Royal v. A royal heart and a gentle soul [ Royal AU ]

More information here -> || X || X ||

College v. Country boy under the city lights and soccer fields [ College ]

More Information here -> || X ||

#✧ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ᴄᴏᴍʙᴀᴛ [ ᴏᴏᴄ ]#Full Verse list #:D

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alice1290 · 5 years

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Read All About It - An Ace/OC fanfic

Chapter 2 -

It had been three weeks since Ashina had joined him on the ship. She wasn’t part of his crew, but she was sticking with him until she could meet back up with her own. She communicated with another female she called K every few days through a small transponder snail. Three weeks, and he didn’t know much more about her than her name, that she liked to lay in the sun, she didn’t eat much, and that, according to Saber, her coloring was striking.

At the first island they reached, she had departed off on her own and he wondered if he’d ever see her again. She’d surprised him by already sitting on the deck of the Spadille when he boarded, a backpack full of clothes beside her. At the second island, she surprised him again by showing off her haki infused hand to hand combat. She was deadly without a weapon, she was downright frightening with a sword in her hand. Oh, she was left-handed too, which came as a deadly surprise to a few pirates and one bounty hunter.

He slept with the crew while she occupied his bed at night. The idea was driving him crazy. Ace was no virgin, but he’d never had a woman occupy his thoughts like Ashina did. He didn’t care about women, he was supposed to focus on his dreams, but she occupied his mind. The new clothes didn’t help. She’d been pretty in brown pants and the loose white shirt, but she was striking in the pair of black shorts she had become so fond of wearing.

His eyes followed her now as she walked across the deck to lean on the railing, her own eyes on the horizon as the sun sunk into the ocean. The colors of the sunset made her hair look like a flame. The bold red glinting with hints of orangey-golds in the light. Her hair was long, falling in gentle waves down to the small of her back.

She crossed her booted feet, drawing his attention and Ace let his gaze follow the path of her long, toned legs from her feet all the way up to her hips. Ashina was slender, of average height, and her curves were natural. Her breasts weren’t as large as most women that he encountered. He imagined they’d be a good handful though.

Damnit. He couldn’t be thinking these thoughts. He shouldn’t be thinking them. As if sensing that his mind had traveled down a dangerous, dirty road, Ashina turned her head to look at him over her shoulder.

A soft grin graced her lips before she turned back to the sea.

“You should talk to her,” Deuce said from beside him, too quiet for her to hear them. “Not just stare.”

Ace grunted, not wanting to admit that he did stare. A lot. She was beautiful, any man with good eyes could see that, and several of his men talked about it. She was all tanned skin, gentle curves, long legs, red hair, and those shocking green eyes. They were liquid emerald and as deep as the sea.

“Go, scaredy-cat,” Deuce teased, nudging him with his elbow.

“I’m not scared.” Ace huffed out. He wasn’t scared of her, not unless she was angry, but it did take him a moment to work up the nerve to stand up. He crossed the deck and leaned against the rail a few inches from her. He wasn’t even sure what to say to her, so he kept his gaze on the sea.

“You’ve made quite the name for yourself,” Ashina said. “High bounty for a rookie, eighty million beri.”

“I’ve never seen your face on a wanted poster. You got a bounty?”

“No. I do my best to stay incognito. After that failed mission I supposed they know my face now.”

Ace frowned. “I am sorry about that. That you got separated from your crew because of me.”

“It wasn’t all you. I wanted to find what I was looking for. I should have aborted mission when the alarm sounded. Besides, it really wasn’t a failed mission. I retrieved what I came for, I just can’t get it back to my boss until we meet up again.”

“When will that be?”

“Saboady.”

“Who’s your boss?”

Ashina smiled and turned her head to look at him. “I’m a Revolutionary.”

Ace sputtered. “You work for Dragon?”

Ashina chuckled, soft and low. “Yes. I found my way to the Revolutionaries when I was fourteen. Four years later, here I am.” She was silent for a moment, turning her eyes back to the sea. A gentle smile still played on her lips. “Do you have a dream, Ace? A goal? Why’d you become a pirate?”

“To be free. Make a name for myself.”

“Pirate King?”

She watched him from the corner of her eye as Ace laughed.

“One day, after everyone knows my name and has learned of my strength. It’s my brother’s dream too, so I guess I’ll have to fight him one day too.”

“You have a brother?” she turned, leaning her hip against the smooth wood of the ship, and facing Ace.

“Younger yeah.” Ace about faced and leaned back, propping his elbows up on the rail. “Luffy. Not by blood, but he’s my brother. We grew up together.”

“Doesn’t have to be blood to be family.” Ashina turned her head to look out at the sea. The sun had almost set below the horizon and the sky was getting darker.

“You have a sibling?” Ace asked.

She turned her eyes back to him and shook her head. “No. Just me. A few friends in the Revolution. So, tell me about Luffy.”

“Captain!” Mihar, yelling from the quarter deck, caught his attention. He waved an arm, motioning for Ace to join the group of men. “Captain!” he shouted again.

He turned to say something to Ashina, but she was already gone from his side.

It was late. Ace was tired. And sore. Sleeping in a hammock sucked. He missed his bed, but he didn’t dare resend his offer to Ashina. He was also tired of staring at the maps on the desk, and trying deciding the best course to take.

“Oh,” Ashina said from the doorway as she stepped into the room. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were in here. Mihar said you’d gone to the kitchen. I’ll come back.”

“No. No. It’s okay.” Ace stood quickly, making the chair topple over in his haste. He quickly caught it, just before it hit the floor and shuffled around to slide it back into its place under the desk.

Ashina giggled. “Are you sure? This is your room.”

It was his room, but her pack of things sat in the corner near his trunk. An extra pair of boots she’d picked up two days ago sat carelessly at the foot of the bed. The room even smelled like her now.

Ashina walked further into the room, closing the door behind her. Even though it had been closed prior to her entrance Ace gulped, unsure of her actions. Unsure of her in general.

“You can stay, Ace. I’m not running you out of your own room.”

He stood there awkwardly as she toed out of her short leather boots. The loose over-shirt she wore came next, leaving only her shorts and a thin, pale blue tank top.

She tossed him a look over her shoulder, a smirk on her lips. “Enjoying the show?”

Shit. Shit shit shit. Ace about faced, staring daggers into the wall. He was enjoying the show, way more than he wanted to admit.

Ace wanted to touch her. Most pirates would have already tried. Most captains wouldn’t have given up their room, but the idea of turning her out caused images of a fuming Makino to appear behind his eyelids. Ace was raised to have some manners, some small part of him was a gentleman.

“You can turn around,” she said on a giggle.

Ace did turn, slowly, because her voice came from a different location. She was in the bed, legs covered by the blanket. She was wearing a loose t-shirt, one far too big for her frame. It clearly didn’t belong to her, nor was meant for a woman.

Ace, realizing she was clearly ready for bed, and that he was staring again, cleared his throat and turned for the door. “Goodnight, Ashina.”

“Ace, you can stay.”

Ace sputtered, whirling around to stare at her. “What?”

“The bed is big enough for both of us. I’ve slept in plenty of hammocks. They aren’t awful, but a soft mattress is definitely better.”

“But… you… and me… and you’re a – a”

“Girl. Yes, and you’re a boy. Are you scared, Fire Fist?” she was teasing, another smirk playing on her lips and he caught the glint in her green eyes.

Ace straightened, and shook his head. He wasn’t scared. Nervous maybe, the women he’d been with before had been simple one-offs on random islands. None had ever slept in his bed. None had ever stayed on the Spadille for any length of time. He’d known Ashina now for two whole months. She had befriended his crew.

“It’s just sleeping, Ace. Besides, Flame Boy, the air is getting colder and I bet you make a good space heater. The offer stands, you don’t have to leave. Sleep in the bed if you want, or sleep on the floor for all I care. Goodnight, Ace.”

“But the crew will think that we…” he trailed off.

“Fucked?” Ashina supplied, making him choke and sputter again. She smiled at him. “They can think what they want. Make up your mind. I’m going to bed.”

Ace stood there for a moment longer, debating before finally deciding to throw his gentlemanly side out the porthole. He was tired of the damn hammock and Aggie’s atrocious snores. His bed was soft, warm, and calling his name. The beautiful woman in it was just an added bonus, one that he was not going to touch. Maybe. Hopefully his gentlemanly side won out.

Kicking off his boots, Ace shed his hat, shirt, and accessories. He tugged both belts from their loops, but decided to keep his shorts on. Normally he slept nude by himself, but that seemed a step too far with Ashina curled up in the sheets.

Ace slid into the bed, being sure to keep as much space as possible between them. After a few moments a pair of ice-cold feet pressed against his leg.

Ashina hummed. “I was right. You are warm.”

Ace had never cuddled with a woman before. Kisses yes, heavy make out sessions yes, and he’d had sex on a number of occasions. Sex was nice, it felt good, sometimes a bit messy, and it was intimate, but he’d never shared a bed with a woman like this. It was a new level of intimacy that made him nervous. The feelings that were stirring in his chest were foreign to him. She trusted him to do no harm to her. She trusted him enough to close her eyes and fall asleep inches from him. She trusted him.

Rolling to his side to face her, he noticed she was curled on her side as well with her back to him. If her feet were freezing he could only imagine how cold the rest of her felt. He hesitated for a brief second, before tossing the gentleman out the window and snaking a hand over her hip. He was a pirate after all. He pulled her flush to his chest and amped up his body temperature.

She let out a soft squeak of surprise, but quickly relaxed. She shifted slightly, pressing her feet against his shins and her back closer to his chest, and hummed. “So warm,” she breathed.

“You know you really need a cook,” Ashina stated staring at the spoonful of soup she held up in front of her. The food wasn’t bad, but she was no professional cook. Growing up her mother had cooked for her, then she cooked for herself for a while, before she landed with the Revolutionaries and a team of cooks fed everyone meals.

Ace shot her a glance. “You and Mihar do okay.”

“Really? That’s you’re answer. We do okay?”

“Well,” he shrugged. “I used to have to catch my own meat and cook it over a fire myself. Deuce you remember SIXIS?”

Deuce gave an affirmative and chuckled. “I almost killed you.”

Ashina rolled her eyes. “Ugh. At the next island I’m finding us a better cook. Maybe in the mean time you could catch a fish.”

“I can’t swim.”

“Then make sure it doesn’t pull you overboard, Flame Boy.” Ashina gave him a smile and a wink and stood from the long wooden table.

Ace watched her take her empty bowl and spoon into the kitchen, disappearing behind the swinging door.

“So…Cap?”

Ace turned his attention to Saber. “Huh?”

“What’s she like?”

Ace sat there, puzzled. “What?”

“You know… haven’t you? With her?” Saber said, motioning between Ace and the door.

Deuce chuckled. “You’ve been sharing a bed for a week Ace, you mean you haven’t had sex with her?”

When Ace sputtered and blushed Deuce grinned. “What a shame. Mind if I give it a shot?”

The table erupted into laughter when Ace’s shoulder caught fire. He scowled at Deuce. “No. You may not.”

Ashina reappeared and the room fell silent. The flames on Ace’s shoulders disappeared and he looked down at the table. She raised a brow, giving them a puzzled look, before rolling her eyes and strolling through the room to the stairs. “You guys are weird.”

Once she was out of earshot, Aggie said, “Ace, brother, you can’t just say she’s crew.”

“Of course she is.”

Saber chuckled. “Captain, she shares your room. That’s like… having a missus.”

The flames returned, shooting higher in the air than last time, but his cheeks also burned with a deep blush. “We’re not… she’s not... we haven’t even,” he sputtered making the crew laugh.

Deuce clapped him on the back and grinned. “It’s okay, Cap. We like Ashina, she’s cool, and she’d make a good missus.”

Deuce ducked Ace’s sudden punch, erupting in a new round of laughter.

Ashina finished the dishes from the night’s dinner and dried her hands on a rag hanging from the oven door’s handle.

Banshee was no professional cook either, but her time spent at her family’s marketplace food stand had made her a better cook than Mihar and Ashina. Ashina made her way to the top deck. Several of the men, Ace included, were playing cards around a table. She noticed Deuce off to himself, sitting on the deck. His knees were bent, drawn up close to him, and he appeared to be writing in something.

Ashina strolled over and plopped down beside him. “What ya’ doing?” she asked. She stretched her legs out in front of her and crossed her booted ankles.

“Writing.”

“Writing? What do you write?”

Deuce hesitated before answering, “It’s an adventure journal.”

“Oh, cool. So you record the crew’s adventures?”

Deuce was shocked. He waited for the teasing remark to come, but when it didn’t he grinned at her. “Yes.”

“Huh. Doctor and a writer, and a ship builder. Man of many talents. Striker is cool.”

“Yeah. We modified it to work with Ace’s Devil Fruit ability. It’s a sturdy little vessel.”

“How’d you meet Ace?”

“We were both stranded on SIXIS. Ace found the Mera Mera no Mi and split it with me. He got the powers, I just had a piece of fruit. We built the original raft that became Striker and got off the island.”

“So you were his first crew member?”

“Yeah. Spade pirates have come a long way. Soon we’ll be in the New World. Ace is a good captain. Strong, kind, he’s fiercely loyal and protective. Bit of a goofball, and sometimes an idiot. He also tends to fall asleep at the most random times.”

“He’s a bottomless pit when it comes to food I’ve noticed.”

Deuce and Ashina shared a laugh.

“Yeah,” he said, nodding. “He says his brother Luffy is the same way.”

“Damn. Can you imagine trying to feed the both of them?”

Deuce looked horrified, then his face shifted as he grew curious. “I wonder if it’s the D? Monkey D Luffy and Portgas D Ace.”

“Probably. Or they both just happen to be gluttons.”

Deuce and Ashina dissolved into laughter again. They sat in comfortable silence then and Deuce began writing again.

After a while Ashina placed her hand on Deuce’s shoulder, using him as leverage to stand. “Goodnight, Deuce.”

“Goodnight, Ashina.”

The Captain’s cabin was cool and she shivered as the door closed behind her. Ashina crossed the space to her trunk, the one that sat next to Ace’s. She was slowly growing her wardrobe with each stop they made. Some pieces she bought, others she had lifted from less than chivalrous people. Ashina pulled the newest article from the trunk, one she purchased, and then shut the lid. The floral printed fabric was lightweight and soft. She was unsure of wearing the nightgown, but it was longer than the t-shirts she had been sleeping in. It was however, thinner and more revealing than the shirts. The gown had thin straps and dipped low down her back.

Ashina looked to the door, wondering if she should lock it before changing on the chance that Ace should enter. Deciding she did not quite care if Ace saw or not, she toed out of her boots and began to strip off her clothes. She tossed them in the growing pile of dirty clothes on the other side of her trunk and then stretched. The cool air felt good against her naked skin, but she longed for Ace’s warm touch. She wondered if it was his devil fruit ability that made him warmer than the average man. It seemed that some nights he would even amp up the heat if she shivered.

They slept together in the same bed, but other than those few intimate hours of peaceful sleep, Ace kept his hands to himself. Ashina sighed as she pulled the nightgown over her head. The hem stopped mid-thigh. Would the choice to wear the nightgown lead Ace to make a move? She wished he would. He was devilishly attractive with those strong features, gray eyes, and all those hard muscles. She also enjoyed his smile, his laugh, and his strength. Deuce had been right in his description of the Captain. Ace was strong, brave, and fiercely loyal, if not a wee bit reckless and wild.

Ashina wanted more than warmth from him during the night. She wanted to do more than share the bed, but she was hesitant. Would it mess up their dynamics? She was bound to leave the Spade pirates eventually. Once they reached Sabaody she would part ways with Ace and return to the Revolution. If they started something it would only be that much harder to leave later. But if she didn’t take that chance with him… would she regret it?

Ashina grumbled to herself and climbed into the bed. She laid on her back, staring at the wooden boards of the ceiling wishing she wasn’t so damn attracted to Fire Fist. This hadn’t been part of the plan.

She was still staring at the ceiling when he entered the room. Ashina listened, keeping her eyes upward, as he partially undressed. He never slept with his pants off and it made her wonder if he went commando. That idea was hot as hell. She stamped down the feelings of wanting to find out for herself as he slid into the other side of the bed. It was a comfy bed, but not a large one, so there were only inches between them.

Ace moved his arm and Ashina rolled over onto her side, pressing herself against the length of his body, soaking in the warm of his internal fire. She rested her head on his shoulder and his arm wrapped around her. She felt him stiffen as his fingers brushed against the soft material at her lower back, but he relaxed after a moment, letting his hand rest on her hip.

They had become comfortable with this, the contact that was only slightly sexual. It never started that way, but several mornings over the last weeks of sharing a bed they had woken up tangled together, hands in places hands hadn’t been before they’d fallen asleep. Ashina wanted more. As much as it might break her heart when she said goodbye, because surely, she would fall for Fire Fist Ace, she wanted it. Despite all her worries she wanted him. She sometimes felt his eyes on her, when she was on the deck, or eating dinner with the crew. Each time they docked at an island and they separated, she noticed the relief and joy in his face when she came aboard again.

She wondered if he wanted her? Some mornings were awkward when they woke up and Ace had been hard, his length pressed against her thigh or backside. Even if he was only attracted to her sexually, he never made a move. Ashina wondered if under all of his confidence he was nervous to start anything with her. She wondered if it was for the same reasons as her.

Ashina knew she had to leave eventually, and that idea tugged at her heart already and churned in her stomach. While she was here, on the Spadille with Ace, she was going to make the most of her time.

She tilted her head back so she could see him. His eyes were closed, so she studied him. With his eyes closed the thick, dark lashes lay against his freckled cheek. His dark, wavy hair brushed his forehead. The bridge of his nose was straight, his lips soft. The angle of his jaw was straight. Ashina leaned closer and pressed her lips against his jawbone.

Ace tensed under her touch and his fingers tightened around her hipbone. That foreign feeling stirred in his chest again and he relaxed. He enjoyed the feel of her tucked into his side as much as she enjoyed the warmth he produced. She fit well with his crew and she was a strong woman. He knew because he watched her train with Skull on two different occasions, and fight a group of men by herself on another. Her swordsmanship was excellent and she could use Haki to strengthen her kicks and punches. The boys teased him mercilessly about her being his missus. She would make a good partner – strong, smart, and the beauty was an added bonus.

The crew didn’t believe they weren’t actually having sex in this very bed, but only sleeping. He wanted to cross that line, wanted to know what it was like to touch her. He wouldn’t admit that he was nervous though. She would leave him and his crew once they reached Sabaody. The transponder snail had said so a week ago, and they were drawing closer to Sabaody every day. He found himself wanting her to stay more and more each day. The idea of her leaving made him uneasy. Being a pirate was dangerous, but so was being a Revolutionary. If she stayed with him as a pirate he would be able to watch over her.

Turning his head, Ace pressed his lips to her forehead. Her hand that was tucked between them slid across his chest so that her fingers curled over his side. Ace raised the temperature of his fire and she hummed in pleasure, pressing closer. Ace kept his head turned so that his nose brushed against her hair, and he could breathe in the smell of her.

#Portgas D. Ace #fire fist ace #one piece #one piece fanfiction #fanfic #oc #original female character #spade pirates #Ashina #Read All About It #my writing

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savan27 · 5 years

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Blood Rain

There was a time of magic and wonder, long ago, but that time has long died. It did not disappear at once, but in violent fits and slow creeping blights of malice. In the last time of magic, true magic, there was a hunter. Our story is not about him, it is about the mistake he made.

Our hunter was a strong man, a brave one some would claim. He was born a nobody to a family of nobodies in a nothing town. The quiet stagnation of this home tugged at his edges and chafed against his more adventurous spirit, his more intense temper. His youth was spent in a long daze of identical afternoons, learning all the deadly arts he could. First it was a battle for sustenance, waiting patiently in the underbrush to suddenly burst into a flurry of action, deadly graceful as he felled any creature with a reasonable amount of meat on its bones.

Then he began to fixate on stories. Every traveler and old man had one to tell. Some tale of a wily fae, vicious dragon, lingering spirit. They all shared the same sense of concealed fear, which always seemed justified by the stories. Of course such beings, so strange and powerful, could be nothing but enemies.

The hunter took up stranger weapons and set upon a new quest. He pursued these remaining artifacts of a perishing time with a fervor he had contained since birth, for now he had a purpose. One after another fell under his blade, flame, arrow. It gained him fame and fortune but the only satisfaction for him came from these his violent delights.

Then began his fall, if he had ever been anything but fallen.

There was a whisper, spoken in slight glances and nervous shifting feet. Something old, something from the beginning of things. In the forest primeval there was a witch or a demon or an angel who had always been. A quixotic beast, willing to grant wishes to those who pleased it and was pleased to tear apart those who insulted it. These tempestuous whispers buried themselves in the hunter’s mind, pulling him toward his fate.

The day promised storm, the air thick and heavy, sky close. All was awaiting a release.

The hunter prepared himself and stepped into the woods as he had so many times before. He did not fear, though its absence did not mean he was confident either. There was no space for nerves or bravado under the boring sense of purpose.

It was a full half day before he reached the ancient elm. It stood defiant in a clearing of dead leaves. Its trunk was gnarled and black, twisting up toward the sun.

Then there was her. He started ever so slightly. He had not expected her to come to him. She was so unremarkable. Perfectly human looking save for the solid, shining midnight blue of her eyes.

She smiled as he drew his bow.

“Lower your weapon, child. You know not what you do”

He did not respond.

“I am of the first life, to kill me would be to commit a sin beyond anything else you have known.”

She tilted her head at the hunter and he shivered as her eyes dragged over him.

“Why have you made yourself into this? You hunt your beasts filled with a hate you see as light. You are... rotting. I suppose that is only right for one who ends life”

He did not think or feel as he let the arrow fly.

She grinned a smile wider than should be possible as it sunk into her heart. As she died, he felt the change.

The forest shuddered. The very earth trembled. Something very important had just been broken. This was a twist in fate and nothing would be right again. Within his chest he felt a tug. He knew without knowing that the small tug would grow, it would consume him and make him the monster he truly was meant to be.

The sky broke open and thick drops of red tumbled down, a terrible mourning.

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poutypanic · 7 years

Text

Demon Hunter* Chap 5

Fic is rated explicit 18+. A little over 3K

AO3: http://archiveofourown.org/works/10702710/chapters/25867851

Chap Summary: This is a pretty smut heavy chapter. Also, full disclosure there is dragon fucking ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

A gorgeous gazebo stands proudly amidst the flowers and trees in the garden. The floor sports the demon’s fallen clan seal. Gorgeously intricate, made of several different types of stone. The sun has just finished rising in the sky. The demon has prepared breakfast for you, but you’re not feeling hungry. You don’t often feel hungry for food anymore. So it’s growing cold, but Hanzo doesn’t seem concerned about your lack of appetite.

You’re still riding the cusp between inhuman and human. Not quite supernatural yet. But are losing several of the needs and habits that made you mortal. However, you’re still unable to do several of the things that would make you a succubus. Can’t draw energy on your own, still weak in body, and can’t even partake in the more fun perks like seeing memories through blood. Utterly useless.

And then every day you’re waiting for it. The sickness to come back. If the last succession of times it was brought upon you are any indication, the next time is going to be the worst of them all.

You’re sitting cross legged on the ground on a plush pillow. Hanzo is sitting on the other side of the small table, lounging, and looking absolutely relaxed. The dragons are at the entrance of the gazebo. Just as laid back. The least tense you’ve ever seen them be. Asleep with their heads resting on the last step leading into the gazebo. They almost look like stone. Completely unmoving, not needing to breathe in their slumber. You’ve grown to admire them, powerful spirit dragons that are monsters in their own right.

“Tell me pet, which one was most memorable?”

“You wanna give me some context?”

Hanzo huffs and rolls his eyes. Annoyed, because he feels you should know what he’s getting at. So he will be blunt.

“Which monster did you enjoy fucking the most?” Then he grins, “Besides me of course.”

You feel an embarrassed heat flood across your face.

“They all had their own unique enjoyable aspects.”

Hanzo abandons his relaxed position so he can sit up, reach across the table, and run a nail across your cheek. You find yourself leaning into it, enjoying the simplicity of the touch.

“My dear pet, this blush is ludicrous.”

“I’ve never talked about those things before. It's not something you brag about if you wanna keep making money off of conning people.”

He looks you up and down, “Afraid the common folk would think you are despicable?”

“Yeah, well, it’s a lot harder to convince people to give you money if they hate your guts and are aware you’re a lying whore.”

“A clever way to make a living I suppose,” he takes hold of your hand, brings it to his mouth. Pricks your index finger with one of his canines. Then sucks on it as it starts to bleed.

As Hanzo’s eyes flutter closed you can see them roll back slightly. With his eyes being one color, this isn’t something you used to always be able to notice. But by now you’ve had plenty of chances to be able to pick out the subtle pleasure response, and now it’s easy to see. Regardless of the alluring face he is making, you can’t stand it when he does this. Making sure you are painfully aware that he is sifting through your dirty laundry.

He is searching for a specific memory. Your first conquest. He finds him; a vampire. A cruel man who you just barely end up getting away from. A tough challenge for someone who was so young and inexperienced. He watches as the vampire has you pinned to a wall. Hips and ass a blur with how fast he is fucking you. His teeth sunk into your neck. Blood coats one of your shoulders, rolls down your arm, and drips onto the floor. You look pale, like you’re a step away from deaths door. He has to pull his consciousness out of the memory before he gets to intent on doing the same thing. He’d like to learn more. Straight from the horses mouth. There’s always time for fucking.

“That first one, a vampire? He was very possessive.”

You stay silent. But your first thought was, you would know.

Hanzo can sense that the vampire was unhappy when you left. Looked for you for months, “Do you think he still hunts for you?”

“He was very focused, yes. But I’m sure he’s found someone else to push around by now. There are plenty of warm bodies out there.”

It doesn't take long for your finger to stop bleeding, so he bites it again. One of the only perks of being a demon that has seemed to manifest itself consistently. A speedy bodily recovery from wounds and abrasions from the soreness that comes from especially rough days and nights.

“Answer my question. There has to be one that crosses your mind far more than the others. One that you favored and replayed while you touched yourself during lonely stretches of time.”

“Fine. If I had to choose… I’d stay… the wraith was probably one of my favorite monsters I’ve fucked,” you chuckle, “Or rather, that fucked me.”

The demon is intrigued, lets you know to be quiet by placing a finger against your lips as he recalls the images. Oh. Hanzo can barely make out the creature itself. But he can see you. Every slick orifice crowded by a thick smoky tendril. You’re completely overwhelmed. Your body contorted in a most uncomfortable way. Arms being held behind your bad by more tendrils. Wrapped around your torso. All of them in a constant state of motion. Tears stream down your cheeks. How lovely.

“Were you ever the boss of any of these situations?”

“Yes, sometimes I had to take the dominant role. You have the movie reel in your head; look for it. Not all monsters are so eager.”

Taking note of your demanding tone, Hanzo bites your finger especially hard this time, and you come off this ground by an inch or two.

“Do you expect me to sift through all of it? Be specific, pet.”

“Look for the merman.”

“Merman? Mermen of old were typically hideous.”

“Hmm, not this one. He was very cute and sweet.”

“Cute?” He says the words with disgust, “Sweet?”

“Yes. He was an environmentalist and was making it difficult for certain companies to fish, and they wanted him dead.” You smirk, “So they hired me.”

Hanzo closes his eyes, takes a deep breath in through the nose, and starts looking. When he finds the memory he’s looking for, he expels air from his nose and shakes his head. The merman is cute. An innocent looking creature. And there you are, not much younger than you are now. Removing your clothes at the edge of the water in a secluded cave, and the merman is stunned by your forwardness.

He stays a safe distance away from you. He is wary. Knows that mercenaries are being sent to pacify him. But as your weapons get thrown far away from you, and you start to crawl into the water, the merman is becoming more and more curious. Eventually, he ends up meeting you half way. So that you’re both about hip deep in the water. That’s when you start to softly kiss him. It is all very sweet.

“Outstanding, and you were of no help to ones who hired you.”

“Nope.”

“Amazing, absolutely exceptional.”

“Love your sarcasm.”

Hanzo narrows his eyes, “Have you not been paying attention, pet? I am not being sarcastic.”

He wraps his hand around your throat. Uses his hold to pull you forward over the table ’til you’re face to face with him. Hanzo kisses you tenderly. Letting your lips naturally fall away from each other. He slips his tongue into your mouth, slowly runs it along the roof of your mouth. The dragons are starting to stir. You can hear them shuffling around. Emitting off low growls. Hanzo pushes you back an inch so he can bore his gaze directly into your eyes.

“I am having trouble figuring out just what you have not fucked.”

You couldn’t possibly figure out what possesses you to say this. It just flows out of you naturally. Once a freak, always a freak. You side eye the dragons, “I’ve never fucked a spirit beast before, are they capable?”

Hanzo’s grip on your throat tightens, and his whole body becomes coiled. He is immediately on board. You couldn’t back out of this now, even if you happened to change your mind. And he is thinking that he’s about to be in for a hell of a show.

“Oh, they are capable, pet. They are going to fill you up nicely, stretch you open." He caresses your face and gives you a forceful kiss, "I hope you are ready. Crawl, get on your hands and knees.”

He lets go of your neck, allowing you to do as you’re told. You crawl onto the floor of the gazebo. Obedient and eager, you spread your knees a part before Hanzo has to demand that you do so. You lay your face against the stone and look back at him, “Like this?”

Hanzo bites his bottom lip and nods. A view of your backside is just what he needs for this. As the dragons start to realize what they are being given, their tails start to flick back and forth wildly. They’re prowling around you now, whining out of excitement and anticipation. Their voices start to echo in your head. For us? We can breed the slut?

Hanzo says something to the dragons in Japanese. You don’t understand it, never had the time to learn new languages. But you can pick out a demand in any language. The dragons get close to you, start sniffing your hair, and nuzzling at different body parts. For once you had been wearing actual clothes. Loose comfortable bottoms and a light cotton t-shirt. The dragons are about to make quick work of both.

One of the dragons teeth nips your thigh as it takes the fabric and starts to rip it from your body. The other one does the same with your shirt, its teeth tickling at your back. The sounds and the forcefulness of your clothes being ruined and torn a part are getting your body to a pleasant boiling point. It’s this boiling that always stays with you during sex. Making every moment heightened, sensitive, and fulfilling. Another manifested demon perk.

Now you’re completely exposed. The dragon who ruined your pants nudges its muzzle into your sex. Aggressively pushes up into you, causing your knees to lift up off of the ground. You brace yourself on your forearms and elbows, trying to keep yourself from toppling over. The dragons tongue rolls out of its mouth, snakes over your folds. It feels long and slippery, and easily slips inside of you. Your body lurches at the feeling.

It continuously pushes in further and further, endless. Until it starts to feel like it’s too much. It’s so warm, foreign, and constantly moving. Twisting and making waves inside of you. You whimper and whine. Arch your back, trying to bear the feeling. The dragon coos into your psyche, you taste delicious, so sweet, so soft. You look up to the other one who is looming over you. An erection bobbing up and down between its legs.

The sight of it gives you a giddy feeling nervousness. It’s not exactly long, but fuck it’s thick. Bulbous in shape and thickest around the shaft. The head isn’t much smaller, but will be easier for you to take. This certainly won’t be the first time you’ve taken something with such an intimidating girth, but it’s been a while.

You get up onto your hands as the dragon’s tongue continues to flick and spiral inside of you. You look back at Hanzo to see him back in his lounging position. One knee up with his arm resting on top of it. His tattooed arm resting on the inside of his thigh. With a tight grip over his crotch. A sinister grin spread across his face as he’s massaging his hardening erection.

The dragon abruptly pulls its tongue out of you, leaving you feeling full of wetness from its saliva. It goes back to pressing its muzzle into your cunt, sniffing aggressively. The beast lets its tongue flick out briefly to rub against your clit. It’s smart, and it’s teasing you. Making your body squirm. Your hips lift and fall. Then that damnable tongue pulls back so it can slide in-between your folds. Move up and settle over your clit. Starts to flick and roll against it. Building instant pressure that ends up getting expelled just as quickly as it came.

As you come your back arches, and your hips gyrate. The sight of you as your muscles twitch and your mouth lewdly hangs open, has Hanzo pulling out his cock so he can leisurely stroke it. His gaze is locked on your body as the dragon pulls its snout away from your sopping sex.

You hear a low grumble come from its chest as it mounts you. The beasts cock easily finding its way to your entrance. The fat head rests just against it, not quite pushing its way in just yet. The dragon rumbles and whines, its hips rubbing against your back side.

It feels warm, and its skin is scaly and smooth. Glides seamlessly against your own. The dragons bulky body nearly dwarfs your own. Its thick muscle toned legs are placed on either side of your face, blocking your view of Hanzo.

For a moment you’re upset about this development. Wanting to be able to watch his reactions. Wanting to see as he jacks himself off to the scene of you getting fucked by his dragons. But then the dragon starts to enter you, and you forget all about your blocked view. All at once you’re stretched wide open, and now you desperately need something to cling onto. So you opt in for that leg that is blocking your view. Now thankful that it is there.

A long winded whine gets forced out of your chest as the dragon starts to sheath itself in deeper. You shift underneath it, trying to spread your legs wider. You want to take more of it in, feel even more of a stretch. Your walls are already pulsating. Large heart beats for every bit of the cock that gets pushed inside of you.

Hanzo isn’t lounging anymore. Your whines and moans are so loud that they are reverberating through the garden. Your tight cunt is lewdly stretched open before him, and that nearly has him coming already. Hanzo can sense the dragon starting to lose its patience with the slow entry. He could scold the beast, but he won’t. He’d like to see how well you handle the abrupt rutting your about to get.

Your vision turns into a bright white blur as the dragon shoves itself in to the hilt. Immediately starts fucking into you in short and strong bursts. Your whole body is lurching forward with each thrust. You can't keep your torso up anymore. So you let it slump back onto the ground and keep your grip on the dragons leg. An orgasm hits you immediately and almost with out any build up or warning. You’d whine or moan or cuss; hell you’d do all of that at the same time, but you can’t seem to find your voice right now.

The only noises that are making their way out of you right now are guttural, wet sounding throat noises. The dragon comes, and your insides are being continuously filled. You can feel it pooling inside of you. It’s too much and starts to seep out, dripping onto the ground. The beasts knot starts to form, locking itself inside of you, and the other dragon starts to whine. Becoming impatient with the smell of come flowing through the air.

The word, thank you, goes from one ear to the other. But that wasn’t for you.

Hanzo purrs, “You are welcome.”

The neglected beast is ready the moment the other one pulls out of you. You had watched as it walked around to your back side, pre-come leaking out of its twitching cock. You only have a momentary feeling of emptiness before the second dragon is mounting and plunging itself inside of you.

You are not afforded the soft, gentle entry the other one gave you. Not that at this point you really need it. This time, the rutting sounds are much lewder. You’re so full of slick fluids that every thrust is making salacious sounds. You let yourself become completely limp. Just become a large piece of wet fuckable putty. You’re face planted against the floor of the gazebo, practically drooling.

You’ve zoned out. Giving in completely to the overwhelming sensations that have taken over your body. Before you know it, you’ve got more come coating your insides, struggling to find room. Your whole body is trembling, quivering. But you're not done being used yet. Hanzo’s face comes into your line of vision. He speaks to you while the beasts knot is still swollen inside of you.

“Are you still with us, pet?”

You’re barely able to nod. No verbal answer comes out. Hanzo reaches under the beast and whips the hair away from your face. The hair that has become stuck to your forehead through the fray of things. And you hadn’t noticed any of it ’til now. Hanzo barks another order at the dragon, and it pulls out of you. Goes and joins its counterpart back at the entrance of the gazebo.

Hanzo positions himself between your spread legs. Places both of his hands on the lower portion of your ass. Glides his thumbs up and down over your sloppy cunt. You look back at him, holding your bottom lip in your teeth. You’re so damn sensitive and even the smallest of touches feel overwhelming. He pushes his thumbs inside of you, uses them to spread you open, so he can really see the mess his dragons have left in you. Shimmering pearly white come seeps out of you. Drips and adds to the small pile that’s formed on the ground.

“Tsk, tsk. So filthy.”

He pushed his thumbs in deeper, and your walls clench around them. Already bouncing back from the brutal stretch that they had endured. Hanzo lines himself up and slides inside. Swiftly spanks one of your cheeks.

“Get up, pet. Push back, I want to see you milk my cock.”

It’s not as difficult as you think it’s going to be to get back up onto your hands. You’ve got an incredible amount of stamina. And feel like you could go for a whole other round after this one is over. You’re unafraid, not ashamed to keep his gaze while you lift your hips up and down. Hanzo looks intoxicated, eyes half lidding, a lazy smile on his lips. His nails dig into your hips, drawing thin lines of blood across your skin.

Your orgasm has a slower much more pleasurable build this time. Taking its time while it starts in your belly, seeps downward, and turns into energy directed entirely at your used walls and flushed clit. It feels so good and adds to the continues growing heat under your skin. Hanzo holds you flush with his hips while he comes, small moans and growls for each spurt that is left inside of you. He blissfully sighs, runs a hand down your spine, and weaves his fingers into your hair.

“My darling pet, you never disappoint.”

#hanzo shimada #hanzo shimada x reader #poutypanic writes #dubious consent #dragon fucking/beastiality #ovw

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press-a-repeatedly · 5 years

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Zul’s Top 9 Games of 2018

By Zul Edwards

Heyyy it’s me. I’m back! What a year! 2018 has come and gone and many awesome games have been played by everyone here at PAR. The votes were tallied, the results are in, and I am included in that bunch. However, some of the games I played and loved this year were no-shows on our list. Some AMAZING games that I think deserve a little love on our corner on the internet. So, I thought, if you out there reading this were interested, (spoiler alert, nobody is) here is my OWN personal top nine games of 2018.

So, let’s get this thing started with my number 9!... oh yeah, I only played 9 games in 2018. heh.

9) No Man’s Sky – So I was one of those gamers who was excited for NMS when it was first announced a few years back. Thought the idea of exploring a quintillion planet was awesome. Then the game came out, I heard it sucked, and I ignored it. Enter a couple years later when it was on sale, had a ton of updates and new features: true online with friends, customizable characters, base building, and a brand-new story. However, it wasn’t enough to keep me hooked. Don’t get me wrong, I liked exploring the various galaxies and doing various side quests, engaging in dogfights with pirates and mining for space gold, but overall it just still felt so empty, so repetitious, and so… blah. I guess I still prefer quality over quantity, even if the quantity is in the quintillions.

8) The Alliance Alive – The first on the list of “Games only Zul played this year”. The Alliance Alive is a 3DS game from the creators of the classic “Legend of Legacy”, literally a game I borrowed from Justin, played for all of 30 minutes, then promptly returned to Justin never to be spoken of again. So, to my surprise when he told me the same studio was making another game, The Alliance Alive, but it was helmed by one of the writers of the Suikoden franchise, I was cautiously optimistic. Much to my (pleasant) surprise, the game was good! A blend of classic JRPG turned based battles with flairs of modernization: skills learned through fighting, increased stats based on the location of fighters in battles, and a darker story not usually found in those classic SNES/PS1 RPGs this seems to emulate. While the main characters fall into some pretty cliché tropes, the side characters really shine. From giant axe-wielding lizard men that remind me of my own D&D character, to a demon-dog-man butler, to a mad child genius scientist who rides a duck robot, this game has a lot of flavor. I really should go back and finish.

7) Chasm – While it’s no secret that I love Castlevania games, I think it’s fair to say I’m not really a giant fan of Metroidvania games. I prefer the simpler side-scrolling action of Castlevania, constantly moving forward towards a goal of smacking Drac in the face with a metal whip, to the backtracking and map completing chore of most Metroidvania games. With that said, something about the less intense and simpler format of Chasm kept me hooked till the end. I didn’t mind backtracking and completing the map in Chasm because it wasn’t as vast or complicated as other games in the genre. It was colorful, had great music, stellar pixel art and a fun yet challenging battle system and platforming. Overall it was a blast to play, but it just got overshadowed in a year filled with superior games.

6) God of War – “WHAT THE FUCK?” I hear you slam on your keyboards as I place the unrivaled GOTY in a paltry 6th place. Don’t get me wrong, this game is good. In fact, it’s VERY good. However, for whatever reason, I guess this game didn’t hook me like it did for everyone else. I only have a passing familiarity with the GoW series. Even though I’m a diehard SonyBoy, I only ever played GoW 1 and never beat it. Kratos and Atreus are some of the best written and best-acted characters to come out of a video game in this year or any year. Hell, if we had a “best new character” category again this year, I would struggle to not put Atreus in the top 3. The music is amazing, the writing is fantastic, the scope, cinematography and the constant one camera perspective were all stellar achievements in the medium of gaming, not to mention I’m pretty much obsessed with all things Norse… BUT. I dunno. Little things kept taking me out of it. Atreus’s sudden, jarring mood swings. The poor pacing in certain parts. The sudden introduction of major characters and/or story elements, that felt kind of brushed over and/or rushed. The lackluster side content, the padding and the empty worlds. The game is good. But it never felt great to me. Most games that I love, I think about when I’m not playing them, then I rush home from work to play them because I want to complete them, either for the story or because the gameplay is addicting, but this game felt more like a chore sometimes. I didn’t even buy it, I just borrowed it from Butch earlier in the year when it came out. I’m sorry Cory. I tried but I just didn’t love this game.

5) Moonlighter – Now here’s a game I absolutely adored. Flew under my radar and was recommended by Nick. By day you’re a humble shopkeeper, selling various wares and curios. By night, (by… MOONLIGHT) you explore dungeons ala Link to the Past style in a top-down view, into randomly generated maps. Each area has different items to collect & new materials to find, which you bring back to the shop to sell, which with the money you earn, can craft new weapons, which will get you further into dungeons, which will mean you find more items to sell which means you make more gold to spend on armor and weapons, which means you can get better materials to keep delving deeper, WHICH MEANS… ahem. Ah yes. That classic feedback loop. It sucked me in. It’s simple but effective in keeping me engaged. Coupled with a great art style, fluid beautiful pixel graphics and a surprisingly good amount of story for this type of game, Moonlighter took a nice chunk of my time early in the year.

4) Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom – Another entry in “Games only Zul played this year”, NNK2 was a surprise hit for me. I never played NNK1 and heard rather negative things about it from Nick over the years. I bought NNK2 on a whim months after it came out because it was on sale and I was craving a good JRPG, and it did not disappoint. I loved pretty much everything about this game. The music, the story, the beautiful not quite Ghibli, but practically Ghibli art style, the characters, the mechanics, the town building, the combat… it was everything I was looking for. There were certainly parts in the middle that lagged a bit, and the general “go to town > solve town’s problem > make an alliance with the town” could be considered cliché or predictable, but every town felt unique and its inhabitants all felt genuine. Recruiting citizens into your kingdom and assigning them all a role in your castle was a time sink I didn’t realize I would be so into, but I think I spent more hours on that than anything else in the game. And it also gets marks for being the other child in a video game besides Atreus, King Evan, that I didn’t want to strangle, and in fact by the time the credits rolled, he’d probably be #2 or 3 in Best Character of the Year for me.

3) Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Now as far as JRPGS go, Dragon Quest is the ultimate grand-daddy, even more so than Final Fantasy, but it was a series I never really got into. I played some previous games in the series and found passing enjoyment in a couple titles but never enough to ever want to complete a game or seek out other entries in the series. That all kind of changed when I played DQ 11. DQ has never really strayed too far from its classic turn-based JRPG roots. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” would be their mantra I assume, and I love it. In a time when the turn-based system is all but gone from genre giant Final Fantasy, DQ has instead chosen to stick with it, and fully master the dying style. It was hands down the best JRPG I’ve played all year, and probably one of the best I’ve played in several years. It has everything: a great story, compelling characters, awesome music, amazing art style, engaging combat, fun side quests, a challenging yet fair difficulty curve, and it’s actually, really funny on top of all that. While the length might scare people away, (I clocked in right around 120 hours after getting the platinum trophy for 100% completion of the game) it’s some of the best time I spent gaming in a long time. It’s a classic in a modern era. It’s weird, if you said to teenage Zul “one of your favorite JRPGs ever will be Dragon Quest 11, and one of your least favorite JRPGs will be Final Fantasy 15”, he would never have believed you… but here we are.

2) Monster Hunter World – Ah yes. The one oddball in my gaming repertoire. I think we all have one of these, right? That one game/series that for whatever reason, sits outside your normal gaming habits, yet you love it, nonetheless. Maybe you love Halo and FPS games, but you also really like Animal Crossing for some reason. Or maybe you’re a diehard Dark Souls series fan but just can’t get enough of Cooking Mama as well. Variety is the spice of life they say, and while I’m primarily a “character & story first, RPGs, video games are art” kind of dude, something about smashing Monsters in the face with a giant hammer has kept me hooked on the Monster Hunter series for nearly 10 years. I love the challenging but fair battles, the deep customization, the various weapons and armors for both male and female hunters, the varied and unique monsters that all have their own ecology, musical themes, and battle styles you must learn and adapt to if you want to survive. It’s also linking up with friends (or even strangers online) and tackling a beast as a team. For all these reasons and so much more, this series sunk its claws in me from the very first time I played it, and it hasn’t let go. Monster Hunter World is the next-gen, beautifully realized game I’ve wanted for years; and it took the story, art, gameplay, and fun I’ve come to expect from this series to another level.

1) Red Dead Redemption II – I honestly don’t know how to write about this game. I can say all the other things I’ve said up until now about how great the music is (it’s amazing), how varied and alive the characters feel (they’re amazing), how stunningly awe-inspiring the scenery is or how fluid and lifelike the character animations are (they’re amazing), how the story and personal journey of Arthur Morgan literally brought me to tears more than once (he’s #1 in Best Characters btw. And they’re amazing), how rich every side quest is, how fun the mini-games are, how great the dialogue is, or any of the other truly breath-taking aspects of the game, but I don’t think I could do them justice. Hell, I don’t even know how to put them into words myself inside my own head. To me, this is one of those games that surpasses all of that. Yea, it has flaws, every game does, everyTHING does, but to me, it’s perfect, warts and all. I can’t give it much higher praise than that, and it is absolutely the best game I played in years. When a game can give me an extensional crisis during some of its final moments, I think it’s safe to say that It’ll stick with me and has undoubtedly set a very high bar for all future games. The team at Rockstar outdid themselves and have my thanks for bringing this game into the world.

PHEW. Well, that’s it. Top 9 games of 2018 according to Zully Boy. Another great year in gaming for me personally and here’s to another great year in 2019! Lots to look forward to, and hopefully some hidden gems that’ll surprise me along the way. Happy Gaming everyone!

#goty gameoftheyear top10 top9

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minatoiskyuubismate · 7 years

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Night of the hunters pt 1 and 2-the dagurized version

Its finally finished! Took me forever to write it, and english is not my mother tounge.

Night of the Hunters part 1 and 2

And the furs were not the only presents.

For his next visit Dagur brought a round package with him.

“What is this?” Hiccup asked.

“Take a look.” Dagur grinned and handed Hiccup the wrapped disk. He unwrapped it and found a wooden Shield with a painting. When he looked closer he recognized himself and Dagur standing together. The older one had put a hand on the smaller ones shoulder and both smiled.

“Its…like our paintings in the great hall! All the chiefs were there portrayed with their firstborns!”

“I saw that one of my crew is an good artist and I told him to do a painting of me and you. He did treffen you very good, eh? And that’s only from his memories!”

“Yes…it looks great!” Hiccup smiled.

This time Hiccup was shown in his real scrawny form.

“It will get a nice place here in my hut.”

Later, in Hiccups small hideout…

“You will return to Berserker island?” Hiccup asked as they laid side by side.

“Aye. I must look how things are going on there. And my men need some break and time with their families. Even Berserker have families.”

Hiccup nodded and snuggled near Dagurs side.

“Still cold, little brother?”

“Not really. But I can better sleep with the feeling that you are here. I feel …safe.”

“Safer as with your dragon?”

“Dagur.”

“Okay, your Nightfury is your bodyguard.”

“He is not my-never mind. Let s sleep.”

Dagur laid an Arm over the scrawny form besides him and pulled him closer.

Some weeks later something happened that would change the life on Dragons edge and of his inhabitants forever.

It was a nice, sunny morning. Hiccup was on an early patrol flight over the island. On his way he trained varios flight maneuvers with Toothless, to be prepared for another attack –but mostly simple for fun. They made slalom flights between Sea stacks and Hiccups favorite move. For this he let Toothless fly under the trees while he jumped from his back on an branch. While the Nightfury glided under the crowns, Hiccup jumped from Branch to Branch took a bendable twig for a swing forward and landed again in Toothless saddle, whooping happily.

“Good Teamwork, Bud!”

The Nightfury laughed and the glided along the river till they landed on their favourite spot, a small ledge near the water. Tootless laid down to rest and Hiccup glided from the saddle to rest against the side of his friend.

“We should do this more often. From now on, I promise, we will—“

He stopped when he heard a roar in the distance. Toothless growled low.

“Yeah, bud. That was a not a normal roar. This dragon called for help!” Hiccup said and mounted Toothless. They followed the sound of the roar who was heard again. Definitly a distress call. Hiccup has learned over the years the different colors of dragon calls. And this dragon needs help.

When they reached the beach on the other side of the edge, they found several ships docked near the beach. Hiccup and Toothless hid between the rocks and watched as some men were loading supplys on their boats to row them to the ships. And most of them were cages. Cages with dragons in it!

“I never saw those colors before, but I have seen that insignia on the sails! It was nearly the same as on the Reaper.-Those are Dragon Hunters!” he whispered to Toothless.

A monstrous Nightmare, who tried to free himself from the cage, he was locked into, caught Hiccups attention. He frowned, when a man slammed his mace against the bars, Toothless growled low.

“Quiet, you useless lizard!” the hunter said and grinned.

Suddenly another hunter, a bald huge man, slammed the hunter against the bars. He was a muscular giant with a black moustache and goatee. And he wore a different attire than all the other hunters.

“Just load them up!” the big man growled.

“Yeah, Ryker. Sorry, boss.” the hunter stammered.

“Then do it! Or you will end as food for this one!” the leader of the hunters said and shoved the man against a cage with a Gronkle in it.

Ryker smiled evilly at the Nightmare, but the next moment he turned and sniffed.

“Could it be?” he murmured.

Hiccup ducked behind the rock he was peeking and ordered Toothless to be absolutely quiet. But when he heard the nearing steps, he dashed to the Nightfurys side and jumped into the saddle.

“Let s go, bud! We must tell the others!”

In the next Moment Dragon and Rider shot out of their hiding place and up into the air. Rykers eyes went wide.

“So my senses were not tricking me! A Nightfury!” he said. “Get the bows ready! I want this dragon!”

In the next moment, arrows whizzed past Hiccup and Toothless. The dragon fired a plasma blast at the archers, who quickly jumped out of the way. Ryker growled and took a bola from his belt. He whirled it over his head and threw it with all his strength and the fleeing Nightfury, who was a good distance away. But the ropes tangled around Toothless tail and the metal balls smashed the artificial fin of the Nightfury. Hiccup tried to work the pedal but it was blocked.

“Oh no! Toothless!”

The dragon desperately flapped his wings to get higher, but the destroyed Tailfin and the weights of the bola pulled him down and they crashed into the ocean! Hiccup was thrown out of the saddle from the impact.

“Im coming, bud!” Hiccup coughed and tried to reach Toothless, but before he could, the Nightfury was netted, pulled away and hauled aboard the ship who passed by.

“NO! TOOTHLESS!” he shouted, but a wave splashed into his face and he started violently to cough. When he could look again the ship was already out of reach.

“What a great catch! A Nightfury!” Ryker said proudly to his men. “They are very rare! Do you know what we will get for this dragon? A small fortune!”

“Whats with the rider?” asked one of the hunters and pointed to the floating form between the waves.

“Leave him. We only need the dragon.”

“No! Toothless!” Hiccup cried desperately as he tried to stay on the surface. Then he spotted a single log in front of him. He swam to it and cling onto the wet bark. With growing fear he watched as the ship vanished between the waves.

“Toothless…” he whined and let his head sunk on the log. “Don’t worry, bud. I will find you.”

At the late afternoon, Astrid was standing on the platform with Stormfly, looking to the horizon. She sighed. Still no sign of Hiccup and Toothless.

“He never was away so long without telling us.” she sighed.

“Don’t worry. They sure met Dagur and Shattermaster, went out exploring and simply forgot time.” Fishlegs tried to calm her. “Or he found a new dragon…”

“I don’t think so. Something is not right. I can feel it! -Fishlegs, call the others! We are going to look for them!”

Astrid looked worried at the dark storm clouds who approaching the island.

Some Minutes later Hiccups Friends were flying through the storm, it had started to rain heavily.

“We all go in different directions!” Astrid ordered. “I will head south.”

All Riders flew off in opposite directions calling out for Hiccup and Toothless and tried to spot the tow between the waves.

“Still nothing. Oh Hiccup, where are you? Toothless…please take care of him!” she pleaded for herself into the wind and rain.

Not far away, but out of seeing range, Dagur was on the way back from Berserker island when Shattermaster stared to get restless.

“Hey, Bud. Whats up? Don’t like the storm? I hope you are not getting seasick, my friend.” Dagur smiled and petted the massive head.

Suddenly Shattermaster ran to the railing and looked out into the stormy sea.

“What ´s the matter?”

The Gronkle whined.

“Chief! I just spotted someone out between the waves! Someone hanging on a log! But we are too far away!” Savage said, who looked through the spyglass. He had seen a small figure clinging on a floating log.

“Shattermaster must noticed it too. Okay, bud! Come on! Someone needs our help!”

Dagur jumped on the gronkles back and let Shattermaster soar in the air. The Gronkle had no problems flying steady through the storm.

Meanwhile Hiccup was at the end of his strength.

“I-I cant hold on anymore and its so cold…my body feels like ice….thats the end…I think…” Hiccup murmurs weakly. His whole body was stiff from the cold water and he had no strength nor willpower anymore to hold on the log. When the next wave hit his face, his clammy fingers slipped from the wood and he sunk under the water. But before everything went dark, he spotted a movement over him. Someone came diving in his direction! Hiccup could only feel that he was grabbed around his waist by a strong arm und pulled upward. Then everything went black.

Dagurs Head broke through the surface of the stormy water. With his right arm he held Hiccups limp body tightly to his own.

“Shattermaster!” he called. In the next moment, the Gronkle hovered over the waves, so that his rider could grab the leather collar with his free hand. “Up, Buddy! Bring us back to the ship! As fast as you can!”

Shattermaster gave his best. He felt, that the limp body Dagur was holding in his other hand was in great danger. A short moment after he lowered his rider on the deck of the Berserker ship.

“Good work, bud!-Hiccup! By the gods of Asgard, not again! Hiccup, wake up!”

He turned the Hooligan around and began to pat his back hard. Two times.

Suddenly the younger boy began violently to cough and threw up out some seawater. Dagur turned him around again. Hiccups eyes cracked a bit open.

“Uggh…Dagur? What took you so long…” Hiccup murmured weakly before he lost his consciousness again.

“Thanks Odin!” Dagur croaked when he felt Hiccups steady breath and hugged the boy.

“I wonder how often he still must save the little Hooligan.” Savage murmured, as Dagur hurried with his precious cargo into his cabin.

On the way to the edge the berserker sat in his cabin, Hiccups limp form in his arms, which he had wrapped in this thickest fur.

“You are out cold, little fishbone. And so is your body. How long have you been in the water? I wish you could tell me, but for now its more important to get you back to your friends. And I could be late for my meeting. But nevertheless, you are more important.”

Suddenly the body in his arms began to stir.

“Dagur…” a weak voice called for him.

“Hiccup! You are awake again? Whats up, little brother?”

“Toothless…..hunters….” the Hooligan murmured weakly “Im cold…”

The whole body of the boy began to shiver.

“Don’t worry.” Dagur answered, laid Hiccup back on the bed and headed to the door.

“Savage! Tell Lars I need something strong and hot for the boy to warm him up.”

“At once, Chief!” the second in command answered.

Some times later Lars brought a tankard with a steaming liquid into the cabin.

“Whats this?” asked Dagur as he took the mug and sniffed at it.

“Hot mead with a special herbal mix. A good medicine to warm someone up again and prevent him from freezing to death.” the cook said.

“Good. Thank you, Lars.” the Berserker nodded. Then he returned to the fur bundle on his bed and lifted Hiccup in his lap.

“Here. Drink. It will warm you from inside.” and put the tankard to the boys lips. Hiccups eyes cracked open a bit and he took a careful sip. He scrunched his face when he swallowed the brew.

“I know its tasting awful, but it will help you to warm your icy bones. Come, little one, try some more.” Dagur encouraged Hiccup. After a few more sips the Hooligan refused to drink more.

“So tired….and still cold…” he murmured weakly.

“Then sleep, little brother. I stay by your side.”

“Your armor….cold…”

Dagur nodded and removed his armor, laid beside Hiccup and began to rub his hands and arms to warm his cold skin.

“You were defiantly too long in the cold sea. You could have freezed to death, how skinny you are!” the berserker said.

When Hiccup stopped to shiver, he pulled the boy into his embrace to keep him warm. The Hooligan recognized the familiar scent of the older man, he relaxed and fell into a deep sleep.

“We still have some time till my special meeting. Your outpost is not far away. First I bring you home to the dragons edge, your friends must be worried about you-especially your little girlfriend. “ Dagur smiled and closed his eyes too.

When Dagur awoke again, Hiccup was tightly snuggled against him, still sleeping and searching for warmth. The older man smiled and touched the Hooligans shoulders. He was relived, when the skin of the boy nearly had his normal temperature again.

Meanwhile, at the hunters ship.

“Have you secured and tested the chains of the Night fury?”

“Aye. And we pulled off this strange harness he wore. He has only one tailfin. The other is missing.

Ryker inspected the harness with the torn tailfin. Toothless who was chained on all fours and muzzled in a cell, growled.

“This looks like an artificial Tailfin. His rider must be a clever mind. Like my little brother. He sure would have liked him as a new playmate for “Maces and Talons”. Maybe we should have pulled him out of the water too. Meh, but now it´s too late. Never mind, the dragon is more important.” the bald man said and laid the harness in a crate near Toothless cell. “Watch good for this one. The old legends told that Nightfurys are the cleverest amongst all dragons.-How long we need till our Rendez-vous-point?”

“About three hours. The storm is beginning to calm down.”

Meanwhile the dragon riders have returned from a fruitless search.

“The weather is getting better. We rest two hours then we continue with our search.” Astrid said.

Snotlout groaned and left the clubhouse with Hookfang behind him. This would be a long hard day.

Suddenly he stopped dead in his tracks, when the nightmare made a warning sound. When he looked out to the sea he spotted a ship that headed towards the base. And he recognized the crest on the sail. He hurried back into the clubhouse.

“There is a ship approaching the base!” Snotlout said.

“Which one?” asked Astrid.

“Its Dagurs! He is standing on deck, carrying something in his arms….looks like a fur bundle.”

“Come on!” Astrid called the others and they hurried down to the small harbor.

Dagur walked along the dock with the fur bundle in his arms. The shieldmaid was the first who spotted the auburn mop of hair sticking out at the upper end.

“Hiccup!” Astrid gasped and ran up to the Berserker. “What happened?”

“We spotted him out in the stormy sea. He was about to drown but with Shattermasters help I was able to fish him out of the water. If my bud did not sensed him out in the water-we would have passed him without noticing. He was totally frozen from the cold water but I held him warm. Don’t worry. He will be okay again. Give him something hot to drink and keep him warm. I cant stay, I have an important meeting.”

Dagur handed to bundle to Snotlout, Savage the bundle of clothes to Astrid.

“Thank you Dagur-for saving him- again.” Astrid said. “But where is Toothless?”

“He was nowhere spotted. Hiccup talked a bit in his sleep but all I could understand was “Toothless” and “Hunters”.”

“Okay. We take over from now. But if you get knowledge about the Nightfury whereabouts call us.”

“I will.”

Hiccup was brought into his hut and Astrid stayed with him, watching over his sleep.

“Toothless!”

When Hiccup shot up from his sleep, he still was wrapped in the warm fur-but he was not on Dagurs ship anymore.

His friends surrounded his bed and gave him worried looks.

“Hiccup! Thank Thor, you are alive! -Take it easy, you had a hard day!-What happened? We searched after you for hours! And where is Toothless?” Astrid said.

“Dragon hunters ….they took him away and let me alone back in the Ocean! I would have drowned if not Dagur –where is Dagur?” asked Hiccup.

“He already left with his ship. After we returned from our fruitless search, he arrived at our base. He gave you to us and told us how he saved you out of the stormy sea. I can´t believe it! This was the second time he saved you from drowning!” Fishlegs answered.

“Yeah. But I hardly remember anything. Damn, I still feel weak and dizzy.”

“Here, I cooked a hot soup. This will warm you up and give back your strength.”

Hiccup remembered vaguely that someone tried to make him drink a hot liquid. Thankfully he took the bowl from Fishlegs and started to eat. After that he was feeling much better.

“So Toothless was captured by Dragon hunters?” asked Astrid.

“Yeah. Three ships. With the same sign on the sails like the reaper… there are so much other dragons…and they are all in cages!”

Fishlegs flinched.

“And then there was this giant bald man, the leader…if he dares to hurt Toothless, then I-I….” Hiccup sighed. Then he put the bowl on his nightstand and jumped out of his bed. “Come on! Lets go!”

“Hiccup, for Thors sake! -Haven´t you forgotten something?” Astrid said and shielded her eyes. Then Hiccup realized, that his clothes were missing. He let out a shriek and pulled the fur around his hips.

“ARRGH! DAGUR!” he cursed. “Uggh…sorry, everyone.” Hiccups face was beet red, Snotlout snickered, till Astrid bumped him in the guts. Then she got Hiccups clothes and laid them on the bed. Fishlegs ashamed looked to the side and Ruffnut ogled the scrawny body with a wide grin. As did her brother.

“Get dressed, we are waiting outside. You can ride with me on Stormfly.”

“Our leader really is a cutie, eh?” Tuffnutt grinned, while the gang mounted their dragons. “I never saw so much freckles on a-“ He stopped when Astrid shot him a warning look. A few minutes later Hiccup joined them and lead his friends to the beach where he last saw the hunters. But there was nothing important to found, only a lot of empty barrels and crates and some other trash from a deserted campsite. But when Snotlout stepped on something pointy, it was an arrow tip covered with a green substance that Fishlegs identified as high concentrated dragon root.

“In this concentration it can overwhelm a dragons senses completely, making it almost impossible for them to fly. Did Toothless got hit by one of those?” Immerman asked Hiccup.

“No, some bolas brought us down. They destroyed Toothless Tailfin and we crashed into the ocean. Then he caught him with a net and pulled him aboard. And they let me all alone in the middle of the ocean! Damn hunters!”

“How are we gonna find Toothless?” Astrid asked. “We have no idea where they are going!”

“Maybe not. But we do know where they have been. And at this point we will continue our search.” Hiccup said.

A few hours later they reached the Reaper and started looking around for clues. Hiccup got a weird feeling when he saw the big eels in the water. Here it had all begun. Here he met Dagur again. Here he saved him the first time from drowing and getting eaten by the big eels. Here he encountered the new, changed Dagur. But where was the Berserker at the moment? He could helped them to find Toothless. He wished the oder man would be here now and soothe him, hold him…

His thoughts were interrupted, when he heard the breaking of wood and Snotlouts shriek. The Jorgenson had broken through the old planks and landed in some sort of storage compartment.

“Get me out of here!” he shouted.

One by one got down below the deck and started to look around the storage.

“Just keep looking. We must find something!” Hiccup said.

“What if we don’t? Toothless is in the hands of this monsters-he…” Fishlegs ranted.

“I know. I am afraid for him as you are.” Hiccup tried to calm him. “But this Ryker-he actually enjoying hunting and caging dragons!”

“And he has Toothless!” Astrid growled and slammed her axe against a decorative shield who was hanging on a wall.

“We are going to find him. And if it means to search the whole archipelago!” the Hooligan said. Astrid removed her axe from the shield and when the blade got loose, something fell out and landed on the floor. Hiccup picked it up and stared at it.

“It’s a dragon eye lens!” he said.

Soon all gathered below decks and began testing the new lens with their dragons, but nothing seemed to work. In the meantime Tuffnut watched the shield closely.

“Mmh, its either the innards of a Yak-or a Changewing in a cage.” he said, rubbing his chin.

Hiccup turned and now he could see it too. On the shield really was an image that showed what Tuff had said. A caged dragon. And one of his two eyes was the dragoneye lens.

“Tuff, you are a genius! So our next destination is Changewing Island!” Hiccup declared.

On the island they tried to catch one of the Dragons who can make themselves invisible to get some of their acid spew. After they got a sample on Snotlouts helmet, the returned to dragons edge to activate the new lens with the dragon eye.

“Hold still, Snotlout!” Hiccup said who tried to find the right position for the dragon eye in his hands.

“Easy for you to say! You don’t have Changewing acid burning through your helmet and dripping on your skull!” the Jorgenson growled.

The lens revealed some sort of ship movements and Fishlegs began to study it.

“That doesn’t help! We have seen this map before.” he said.

“Judging by the position of the ships there must be some sort of a port. And it’s the closest one to the beach where Toothless was caught. But where they are heading? It seems their base is somewhere else.”

“We should hurry! There is no time to loose!” Astrid said.

“Yeah! Enough of this!” Snotlout growled and tossed his ruined helmet away.

“But how we are going to avoid this dragon root arrows?” asked Fishlegs. “The only dragon here who is immune against the effect of dragon root.”

When all looked at Ingerman he realized what he had revealed and whimpered.

“It seems then its my turn to get shot.” he sighed.

Ryker was sailing to the hunters port with his new catch of dragons. A hour ago he collected some new crew members on an island. The bald man was satisfied with himself. He had made a great catch with the nightfury and his brother would be very pleased about that.

Suddenly he heard the men screaming and turned to see Astrid and Hiccup on Stormfly gliding overhead and fire at his ship.

“I want my dragon back!” Hiccup shouted and pointed with his sword at Ryker.

“More kids on dragonback? It seems he had brought his whole gang with him!” the Leader of the hunters smirked.

The twins and Snotlout were now attacking, but Ryker wasn’t too concerned.

“Fire!” he said calmly.

The hunters manned their ballistas and fired several bolas at Snotlout and Hookfang.

“Is that all you got?” the Jorgenson yelled. As answer more bolts and stones came flying.

Stormfly circled the ship and destroyed some of the balistas with her hot fire and several hunters fired arrows at them. Astrid shielded them with her axe and knocked them away, Hiccup did the same with his sword.

“You are sure this plan will work? That was pretty close! They have a lot of firepower!” she said.

“But we can´t retreat! -Fishlegs! Your turn!” Hiccup yelled. If we only had Dagur and Shattermaster here too, then our chances would be much better, the Hooligan thought.

Fishlegs looked at Meatlug. Okay girl, lets go!”

Then they headed for the ship with a battlecry. When they are close enough, the Gronckle fired a lava blast on the ships deck and it did not took long till the archers are aiming for them. Fishlegs doged the arrows but one hit Meatlug and she began to loose control, doing a good fake playing. With a heavy thud, the Gronkle and his rider crashed on Deck and was in the next moment surrounded by Rykers men with drawn bows and swords.

“Meatlug! Come on, get up!” Fishlegs pleaded. Ryker approached them, while a chain was put around the Gronkles neck.

“You monster! How could you do this!” Immerman glared at the leader.

“Its my business, brat! Take them below and toss them in a cell!” Ryker ordered. While the hunters dragged the protesting Gronkle and his rider away, the bald man turned his attention to the remaining Riders. “Damn pests! But I will get you too!” he growled.

Fishlegs and Meatlug were shoved into a cell and locked. When the hunters were gone, Immerman spotted Toothless in the opposite cell.

“Hey, don’t worry, bud! Hiccup is on the way to save you.” he said. The nightfury warbled and rattled with his chains. “I know, I know, but you must stay patient! We´ll be all right.”

Meanwhile outside the battle was still going on.

“Ready the catapults-fire!” a hunter yelled.

“Look out!” Astrid yelled. Stormfly was able to avoid getting hit, but Hiccup lost his grip and fell off the Nadders back.

“Hiccup!” Astrid screamed as she saw her friend fall towards the sea. “Come on, girl, fetch!”

Stormfly dived, but before her claws could reach the boy, a chain wrapped around his chest and he was pulled towards the ship.

“NO!” the shieldmaid yelled. Hiccup landed in the sea. She could not go farther because a rain of arrows came towards her.

“Up, girl!” Astrid commanded to get out of firing range.

“Help us! Please! I think she stopped breathing!” Fishlegs meanwhile tried to get the attention of the single guard in the cell room. The man groaned. “You think your boss want his newest dragon gonna die? And on your watch?” Immerman continued. With a sigh the guard made his way to the cell and saw Meatlug lying moveless on her back. He open the cell door and in the next moment the Gronkle turned on his legs and bumped him hard! The impact smashed the man against the wall and knocked him out. Fishlegs grabbed the key and rushed out of his cell.

“I am coming Toothless!” he said.

Outside the chain with Hiccup was pulled aboard.

“Heh, look what we have here! A little runt!” Ryker grinned when the chain was removed from the Hooligan.

“Give me back my dragon!” Hiccup roared and charged at the bald man.

“Hey, you are a feisty one! But you cant stand against me!” the hunter chief grinned.

Ryker blocked easy his hits and hit him square into the chest. Hiccup staggered back and lost his sword. Two hunters grabbed the Hooligan by the arms.

“Your precious Nightfury belongs to me now. But I like your spirit. Throw him in a cell. ” Ryker grinned, as Hiccup was dragged down to the cells.

“You´re gonna regret this! You are messing with the wrong Vikings!” Hiccup yelled.

“Well, so are you, little runt.” said Ryker.

Then, suddenly bursting to the door that led to the lower decks came the Nightfury.

“Toothless!” Hiccup shouted happily. When the dragon fired a plasma blast before the hunters feet, the men dropped the boy and he rushed over to the Nightfury. He quickly mounted Toothless and with a second shot the dragon knocked the two following men away. Fishlegs and Meatlug joined them.

“Sorry it took so long, but they had stripped Toothless of his harness and I had to put it back on!” Immerman said.

“Never mind! Lets get Ryker! He will pay for what he had done to Toothless!” Hiccup growled and they charged at the leader of the hunters.

“Snotlout! Twins! Keep ready!” Astrid up in the air shouted.

“Now!” Hiccup commanded.

They charged straight down towards Rykers Ship, but the bald man just smirked: ”Fire.”

Toothless and Meatlug were caught in a pair of bolas and toppled to the deck. A net was thrown over the trashing Nightfury.

“NO! Not again!” Hiccup roared. ”Astrid! Stop!”

Then another bola tangled around his legs and let him hit the planks.

Seeing what happened Astrid and the other riders halted their attack.

“Cursed it!” she growled.

“Watch out!” Snotlout shrieked, when all three ships began to fire arrows at them.

“Evasive action! Now!” Astrid shouted and pulled back. The twins dragon got hit first and spun around towards the ocean, where they crashed and shortly after pulled aboard Rykers ship in a net.

Next Hookfang was hit. He began to wobble and Snotlout tried to hold him up.

“Stormfly! Grab him!” Astrid said and the nadder caught the Nightmare by his tail and pulled him out of shooting range. In the meanwhile Snotlout removed the dragonroot arrow.

“Its no use! We are outnumbered! Stormfly- let´s get out of here!” the Shieldmaid said.

“Hey, Astrid! I didn’t thought you would me drag off someday.” Snotlout grinned while he clinged to Hookfangs neck.

“Shut up or I order Stormfly to let Hookfang go!” Astrid grumbled. She and the Jorgenson were the only ones of the team who were able to get away.

Ryker approached Hiccup and Fishlegs smirking.

“Your pathetic tricks won´t work on me. “ he said. “I am a Dragon hunter after all! I know that Gronckles are immune to dragons root. I use your worthless escape plan to lure your friends closer. And I got some more of you brats!”

He turned and watched as the net with the twins and the zipper was pulled on deck.

“Astrid! What should we do?” Snotlout asked.

“We retreat. We had no chance against them at the moment!”

“Sounds like the best solution at the moment.” the Jorgenson said when he saw the archers still aiming at them. Astrid hated it to leave Hiccup and the others with the hunters, but she knew that with an half conscious Nightmare they could not do anything. So she flew with Hookfang in tow away from the ships.

“I will return, Hiccup! I promise!” she murmured as she took one last look back.

Below the ship Hiccup and the others were shoved into a cell.

“Whrere are our dragons? What did you do to them?” Hiccup demanded.

“If I were you, I would worry about yourself, runt.” Ryker smirked.

“Don’t call me runt! I am Hiccup Haddock the third of Berk!” the Hooligan heir growled.

“Tch, for me you are just a runt-with a very special dragon.”

When the leader of the hunters left, Hiccup suddenly spotted someone very familiar. Someone he had at last excepted on this ship. Heather. Stepping by as she belonged to the crew.

“Heather! What in Thors name-“ Hiccup gasped.

“No way!” Tuffnut said.

And then, to make it even worse, Dagur too appeared and put an Arm around Heather.

“Surprise, Surprise! Did you miss me? Of course you did!” he grinned broadly.

Speechless Hiccup and his friends could only stare at Dagur then at Heather, who was smirking.

“And did you know my sister?-Wait, sure you do! You guys were little pals and buddy buddies!”

Heather shrugged.

“Family is Family.” she simply said. Hiccup just stared at her and her brother.

“Hello, little brother.” Dagur grinned who walked to Hiccup.

“Dagur, I cant belive it! You two joined the hunters?” Fishlegs said.

“I know, its not Dragons edge, but we have to do. “the Berserker said and looked straight into Hiccups eyes. “Enjoy your new home, brother. I am afraid, you would be staying here for awhile.”

Then he began to cackle like a maniac and strolled away with his sister.

Hiccup couldn’t belive it! A day ago Dagur has saved his life and now he betrayed his trust and joined the hunters who caught his Nightfury? He coudnt belive it! Has he returned to his old deranged self?

Like in Trance he walked away from the bars and let himself sunk to the planks in a corner of the cell.

“Hiccup?” Fishlegs whispered. But the Hooligan heir diddnt respond. With a stony face he stared down at the planks before him.

“Woah, must be a great shock for him.” Tuffnut said. “To be tricked from the man who saved his live so often.”

Part 2

Evening has come and Hiccup, Fishlegs and the twins were still trapped on Rykers ship.

“I still cant belive it! I thought really Dagur has changed, and now this! Even Heather has betrayed us!” said Fishlegs.

Hiccup, who did not left his place in the corner lifted his head.

“The bigger question is who are these dragon hunters and what do they want with us?” he asked.

“You are about to find out.” said a voice.

Everyone in the cell turned to find Heather and two hunters approaching. The cell was open and the two crewmen grabbed Hiccup and dragged him outside.

“Ryker wants to have a little chat with you.” Heather said and slammed the door shut.

“You are lucky, that these guards are here, otherwise I would take your head off!” Hiccup growled.

“Try it, runt!” Heather laughed as she imitated Ryker.

“After everything we did for you! Took you in. Taught you dragon riding. Risked our heads for you!”

“For that I am thankful, Hiccup. But I have to follow my destiny.”

“Betraying your friends and joining this dragon hunter scum?”

For this offended words Hiccup got a slap on his head of one of the guards.

“OW!”

“Shut it, runt! We are only doing our job!” one of the guards growled.

“Killing innocence dragons?” Hiccup shot back.

“I said hold it!”

The hunter lifted his hand to backhand the Hooligan, but Heather stopped it with her axe.

“Enough! Ryker wanted the boy in one piece, so don’t let yourself provoke!” she hissed, then turned to Hiccup. ”And you-shut your mouth! You are not in the position to criticize someone!-You pampered Chief heir don’t know what it means to be truly alone! Dagur is my brother. I trust him with my life!”

Hiccup swallowed his retort about being called “pampered” and said: “I appreciate that you finally found together. But I would be happier if it had not been on in the rows of the hunters.”

“It was a difficult decision, but I made my choice.”

In the meantime they had reached the captains quarters.

“And your concern is touching but if I were you, I would be more worried about yourself. Ryker is not known for kindness.” said Heather and knocked on the door.

“Come in.” Rykers voice was heard.

“Ryker wants information and he can be very persuasive.” said the female Berserker and open the door. Then she shoved Hiccup inside and closed it again behind her and the Hooligan. The guards remined outside and took their positons on both sides of the door.

“When Ryker is finished with this runt, then this fishbone will not be such a loudmouth anymore.” one of the guards smirked.

Meanwhile, Astrid, Snotlout and their dragons spend the entire night at a beach recovering from their fight with the hunters. The shieldmaid had spend the night mostly planning the next move. With the sun rising over the horizon, Stormfly woke up and stretched her wings and legs, followed by Hookfang.

“Morning, girl.” Astrid greeted.

Only Snotlout was still snoring near his dragon. With a small bite, only using the tips of his long teeth on his riders butt, the Nightmare did his wake-up call.

“IIAARGH! Hookfang!” Snotlout screeched and jumped up.

“It seems Hookfang is okay again.” the shieldmaid smirked. “Good that the dragon root effect is only temporary.”

The Jorgenson then noticed that Astrid was looking at a map.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Trying to figure out where the Dragon hunters are heading.”

“That’s a bad idea. You remember what happened yesterday? Even if we find them, what can we do about this arrows with this tranquilizing stuff?”

“Well-I had no idea. I wish, Hiccup was here.” she murmured.

“Hiccup! Hiccup! Do you think I could not come out with a plan?”

“To be honest, no.”

Snotlout growled and picked up one of the fishes, Stormfly had caught and dropped on the beach.

“It’s a shame, that the skins of our dragons aren’t as hard as the one of a Boneknapper.” he grumbled.

Astrid lifted her head and rolled the map.

“Snotlout, you gave me an idea!”

Jorgenson turned. “Really?”

“Come one, you two! We ´ve got some work to do!” Astrid said mounting Stormfly.

“And that with an empty stomach!” Snotlout growled as Hookfang snatched the fish out of his hand.

So Snotlout followed Astrid who did not told him her entire plan, cause she knew the Jorgenson would not be very pleased if he would know where are they heading.

Meanwhile, the other riders exept for Hiccup, were sleeping in their cell when they suddenly woke up by the creaking of the cell door. They looked up and saw Dagur shoving Hiccup into the cell, he looked tired as if he did not slept all night.

“Hiccup! Are you okay?” Fishlegs asked with worry.

“Yeah. I am only tired. They questioned me all night long and don’t let me sleep.”

“They?”

“Ryker and Heather mostly. Dagur doesn’t say much. He was very quiet, did mostly observe what the others doing. - But something was a bit odd. When Ryker got too rough and grabbed me at my collar, cause I refused to answer him at the beginning, Dagur at once interfered and growled at the hunter to release me. They nearly started a fight when Heather got between them and told the two muttonheads that on this way they will never get out something of me. And to finish this ordeal and get back to you finally, I told Ryker everything” Hiccup said.

“WHAT?” Fishlegs gasped.

“I told Ryker what he wanted to know. The location of the Dragon eye.” said Hiccup.

“They know of the dragon eye?”

“Well, Dagur must have told them about it! Its very important to the Dragon Hunters. They are looking for it for a long time.”

“And where did you tell them it was?”

“Back at Dragons edge where its been guarded by all the other riders we left behind.” Hiccup said loudly, making sure the guards could hear him.

“What?” Tuffnutt blinked. “But ther is no—“

Hiccup placed a finger on his lips and nodded. Fishlegs understood, the meaning and continued: “Yeah, Dragons edge is like a fortress. Lots of dragon riders.”

“Under the command of Captain Gustav, eh?” Tuffnutt added jokingly.

“Aye! That’s right!” Hiccup nodded and smirked.

“Errrmm….?” The twins shot their leader a suspicios look.

“Oh Thor! That’s the only thing I could said to prevent them from sailing to our base and overtaking it!” Hiccup whispered. “And to my surprise, Dagur agreed with me and told Ryker the same.”

“He is really acting weird for a traitor.” Fishlegs mused.

“Yeah. But we must stay careful! I don’t know what the Berserker siblings had in their minds. Especially Heather looked determined. Eventually Ryker will send someone down there to check out what I told him.”

“But this will buy us some time.” said Fishlegs.

“Exactly. We need to get out of here before they find out I was bluffing. Dagur knew about the A-Team, so he could belive that they are in charge at the edge at the moment.-Okay, guys. Any ideas how to break out?”

Meanwhile, Astrid and Snotlout were still flying over the sea.

“Is that the island where going to?” the Jorgenson asked, getting more and more impatient.

“No.” Astrid said.

“How about that one?”

“Also no.”

“That one?”

“For Thors name…-“ she started, then she saw the island Snotlout was pointing at.

“Oh yeah, that’s exactly the one.”

When they got nearer the rocky island, Snotlout got a bad feeling.

“Astrid, I recognized these holes.” he said. “Why did you not tell me that we are going to an island full of Whispering deaths?”

“Because I knew you would react like this. Besides, this isn’t the island full of Whispering deaths. Somebody else lives here too.”

As if the Somebody should have known, the ground began to shake and breaking through the surface came the Screaming death, he seemed gotten bigger in the last three years since they met him.

“The Screaming death? Just great! Why diddnt wave him over and let him kill us?” Snotlout asked with rising panic.

“Will you just relax? When he gets closer, he will recognize us and calm down….I hope.” Astrid answered.

But the Screaming dead roared and charged at them at once. It was obviously that he did not recognize them.

“This was the worst plan ever! This guy hates us! Lets turn tail and get out of here!” Snotlout shrieked. He and Astrid fled into the clouds and hid there. The Screaming death lost the sight of them and flew past.

“And now?” asked Snotlout.

“What we need is in the tunnels below. Let´s go, till he is distracted!” answered Astrid and she head back to the island and dived into the tunnel system, the dragons had created. Snotlout had no other choice to follow her.

In the meantime, Hiccup and the others still were not able to escape from the cell. Tuffnut had come out with a weird plan to dig out or to set the cell on fire. Fishlegs brought out the plan of psycology warfare, but this was too boring for Tuffnut.

Hiccup did not notice what his friends were rambling und discussing around. He was leaning at the bars of their cell and looked outside. Dagurs behaviour did not let him rest. What was the Berserker up to?

When Heather arrived, he pushed back from the bars and returned to his friends.

“Ryker wants to see you.” she said.

Fishlegs, who stand in the front, blinked. “Me?”

“No, all of you.” Heathter said. “Let´s go.”

“They walked all out of the cell and were escorted to Ryker and Dagur who awaited them at the other end of the cells tract.

“I am Ryker! And this is my ship! You are my prisoners.” the leader of the hunters announced. “And your dragons are now my dragons!”

“And how they are treated is entirely up to you.” Dagur added and waved to follow him and Ryker. They followed the two men till the last few cells. In the first one they saw Meatlug chained up and force feed to eat Rocks.

“Girl!” Fishlegs yelled.

“This Gronckle is very helpful.” Ryker said.

“Her name is Meatlug!” Fishlegs glared.

“I don’t care about her name. All I care is that it makes me metal, all day and all night.”

Meatlug shot out some lava into a bucket.

“That’s cruel! She is not a metal producing forging fumace!” Hiccup growled.

“For me, Gronckles are.” Ryker retorted coldly. The Hooligan glared at him, but said nothing. His words would be fruitless here. But when he shot a quick glance at Dagur he could see a pained look crossing his face. He started to wonder where his Dragon Shattermaster was. And Heathers Razorwhip Windshear?”

Fishlegs in the meantime looked at the lava Meatlug spewed and recognized it as the same molten mass they used to make Gronkle iron three years ago. A rough shove from Heather ripped him out of his thoughts.

“Toothless!” Hiccup rushed to the next cell, where the Nightfury was chained up and muzzled. “Don’t worry bud, we find a way to free you.” The dragon lifted his head and whined.

“This nightfury is our most precious freight at the moment. I wonder how much I will get if we sell it in our next auction.” Ryker mused.

“You can do this to him!” Hiccup hissed. “He is my friend!”

“Oh, I can. And I will. And you should be careful, that you not end on an auction too, runt. But I doubt someone would place a bit for a toothpick like you.”

Hiccup clenched his fists, he wanted nothing more than to punch this arrogant man. But he know that he would never had a chance to Rykers strength. Dagur grabbed Hiccup by the arms and shoved him forward.

When they passed Toothless cell, something made Hiccup suspicious. The Nightfury did not growl at Dagur or bared his teeth-and he belived to see that the Berserker winked at the dragon and shot him a short encouraged smile. And Toothless did only watch him with his big green eyes and showed no threat.

Barf and Belch, who were in the third cell, were being fed and rubbed down by two hunters with a greasy cream.

“When we had his hide, it will fetch top prices in the northern market islands.” said Ryker.

“What?” Ruffnut shrieked.

“Zippleback boots I always wanted a pair.” Dagur said to her. Hiccup shot him an angry look.

“This is what faces all your dragons. Of course, they could get a better treatment…” said Ryker taking the jar with grease from the hunter.

“And how?” Ruffnut asked. The bald leader tossed the jar straight in her hands and looked at the riders furiously.

“Start giving me the right answers! Tell me what do you know about the dragon eye! How many riders exactly are guarding your base?”

Hiccup and the other riders looked at one another and then at Ryker in silence. The Hooligan crossed his arms in defiance.

“Very well. Keep fattening this one up. Then we have more hide to sell.” Ryker growled, took the jar back and pointed at the zipper.

Ruffnut suddenly threw herself onto a guard standing next to her and begged for the life of Barf and Belch.

“Then tell me, what I want to know!” Ryker demanded. Ruffnut began to slid off the guards waist making whining noises.

“Ruff! Stop it! Thorstonsons don’t beg!” Tuffnut scolded her. Dagur rolled his eyes. Ruffnut was now lying at the feet of the hunter, groaning in despair.

“If you really want to save your dragons, then give me some informations!” Ryker growled. In this moment, Ruffnuts whine stops, she stood up, a stern look on her face.

“Never!” she spat and returned to the others. “Sorry, I lost my head for a second.”

“Something you and your dragon may have soon in common.” Ryker growled. “Get them out of my sight!”

Astrid and Snotlout were flying through the tunnels when the shieldmaid spotted something.

“I knew it! The screaming death grew and when he does, he must shed his skin and the too small scales too. And here they are.” she said and landed before a pile of white scales. Astrid dismounted of Stormfly and picked one of them up.

“Yes, that’s it! Come on, Snotlout! Help me collecting as much scales as you can!”

But shortly after, a loud roar echoed through the tunnels.

“Oh no! He is back! And he will find us by our scents!” Snotlout said worried.

“And here he is.” Astrid murmured and put her collected scales slowly down. The Screaming death towered over them. The Nadder hissed and Hookfang screeched. Snotlout chuckled nervously and dropped his scales, except for one which he held before his face like a shield. “We are gonna die.”

The Screaming death roared and prepared to blast the intruders, when suddenly a female Whispering death appeared out of an side opening of the tunnel. She hissed and screeched at the much bigger dragon, who growled low and ten went away.

“What just happened?” Snotlout asked, looking behind his lowered Scale Shield.

“Well, the Screaming death diddn´t remember us, but it looks like, his mother did.” said Astrid and stretched out her hand. The whispering death allowed her to touch her and purred.

“Good girl.-Okay, now get those scales together, fast!”

When Astrid picked some scales up the whispering death shoved some more of them in front of her feet.

“Oooh, that’s sweet of you. Look, Snotlout, she wants to help!” the Shieldmaid smiled.

“Or she wants to get these tunnels clean.” the Jorgenson murmured.

When the two packed the scales on their dragons and mounted they followed the whispering death out of the tunnels.

“Bye, big mama! And thanks for your help!” Astrid waved at her.

Meanwhile, Hiccup, Fishlegs and the Twins are still locked up in their cell, thinking how to escape. Again a heated discussion went around.

“Listen guys, I have memorized the guards schedule and I got up with a plan. But we need to get this door open first.” Hiccup said.

Ruffnut held out a key.

“You mean with this key I stole from the guard?”

The three just stared at her, dumbfounded.

“How did you-“ Hiccup tried to figure out. Ruffnut explained how during her begging she pickpocketed the guard and took his key wihout someone noticing it.

“So that was the reason for all this fuss before.” Fishlegs said.

“Yeah, you guys should listen to me every now and then.” Ruffnut said and handed the key to Hiccup. He just shook his head and turned to look at his friends.

“All right. As soon as we took out the guards, we spilt up and get our dragons. Then we blast our way out of here.” Hiccup explained.

When Hiccup unlocks the cell he remembered when he was locked in a cell at outcast island.

“Well-lets see if this trick works here too.” he mumbled, then he started to yell:”Guard! Guard! I cant take it anymore! I want to save my dragon! I will tell Ryker whatever he wants to know!”

When he saw the guard approaching the cell, he waited until the man was right in front of it. Then he slammed the door open with all his strength knocking the guard out cold. The same he did with the second guard.

“Okay-lets go. But one last thing: If this ship is like the Reaper, then could be boobytraps anywhere, so be careful!” Hiccup warned. He and the others silently sneaked to the other cells.

Fishlegs was never happier to see Meatlug again. But before he freed his Gronkle he checked the weapons on the wall.

“They know the formula of Gronkle iron!” he murmured exited.” But what was that guy feeding you to get it? They are so many rocks here.”

Meanwhile Hiccup had made his way to Toothless. When he open the cell, he nearly stepped on a booby trap, but he was able to avoid setting it off. The he hugged Toothless.

“Hey, bud. You diddnt think I would leave you here, did you? Lets get you free of this chains.”

The twins had more problems to free their Zipper. Barf and Belch refused to go with them, they rather stuck their snouts in the barrels with fish. When the twins wanted to make clear who the boss was and had to avoid the swatting tails, Tuffnut stepped on a hidden booby-trap in the planks and the alarm bell sounded.

“Great! Really great!” Tuffnut groaned stepping on the trigger trying to stop the alarm.

Fishlegs was still trying to figure out how to create Gronckle iron. He just needed the last indigredient, when he was interrupted by the alarm sound. And in the next moment he was grabbed by a hunter and dragged out of the cell.

The twins still tried to move Barf and Belch, but they remind in staying in their cell. Too tempting was the amount of food here. And to make it more worse, two hunters were aiming with their crossbows at them.

“We will talk about this later!” Ruffnut angry hissed back to the Zipper.

Dagur who stood in a dark corner and watched the whole scene, shook his head. These twins are as dumb as their dragon is, he thought. Then he spotted Hiccup in Toothless cell. The Hooligan was so busy freeing the nightfury that he diddnt notice Dagur walking into the cell.

“I am sorry, but you are not going-or better said-flying anywhere, brother.” he said.

“Don’t call me that, traitor! Maybe I am not going anywhere yet, but I will for sure!” Hiccup hissed and grabbed a spear. Toothless, who was still chained and muzzled, growled.

“Oh I doubt that.” Dagur grinned closing the cell door behind him.

Fishlegs and the twins found themselves on the deck of the ship with Ryker and Heather looking down at them from the bridge.

“Did I not warn you about them?” Heather told him annoyed “They never quit.”

Then Dagur arrived with Hiccup thrown over his shoulder, who was trashing around.

“Put me down!” the Hooligan growled. The Berserker did- but not before he gave the boy two half-hard slaps on his butt.

Hiccup glared at Dagur when he was standing on his feet again.

“Hey, Rykie, Ryker-man, can we please just work together on this? You know dragons. I know Dragon Riders-OW!”

He jumped when Hiccup kicked him with his peg leg on his shin. Then the Hooligan was grabbed by a guard and shoved to his friends. Dagur rubbed his shin and glared at Hiccup.

Ryker narrowed his eyes. “And?”

“Send a message. Throw one over board.“ Dagur said snickering. “That will be fun.”

“An excellent idea.” said Heather. “Unless you think Viggo might want to question them personally about the Dragon Eye.”

Everyone just stared at her. “Better put them to work.” she continued.

“Then I prefer to go overboard.” said Tuffnut. Ruffnut nodded.

“Split them up so they can plot any more escaping plans and make them serve you, as their dragons do.” Heather suggested.

“A good idea. Put them to work. But the next one who tries to escape goes overboard!” Ryker commanded. Then he looked at Dagur.

“Well, its obvious who got the brain in your family, eh?” Ryker grinned and walked away laughing.

The Berserker turned to Heather.

“What was that all about sister?” he asked her.

“I was protecting you, brother. From what you told me about him, I doubt Viggo likes loosing valuable property. If anything happens to the riders, let Ryker be on the hook for it, not you.”

Dagur smiled and hugged Heather.

“That’s my sister!” he said happily.

When Astrid and Snotlout returned with the screaming death scales to an island not far away from the last position of the hunters ships, they upload them and Astrid tried to sew them together.

“OW Dammit!” she cursed, putting her finger in her mouth.

“What are you doing?” Snotlout asked, who just finished a small snack.

“I am trying to make a protection armor for Stormfly. These scales are hard enough, to block the arrows. But as a Shieldmaiden I am not so skilled with needles and Threads.

“Aah, now I understand! For THIS you wanted the scales! -Let me see.”

Snotlout observed the work Astrid has begun.

“That stich will not hold long. You should try this.” he explained, took the workpiece out of the girls hand and started to work. With wide eyes Astrid watched amazed how the Jorgenson get to work. With skilled hands he began to sew the scales together.

“Okay. Which one next?” he asked, when he finished the first set of scales.

“Uhh…this one. –That’s amazing! Where did you learn to sew like that?”

“My mother taught me. Its helpful when you tear your clothes as often as I do.”

“Then your mother is a practical and wise woman. - Okay. Then you do the sewing, before my fingertips got all holes in it.”

“Would be a pleasure. At least I have something with that I can impress you.”

“And if this works, remind me to thank her too.” said Astrid and pulled out a map. “All right. When our armors are finished, the next step is to find those Dragon hunters again. And then we will have a surprise for them.”

On the hunters ship, Hiccup and Tuffnut were scrubbing the deck with brooms.

“So let me get this straight. Dagur took you down all by himself?” the male twin said, leaning lazy on his broom handle.

“If you have forgotten, he is bigger and much stronger than me!” Hiccup grumbled.

“Yes-but you have your brain and cleverness.”

“Oh Thor!” Hiccup groanded.

“This is another argument for why I say: Always carry a sword.” Tuffnut shot back, turning away from Hiccup and started scrubbing around.

Ruffnut was in the cell under deck scrubbing Barf and Belch.

“Sont try and make up with me, mister. This is your fault. Have you not only thought with your stomach, we would be free by now.” she growled, glaring at Barf. Belch growled back. “And you-don’t taking his side, buddy! You are in this too.”

The two dragon heads began to gurgle to each other, as if discussing something. Then they bowed down and began to lick her.

Fishlegs was also down below in meatlugs cell sorting through rocks in barrels. However, he was doing a lot more than just working for the hunters. He observed which and how many rocks a crewman shoved into the Gronkles mouth and took note. Then he realized which last indigrend he was missing three years ago.

“One part iron ore, one giant spoon of hardened Gronkle lava, that’s it!” the hought out loud. The angry grunting of the hunter brought him back of his thoughts.

“Oh, sorry. Back to sorting, all right.” Fishlegs said nervously.

Back on the deck, Tuffnut was standing silently leaning on his broom handly and Hiccup were starting to get annoyed.

“How do you not get having a sword is a huge advantage in a fight?” he snapped.

“It is and if you have a mace….”

“I diddnt have a mace a sword or a crossbow!” Hiccup shot back, gritting his teeth.

“Oh, so now we are getting hypothetical? Bet you diddnt can breathe fire either.”

Hiccup annoyed curled his fingers and lifted his chin in anger.

“One more word and I will do what Dagur planned to do first!” he hissed.

Fortunately for Tuffnut, a call from a hunter on the watch caught their attention.

“Two dragons heading in our direction! With Riders!”

“That’s Astrid and Snotnose. So they want to try it again.” Dagur said.

“Standby catapults! Archers, take your positions!” Ryker ordered. The hunters loaded the catapults and the archers aimed their arrows at the upcoming dragon riders.

“Wait, until they are in range.” Ryker ordered.

Snotlout was slightly nervous about charging an entire fleet of Dragon hunters and he wasn’t exactly confident that Astrids plan would work. The Shieldmaiden, who seems to read his thoughts, said: ”Don’t worry, Snotlout. We were prepared this time and knowing Hiccup and the others, I am sure they will cause a nice little distraction on the flagship.”

Then the two flew down straight towards the in the middle crusing ship.

Dagur looked very excited.

“Look at them! This little walkyrie is coming straight in! A true suicide run, I diddnt think, she hat it in her!” he laughed.

“Foolish girl!” said Ryker.

Heather on the other hand looks quite serious.

“Astrid is no fool. I know her better than you, brother. What are they up to?” she mused.

“Well , I will be sure to ask them after I knock them out of the sky.” said Ryker. “Hunter-fire at will!”

The first arrows flew and the hit both Stormfly and Hookfang.

“Hey, whats going on? I swear, some arrows have hit them!” Dagur wondered and took a look through his spyglass. His eyes widened. “Their dragons are wearing some sort of armour!”

The two dragons blasted the three ballistas right next to Dagur.

When Ryker pulled out one of his swords, Heather knocked him to the ground just as the two dragons shot their fire in his direction.

Hiccup and Tuffnut saw their chance.

“Now or never.” said Hiccup.

The two of them whacked the nearest hunters with their brooms.

“I hate cleaning!” Tuffnut said and whacked another Hunter with his broom then knocking him overboard. “A lot as you can see.”

“Well, looks like there is some more cleaning to do!” Hiccup said. “Lets go!”

They charged at the hunters with their brooms. Several of the men tried to attack them from behind, but Snotlout appeared across the side holding their backs free.

Under the decks the entire ship shook from the impacts of the two riders attacks and Fishlegs toppled over. Then he saw his chance, grabbed an axe and cut the chains that held Meatlug.

The approaching hunter had no chance as Fishlegs commanded: “Meatlug, hug!”

He was tackled and his head banged against the cell bars, knocking him out cold.

“That’s it. Come on, girl.”

in another cell, Ruffnut and a hunter were circling on another. First she tried to defend them with two Fish, but the man simply sliced them in half. Ruffnut, out of ideas how to defend herself backed away. When she was swatted away, Barf and Belch got angry and attacked the hunter who had dared to hit their rider. Two good headbutts send the hunter out cold.

“Okay guys, that’s a start. but don’t even think for a second that we are close to be quits.” said Ruffnut to the Zipper. “Now move, you two-headed lizard!”

Outside Snotlout and Astrid concentrated their fire on the escorting ships. When they pull alongside, the Jorgenson noticed, that the stitches on Stormflys armour were coming loose at one part.

“Oh no! I knew I should have used a lockstitch, not a cross-stitch! Stupid, Snotlout, stupid!” he whined and hit his helmet. “Mom gonna be so disappointed in me!”

“Lets hope it holds as long as we need it! Now we are taking out those two support ships! Go!” Astrid said and began their attack on the two escorting ships.

On the flag ship Hiccup did his best to defend himself from the charging hunters. And a simple broom was not very effective. But thanks Thor Tuffnut came to help him and slammed the handle of his broom into the attackers face.

“Lets go and get the dragons!” said Hiccup.

They began to head straight down towards the lower decks not noticing, that two archers were aiming at them. But Dagur pushed them aside and ran towards Hiccup.

“The fishbone is mine!” he snarled and began swinging his axe at Hiccup, slicing his broom in half. However this diddnt dishearten Hiccup, he beared a great grudge against the Berserker, who changed the sides. Dagur could see the anger and disappointment in the face of the young Hooligan. The boy let out an angry roar and used his two broom handles to attack Dagur. The berserker was busy trying to block the attacks, he never saw Hiccup so enraged. And when he rammed his shoulder against his chest, Dagur lost his balance and crashed to the ground.

With a scorn look on his face, the Hooligan threw the handles at his opponent and walked away.

“I really have hurt his feelings…” Dagur thought.

A few moments later Hiccup was inside Toothless cell and began undoing the chains and the muzzle of the Nightfury.

“Toothless, we are leaving.” he said. The dragon warbled happily, finally to be freed again. The Hooligan then heard someone entering the cell and turned to find Dagur standing there.

“Not so fast brother!” he said.

“Dagur, you damn traitor! After all we went through! How could you-and I thought I can trust you!” Hiccup spat. Suddenly Toothless placed himself before Dagur, whined and gave him the “puppy-eye” look. And Hiccup understood in this moment what the Nightfury wanted to say. He trusted Dagur and that could only mean, that he wasn’t a traitor.

“You still can trust me, Brother.” Dagur answered and with one strike, he broke the chains who held the Nightfurys legs. Toothless let out a happy warble and run to his rider.

“Wha-“

“Listen carefully, brother. We and Heather are as spys here. A few weeks before a ship of the hunters with this Ryker came to Berserker island and he tried to buy Cloudstorm and Shattermaster from me! I refused and he made an offer to work for them. So I left the island in charge to my uncle. He is taking now care of the little Skrill, so don’t worry. A surprise for me was, that Heather joined the hunters too and she and I made a temporary peace. She spies with me to find out who the main head of the hunters is. And I and Shattermaster are helping her.”

“Damn, Dagur! I thought you betrayed our friendship!” Hiccup cried and rammed his fist into his gut. The Berserker only flinched a bit and smiled when the boy hugged him. He could see the relive in his green eyes.

“That I will never do! You are my little brother and I will protect you-like I doing with Heather. I know she is still mad at me, but I and she must now work together as siblings, because we had the same goal.” Dagur said and handed Hiccup Toothless harness. He helped him to put it on the Nightfury again.

“Okay, brother. I will give you a chance to flee but it must be real and you and your Nightfury must fight me with all your strength! Otherwise you will blow my cover!” the Berserker said then.

”Now go! I give you some time, before I alert the guards! And always think: I and Heather are your enemies at the moment, and so the hunters must believe it! And your friends too! If one of you gets caught I and Heather will try to help you escape. But if they found out we are traitors….”

“You and Heather are taking a big risk.”

“Hey, we are Berserks. We love risks.”

“Take care, you both.”

“Now get out of here! Your friends and their Dragons are down there!” Dagur told with a hushed voice and pointed to the brig.

Toothless gave Dagur a short lick, before he stepped out of the cell. While the Berserker waited in a dark corner to give him and the other prisoners enough time to prepare their escape, he remembered when he set his first step on Rykers ship.

Flashback:

It was on a small island, where he and Shattermaster went onboard. After a short introduction and a few instructions, Dagur was allowed to roam free on the entire ship. First he inspected the below decks in hope to find a trace of Hiccups Nightfury. And he found it.

“Toothless!” he whispered when he saw the chained and muzzled Nightfury behind the bars of the cell. The dragon lifted his head when he heard the familiar voice and recognized the scents of the Berserker and Shattermaster. Toothless whined and gave a pleading look to Dagur. Every time he moved, the chains made a rattling sound.

“I know, I know, you want that I free you-but I cant. Listen, I am here to spy on the hunters, they are looking for Dragons everywhere to catch and sell them! Please be patient, I am sure, Hiccup and his pals will come for you. But till then you must behave quiet. We will find a way to free you. You will not end at a market or an auction!” Dagur whispered.

Shattermaster warbled and tried to encourage Toothless on his way.

“Don’t worry, my human and I had agreed to help the hunters, but only to spy how they are hunting the dragons and where they are transporting it.” the Gronkle said. “Dagur will not allow that you been sold!”

“I see. Good, I will stay patient. My human will come for me for sure!” Toothless said.

“Long time no see, “Brother”!”

Dagur spun around when he heard the familiar voice behind him.

“Heather! Sister! What in Thors Name are you doing here!” he hissed quietly.

“I think the same as you. Serving as a spy. Or am I wrong?”

Heathers eyes narrowed.

“No, you are not. They got Toothless and Hiccup and his gang will soon be here to free him. But we are not helping them. They must think that we are working for the Hunters! When the time Is right, I will tell him about our plan.”

“How did you got in contact with Ryker and his bunch?” Heather wanted to know.

“Well, one day this ship came to our island and Ryker tried to buy my dragon pals from me with not a small amount of Gold! It was clear that I refused, I would never sell my bud Shattermaster or little Cloudstorm!”

“Cloudstorm?”

“A Skrill hatchling I found on my first adventure with Hiccup. A deathsong killed his mother, so our tribe is now taking care of him.”

Heather looked at him. Her brother really seemed to have changed. The way Dagur and Shattermaster behaved was the same bond Heather shared with Windshear.

“But then Rykie made me a special offer. He promised a lot of gold when I worked for him as a scout and warrior with my men in these waters. So I agreed to ally with him, but only to serve as a spy for Hiccup and his riders. The hunters are from the archipelago of shadows. This is the reason why we haven´t meet them yet.”

“Hey! Ryker wants to talk to you two!” a crewman said who appeared before the siblings.

“Then lets Rykie not wait.” Dagur grinned and walked forward, followed by Shattermaster.

Toothless watched the two Berserkers leaving. He now understands what Dagur and Heather had in planning and he knew that he must not blew their cover.

“Bud, go on deck and fly back to Savage. Wait there for me. It could become a bit rough here in the next two days and I want you out of trouble. Go bud! Go back to Savage!” Dagur ordered with a hushed voice and pointed to the hatch.

Shattermaster wagged his Tail and flew up to the opening.

“Good boy.” the berserker smiled. Then he turned to Heather.

“You cant imagine how clever he is. He understands everything I say to him.” he smiled at her.

“Oh-I can, Brother. Believe me.” Heather said as she followed her brother.

End Flashback.

Outside on the decks of the ships were everywhere burning small fires from the attacks of Astrid and Snotlout.

“Look! The Nadder lost some of his armour! Get her!” Heather shouted and pointed with her axe at Astrid. The Shieldmaiden looked down at the deck and gasped.

“Eh, did I see right? Is this Heather down there?” Snotlout asked.

“Yes, I see it too. She joined the hunters! I couldn’t belive it!”

“And this after all we did for her! After all I did for her!” the Jorgenson whined.

“Concentrate all fire at the Nadder!” Ryker ordered-but in the next moment the ship shook from from an impact. The main hatch was blown away by a plasma blast and Hiccup and Toothless came flying out of the now blasted hole.

“I told you, you were messing with the wrong Vikings!” Hiccup yelled. The next were Fishlegs on Meatlug

“Out of our waaayyy!” Fishlegs screamed as they pulled upwards. A few moments later green Gas began to exit from the hole and the hunters backed away when they saw the heads of Barf and Belch sticking out with the twins riding on their necks. Then the Gas was ignited and a large explosion let the men flee and freed the escaping way for the Zipper, who followed the others.

Ryker looked at his burning ship and then at the Dragon riders who disappeared into the distance.

“I may have underestimated these Dragon riders.” ha admitted.

“I told you so!” Heather snapped and wiped some dust of her skirt.

“Did I really see Heather on this ship?” Is she with the dragon hunters?” Astrid asked Hiccup, when they brought a safe distance between them and the ships.

“Not just Heather! Dagur is there too!” Ruffnut yelled.

“Yeah. They joined the hunters.” Hiccup said with a dark look. “Guys, we have a lot to talk about.”

Fishlegs fascinated watched the armour that Stormfly and Hookfang wore.

“Screaming death armour? Whose idea was that?” he asked.

Snotlout pointed at Astrid. “But I did the sewing.” he added.

“Excellent workmanship, cousin! And Astrid-this was a great idea!” Hiccup found his smile again.

Astrid smiled back.

“But the armour looks heavy. Maybe we should try a set made of Gronckle iron. I have now the complete formula.” Fishlegs said proudful.

“Well, we might need to do just that. I am pretty sure this was not our last encounter with the Dragon Hunters.” said Hiccup and his face went serious again. A lot of thoughts were circling in his mind and he stayed silent for the rest of the way home.

On Rykers ship, Dagur and Heather joining up with Ryker. Dagur rubbed his head as if he was hit by something.

“Damn brats! They knocked me out when I tried to captured the little runt and fled on their dragons!” he cursed.

“So whats next?” Heather asked.

“We will report back to Viggo.” Ryker answered.

“And we tell him what?” Dagur asked.

“That we are one step closer to get the Dragon Eye back.” Ryker smirked evilly.

When the Leader of the Hunters stepped with Heather away to inspect the damages of the fight, Dagur was left alone. He looked into the direction where the Riders had disappeared and sighed.

“Please, little one. Take care of you.” he whispered.

After the council in the clubhouse, Hiccup and Toothless were back in their hut.

The boy stared at the painting, Dagur gave him some weeks ago. With a sigh he took it from the wall and hid it in one of his chests.

“I must keep it secret, that you and Heather are spying out the Hunters.” he murmured and closed the lid of the chest. “For the moment, from now on, it must look, as we are enemies again. And I must keep this secret that they are spies for the hunters for myself-for now.”

Toohtless warbled.

“You know that Dagur and Heather are only doing as if they are evil. And I am glad that they are still our friends-and Dagur still my brother.”

to be continued.

Next chapter will be “Snow way out”

Some of the episodes wil not be in chronological order.

#httyd rtte #httyd fanfiction #hiccup and dagur

8 notes · View notes

magicrobins · 7 years

Text

Hold Me

Words: 2,068

Fandom: Dragon Age

Characters: Galen Lavellan & Dorian Pavus

Description: A moment of comfort after the destruction of Haven.

AO3 Link: Here

Mentions @bxtgrl‘s Aya Lavellan.

Most under the cut.

He sat away from the main group – away from the warmth and light of the fire. He watched his sister sit down by the fire. She had asked him if he was alright, but he’d asked her for some time alone. They could check up on each other and comfort each other later. He didn’t want to talk right now. He knew how he felt. He knew what he thought of himself, of the situation. But voicing those thoughts… Putting them to words for his sister to hear. His thoughts and feelings were already a burden for him. He didn’t want them to weigh her down.

He doubted she thought he was happy. Who could be happy after that? But he didn’t think she deserved to know how self-deprecating his thoughts were. She would try to comfort him, focus on him instead of herself. He wasn’t blind. He knew she would put him before herself, given the opportunity. It was the same way he would ignore any pain of his own in order to sooth her. He didn’t know how to not lean on someone else. He didn’t know how to support himself. Perhaps the fault for that lay at his clan’s feet for always making sure someone was there for him. Perhaps they coddled him and sheltered him more than he had realized.

Or perhaps he had missed some part of growing up. The stage where independence kicked in. What was the stage where you learned how to rely on yourself? Maybe he had skipped that one.

Now seemed like a good time to try to stand on his own two feet, so to speak. To see if he could swim or if he would sink. So far he felt like he was sinking. It didn’t help that he couldn’t actually swim. Though figuratively swimming and actual swimming were two different things and one didn’t seem to affect the other.

Galen shivered, curling in on himself in an attempt to stay warm. He felt something dropped over him and felt the soft hold of a blanket. He wrapped it around himself like a cloak, with part of it pulled up on his head like a hood. He looked over to see Dorian sit down next to him, draped with his own blanket.

“I heard you wanted to be alone,” Dorian spoke gently. There was concern in his eyes as he looked at Galen. He could only guess how Galen was feeling after all he’d been through. He remembered those moments after he’d been told to run by the Heralds. He had thought both elves were behind them, on his heels. By the time he’d realized they weren’t there, it had been too late. They were too far away. Corypheus and that dragon – Maker, he hoped it wasn’t really an Archdemon – had been surrounding them. Then the avalanche had come.

He had felt so relieved when he’d heard they were found alive. He’d hovered over their unconscious bodies, alternating with Vivienne and Solas to heal them with his magic. Aya hadn’t been as injured as he would have thought. She’d had less injuries than Galen which had told them that Galen had done what he could with the remainder of his magic to heal his sister.

“I did – I do,” Galen replied after a pause. He hadn’t expected anyone else to check up on him. He had figured Aya would have told the others that he wanted to be alone and that they would respect his wishes.

“Are you a masochist?” Dorian asked, earning a confused look from Galen. “I would have guessed the last thing you needed was to be alone.”

Galen’s voice became guarded with a touch of the frustration he felt toward himself. “And how do you know what I need?”

Dorian’s eyebrows rose slightly. Before he could say anything, Galen’s ears lowered as did his gaze.

“I’m sorry,” the elf added quickly, the guilt evident in his voice. “I shouldn’t have – I’m not upset at you.”

Dorian leaned back slightly, keeping the blanket wrapped warmly around himself. “Oh I know.” He paused, waiting to see if Galen would look at him again. When he didn’t, when he continued to stare at the snow beneath them, he continued. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“About what?” This time the words held no stubbornness. Tiredness was seeping into his tone. Defeat was plastered on his face, etched into his body language, and Dorian was reminded how much he didn’t like that look on the young Herald.

“Anything,” he spoke gently. He felt a warmth as Galen’s gaze shyly returned to him. “Your thoughts, perhaps?”

Galen pulled the blanket tighter around himself. “You know that’s not – It’s not easy for me.”

“I can be patient,” he pointed out, earning an arched eyebrow from Galen.

“You can?” The teasing tone sounded more forced than genuine, but he had a feeling that Galen was trying to lighten the mood.

“When I want to be,” he added with a chuckle.

There was a pause. There was almost always a pause. Galen hated this. He hated how it was never easy for him to voice his thoughts. Everyone else made it look easy. He felt like if he voiced the negative thoughts – and his thoughts were often negative – he would be inadvertently giving them more power over himself. And they already had enough power to consume him. How could he make anyone understand how he felt? He knew other people got sad, felt depressed – other people had negative thoughts eat at them. But for as long as he could remember, he had always felt like an extreme case.

His thoughts didn’t just eat him, they devoured him. His self-doubts wrapped their arms around him and clung, claws biting deep into his flesh. His own mind strangled him. All he could ever do was distract himself. His mind would become quieter but never silent. It was a constant battle – one he rarely won.

He didn’t want to dump all of that onto Dorian, the same way he didn’t want his problems, his feelings to weigh down Aya. He didn’t want to weigh anyone down. He didn’t think it was possible for the weight he felt to ever be lifted.

Dorian remained silent, giving him much needed time. Time was all he needed. With time, he could properly process what had happened and what was happening. He wished this would feel like a dream. The destruction of Haven, the loss of lives… It all felt too real. He wanted to feel numb. He wanted to say it hadn’t sunk in yet, but it had. It seeped into him and consumed him.

“I’m not my sister,” he found himself finally saying. His gaze was set on the fire where his sister and some of the inner circle sat, where he guessed Dorian had walked over from. “I’m… I’m not strong like her.”

Dorian went to speak, to ensure the other man that he was strong, that he shouldn’t compare himself to Aya, but he was cut off as Galen continued.

“They want us to lead them to a new home – a new base.” Frustration slipped into his voice again. His hand slipped up, coming out of the blanket’s warmth, toward his neck where his fingers brushed against the bruising there. He vaguely remembered being semi-conscious, someone trying to heal the bruising, and deliriously smacking that hand away.

The Elder One had grabbed Aya by her hand and lifted her off her feet, perhaps assessing her as the biggest threat among the two Heralds. Galen had been on the ground, the Mark on his left hand flaring up. But upon seeing his sister in danger, he had managed to get to his feet and lunge at the Elder One, magic flaring in his right hand. Instead of freeing his sister, all it had gotten him was the Elder One’s free hand firmly clasped around his throat, the air cut off from his lungs. If they hadn’t been thrown, he probably would have suffocated.

Back with the Inquisition, in his semi-conscious state, he hadn’t wanted any hands around his throat. For a while, he hadn’t wanted anyone near him.

He looked at Dorian now, eyes glistening, ears lowered. “Why me? I’m not a hunter or a fighter like Aya. I can barely stand to take a life! I’m not a leader! Even back home, I never thought I would make a good Keeper. I always thought Elaith should be First, I should be Second.”

“You’re not giving yourself enough credit,” Dorian’s gaze moved from the bruise on his neck to meet his eyes, “I seem to remember you standing with Aya, staying behind to give everyone else a chance to escape. I also don’t remember her asking you to stay. I’m certain she would have preferred you escaped instead of staying behind with her.”

Galen stared at him. He knew this already. Why was he pointing this out?

“You are not your sister, no,” he continued, watching Galen’s shoulders drop and eyes look away. He reached out, gently turning Galen’s head so their eyes met again. “You are not your sister just as she is not you. That doesn’t mean you’re not strong or brave. You two are very different, but you have more in common than you realize.”

Galen was already shaking his head. “I can’t lead people.”

“And you think she can?” he had no doubt that the Heralds could both rise to the challenge, but he had seen them work together and apart. He felt strongly that if they were going to have a chance at success, they would have to do it together. They leaned on each other – perhaps Galen shouldn’t lean on Aya as much as he did, and perhaps she needed to lean more on her brother, but Dorian knew from experience that they seemed to work best together. They balanced each other out. They always had each other’s back.

“You think she can’t?” Galen asked, clearly confused. No one in the Inquisition had questioned his sister’s abilities, what she was capable of. At least not that he was aware of.

But Dorian wasn’t questioning her. “I think she needs you just as you need her. She believes in you as much as you believe in her. I’ve seen it.”

He lowered his hand to Galen’s neck, fingers brushing against the bruise. Galen flinched, the memory of being choked still fresh. He stared at Dorian as he felt the man’s magic flare up against the soft, vulnerable skin. He didn’t smack his hand away, but allowed Dorian to heal the bruise. It took a few minutes. The Elder One’s fingers had been long enough to wrap around his neck. The bruise curved like a necklace – a choker to be more exact, accurately named in Galen’s opinion. Occasionally he craned his neck to allow Dorian better access.

Honestly whenever he’d imagined or thought about Dorian touching his neck, to heal a bruise hadn’t been a part of that. His face darkened with a blush as he accidentally reminded himself of the times when he’d had nothing better to do and would stare off into space, daydreaming about what it would be like if his vhenan reciprocated his feelings. Thankfully Dorian seemed focused on healing and didn’t notice his blushing. He managed to look not as flustered as he felt when Dorian finished and met his gaze again.

“Do you – Do you really think anyone would follow us?” he asked quickly, trying to distract Dorian from noticing any fluster he might have failed to cover up. “Follow me?”

Dorian’s expression was serious, honest. “I would.”

Galen flushed and blinked. “I… Thank you.”

Dorian nodded then stood up. He held his hand out to the other man, the blanket hanging on his shoulders like a cape. “Now what say we join the others, yes?”

A smile spread across Galen’s face as he took the offered hand and was helped to his feet. Dorian’s grip on his hand lingered after he was on his feet. It was only a few seconds, but it was enough to make his heart flutter, even once the other mage’s touch was gone. He followed him to the warmth of the fire and the warmth of company, deciding that perhaps he didn’t want to be alone after all.

#dorianmance week #dragon age #pavellan #dorian pavus #lavellan #oc #c: galen lavellan #s: dragon age #v: dual dragon age #ship: galen/dorian #my writing #dragon age oc #da #fanfic #*mine

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readbookywooks · 7 years

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Bran

The hunt left at dawn. The king wanted wild boar at the feast tonight. Prince Joffrey rode with his father, so Robb had been allowed to join the hunters as well. Uncle Benjen, Jory, Theon Greyjoy, Ser Rodrik, and even the queen's funny little brother had all ridden out with them. It was the last hunt, after all. On the morrow they left for the south. Bran had been left behind with Jon and the girls and Rickon. But Rickon was only a baby and the girls were only girls and Jon and his wolf were nowhere to be found. Bran did not look for him very hard. He thought Jon was angry at him. Jon seemed to be angry at everyone these days. Bran did not know why. He was going with Uncle Ben to the Wall, to join the Night's Watch. That was almost as good as going south with the king. Robb was the one they were leaving behind, not Jon. For days, Bran could scarcely wait to be off. He was going to ride the kingsroad on a horse of his own, not a pony but a real horse. His father would be the Hand of the King, and they were going to live in the red castle at King's Landing, the castle the Dragonlords had built. Old Nan said there were ghosts there, and dungeons where terrible things had been done, and dragon heads on the walls. It gave Bran a shiver just to think of it, but he was not afraid. How could he be afraid? His father would be with him, and the king with all his knights and sworn swords. Bran was going to be a knight himself someday, one of the Kingsguard. Old Nan said they were the finest swords in all the realm. There were only seven of them, and they wore white armor and had no wives or children, but lived only to serve the king. Bran knew all the stories. Their names were like music to him. Serwyn of the Mirror Shield. Ser Ryam Redwyne. Prince Aemon the Dragonknight. The twins Ser Erryk and Ser Arryk, who had died on one another's swords hundreds of years ago, when brother fought sister in the war the singers called the Dance of the Dragons. The White Bull, Gerold Hightower. Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning. Barristan the Bold. Two of the Kingsguard had come north with King Robert. Bran had watched them with fascination, never quite daring to speak to them. Ser Boros was a bald man with a jowly face, and Ser Meryn had droopy eyes and a beard the color of rust. Ser Jaime Lannister looked more like the knights in the stories, and he was of the Kingsguard too, but Robb said he had killed the old mad king and shouldn't count anymore. The greatest living knight was Ser Barristan Selmy, Barristan the Bold, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Father had promised that they would meet Ser Barristan when they reached King's Landing, and Bran had been marking the days on his wall, eager to depart, to see a world he had only dreamed of and begin a life he could scarcely imagine. Yet now that the last day was at hand, suddenly Bran felt lost. Winterfell had been the only home he had ever known. His father had told him that he ought to say his farewells today, and he had tried. After the hunt had ridden out, he wandered through the castle with his wolf at his side, intending to visit the ones who would be left behind, Old Nan and Gage the cook, Mikken in his smithy, Hodor the stableboy who smiled so much and took care of his pony and never said anything but "Hodor," the man in the glass gardens who gave him a blackberry when he came to visit . . . But it was no good. He had gone to the stable first, and seen his pony there in its stall, except it wasn't his pony anymore, he was getting a real horse and leaving the pony behind, and all of a sudden Bran just wanted to sit down and cry. He turned and ran off before Hodor and the other stableboys could see the tears in his eyes. That was the end of his farewells. Instead Bran spent the morning alone in the godswood, trying to teach his wolf to fetch a stick, and failing. The wolfling was smarter than any of the hounds in his father's kennel and Bran would have sworn he understood every word that was said to him, but he showed very little interest in chasing sticks. He was still trying to decide on a name. Robb was calling his Grey Wind, because he ran so fast. Sansa had named hers Lady, and Arya named hers after some old witch queen in the songs, and little Rickon called his Shaggydog, which Bran thought was a pretty stupid name for a direwolf. Jon's wolf, the white one, was Ghost. Bran wished he had thought of that first, even though his wolf wasn't white. He had tried a hundred names in the last fortnight, but none of them sounded right. Finally he got tired of the stick game and decided to go climbing. He hadn't been up to the broken tower for weeks with everything that had happened, and this might be his last chance. He raced across the godswood, taking the long way around to avoid the pool where the heart tree grew. The heart tree had always frightened him; trees ought not have eyes, Bran thought, or leaves that looked like hands. His wolf came sprinting at his heels. "You stay here," he told him at the base of the sentinel tree near the armory wall. "Lie down. That's right. Now stay—" The wolf did as he was told. Bran scratched him behind the ears, then turned away, jumped, grabbed a low branch, and pulled himself up. He was halfway up the tree, moving easily from limb to limb, when the wolf got to his feet and began to howl. Bran looked back down. His wolf fell silent, staring up at him through slitted yellow eyes. A strange chill went through him. He began to climb again. Once more the wolf howled. "Quiet," he yelled. "Sit down. Stay. You're worse than Mother." The howling chased him all the way up the tree, until finally he jumped off onto the armory roof and out of sight. The rooftops of Winterfell were Bran's second home. His mother often said that Bran could climb before he could walk. Bran could not remember when he first learned to walk, but he could not remember when he started to climb either, so he supposed it must be true. To a boy, Winterfell was a grey stone labyrinth of walls and towers and courtyards and tunnels spreading out in all directions. In the older parts of the castle, the halls slanted up and down so that you couldn't even be sure what floor you were on. The place had grown over the centuries like some monstrous stone tree, Maester Luwin told him once, and its branches were gnarled and thick and twisted, its roots sunk deep into the earth. When he got out from under it and scrambled up near the sky, Bran could see all of Winterfell in a glance. He liked the way it looked, spread out beneath him, only birds wheeling over his head while all the life of the castle went on below. Bran could perch for hours among the shapeless, rain-worn gargoyles that brooded over the First Keep, watching it all: the men drilling with wood and steel in the yard, the cooks tending their vegetables in the glass garden, restless dogs running back and forth in the kennels, the silence of the godswood, the girls gossiping beside the washing well. It made him feel like he was lord of the castle, in a way even Robb would never know. It taught him Winterfell's secrets too. The builders had not even leveled the earth; there were hills and valleys behind the walls of Winterfell. There was a covered bridge that went from the fourth floor of the bell tower across to the second floor of the rookery. Bran knew about that. And he knew you could get inside the inner wall by the south gate, climb three floors and run all the way around Winterfell through a narrow tunnel in the stone, and then come out on ground level at the north gate, with a hundred feet of wall looming over you. Even Maester Luwin didn't know that, Bran was convinced. His mother was terrified that one day Bran would slip off a wall and kill himself. He told her that he wouldn't, but she never believed him. Once she made him promise that he would stay on the ground. He had managed to keep that promise for almost a fortnight, miserable every day, until one night he had gone out the window of his bedroom when his brothers were fast asleep. He confessed his crime the next day in a fit of guilt. Lord Eddard ordered him to the godswood to cleanse himself. Guards were posted to see that Bran remained there alone all night to reflect on his disobedience. The next morning Bran was nowhere to be seen. They finally found him fast asleep in the upper branches of the tallest sentinel in the grove. As angry as he was, his father could not help but laugh. "You're not my son," he told Bran when they fetched him down, "you're a squirrel. So be it. If you must climb, then climb, but try not to let your mother see you." Bran did his best, although he did not think he ever really fooled her. Since his father would not forbid it, she turned to others. Old Nan told him a story about a bad little boy who climbed too high and was struck down by lightning, and how afterward the crows came to peck out his eyes. Bran was not impressed. There were crows' nests atop the broken tower, where no one ever went but him, and sometimes he filled his pockets with corn before he climbed up there and the crows ate it right out of his hand. None of them had ever shown the slightest bit of interest in pecking out his eyes. Later, Maester Luwin built a little pottery boy and dressed him in Bran's clothes and flung him off the wall into the yard below, to demonstrate what would happen to Bran if he fell. That had been fun, but afterward Bran just looked at the maester and said, "I'm not made of clay. And anyhow, I never fall." Then for a while the guards would chase him whenever they saw him on the roofs, and try to haul him down. That was the best time of all. It was like playing a game with his brothers, except that Bran always won. None of the guards could climb half so well as Bran, not even Jory. Most of the time they never saw him anyway. People never looked up. That was another thing he liked about climbing; it was almost like being invisible. He liked how it felt too, pulling himself up a wall stone by stone, fingers and toes digging hard into the small crevices between. He always took off his boots and went barefoot when he climbed; it made him feel as if he had four hands instead of two. He liked the deep, sweet ache it left in the muscles afterward. He liked the way the air tasted way up high, sweet and cold as a winter peach. He liked the birds: the crows in the broken tower, the tiny little sparrows that nested in cracks between the stones, the ancient owl that slept in the dusty loft above the old armory. Bran knew them all. Most of all, he liked going places that no one else could go, and seeing the grey sprawl of Winterfell in a way that no one else ever saw it. It made the whole castle Bran's secret place. His favorite haunt was the broken tower. Once it had been a watchtower, the tallest in Winterfell. A long time ago, a hundred years before even his father had been born, a lightning strike had set it afire. The top third of the structure had collapsed inward, and the tower had never been rebuilt. Sometimes his father sent ratters into the base of the tower, to clean out the nests they always found among the jumble of fallen stones and charred and rotten beams. But no one ever got up to the jagged top of the structure now except for Bran and the crows. He knew two ways to get there. You could climb straight up the side of the tower itself, but the stones were loose, the mortar that held them together long gone to ash, and Bran never liked to put his full weight on them. The best way was to start from the godswood, shinny up the tall sentinel, and cross over the armory and the guards hall, leaping roof to roof, barefoot so the guards wouldn't hear you overhead. That brought you up to the blind side of the First Keep, the oldest part of the castle, a squat round fortress that was taller than it looked. Only rats and spiders lived there now but the old stones still made for good climbing. You could go straight up to where the gargoyles leaned out blindly over empty space, and swing from gargoyle to gargoyle, hand over hand, around to the north side. From there, if you really stretched, you could reach out and pull yourself over to the broken tower where it leaned close. The last part was the scramble up the blackened stones to the eyrie, no more than ten feet, and then the crows would come round to see if you'd brought any corn. Bran was moving from gargoyle to gargoyle with the ease of long practice when he heard the voices. He was so startled he almost lost his grip. The First Keep had been empty all his life. "I do not like it," a woman was saying. There was a row of windows beneath him, and the voice was drifting out of the last window on this side. "You should be the Hand." "Gods forbid," a man's voice replied lazily. "It's not an honor I'd want. There's far too much work involved." Bran hung, listening, suddenly afraid to go on. They might glimpse his feet if he tried to swing by. "Don't you see the danger this puts us in?" the woman said. "Robert loves the man like a brother." "Robert can barely stomach his brothers. Not that I blame him. Stannis would be enough to give anyone indigestion." "Don't play the fool. Stannis and Renly are one thing, and Eddard Stark is quite another. Robert will listen to Stark. Damn them both. I should have insisted that he name you, but I was certain Stark would refuse him." "We ought to count ourselves fortunate," the man said. "The king might as easily have named one of his brothers, or even Littlefinger, gods help us. Give me honorable enemies rather than ambitious ones, and I'll sleep more easily by night." They were talking about Father, Bran realized. He wanted to hear more. A few more feet . . . but they would see him if he swung out in front of the window. "We will have to watch him carefully," the woman said. "I would sooner watch you," the man said. He sounded bored. "Come back here." "Lord Eddard has never taken any interest in anything that happened south of the Neck," the woman said. "Never. I tell you, he means to move against us. Why else would he leave the seat of his power?" "A hundred reasons. Duty. Honor. He yearns to write his name large across the book of history, to get away from his wife, or both. Perhaps he just wants to be warm for once in his life." "His wife is Lady Arryn's sister. It's a wonder Lysa was not here to greet us with her accusations." Bran looked down. There was a narrow ledge beneath the window, only a few inches wide. He tried to lower himself toward it. Too far. He would never reach. "You fret too much. Lysa Arryn is a frightened cow." "That frightened cow shared Jon Arryn's bed." "If she knew anything, she would have gone to Robert before she fled King's Landing." "When he had already agreed to foster that weakling son of hers at Casterly Rock? I think not. She knew the boy's life would be hostage to her silence. She may grow bolder now that he's safe atop the Eyrie." "Mothers." The man made the word sound like a curse. "I think birthing does something to your minds. You are all mad." He laughed. It was a bitter sound. "Let Lady Arryn grow as bold as she likes. Whatever she knows, whatever she thinks she knows, she has no proof." He paused a moment. "Or does she?" "Do you think the king will require proof?" the woman said. "I tell you, he loves me not." "And whose fault is that, sweet sister?" Bran studied the ledge. He could drop down. It was too narrow to land on, but if he could catch hold as he fell past, pull himself up . . . except that might make a noise, draw them to the window. He was not sure what he was hearing, but he knew it was not meant for his ears. "You are as blind as Robert," the woman was saying. "If you mean I see the same thing, yes," the man said. "I see a man who would sooner die than betray his king." "He betrayed one already, or have you forgotten?" the woman said. "Oh, I don't deny he's loyal to Robert, that's obvious. What happens when Robert dies and Joff takes the throne? And the sooner that comes to pass, the safer we'll all be. My husband grows more restless every day. Having Stark beside him will only make him worse. He's still in love with the sister, the insipid little dead sixteen-year-old. How long till he decides to put me aside for some new Lyanna?" Bran was suddenly very frightened. He wanted nothing so much as to go back the way he had come, to find his brothers. Only what would he tell them? He had to get closer, Bran realized. He had to see who was talking. The man sighed. "You should think less about the future and more about the pleasures at hand." "Stop that!" the woman said. Bran heard the sudden slap of flesh on flesh, then the man's laughter. Bran pulled himself up, climbed over the gargoyle, crawled out onto the roof. This was the easy way. He moved across the roof to the next gargoyle, right above the window of the room where they were talking. "All this talk is getting very tiresome, sister," the man said. "Come here and be quiet." Bran sat astride the gargoyle, tightened his legs around it, and swung himself around, upside down. He hung by his legs and slowly stretched his head down toward the window. The world looked strange upside down. A courtyard swam dizzily below him, its stones still wet with melted snow. Bran looked in the window. Inside the room, a man and a woman were wrestling. They were both naked. Bran could not tell who they were. The man's back was to him, and his body screened the woman from view as he pushed her up against a wall. There were soft, wet sounds. Bran realized they were kissing. He watched, wide-eyed and frightened, his breath tight in his throat. The man had a hand down between her legs, and he must have been hurting her there, because the woman started to moan, low in her throat. "Stop it," she said, "stop it, stop it. Oh, please . . . " But her voice was low and weak, and she did not push him away. Her hands buried themselves in his hair, his tangled golden hair, and pulled his face down to her breast. Bran saw her face. Her eyes were closed and her mouth was open, moaning. Her golden hair swung from side to side as her head moved back and forth, but still he recognized the queen. He must have made a noise. Suddenly her eyes opened, and she was staring right at him. She screamed. Everything happened at once then. ‘ The woman pushed the man away wildly, shouting and pointing. Bran tried to pull himself up, bending double as he reached for the gargoyle. He was in too much of a hurry. His hand scraped uselessly across smooth stone, and in his panic his legs slipped, and suddenly he was failing. There was an instant of vertigo, a sickening lurch as the window flashed past. He shot out a hand, grabbed for the ledge, lost it, caught it again with his other hand. He swung against the building, hard. The impact took the breath out of him. Bran dangled, one-handed, panting. Faces appeared in the window above him. The queen. And now Bran recognized the man beside her. They looked as much alike as reflections in a mirror. "He saw us," the woman said shrilly. "So he did," the man said. Bran's fingers started to slip. He grabbed the ledge with his other hand. Fingernails dug into unyielding stone. The man reached down. "Take my hand," he said. "Before you fall." Bran seized his arm and held on tight with all his strength. The man yanked him up to the ledge. "What are you doing?" the woman demanded. The man ignored her. He was very strong. He stood Bran up on the sill. "How old are you, boy?" "Seven," Bran said, shaking with relief. His fingers had dug deep gouges in the man's forearm. He let go sheepishly. The man looked over at the woman. "The things I do for love," he said with loathing. He gave Bran a shove. Screaming, Bran went backward out the window into empty air. There was nothing to grab on to. The courtyard rushed up to meet him. Somewhere off in the distance, a wolf was howling. Crows circled the broken tower, waiting for corn.

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