//------------------------------// // Chapter 79 – Dragon Riders Vs Griffon Five // Story: Griffon of Canterlot // by Electuroo //------------------------------// Griffon of Canterlot Chapter 79 – Dragon Riders Vs Griffon Five Near the water edge sitting at the stands the five griffons, they sat before Hiccup as he walked back and forwards between the hatches with nets below each of them, Toothless sitting behind him. “Dragon Racing has some basic rules, one is finding a sheep with markings on it, these give you three points, the normal sheep give you one and the black sheep give you ten points.” He point to each sheep standing there lazy eyed chewing on grass. “We also usual use the dragons abilities to help us too, including rough tackling, but we all agreed that fire and rough contact would do a lot of harm to you lot.” Gilda snorted. “So your saying we weak.” Hiccup shook his head. “No not at all, I am saying fire and feathers don't mix, your wings, fur and feathers would be burned to crisp.” Gabby nodded. “He got a point, also the dragons do have really tough scales, so a heavy contact could rip our feathers out too, cause us to crash.” Gabby brought up valid points too. “We not like dragons Gilda.” Gilda gave a humph. “Fine... You win, point taken.” Hiccup sighed in relief seeing Gabby got the point across. “So the other things need to know, after a set amount of time goes by, the horn will blow and the black sheep will be launched, we can intercept passes between each other and snatch the sheep from the other without heavy contact.” He stated. “Also all the sheep will be within Berk itself, not anywhere near the forest or mountain areas near by. Now Astrid.” The blue dragon flies in tossing the sheep into the hatch, she lands and Astrid jump off the dragon Stormfly. “As you can see our sheep can withstand a lot, and I mean a lot.” She hint to some of the roofs of Berk's houses. “As you can see those holes were made by these sheep, they are not even phased, also with the wool your claws won't do much harm to them as you can when Stormfly held one.” The dragon gave a small grunt with soft roar showing her claws. “Those hatches got each of your dragons painted on them, I guess we using one or two of those for our team?” Gale asked. “Yep, you will be using mine and Hiccup's, the twins and Fishleg's symbols which is the two headed dragon and the big round head dragon marks are our teams.” Astrid said pointing them out to each of them. “We will give you practice time till the sun is at the highest point.” Gale looked up at the sun, he pulled out from his bag a pocket watch, opening it. “Two hours that would be.” He closed it up and put it back in his bag. Gallus flapped his wings a few times. “Plenty of time to stretch our wings.” Hiccup raise a finger up than point to Gale. “How exactly did you guess that?” Gale got up flapping his wings taking to the sky with the others. “Time, we have something to keep track of time, day or night.” Gale flies off with three of them. Nightingale hovered over them. “To us there is sixty seconds in a minutes, sixty minutes in a hour and twenty four hours in a day, it pretty much simple maths kid.” Nightingale flies off after them. Hiccup frowned. “As in using numbers to messure when you building stuff? They use it to keep track of time too?” “Well we do count numbers for points, so I guess seconds is in... One... Two... Three...” She raise one finger at a time as example. “Just like when we very little playing hide and seek with each other.” She got up Stormfly. “See you in the Great Hall Hiccup, we don't want to be caught cheating by watching them practice.” Hiccup got on Toothless. “Right, and while we wait I can look into this twenty-four hour day they spoke of.” “Sounds like a plan.” They flew off to the Great Hall. Hiccup noticed as they flew his dad with Luna talking to some Dragon Rider scouts, they nodded, got on their dragons and took off. “Wonder what going on down there...” He whispered with curiosity. (Linebreak) Given the time to practice, the griffons took note of the flight course through out the town of Berk, Gale flew over to see a bunch of sheep being painted by some Vikings, he stood on the roof watching them curiously. “How really tough are they?” Gale heard the sound of rock falling down, he turn to see Gallus staring at a sheep just calmly standing on top of a pile of rumble chewing on grass. “Sweet Grover! All I did was toss that sheep into that boulder and it ju-just-just-WHAT!?” Gale flapped his wings flying over to Gallus, he picked up a piece of rock. “Did you really just throw a sheep into a boulder to try and prove them wrong?” “Yes! But that insane! No animal should be able to be tossed into a boulder and just chew grass!” He points at the sheep in disbelief. Gale toss a rock behind him. “You do know this is a dream adventure, so rules that should apply don't here.” Gale stated to Gallus. Gallus rubbed the back of his neck. “Urg! Whatever! This feels like it real and-” Gallus growls in frustration. “You know what!? I am just going with it and grabbing that damn sheep to do some flying drills!” Gallus flew up to the sheep grabbing it and flies off. Gale shrugged as Gabby and Gilda flew over him tossing a sheep between each other, doing twists and turns around buildings, in the air as Nightingale move in to intercept pretending to be the riders. “Wow I know it a dream but seeing that made me cringe.” Spike walked up to Gale chewing on some gems. “How is it going?” Gale flapped his wings a few times. “It going as best it can go, I think it going to be tough on us even with them handicapping themselves with the rules they put in place, they had years of experience to our two hours we getting.” Gale picked up Spike putting him on his back flying up high above the settlement. Spike looked around from the sky high view. “Wow there so many spots that those sheep could be when the Dragon Racing starts, do you think it be limited to the town area or beyond it?” “From what we were told it limited to Berk only, kind of silly risking the damage of buildings over it, but rules are rules, also there a lot of Berk, you got the lower levels and the dragon pens too.” Gale flew down through a tunnel to emerge in the pens, the dragons being looked after by the Vikings within. Spike looked around. “It so weird seeing dragons act like this, it as if they partly domestic like a dog or cat.” “I think that very close the real deal.” Gale agreed flying around, some of the dragons watched the feather, furred hybrid fly around before leaving through the main entrance leading out to sea flying over the waters turning around to face Berk. “You see the pier and lower levels?” Spike nodded. “That also the possibly locations for the sheep to be at too.” “Wow that a lot of area.” “It sure is.” Gale flew back up to see Alpha watching him. “Hi Alpha!” Gale waved. Alpha waved back. “Lord Gale.” He walked up to the teen as he land and Spike got off his back. “Something smells strange in the air, I wish to investigate it with your permission.” “What smells funny?” Spike asked. Alpha looked out to the outskirts of the settlement. “I don't know... I want to check it out.” Gale nodded. “Sure Alpha, go ahead you have my permission.” Alpha turn to do his investigation. “Spike I would like you to help me, your message fire may help get word back soon as possible to Lady Luna and Lord Gale.” Spike liked that idea. “Sure! I'll be happy to help!” Gale waved his wing. “Hope it nothing but some wild animals!” “Hmmm... Hope it only that.” Alpha said wearily and leaves with Spike. Gale shrugged. “Since Alpha took being a guardian, he been taking his new responsibility seriously. Guess with his past that understandable.” Gale open his wings and took to the sky to continue is practice with the others before they run out of time. All the Vikings that won't on portal, or standing guard gathered at the stands taking their seats excited for this Dragon Racing event, it is a first for the Berk Dragon Riders to V against a bunch of giffons, they mostly cheering on for the Dragon Riders. Stoick standing in front of his chair, Luna to his left and Gobber to the right, he raised his hands quieting the crowd. “For the first time ever in Dragon Racing here in Berk! We going to have two team! Our Dragon Riders lead by my son Hiccup! And the Griffon Five lead by Nightingale!” The dragons land and their riders get off standing before them with everyone cheering, the griffons land by them with more cheers of excitement. Luna stepped up. “There are three minor changes to the rules, one; no fire, two; no heavy contact and finally it will two flyers at a time per team will take to the skies at a time.” Stoick nodded. “Plain white sheep will be one point, three points for the bullsize sheep and finally the black sheep is ten points.” Stoick explained the points to everyone. “Now! Who is ready for Dragon Racing!?” A might cheer came. “First two fliers of each team on your marks!” Fishlegs got onto his dragon Meatlug with the twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut on theirs, Barf and Belch, Gilda and Gabby stood ready with wings open. “Get set!” Luna raise her hoof with Stoick's hand. Both of them lower it. “Go!” The dragons and the griffons take off into the sky flying for their first sheep targets. “Gabby keep your eyes peeled.” Gilda looked around as she said it, they flew between the buildings fast. Gabby nodded. “Got it!” They zipped in and out looking for the sheep, they soon see one. As they flew to grab it, the twins grabbed the sheep first flying away from them. “Too slow!” Tuffnut stuck his tongue out at Gilda. Gilda growls. “You go find another, I am going after them to steal it!” Gilda turned and flew after the twin headed dragon. “I'll show you slow!” Gabby giggled and continued her search. Ruffnut glanced back seeing her closing in. “Hehe, nice one Tuffnut, we got her mad!” They fist bumped laughing as Gilda gave chase, they turn around a building with Gilda right behind. Diving down the side of the cliff face they went under the rope bridge and upwards, Gilda came up from above it with talons out for the sheep to only get gassed by Barf, she flew back coughing waving her talons. “What the bucking name of Grover!?” “Good one Barf!” Ruffnut praised her dragon head, Gilda watched them zoom up to the bridge tossing the sheep into one of the hatches. “That's first three points to team Dragon Riders!” Stoick shouted out, Barf and Belch landed, the twins clapped hands with Snotlout, Hookfang takes off to join Meatlug and Fishlegs. Gilda lands growling at the twins. “Nightingale go, I got to have a word with that Viking!” Gilda slap her talon. Nightingale saw what happened and she knew there was no way Gilda was going to let this go. “Just don't do something stupid.” Nightingale took off. “What was that!?” Gilda gawked at the smell that covered her. “It disgusting!” “It's Barf's gas, no big deal.” Ruffnut said casually. “Gas!? You gassed me!?” Gilda growled at her. Tuffnut shrugged. “Why are you making a big deal? The rules said nothing about Barf using her gas, it not fire.” Gilda roared. “Arug! I can't believe this!” Hiccup walked up to try and find a middle ground. “We can have-” Gilda glared at him. “Don't! I am ticked off that I got gassed! Not that it was unfair you dweeb! I got caught out!” Luna caused a spell over her, the smell was gone. “That should help.” Gilda took a sniff. “Thanks for the clean up Luna!” Stoick looked at Luna. “What? It was disgusting.” He chuckled. “That it was, thank you for saving us.” “Don't patronise me.” “Not at all.” He put his hands up, they continued to watch the race. Alpha and Spike walking on the outskirts of Berk, they looking around the area they in. “You think we will find something?” Spike poked his head out of a bush. “Not sure... I am hoping not to.” Alpha said picking up a large rock and putting it back down, he leap over to a large boulder taking a good look around the area. Spike turn to the sound of screeching, he saw Toothless with Hiccup on his back zoom right by them with a sheep held in the claws of the dragon, Gallus and Gabby giving chase. “Wow the Dragon Racing really something isn't it?” Alpha watched as the Dragon Riders score again, Hiccup and Toothless exchanging with Astrid and Stormfly. “It is.” His ear twitched to a twig snapping, with rustling of leaves. “Who do you think will win?” “I am hoping for the Griffon Five, but they are racing against pros.” Spike stated. “They know more to this than Gale and the others.” “True.” Alpha leaped down from the boulder, he noticed something on the ground, a large stone with fresh dirt around it. “Hmm...” He knelt down to it taking a sniff. “This is what I smelt.” Spike walked up to him. “A stone in dug up dirt?” Alpha nodded. “Indeed, but this is more than a stone, look at the markings.” Spike took a closer look. “What is that?” “Glyph runes.” Spike knelt down running his claws over the stone. “I can feel them, but why can't I see it?” Alpha's ears twitched, they weren't alone. “Someone took a good deal of effort to hide it in plain sight and-” He grabbed Spike and leaped to dodge a barbed tail hitting the ground. “-Guarded by a beast.” Spike saw the creature growling. “It's a Manticore from Equestria!” Alpha's eye swift to the left and right, to behind him, more emerged. “It not alone.” He put Spike behind his neck, the dragon sat on his shoulders with claws holding the side of his neck. “Hold tight, dig your claws in if needed.” Spike nodded. “What are you going to do?” Alpha took a battle stance. “Fight, to protect you, Lord Gale and everyone!” The Manticores roared and launched their attack at Alpha. Each rotation the sheep built up in the neats, the points going up and up, from steals to out flying, the Vikings were loving it, Gale swooped in and stole a three point sheep from under Hookfang and Snotlout as they went to score, he quickly scored passing over to Gallus. The blue griffon took off as Gabby came in to score a one pointer, Gilda clapped and took off to the sky. “What the score?” Gabby asked. Gobber looked at the sheep in the neats below the hatches. “16 to the Griffon Five and 25 to the Dragon Riders.” Stoick stood up. “It time Gobber, launch the black sheep.” “Aye!” Stoick raise his hand to the horn. “Would you do us the honour to blow the horn for the final lap” Luna walked up to it. “With pleasure.” She blew into it, a Viking with a flag waves it back and forwards. “All racers are free to fly! This is all or nothing! Scoring this means victory for either team!” Stoick yelled out. They all looked at each other and took off into the sky as Gobber went to the launcher. “It time to fly.” The black sheep chewing stopped, it gulped as Gobber pulled the leaver. “Off you go!” The black sheep is catapulted into the sky. Stormfly flies in and Astrid gabbed the sheep, she only held it after turning around a building to have Gallus grab it from her, he flies around dodging Snotlout and Hookfang, followed up by coming to a dead stop in mid air with Fishlegs and Meatlug flying past. “Gallus over here!” Nightingale flew around closing in on him. Gallus tossed the black sheep over to Nightingale, she caught it flying through the streets down to the pier, Toothless in hot pursuit. “Watch out! He right on your tail!” Nightingale flies low over the water doing a few twists and turns, Hiccup and Toothless on par with her movements. “What is it going to take to shake him!” Nightingale noticed some low bearing clouds. “That's it!” She turns flying right at the others tossing the sheep over to Gabby for it to be intercepted by Ruffnut and Tuffnut, they zoom by. “Gale, Gabby and Gilda! Go up and kick that cloud down!” Gale looked up. “Ooooo! Good idea!” Gilda grinned. “I like your thinking!” They took off high into the sky. “You and I going after the sheep, get ready for some fog!” Nightingale warned Gallus. Gallus nodded. “Got it Groverlia!” They both fly after the twins, splitting up. “Fishlegs!” Tuffnut toss the sheep over to him, he catches it and dodged as Nightingale dived in, they continue to mount pressure, the progress to the goal slowed by the continuous attempts. Astrid and Hiccup watched. “Where are the others?” “I don't know Astrid, I was going after Nightingale.” Toothless looked up as the skies darken, he grunts and caught their attention. “I think I found them...” Astrid looked up. “Oh sweet Odin...” Gobber stared at the large cloud descending upon Berk. “Is that against the rules?” He pointed at it. Stoick shook his head. “No...” He glanced at a smug look Luna. “There no rules for that...” The cloud bank hits the settlement, it flows outwards covering every inch of Berk, blanketing the whole place in thick fog, they couldn't see far from their own faces. “Now this make it interesting, how does one see in fog this dense?” Stoick looked around. “This remind me of the fog around the island four years ago...” “Aye... It is really creepy...” Gobber said as he tried to see where the racers were. “Guess we just sit and wait.” Hiccup looked around. “Can you see anything?” “No Hiccup, it too thick and unsafe to fly.” Astrid said landing Stormfly. “They evened the odds against them, they can't fly, we can't fly...” Toothless landed, Hiccup got off him. “We need to find the others and find our way to the finish, hopefully they landed at once as well...” “Hiccup is that you!?” Snotlout called out emerging into view with Hookfang. “What crazy stunt did those griffons do?” Hiccup waved his hand. “It me, the griffons dropped a cloud on us and it turned into thick fog.” Snotlout crossed his arms. “That totally against he rules!” “There isn't any rules for this.” Astrid countered. “Plus Barf and Ruffnut gassed Gilda at the start.” “Don't forget the many times after.” Tuffnut said standing by Hiccup with his sister. “This just like that, not fire.” “Yeah, we all here aren't we?” Ruffnut agreed and looked around. Hiccup shook his head. “Fishlegs and Meatlug aren't here, they got the sheep so we need to find them in this fog, stick close, dragons and all.” They nodded and started to make their way through the streets. Alpha grabbed the tail of one of the Manticores, spinning around he smashed it into one of the others, they shattered to pieces on impact with gems rolling to Spike's clawed feet, he picked them up. “More gem cores!” “So they all magical clay golems.” Alpha looked around as the fog enveloped them. “I heard about those, Princess Celestia has some right?” “Correct.” He punched one through the chest pulling out the core, the Manticore lost it colour turning to clay stone before him. “We got to warn the others of this! Someone set up these runes and created these golems!” Spike dodged a claw swiping at him, he blow green magical fire at it. “How!? They keep coming!” Suddenly the Manticores stopped attacking and sat down, the way they sat made Alpha very weary, they were sitting to attention. “It seems I am going to have to move things up, you are a curious one.” A deep calm voice spoke within the fog. Spike shivered at that sound. “Alpha...” “Keep close...” Alpha scanned the area listing to hoof steps moving around him. “What do you want? What are you planning?” A laughter came from the fog. “You really think I will reveal my plans? You were created by Wayne's subconsciousness to defend him, you are very strong because of it.” “Wayne?” Spike looked up at Alpha in confusion. Alpha snarled. “Ah he is here, that all I needed... Now to take care of-” Alpha grabbed Spike and leaped into the fog soon as a oblong object lit up in the fog. “Master his getting away!” “Yes he is, but in the wrong way, once the glyph runes are activated there will be no need, prepare the attack.” The creature bows. “Yes master.” He disappears into the fog. The fog suddenly starts to clear from Berk, Hiccup and the others looked around to the sound of cheering, they saw Fishlegs standing proud above the hatch, the griffons stood behind him with defeated looks on their faces. “Fishlegs? Did you score the black sheep in that fog!?” “Yep! Me and Meatlug worked as a team and found our way, it was tricky with the griffons on our tails, but we did it.” Fishlegs said with pride. Gallus grumbled. “I can't believe our all or nothing plan failed...” “We gave it our best, that all that mattered.” Nightingale said. “We had fun also.” Gallus shrugged. “I guess, still wanted to win.” Stoick pat Luna on the back. “Better luck next time.” Luna smirked back. “Indeed.” She used her magic to pat him back, causing him to stumble a few steps, they laughed. Gilda shrugged. “Not all dreams work in favour, sometimes it just something lame.” Gale reached his talon out to Hiccup. “Good game!” “Yeah same to you, nice one with the fog.” Hiccup put his hand around the talon shaking it. “It was a close game.” Gale shook his head. “Nah, you had the advantage from the get go.” Gale looked around at the cheering Vikings lifting up the other riders. “All that mattered as Nightingale said, the fun.” Toothless licked Gale a few times, he laughed pushing the dragon away, but Toothless continued. Gabby giggled. “That was a lot of fun!” She looked around. “Huh?” Gabby saw something out to the water, flying over Stoick to get a better look. “Oooo look! Rocs!” “Rocks?” Gale flew up to her to get a look seeing the massive birds, lots of them. “No Rocs, massive birds big as large dragons like Hookfang, look!” She pointed. Hiccup quickly ran up to the wooden railing seeing them too. “Dad! We got trouble!” Stoick saw them. "That look like a attack formation, they preparing to attack!" He looked around, than heard a growl, turning to grab a barbed tail of a Manticore. “We under attack! All Vikings grab your weapons, your dragons!” He pulled the beast up to him, lifting it up and throwing it into the sea with a mighty splash to not resurface. "Seriously!? We just won and this happen!?" Snotlout complained. "Less complaining! Get to the air!" Hiccup pointed. "Ruffnut, Tuffnut, go with Snotlout and prepare to take on those birds!" "Got it!" They said together jumping onto their dragon taking to the sky with Snotlout. Luna used her magic to blast many of them away with beams of energy to see standing on the highest hill near Berk. “No it can't be...” The bell hanging from his neck dinged and the attack on Berk fully begun as monsters descend upon Berk from all sides.