AN: Howdeedoodeethere! This is the sequel to Dragonheart. It's set in HTTYD 2 time, and while it technically can't be considered spoilers, I would still advise against reading it until you've seen the second film. Just because. Anyway, enjoy!

I STILL don't own HTTYD. I'm getting sick of saying it. You'd think that, being a fanfiction archive, people would GET that I don't own it, but meh.

Chapter One

The Wrath of Thor

Hiccup didn't come to the dragon race.

The moment Astrid was given her medal, she pulled out the piece of fabric she kept for this particular purpose and let Stormfly sniff it. The Nadder was almost as familiar with Hiccup's scent as she was with Astrid's own. The sky-blue reptile winged her way out over the open ocean and Astrid sighed. Hiccup had gone island hunting again. She wondered if he had found a new island yet, and if this one had people on it. It had become a joking point for them when people screamed and ran around like headless chickens when they spotted Toothless and/or Stormfly overhead. Stormfly zeroed in on a small island, and sure enough Astrid could see Hiccup and Toothless on the edge. She landed beside Toothless, leaving her Nadder to play with the Night Fury.

"Forget something?" she asked. Hiccup turned.

"I didn't forget," he said. "I purposely stayed away."

Astrid sighed. "What did he do this time?"

"Oh, you're going to love this. I wake up, the sun is shining, the Terrible Terrors are singing on the rooftops, I saunter down to breakfast thinking all is right with the world and I get-" he dropped his voice in imitation of his father, "SON, we need to TALK."

"Not now, Dad!" Astrid imitated Hiccup, shrugging her shoulders. "I have a whole day of goofing off to get started on!"

"Wh-what is this character you are portraying?" Hiccup protested. "What's that thing you're doing with my shoulders?"

She shrugged a few more times to accentuate her point.

"Anyway," he said. "He says Son, you're the Pride of Berk. And I couldn't be prouder."

"Aw, thanks, Dad," Astrid mimicked. "I'm pretty impressed with myself too, you know," She waved her hands around.

"Okay, first of all, I don't do that with my hands," he argued.

"You just did," Astrid pointed out.

"Okay, you've got me there. So Dad says, Since no chief could possibly have a better successor, I've decided-"

"To make you chief of Berk!" Astrid exclaimed. "Hiccup, that's amazing! Of course, the map would have to wait, and I'd have to fly Toothless because you'd be too busy and-"

She stopped, realising what she had just said.

"Exactly," Hiccup sighed, sitting down. "All the speeches and the leadership; that's his thing, not mine. I prefer to be out here."

"Hiccup," Astrid said, sitting beside him. "Maybe what you're looking for isn't out there. Maybe it's in here," she tapped his chest, then gave him a kiss on the cheek. She drew away almost immediately; he tasted foul!

What in Thor's name has he been doing? she wondered, wiping her mouth, disgusted. It hit her like a thunderbolt. Oh, that's disgusting. Toothless spit! Ew! That is absolutely revolting!

She wiped her mouth again.

"So what did he say to that?"

"He didn't," Hiccup said miserably. "By the time he turned around I was gone."

Astrid placed an arm comfortingly around his shoulders and traced the red insignia on his right leather shoulder guard with a finger.

"Hang on," Hiccup said suddenly. "What's that?"

She followed his gaze. A thin trail of smoke was coiling into the air.

"I don't know," she responded. She already knew what he was going to say.

"Let's check it out," he said.

Right again, she thought. I know this guy better than I know myself.

She fiddled with a piece of string at her wrist, just peeking out from under her furry bracers, then climbed onto Stormfly's back, settling in the saddle. Toothless lifted off, and Astrid followed. They weaved through the trees, finally seeing a group of smoking boats. A few miserable looking Vikings were sitting nearby. They yelped in terror as they spotted the dragons closing in; a few grabbed each other like they thought they were done for. Stormfly and Toothless alit gently and Hiccup slid off of Toothless.

"What happened here?" he murmured.

"Don't hurt us! We'll give you all our weapons! Please don't hurt us!" wailed one of the stranded Vikings.

"We're not going to hurt you," Astrid reassured them, dismounting. "Are you okay?"

The terrified man nodded.

"What happened here?" Hiccup asked again.

"The Wrath of Thor," another man proclaimed. Two of the other Vikings made signs against evil over their chests, twisting their wrists around with their first two fingers and their thumbs extended, and their other two curled in.

"What's the Wrath of Thor?" Hiccup asked them, bemused.

"A Viking atop a terrible dragon that hurls lightning like Thor himself. They spread destruction and death wherever they go, and they fight for the dreadful Witch Excellinor. It's said they were sent by Thor to carry out his anger on those who earn it;"

Hiccup turned around sharply.

"There are other dragon riders?" he questioned.

"Some doubt that this rider is even fully human. A single cut from his claws is lethal."

Hiccup looked at Astrid.

"What did this dragon rider look like?" she asked gently.

"I didn't see," the man said miserably.

"I did," another interjected. "He had long, curved horns and a white cloak. I didn't see his face; he had a full head helmet on."

"Do you think you could draw it for us?" Hiccup asked. The second man bent over and drew a helmet in the dirt. It looked eerily alien; so unlike the traditional Viking helmet. It had wide openings for the rider's eyes, and there were six short horns arranged around the sides, and a pair of long horns that hooked sharply upwards at the ends.

"And the dragon?" Astrid prompted, but Hiccup answered.

"It would have to be a Skrill," he said. "It's the only dragon that shoots out genuine lightning."

"Are you okay to find your way back to your island?" Astrid asked the man.

"Yes. I'm worried about you though; it's rumoured that the Wrath of Thor is searching for the Night Fury. And you have it."

"What?" Hiccup was paying close attention now.

"The Wrath of Thor wants the Night Fury. I don't care how accomplished you are at fighting; the Wrath will kill you all if you stand in his way. And he will find you, make no mistake."

"Be careful, Nightstalker," called out another man.

"'Nightstalker?'" Hiccup said in confusion. Astrid raised an eyebrow.

"It's what our island people call you. You all remember, don't you? We thought they were stories." the man in question looked at his companions.

"I didn't want to say it, in case I looked stupid, because he looks nothing like they say," said another. "He's so skinny! But look, he has the skull on his shoulder, and the eyes of green flame,"

"Green flame? What is this rubbish?" Hiccup said incredulously.

"It's a story we tell our children. The Nightstalker, who flies on shadow wings to protect the weak of arm and the oppressed of spirit, and wields his blade of fire with righteous fury. He is marked by the skull he wears proud and his eyes of blazing green flame. Can we see the sword?"

"Well, that's ridiculously flattering," Hiccup muttered. He drew Inferno and lit it, and the Vikings all went 'Oooh…'. As Hiccup extinguished the blade, Astrid laughed.

"And if he's the Nightstalker," the man continued, "you must be the Sheildmaiden, the woman who fights at his side,"

Astrid doubled over laughing.

Every female warrior is a sheildmaiden, she thought, but I am The Shieldmaiden. Beware all who cross me! That's hilarious.

"Do you think you could tell us where your island is? I want to hear these stories some time," she giggled. The man raised an eyebrow.

"Are they not true?" he said, genuine concern flooding his face.

"Oh no, they're true alright, but they sound hilarious. This is really amusing, Nightstalker,"

"You're not going to let this go, are you," Hiccup sighed.

"Nope."

Hiccup groaned.

"Anyway," he said. "We'd better get back; if this Wrath of Thor thing is after us I get the feeling we should probably tell someone."

"Fly safely, Nightstalker. I don't want to be telling my children the story of how you died," the lead Viking said. Hiccup jumped onto Toothless' back.

"Make sure to tell them that the Nightstalker was only a hiccup," he said. "Teach them that it's not always brawn that counts."

Astrid vaulted into the saddle and they lifted into flight, thanking the tailwind that sped them even faster to Berk. When they arrived, Astrid jumped down and announced in a loud voice; "Hail, the Nightstalker has returned!"

"What?" Idris asked, Stormcleaver stomping happily towards Toothless.

"It's nothing," Hiccup muttered. Astrid smirked.

"I am so, so sorry," Fiske joined them with an extremely guilty face. "I'm pretty sure that was my fault. I told Trader Johann the story with the Bewilderbeast a few years back and I might, might have exaggerated a little bit..."

"Well, thank you for that. Now apparently I'm some mystical warrior of justice. Will I ever get peace?" Hiccup waved his hands in the air.

"That's not your job, Lord Nightstalker," Fiske grinned impishly. "You're supposed to protect the weak."

He strode into the forge, where, for some reason, Stoick was standing.

"Nice of ya to show up for work," Gobber said. Hiccup winced.

"Sorry. Um, Dad, I have something to tell you. It's important."

"Excellent!" boomed Stoick. "Now the first thing to being a chief is-"

"Not the important you're thinking of," Hiccup added. Stoick stopped. "We found a group of Vikings today, and they weren't too happy."

"What, your Night Fury and Deadly Nadder didn't have them singing songs of joy?"

Hiccup's sarcastic tendencies had rubbed off on his father.

"No, it wasn't the traditional running for the hills routine that we all know and love. They were completely wrecked on a small island, and they said something about some Wrath of Thor or whatever. And some witch called Excellinor who's after Toothless and I and-"

Stoick blanched, then turned to the crowds.

"Raise the defences! Standard raid arrangement!"

"Wait, what?" Hiccup said in confusion.

"If Excellinor is after you then she will get you come fire and brimstone;" Stoick's voice was strained and Astrid realised that this Excellinor character must really be something nasty if she had Stoick running and hiding.

"But why would Excellinor want us anyway?" she asked. Stoick looked incredulous.

"Remember the stories you were told when you were young? Of the hands in the shadows that stole children? They were all based on Excellinor. It's said that she traded with the draugra to gain power over life and death."

"Okay, first of all that's about as likely as trolls stealing your socks," Hiccup stated. Gobber threw him a dirty look. "And second, I'm not going to run and hide if there's a crazy on my tail. In my experience of tyrannical nutjobs- which is actually pretty extensive- they aren't going to give up just because oh look my quarry's got big dragon defences wow I wonder what I should do now, hmm…"

"This is no joking matter, Hiccup!" Stoick looked truly frightened, and that alone was enough to strike terror into Astrid's heart. Stoick grabbed Hiccup's arm and dragged him towards the house, Hiccup protesting the whole way.

"Hiccup," Astrid said tentatively, following her exasperated fiancée, "he might have a point. You can beat people who rely on brute strength, but this witch; by the sounds of it, I really don't know if we can do it."

Hiccup didn't even get a chance to reply. Stoick wrenched open the door and practically threw him inside the house. Valka, who had been sitting half-asleep in front of the fire, jerked upright.

"What's going on?" she asked, seeing Hiccup go sprawling on the floor.

"Keep him inside, don't let him out. Same with Toothless. And her! She'll just sneak him out again,"

Stoick turned and left. Astrid darted inside just before Stoick slammed the door.

Why am I grounded too? she grumbled silently.

"What's he done?" Valka questioned. Astrid bent and helped Hiccup up, trying to ignore the filthy glare he cast in the direction of the door.

"There's a crazy after him. AGAIN," she answered Valka.

Toothless knocked a chair over and settled next to where Hiccup was standing. Hiccup scratched him absently.

"You really know how to get into trouble," Valka looked at Hiccup.

"Dad still doesn't get that I can take care of myself now. I'm twenty, for Odin's sake!" Hiccup looked angrily in the direction of the door.

"Who's so bad that Stoick's in a panic?" his mother wondered.

"Some witch called Excellinor, and a rogue dragon rider called the Wrath of Thor," Astrid responded. Valka paled and stood up.

"You're all staying inside. Try to go out and I'll tie you to the walls,"

"Why is everyone so darn afraid of Excellinor?" Hiccup said, looking irritated.

"She's not just a sheildmaiden, or a witch," Valka said. "Excellinor is completely without morals. Think Drago, but ten times worse. She kills for the fun of it, and she keeps her nails coated in poison. And;" Valka gulped, "she's an expert at kidnapping and blackmail. This Wrath of Thor person; Excellinor probably stole him from his home and threatened him. No-one works with Excellinor of their own free will. Hiccup, please believe me; you can't win this one. I doubt that, if the entire island came at her with swords, we'd beat her without at least half of us dying from the poison on her nails. The only person who knows the cure is Excellinor herself. Please, both of you, stay away from her."

Hiccup's face softened. He clearly couldn't say no to Valka.

"Alright. But I expect you to tell me the story. How do we know all this?"

"Sit down," Valka sighed. Astrid settled beside Hiccup, glad of the fire warming the freezing cold Berk air.

"It was not long after you were born, Hiccup, that Excellinor first made herself known. She was a warrior from another tribe, just like any other. She came on a trading trip to Berk, and the second morning, when Mulch went down to the boats to wake the traders; he found them all dead, except for Excellinor, who was nowhere to be found. He came back up to the village to look for her, and he found her fighting three men at once without even a dagger. Stoick was one of them; it was a miracle he didn't die. Then Gothi came out of nowhere and just cracked her staff over Excellinor's head. I have no idea how Gothi knew what was going on, but she did, and we tied Excellinor to the mast of her boat and shipped her off to the west, like we do with any Viking who's lost their mind. Then this dragon hurtled out of nowhere towards the ship. It was barely half the size of a Terror, but when it zoomed past one of our Vikings, its tail barb scratched his neck and he died within the month. It had big, heavy manacles on its legs, and it was very battered. It just flew to her and split the ropes. She kept sailing away."

"So why are we so afraid of her?" Hiccup asked.

"Because Gothi told us to watch carefully, that one day she would come back and it wouldn't be peacefully. Over the years, Excellinor has surfaced on several islands, and she snatches children, she kills people in their homes. It's every parent's worst fear; that they will return home to find that the Witch has taken their child. As far as we can tell, she does it out of spite; she has no purpose to her kidnapping. But if she really does have an aim now…"

"Gods protect us all," finished Astrid. She felt slightly sick. What kind of depraved creature would take someone's children? When she did have children with Hiccup, she would wait beside the cradle with a very sharp axe every night.

"So, once again, I have to hide from a feral, insane power that wants me dead?" Hiccup summed up.

"If she does want you dead, consider yourself lucky. If Excellinor has you, dead is the best state to be in."

"Wow," Astrid muttered. "That was morbid,"