Astrid wondered how things came to this. Life had seemed so normal when she had woken that morning, she had no idea it was end with watching her betrothed accept a challenge from a stranger to a one on one fight to the death for the survival of her home. But here she was, standing in the freezing rain in the dead of night surrounded by her fellow Hooligans as Eret stood in front of another man.

He had appeared out of nowhere, standing at the edge of town on the cliffs clad in black clothing. The only patch of skin visible was his eyes, the hood and face covering her wore cover the rest. He was also armed to the teeth with a bow and quiver full of arrows slug over his back and an odd curved sword resting at his hip with an arm casually draped over it should he need to draw it. Scouts had spotted him while on the lookout for a dragon attack, even thought most don't attack in the rain there had recently been an influx of Skrills recently and they thrived in weather such as this. Ack had made the mistake of charging the intruder and ended up with an arrow in his arm; three more men tried to attack the man but resulted in similar injuries, the worst being Stronggut who took an arrow to the knee. Gothi was seeing to them while nearly the entire populace of warriors stood at the ready should he try anything, so far he hadn't so much as looked at anyone with more than a passing glance. The Chief had been fetched and was currently checking on the four pierced men before confronting their new arrival, still only barely visible in the torchlight.

"Who are you and why have you come here? Why have you shot arrows at four of my people?" Stoick shouted over the rain and wind his hammer in his right hand just itching for an excuse to bash in this newcomer's head for injuring his men. Gobber stood next to him attaching the axe hand, and quirked an eyebrow at the man. The way he dressed wasn't from the archipelago, and his wasn't built like any Viking, he was tall but not bulky; however given the precise shots in Ack and the others he was no slouch with his bow. While his posture looks relaxed at first glance, it really leaves him a way to quickly draw his blade should anyone get close enough for him to strike. This man came prepped to deal with a violent welcome, Gobber furrowed his brow and rubbed his chin, this was no ordinary stranger.

"My name…" the man began in a deep tenor voice, "is Al Ta-nin. Your men came at me unprovoked, and I responded in kind; be grateful I chose to spare their lives this time." Stoick bristled at that.

"Do you mean to imply that you will kill them should this happen again?" He seethed, pointing he hammer at the man. A few feet to his left Astrid drew her axe and spun it threateningly. Seconds later it was knocked from her hand by an arrow as well as Stoick's hammer, Eret's sword and even Gobber's axe hand. This Al Ta-nin character had drawn his bow and fired four shots to disarm their best warriors in the blink of an eye.

"Yes." He said again as he lowered his weapon. "As I said. My name is Al Ta-nin, heir to the Demon and I've come here with one purpose…"

"And that is?" Eret growled at him while rubbing his hand. Astrid had been betrothed to him for about three months now, and she could say without a doubt she respected him as a fighter, but there was no love for him in her heart. She had initially been infuriated with her parents when they told her they accepted a marriage contract without discussing it with her first, but they explained that she was now 22 years old and had never so much as kissed a man and that the former dragon trapper had made enough to provide a comfortable life for her and would treat her right. While she still dislike the idea of marrying a man she felt nothing more than respect as a warrior for she had come to accept that it was the hand the gods had dealt her. Eret was always kind to her and had expressed romantic interest her in a way unlike Snotlout had before his marriage to Ruffnut, she couldn't bring herself to return his feelings.

In a few weeks time she would be the last of her age group married, Tuffnut had wed the heir of the Bog Burglars Camicazi two years earlier, Ruff and Snotlout married the year before that and when they were eighteen Fishlegs had married a girl named Heather after her village had been destroyed by the Berserkers. Astrid was an 'aunt' to four children and had endured several jokes about having a child of her own within the next year; she did not look forward to the idea.

The sound of Al Ta-nin's voice brought her out of her thoughts. "To raze Berk and all who reside in it to the ground." The warriors all drew their weapons ready to kill the man who didn't even flinch, clearly expecting the reaction. "Typical Vikings always kill first and worry about it never." He said with a shake of his head, Stoick held a hand to hold his people while he spoke again.

"And how to do you plan to destroy Berk all by yourself?" The chief asked with a tinge of smugness in his voice.

"Who ever said I was alone?" The black figure asked. As if on cue lightening lit up the sky, for the first time the villagers could see the man clearly, behind him there was another figure. The second one was not human however, it stood on four legs and was hunched in a position poised for attack, the bat like wings and long tail revealed the form of the dragon visible only for a spilt second before darkness enveloped it again, however now it's growling could be heard. Astrid had never seen a dragon like it before, too small to be a Monstrous Nightmare, but too long to be a Gronkle. The fact that it wasn't attacking them baffled the young shield maiden. "I have several men and women willing to come to my aid should I call, but I only require the aid of my closest friend and brother. You know him by one name: Night Fury."

As if to prove his point a low whistle built before a purple ball of light flew from just behind the man and the house that was still being built to serve Astrid and Eret's marital home burst into flames. The new source of light lit the area brightly and despite the heavy rain the man and dragon could be seen with ease now. Half of the people gathered turned their attention to the blaze while the others gripped their weapons even tighter, there hadn't been a Night Fury involved in a dragon raid in nearly seven years not since…

Astrid shook her head, she wasn't really bothered by the destruction on her future marital home/prison, in fact the stranger practically did her a favor since she could postpone the wedding until the house was rebuilt. But that didn't change the fact that he was here to destroy her home and was her enemy. Looking around she spotted her axe a few feet away from the man with a dragon, who seemed to be watching the villagers panic while petting the dragon like it was some sort of house hold pet. If she could get to her axe without alerting either one of them she might be able to throw it into his neck before he has time to react, and hopefully the dragon would take off once it's master was dealt with.

Using every once of stealth skill she had the blonde dashed forward and reached her beloved weapon before she rolled into a throwing position and loosed the axe in one smooth movement. She watched while praying to every god she knew that her aim was true even in the torrential downpour. Sadly the gods deigned her prayers unworthy of their attention as the dragon flicked it's think muscled tail up and sent her favorite possession hurtling over the side of the cliff and into the sea below. Only then did the reptile turn its attention on her, with silted green eyes and pointed teeth bared, the man continued to stroke the dragon's head as he turned his own gaze upon her. "You were foolish to try and attack me even when you think my attention is elsewhere. My dragon and I have a bond of trust that most people, especially Vikings never achieve, and once you have his trust there is nothing he won't do for you."

With that the dragon swept it's tail again and knocked her feet out from under her, she heard her name being shouted from direction of what was left of her future home and glanced to see Eret, when she face forward again she found another arrow pointed in her direction. "Know this Astrid Hofferson, your time on this island is at an end. You can either choose to die trying to defend it or continue to live elsewhere. This is the only warning Berk will get, feel free to tell the same to Stoick the Vast." Al Ta-nin said before he loosed the arrow that landed between her legs, pinning her down by her skirt, moments later Eret stood between them with his dagger drawn and held defensively.

"You stay away from my wife!" He shouted at the man, Astrid was still reeling from what she had been told that she didn't think to correct him about the wife comment. This however turned out to be a blessing as for the first time the man faltered.

Looking passed Eret, their foe addressed her directly, "You married?" He asked, there almost sounded like there was a hint of disbelief in his voice, "You seemed the type to rebuke the very idea of marriage in favor of the warrior life, I'm genuinely surprised you decided to settle down, would explain a few things honestly." The last bit was dripping with sarcasm and it struck a cord of familiarity in Astrid but she couldn't remember why. Shaking her head she responded.

"We're betrothed not married. And not that it's any of your business but I wasn't given much choice in the matter." She growled ripping the arrow out to free herself, feeling the urge to elbow Eret in the gut as a reminder he when behind her back and bought her when she thought they were becoming friends, but chose to ignore it to present a united front against their new enemy.

"Is that so? Figures, you Vikings may not rape women whenever you feel the urge for sex, but you still treat them as little more than property." The man shook his head

"I happen to be rather fond of Astrid thank you, and she isn't exactly fighting to stop the wedding here!" Eret yelled, not seeing Astrid roll her eyes. Apparently the foreign man was an observant one as his head cocked as she did so.

"Oh really? So do you feel the same then, Miss Astrid?" At this Eret turned and looked at her for support in the endeavor, Astrid looked between the two men for a second before scowling in annoyance, this wasn't a gossip circle.

"It doesn't matter! You're our enemy not a nosy neighbor!" Astrid seethed while yanking the large dagger from Eret and charging Al Ta-nin. Just before she reached him he sidestepped her and grabbed her arm, twisting it behind her back in order to keep her pinned but surprisingly not in pain.

"You should never charge an enemy thinking you'll land the first strike." Al Ta-nin lectured, "Always assume they are better than you so that you can react quicker when they are." He put some pressure on her twisted arm, just enough to make Astrid gasp in pain. It had the desired effect as Eret leaped forth to hit him.

Cleary expecting the response the man jumped back, releasing Astrid as he did. When the blonde managed to right herself she found Eret standing directly in front of their enemy with a sword hovering in front of his neck. Neither moved as the Night Fury prowled back and forth at the edge of the cliff, eyes narrow slits just waiting for the chance to strike, to kill. "You're not originally from here are you?" Al Ta-nin asked, Eret though surprised by the question still responded.

"No. I was a dragon trapper in the employ of Drago Bludvist. That is until he was killed off and his armies dissipated. I may have lost a job but I was happy to be free of that madman."

There was the sound of a smirk heard from behind the cloth covering the lower half of the man's face. "In that case you're welcome. I took great pleasure in separating his head from his shoulders." Astrid knew very little of Eret's past other than Drago was a madman and as strong as he was crazy. If this Al Ta-nin person could kill someone who a warrior like Eret feared he shouldn't be taken lightly. Al Ta-nin studied Eret once more, he lowered his sword and the dragon stopping it's pacing behind him. "If you served under Drago then you are an accomplished fighter… I'm feeling a bit sporting so I'll offer Berk this one chance for survival: you and I shall battle one on one, the victor will determine Berk's fate."

Eret, never one to back down from a challenge, much like his betrothed, smirked. "Deal, here and now work for you?"

The Vikings still not helping with the fire, which had somehow now spread to the stores for winter that were either prepping their weapons or calling for bows and arrows to kill the man threatening the place they called home. "No. The villagers here lack any semblance of honor, should you begin to lose ground they would interfere. I've studied them, I know how they will handle every situation before they do, and I know that Stoick the Vast will not hear any voice but his own or Gobber the Belch's. So we will hold our fight away from the village. There is a plateau located near the top of the mountain, if you do not know where it is bring your wife to be as a guide, I will be waiting there and shall provide weapons for us both. Should you not arrive in three days I will consider it as a admission of defeat and continue with my plans for Berk.

With that he stepped back and sheathed his weapon before swinging a leg over the dragon. Settling into place on the beast's back the pair looked by over the people of Berk. "You have exactly three days before I return, unless the one known as Eret can defeat me." He then focused on the former trapper with a cold gaze, "But be warned trapper, should you come to the plateau you are risking your life. The duel will be to the death." Once more he addressed the entirety of the people gathered, "Berk will either be saved or sentenced to destruction, either way the price will be paid in blood!"

He leaned forward and patted his mount's side before the pair skyrocketed up and disappeared into the nigh sky. As the rain continued to fall and the last of the fire was put out, Astrid wondered to herself in it was the beginning or Ragnarok or if merely the Gods had tuned their back on the Hooligan tribe.