And we are back in action! You waited for it, you hoped for it, you put in your OCs for it, and you got it! Here is the Riders of the Archipelago!

A quick note to those new people out there who have not read my previous story. This IS a sequel to my original one, so if you read this without reading the previous one, some things will not make sense to you. Probably. If you are one of those folks who don't care about that then, well...GO RIGHT AHEAD AND READ IT! I'M SURE YOU"LL HAVE FUN READING EITHER WAY!

Without further ado, let us get on with the prologue.

Enjoy

With the defeat of Drago Bludvist, and the scattering of his army of criminals and malcontents, the Archipelago entered a new era of peace and prosperity.

As word spread of the warlords defeat, trappers across the world quit their trade, afraid that the one who defeated their leader would come for them too, should they continue. But at that time, Astrid was not up for hunting anyone down at that time.

She, along with the other dragon riders, had another objective in mind at time. Together, they all struck out to the assumed location of the dragon nest that was home to the Red Death, the dragon that had been plaguing Berk for centuries. But when they arrived at that volcanic island, they found it to be mysteriously abandoned, with only a few dragons left there. There were signs that other dragons, and the Red Death itself, had been there recently, but though they scoured the island, they could find only a few remaining dragons.

Since then, the dragon attacks on Berk, and many other surrounding islands, have ceased.

But there was still work to do when the dragon riders returned to Berk after many long years.

The dragons of the sanctuary had been destroyed, and it's inhabitants had been left without a home. With all those dragons under their care, Valka, Astrid, and Hiccup decided to try and integrate those dragons into Berkian society, wanting nothing more than to show the people of their island how much could be learned and gained from friendship with dragons.

It was not easy. There was much anger and pain from both sides, with the war so fresh in many minds. Dragons and Vikings were both opposed to the idea of living in close proximity with each other, and many, many times, things nearly broke out into violence once again.

But over time, things began to smooth out. A Dragon Academy was officially created to help humans and dragons get to know each other better, to learn from one another, and to grow more comfortable with one another.

Year after year, more and more Vikings of Berk went to the academy to learn what it had to offer, and as they told their friends, even more came, and the dragon riders were all too happy to accept them. Pretty soon, everyone on Berk had dragons of their own, with only a few grouches still wishing to hold onto the old ways.

In short, here we are, eighteen years after the defeat of Drago, life on Berk has never been better, and a new adventure is about to begin.

For in this new class, everything is about to change.

Nearly everyone on Berk who is of age has learned what they wish from the academy already. There is no one left to teach save those too young to begin their formal training. So this class, unlike any other, is made of students no just from Berk.

Six teenagers from the furthest reaches of the Archipelago, who, by chance, skill, or sheer luck, managed to become fledgling riders, and are now set to enter Berk's Dragon Academy, to learn what it means to be full dragon riders.

Six riders, destined for far more than the life of ordinary Vikings.

Their names?

Lana Bystrom, and her dragon Skylark

Aurora Haraldsson and her dragon Nightsound

Baldor Odinson and his dragon Krotr

Hax Kaspersen and his dragon Sunflower

Avrak Swiftfoot and his dragon Ziza

And as for the final student…the only one attending who is actually from Berk.

Well, you'll learn about him in a bit…

What, you want to know who it is now? Ok fine, here he is. The hero of our story.

Aydrien Destin Haddock the First. First born of Astrid and Hiccup Haddock, and next in line to be chief of Berk. Yup they had kids. It's been a while.

Anyways, let's get on with the story. As you probably already know…

…This is Berk.

Of course, you have probably heard that plenty of times before. We used to be just another island on the back end of the back end of nowhere, which was to say that we were not noticed very much. Since then, though, thing have changed…

I'm one of the Berk's new generation. The one that was born after the dragon war, so I never really got to see what Berk was life before then, eighteen years ago. Of course, I've heard many a story of what life was like, but I've never know what it really is to be at war…

But I'm getting ahead of myself. You're lucky to be on Berk this particular day, as today is the day where, once every year, we hold a very unique event, one that you cannot find anywhere else in the Archipelago.

The village of Berk was strangely silent that sunny morning. Normally at that hour, people would be going about their business, each doing their own individual jobs that made the village function as a whole. Yet, there was not a Viking to be seen throughout the streets.

But there were several bleating, confused sheep wandering the village…

There is plenty of build up for this event, and every year, dozens of contestants enter. It's a championship of sorts, though today, of all the days, is the time when you want to be the one participating. You see, today is the final, where this year's champion will be crowned…

One particular group of sheep, bleating nervously, scurried across the central plaza in a tight group, their eyes fixed on the sky above them. They could hear the beating of wings, though the sound seemed directionless, or coming from several directions at once…

Of course, only one of the sheep in that group needed to worry. And that was the one with the target painted across its side…

Only the best of the best make it to this point, the ones who train year round for this event, for it is a sport like no other. Some people might call it crazy…

Several shadows raced over the village, faster than the eye could follow. The sheep froze for a second before the continued their nervous scramble across the open ground to find cover…

…some people call it insane…

A rumbling roar of triumph resounded, the sound of a dragon spotting it's target…

…but us. We call it….

The targeted sheep bleated in surprise as something huge scooped it clean off the ground and swept it into the air…

…DRAGON RACING!

Half a dozen raced out over the rooftops of the village, then over a crowd of roaring Vikings, each cheering for their particular favorite racer. Of those half a dozen racers, no two dragons they rode were the same. Leading the pack was the a big red Thunderpede, followed closely by two nadders, one sky blue and the other dark red. A green monstrous nightmare came next, then a spotted snafflefang, and a blue gronckle brought up the rear. The man in the lead, the large, bulky man on the thunderpede, held the poor sheep, a smug grin on his face, for with this sheep, he would be way in the lead. There was still the black sheep to consider at the end of the race, but he was confident that he would get that too.

That guy is Asmund Adolfson, the reigning champion of the Dragon Racing tournament for three years straight. But that is only because the true champion was too busy too busy to compete in years past. But this year, he's going to lose his win streak. Cause the true champion is here to steal his crown.

One of the nadders shot under the belly of Asmund's Thunderpede, then swooped straight upwards to appear in front of him. Startled by the sudden appearance of the other dragon in front, the Thunderpede ground itself to a halt mid-air.

With the sudden stop, Asmund lost his grip on the sheep, and if flew from his hands into the arms of the Nadder rider.

Yup, that's her. The true champion.

The sky blue nadder did a complete flip over in mid-air and swoop over to the scoring nest. Hanging upside down in her saddle, the rider simply had to drop her cargo inside.

Astrid Hofferson Haddock, chieftess of Berk, headmistress of the Dragon Academy, and probably the second most experienced dragon rider in the world.

Astrid let out a whoop of delight as she soared over the stands full of roaring Vikings, pausing only long enough to blow a kiss to the man sitting in the ornate chief's chair. He smiled at her in return, and waved in encouragement.

That guy there in the Chief's seat is Hiccup Haddock the Third, current chief of Berk. Obviously, since he is in the Chief spot. Anyways, ever since Stoick the Vast retired, he's been in charge of Berk, and lots of people would agree that he's changed it for the better. Thanks to him and Astrid, Berk is now equal parts home to dragons and humans.

Of course, there is a downside to having such a famous and prestigious couple married. After all, married folk have children, and those children feel like they have the responsibility of living up to their parent's accomplishments, or else they are lost in their parent's shadow.

Hiccup and Astrid have two children. One is a girl, age twelve and a half, named Erica.

And the other child…is me. Aydrien Destin Haddock, fifteen years old , and next in line as chief of Berk. With the most accomplished parents you could find anywhere in the world, and the highest standards any kid should ever have to meet. Of course, my mom and dad say that I don't have to prove anything to them, but it's not them I'm trying to prove something too. In fact, they are some of the only people that don't expect more out of me than I can realistically do.

My mom and dad love me for who I am. Everyone else seems to love me for who my parents are. One might say I feel a little bit pressured.

Anyways, I would be here at the Dragon Races today, but since I'm not old enough to compete, I don't generally show up, even for the final round. I can guess with full confidence who is going to win this year, and so instead of watching, I'm killing some time with my pal Titan…

"Ok, wrist-grappling line test ninety-two. I'm sure it will work this time" Aydrien said, with perhaps a little bit more confidence than was warranted as he braced his feet, squared himself with a huge tree and extended one arm forwards.

At the age of fifteen, Aydrien was almost a smaller image of his father, Hiccup, though where his father had been awkward at his fifteen, Aydrien was simply eccentric. In looks, Aydrien definitely favored his dad, the more rounded face, touch blond in his dusty brown hair, and blue eyes definitely spoke of his mother's side. In personality, he was said to have exactly half and half from both parents. Form his mother, he got his single-minded dedication and direct-approach attitude, whereas from his dad, he got his creativity and lust for adventure and finding out new things.

And of course, from both his parents, he got the attitude of 'Anything worth doing is worth giving everything you got. Or it's not worth doing.'

That one was actually more of something he had acquired than something he had been born with, but, well, Aydrien had taken it to heart.

What made Aydrien stand out the most, however was his sense of fashion, or rather, lack there of. No son of Hiccup Haddock went anywhere without at least a dozen whacky gadgets attached all over his outfit. Having taken a que from his father's flight suit, Aydrien had set out to create an even more multi-purpose suit.

Which was one of the reasons he was here today.

"You ready, Titan?" Aydrien called.

A rumbling snort came from the direction of Aydrien's dragon, not so much a response as a sound of annoyance that his nap had been interrupted.

"Suit yourself, bro." Aydrien called "It will work this time. You'll see."

Titan made no sound of response this time, and his silence spoke volumes.

Aydrien sighed. Thanks for the encouragement.

He made sure he set his feet again properly, and aimed his right arm straight for one of the lower branches on the tree he was facing. On his wrist was mounted his latest contraption, a device that would propel a grapple and a line out to wrap around a target, then retract and pull it towards him. Granted, it wasn't exactly a new invention, for his father had already made a similar device that fit nicely inside a shield, but the design Aydrien had created was a lot more compact and easier to carry around than a bulky shield.

Still, this was the ninety second design. That meant it hadn't worked ninety one times before, and the chances of it working this time…

Aydrien shook his head, as if to clear the doubts from his mind, the press the trigger on his wrist.

Off went the hook, the line trailing gracefully behind it as it arched through the air. It went over and past the branch Aydrien was aiming for, then fell across it, winding itself around till the hook was securely attached to the tree.

"It worked! Did you see that, boy, it worked! Now, for the next paAAARRRT!"

Aydrien's sentence was cut off as he push the button that would cause the line to retract and snapt the branch off of the tree, and it turn out that that branch was considerably more sturdy that Aydrien had anticipated. Instead, of pulling it towards him, it pulled him towards it. And none too gently either.

Aydrien was actually swept off of his feet and sent flying towards the tree.

There was a burst of pain in his head, and everything went dark.

He woke up ten minutes later with a large bruise and a searing headache. And standing over him, with an expression that could only be described as positively smug, was Titan, his dragon.

Titan let out a snort, and there was only a single phrase to describe the look on his dragon's face.

I told you so.

Despite his name, there was nothing particularly large about Titan. He was a Shield Glider dragon, a distant cousin to the more aggressive and vicious razorwhips, which only grew to be a little larger than his dad's night fury. They both shared the metallic, reflective scales and barbed tail with their razorwhip counterparts. But there, the similarities ended. Shield glider's were of a stockier build, and a more arrow shaped snout, lacking the horn protruding from the tip of their nose. Their wings were also larger, relative to their body, and also served as their primary defense mechanism, for the outer faces of those wings were tougher than iron shields, able to deflect, swords, axes, and arrows with relative ease. A more defensively orientated version of the razorwhip, one might say. What they lacked in sharp edges and viciousness they made up for in their impregnability.

Of it wasn't physical features that gave Titan his name, but rather his personality, specifically his ego. Titan never failed to respond to an insult. He never failed to have the last word in any argument.

And he never, ever, ever, missed a chance to rub something in someone's face when they screwed up. Just like he was doing right now.

"You know, maybe you could get a girlfriend if you were not this smug all the time." Aydrien said.

Titan cocked his head, his expression turning to innocence, as if he did not understand.

Aydrien sighed again. Whatever they said to one another (or rather, what Aydrien said to his dragon), they both knew it was just harmless banter. They were really best of friends, after all, and they did nearly everything together. Granted, Titan didn't talk, Aydrien could understand him enough to get at least rudimentary messages out of the shield glider.

Coming from a family of dragon riders had its perks.

"Well, I know what you are thinking, but I'd say that that experiment was a success. So long as I just ease up on the tension of the pull a bit, I should be able to make it so I don't get pulled towards anything I get attached too, and I we will be good to go! What do you say."

Titan huffed, then rolled his eyes. He didn't really understand why his human loved dabbling in those ridiculous gadgets, especially when they were obviously so dangerous. If he kept this up, Titan would be looking or a new rider before long.

Not a pleasant prospect.

"Alright then" Aydrien continued, winding the grappling cord back up into the wrist shooter. "Back to the shop it is."

But Aydrien never made it back to his shop at the forge, where he liked to tinker and toy with all the gadgets he made. He was halted in the middle of the village plaza, nearly crashing into great-uncle Gobber along the way. He told Aydrien that his parents wanted to see them to moment he got back.

That sounded a bit ominous. If his parents had wanted to talk with him about something, they probably would have just waited until he came home for dinner and bed that evening, only a few hours away. Whatever it was that they wanted, it had to be urgent.

And so, Aydrien and Titan swung round, making a beeline for the Haddock household.

For the family of a chief, it was not a very prominent or outstanding house-which was to say, it looked pretty similar to all the other houses on Berk, both in size and basic design. In some other tribes he had visited on official business with his family, Aydrien had seen many chief's houses that were far more ornate and furnished than those of their people, a measure of their status and wealth. But his parents were not like that. Being chief didn't make his father feel like he was better or deserved more than anyone else in the village. Astrid held a similar view, and lots of people said it spoke well of the.

Aydrien opened the door and walked inside.

The house might have been a tad small for a family of four, plus Stormfly, Toothless, and Titan, but it made up for it in coziness. Berk was cold year round, and so there was almost always a fire blazing within the small hearth at the corner. The main floor was divided neatly into a living room and a dining area, while the upstairs had all of their bedrooms.

Currently, Aydrien's parents were both sitting quietly the dining room table, and they both turned immediately upon hearing the door open.

"Aydrien" his dad said, his voice calm, relaxed, and even, giving away nothing "Can we talk to you."

Aydrien bid his dragon good-bye as he closed the door behind him and moved to take a seat at the table. He could tell immediately that his parent's had not called him because he was in trouble. In fact, they each seemed to be wearing a ghost of a smile, as if waiting to unveil some big surprise.

"Aydrien" his mother began. "We wanted to talk to you about this sooner, but we didn't know whether it would all work out at first. As you know, every year, I take in students to train at the Dragon Academy."

"Ok" Aydrien responded tentatively. He had come up with several theories as to why his parents had wanted to see him, but he was drawing a blank on this one.

"This year, we are doing something different. Every year before I've just been teaching students who are from Berk, right? So this year, were taking on students from other islands. They all have dragons of their own, but they are all still fairly inexperienced."

"And… you want me to help train them, or something?" Aydrien guessed.

His mom laughed.

"No, Aydrien. We want you to be part of the class."

Aydrien's mouth dropped open.

"Bu…what? I kinda thought….you, know, with you guys as parent, that I could…you know."

"Skip your training." Hiccup chuckled. "Well, you mother and I talked about it, and we thought it would be good for you. It's true, you will probably are going to be ahead of the other students to start out, but there is a lot you don't know that you could be better taught while with a group. Also, you are fifteen now, and Odin knows what is going to happen if we leave you to your own devices for too long."

"And" Astrid added "it's going to be with kids around your age. It'll be fun."

Aydrien wasn't so sure. Despite what he said, he knew that there was lots about dragons he had yet to learn, and he wanted to learn more from his mother, one of the greatest dragon masters alive. Reading the book of dragons was one thing, but getting first-hand experience at the academy was a whole different matter. Especially since the Book of Dragons never seemed to be up to date anymore.

Still, the idea of working with other kids his age was…less than reassuring. He was great with really young kids, and could handle himself decently in front of other adults, but with teenagers? That was definitely a whole other story. He had never meshed will with the other boys of his village, and, Odin forbid there be teenaged girls in the class.

Aydrien was confident about his skills in lots of things, but when it came to girls, he was pretty hopeless.

"If it really makes you uncomfortable, we won't force it on you" Hiccup said, seeing Aydrien's hesitation "But we want you to give it some honest thought. It's a great chance to make friends with people your own age. It doesn't start till a week from now, so you have some time to think about it."

Astrid and Hiccup were smart parent. They knew if they didn't try to force the design upon Aydrien, or didn't try to make it for him, he would be more likely to accept. That was the way with the stubborn Vikings of Berk, after all. The more you pushed them, the more Aydrien pushed back.

So they didn't mention it for the next several days. They knew Aydrien was not the kind to act rashly when time was given for him to think.

And so, Astrid was not surprised when Aydrien approached her two days later, saying he would join the new class, or at least try it out for a little while.

Aydrien was just hoping he wasn't going to make an embarrassing mistake.

On an island not so far away, a single figure stood, staring in the direction of Berk. Though she could not see it, she knew where it was, and she was eager to be there soon. There was little she wished to hold onto from the past.

A low, gently growl came from the direction of her camp. It was bestial, but friendly in an odd sort of way

"Hush, Nightsound. I'll be there in a second."

The girl breathed in the cold night air, then let herself slowly exhale, a grin stretching across her face.

"Hope your ready, Dragon Academy. Cause I'll bet you've never had a student like me before…"

Still, a tiny part of her was nervous at the prospect of going back into civilization. She had been forced to leave the place she had called home, and had been wandering ever since. Now, it seemed as if those days of wandering were at an end.

Aurora just hoped she was not making a mistake.

And there we have it. Prologue of over 4000 words! I'm just on fire this week with how much writing I'm putting out, compared to what I normally do. Granted, for some people that kinda thing is average, or less than average for a chapter.

I would also like to mention that I want to get the audience more involved in this story than the last one. I have already asked for OCs a while back to use as the main characters, but I want to take it a little bit further. I still have all the OCs who were not used, maybe to make guest appearances, and I would absolutely love if you guys came up with ideas for new dragons that could be used. Unlike the last story, this one is going to be in a more 'episode like' fashion, as in there will be a series of smaller adventures that fit together in a bigger picture, similar to a TV show. SO if you have an idea for an OC, human or dragon, or even one for a unique 'episode' send it in, and I will see about fitting them into the story.

Review, follow, and favorite, and as always, have a good one.