The Great Ghost Race: Start??

[highseasmods]

[The morning of the race is cloudy and oppressive with a muggy heat, but there’s a general cheer and anticipatory air, though everyone seems to be looking over their shoulders for someone or something. In any case, whether you are spectating or participating, the race starts off much as it did last year.

Except the announcer this year sounds a little more apprehensive? Perhaps it has something to do with the Naval Ships threaded among the participants, or some number of the crews looking dead-eyed, wearing faintly pulsing shards and staring upward at the peak of the rushing water.

This is the 111th Annual Great Ghost Race! Now, participants!]

GET YE GONE!

Comments

for Hiccup and OPEN

[fastandfuryous]

[Seems like no matter where they go, there's always SOMETHING with lots of teeth that's like a hundred times bigger than them. Taking to the skies almost instantaneously, the Night Fury and his Viking glide around, surveying the area and the large creature that's appeared.

Now how'd something like that get here without anyone finding out?]

ATTACK ATTACK

[occupational_hazard]

Will you look at this? It's like a Zippleback tied to three other Zipplebacks! Except they look a lot meaner...

[When they both hail from a world full of dragons, it's almost inevitable. Hiccup has to laugh a little, cut and dry as always.]

...Heh. I'm getting flashbacks...

[Underneath the sardonic commentary, he is a bit on edge. In fact, he's thinking the same exact thing Toothless is thinking. But considering how determined the beast is to destroy everything, they can't waste any more time.

The viking checks his helmet before shifting positions, lying flat against the Night Fury's back, hands gripping tightly onto the handle of the saddle. Fight mode engaged.]

All right. Keep clear of this thing, bud! Let's find an opening!

[fastandfuryous]

[Toothless glances back, growling in his talk-like way. He snorts something of an affirmative, tilting as he angles closer towards the many-headed thing.]

[occupational_hazard]

[Hiiiiighway to the Danger Zone!

Hiccup keeps his eyes on the heads, trying to pick out a spot as the dragon navigates the skies around it.]

They're way too active. This is gonna be tricky.

[fastandfuryous]

[The dragon growlfs in acknowledgment. Well, it's nothing they haven't done before. Besides, he can make those sharper turns at least, and he opens and closes those ridges along his back in reminder.]

[occupational_hazard]

Right, you can do that now!

[It's weird to see those ridges flap, but they have an advantage to make use of.]



Okay. Now or never, bud. Let's go!

[fastandfuryous]

[Flapping up higher a few meters, Toothless grunts in acknowledgement before he tucks into a bombing run, his mouth and nostrils glowing violet as he builds up for a fiery plasma blast.]

[occupational_hazard]

All right, all right, hold. Hold, bud...

[As they swerve, Hiccup's eyes dart over the available targets as quickly as he can. None of it is clear, but once something does open up, he jumps on it.]

Now!!

[fastandfuryous]

[He tenses beneath the Viking as they dive towards the writhing heads, waiting for Hiccup's call.

Once it comes, Toothless opens his maw to belch out a potent plasma blast, sending it rocketing towards its nearest target as the dragon continues to speed on past and then curve upwards sharply.]

[occupational_hazard]

YEAH!!

[Up they go, leaving an explosion in their wake. The dragon rider glances over a shoulder to see if anything has taken effect.]

Again! Come on, Toothless!

[fastandfuryous]

[Toothless also cranes his head about to see, his wings beating the air as he tries to get them high enough. With Hiccup's prompting, the dragon arches back and into another dive, twisting to right himself and his passenger as they made their next attack run.]

[occupational_hazard]

[The twist ends into a straighter point, cutting through the air like a hot knife through butter. His knuckles turn white as his hands steer Toothless, aiming for another spot, another opening.]

Almost...there...!

Hit it!!!

[fastandfuryous]

[And the Night Fury lets it rip, firing off another violet blast.]

[occupational_hazard]

WHOO!! GOOD SHOT!

[He jerks the saddle's handles sharply, signaling Toothless to get some distance between them and the beast.]

We'll go around. Looks like he's getting mad!

[fastandfuryous]

[The dragon swerves about again, cutting swiftly through the air. With all those heads, that's a lot of teeth to avoid, but the Night Fury does his best with Hiccup at the helm.]

[occupational_hazard]

[Like partners in crime, Hiccup does his part to help Toothless through The Obstacle Course of Possible Death. Instinct is set on high as he guides, each small movement made an important guarantee for their survival.]

[fastandfuryous]

[Just like flying through Beggar's Canyon back home- wait.]

[occupational_hazard]

[Hm.

Welp. As long as the viking is paying attention, their run has been smooth. So far.]