#botgd eu

A letter arrived on Peaceable Island addressed to Seasick a little over a year and a half after the War's conclusion. It was sealed with mahogany colored wax with an emblem of a phoenix wearing a crown in front of a decorated shield with crossed swords.

@asha-the-viking

July 1048

It had been two months since Ragnarok ended and since the Grounded Dungeon Rebellion was released from their bunker once Hel informed them that she had won the war. The rebels moved on from their spot in the Everglade and set out to start lives anew or to resume their lives from before the Rebellion. Once she and King Haddock formed plans for her to continue her position, Lady Grey Bergman took her Night Fury, Shadow and led her best friends, Greg, Warren, their young daughter Lila, Asha, and her young daughter 3-year-old Siri back home to Haligan Island.

Upon returning, Grey reunited with her parents, Sven and Ingrid and her uncle Einar along with the rest of the village. She introduced them all to her unofficial adoptive siblings, Greg, Warren, and Asha and her nieces Siri and Lila. The Boomerang Squad settled into life on Haligan Island after that. Greg and Warren settled into their own house with Lila. That of course left Asha and Siri. Once Grey explained her situation to her parents, Sven and Ingrid welcomed Asha and Siri to live with them with open arms.

Ever since then, Asha and Siri had been living in the Bergman household and had been sharing Grey’s room with her and Shadow.

One morning in July 1048, Grey found herself waking up early that morning and getting ready for the day before walking out of the makeshift changing space in her room. She loved having Asha and Siri as roommates. Shadow immediately jumped up to greet her rider and sister.

It had been 6 months since the war had ended. The Sovereignty was rebuilding and growing relationships and peace had fallen over Aidorin and especially Haligan Island. So it was quite a surprise when a scout burst into the great hall in a panic.

Continued from here

Grey nodded as she stared at Ai and then scanned her surroundings. Brandt and Shadow were behind her. A handful of her men were in the air on their respective dragons, but…at the same time, Grey realized that she was on Ai’s turf. She was on Ai’s ship…in the middle of the ocean…with a puddle on the deck…a puddle and ocean water that could be used against her should Grey attack.

Grey wanted to attack her. Grey wanted more than anything to bring Ai in once and for all, but…Jugen’s words rang in her mind…

"If you have an air tight plan, or a fight worth fighting again Ai, then by all means let her have it. But...don't let pride trip you up again. You don't have to make up for losing to her. You don't have to prove that. You only have to safeguard your people, including your family. Take her down. Even if it means using people and resources that forgo your chance to claim the glory or satisfaction of a rematch."

It pained her to say…she didn’t have an airtight plan. She was in the exact same spot, that got her captured in the first place all those months ago. Not to mention she, Brandt, Shadow, and her men were far from home…about 3 hours. Could she really take such a huge risk all for petty revenge? She steeled herself.

Of course not.

She realized what Jugen meant. He didn’t mean to just take whatever Ai threw at her lying down. He meant to use other resources to take her down…to stop her from committing further violence. If she were to attack now or even attempt to make an arrest, when Ai claimed to not have known where they were, which Grey didn’t believe one bit…it could lead to disastrous results. She would appear vengeful…and foolish for risking her husband, dragon, and men’s lives.

“And sometimes knowing the enemy better...is knowing when they are just out of your league."

At this moment, Ai was out of Grey’s league. So…she took a deep breath and stood up.

“Perhaps,” she said, “but like I said, loyalty goes a long way.” She then turned to her husband and her dragon. “I’ve kept you long enough, Captain. I’m sure you’ve got a lot of ocean to cover today.”

(five months after Grey’s Coronation--October 29, 1050)

@asha-the-viking

The sun shone brightly over the Frelbjorn Sea. The waves were choppy, and the wind was quiet strong, which was great for one small ship that was sailing toward Haligan Island. Einar, brother of the late Sven Bergman and the uncle of the newest Chief of Haligan Island, took in a deep breath taking in the scent of the salt water. 

“Something tells me we’re getting closer,” a young man said from behind Einar.

“Oh yes,” Einar said, “and from what I can see, my niece has been doing well keeping things under control.”

“I’m sure she has,” the young man, 27-years-old with brown hair and hazel eyes, said as he adjusted the sails. “I can’t wait to meet her.”

The Chief of Haligan Island and her Night Fury soared above the ocean that surrounded the island cheering the whole time. 

“Nothing like a nice morning, huh, girl?” Grey said to her Night Fury.

Shadow crooned in affirmation. 

(November 11, 1060--Takes place a few hours after This Land is Ours)

Grey could feel her eyes burning from the tears she cried ever since she found Greg, and then of course she had to inform Warren what happened. Then Warren had to tell her children, of course, and then of course, the rest of the family had to be informed. Then...of course, when the initial shock and raw emotions settled down, there was the funeral that still needed to happen. The Chief and Warren agreed that there was one other person, who still needed to be present for the funeral. So, Grey asked Nala to send for Seasick, to which the demon agreed. 

So, while Nala took off to inform Seasick, Grey oversaw the preparations for Greg’s funeral. They found a bare ship and rested Greg’s body on a wooden platform before placing a blanket over it. Brandt gathered the remaining arrows for the fire, while Grey’s mother, Ingrid started a fire. As Grey watched Greg’s wife and kids give him one last goodbye, Brandt came up to her from behind placing a hand on her shoulder. 

“We’re almost ready,” he said. 

Cassandra: Are you ready?

Eugene: I’m ready?

Guards: We’re ready!

Everyone: We’re ready! 

-”Ready as I’ll Ever Be” (Tangled: The Series)

This serves as a sequel to this sketch I made a while back.