Chapter 4: The Fire Swamp
Hiccup and Iris entered the terrible Fire Swamp.
But you know, it really wasn't any worse than any other dark, dismal, damp, dangerous swamp infested with monsters.
"Hmm, it's not bad here." Said Hiccup. Iris gave him a confused look. "Well I'm not saying I'd like to build a summer home here, but the trees are actually quite lovely." Iris still looked at him. "Let's just get going."
They did, but before they had even taken two steps there was a popping noise, followed by a flame jumping up out of the ground.
The flame caught the bottom of Iris's dress on fire, and Hiccup immediately sat her down and swatted at the flames until they were out.
"Well, that was an adventure, wasn't it?" He said. "Singed a bit, were you?"
Iris shook her head in response. "What about you?"
"I'm fine, but my gloves are a little worse for wear."
Iris smiled as cheerfully as she could as Hiccup helped her back up.
The two began walking again.
Hiccup heard the popping sound again and easily moved Iris out of the way of another spurt of flame.
"One thing I will say," Said Hiccup. "This place certainly keeps you on your toes." Hiccup gently led Iris through an even darker portion of the swamp. "This will be nothing but a happy memory soon." He encouraged. "Because the Dread Pirate Drago' ship "Revenge" is anchored near the other side of the swamp. And I, as you know, am Drago."
"But how can that be?" Iris asked. "Drago has been marauding for 20 years, and you only left 5 years ago."
"I'm often surprised at life's little quirks myself." Hiccup heard another popping sound and stopped to move Iris out of the way of another flame. "You see, what I said about me saying please was true. It intrigued Drago, as did my descriptions of your beauty."
Hiccup noticed some vines ahead and began cutting them away with his blade, all the while he kept talking. "Finally, Drago made a decision. He said 'alright Hiccup, I've never had a valet, so you can try it for tonight. But I'll most likely kill you in the morning.' He said that for three years. 'Goodnight Hiccup. Good work today. Sleep well. I'll most likely kill you in the morning.' It was a fine time for me. I learned to fight, fence, anything anyone would teach me. Eventually, Drago and I became friends. And then it happened…"
"What? Go on." Said Iris.
Hiccup picked Iris up and carried her over a pond of swam water. "Well, Chaos had gotten so rich, that he wanted to retire. So he took me into his cabin and told me his secret. 'I am not the Dread Pirate Drago.' He said. 'My name is Eret. I inherited this ship from the previous Dread Pirate Drago, just as you will inherit it from me. The man I inherited it from wasn't the real Drago either. His name was Oswald. The real Drago had been retired 15 years and living like a king in Destiny Islands.' Then Eret explained that the name was the most important thing for inspiring fear. No-one would surrender to the Dread Pirate Hiccup… or would they? Anyway, we sailed ashore, took on an entirely new crew, and he stayed aboard for awhile as first mate, all the while calling me Drago. Once the crew believed, he left the ship, and I've been Drago ever since. But now that we're together I'll retire and hand the name to someone else." Hiccup put Iris down once they were away from the pond and they walked side by side again. "Is it all clear now?"
"Uh…" Iris was about to respond, but suddenly she was sucked down into a sandy patch in the ground.
Hiccup immediately cut a vine to use as rope and plunged in after her.
All was quiet. There was no telling if they were alive or dead.
Another moment passed. A large dragon walked by. But still no sign of them.
Suddenly, Hiccup's hand came out of the sand and grabbed onto the vine. Hiccup pulled himself and Iris out and the two of them gasped for breath.
Once they were safely away from the aptly named lightning sand, Hiccup held Iris close to keep her from shivering.
"We'll never succeed." Iris cried. "We may as well die here."
"No." Hiccup replied. "No, we've already succeeded." Hiccup helped Iris up and the two walked together once again. "I mean, what are the three terrors of the Fire Swamp? One: the Flame Spurts. There's a popping noise before each, so we can easily avoid those. Two: Lightning Sand. No problem, you were clever enough to discover what that looks like so we can avoid that too."
"But Hiccup, what about the K.T.T.O.U.S.'s?"
"The Killer Terrible Terror of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist."
But no sooner did Hiccup say that then he was attacked by one of the giant creatures. Iris screamed as the creature pinned Shadow down.
Hiccup growled as the over-sized evil dragon bit into his arm. He punched the monster in the face, sending it flying.
Hiccup tried to get his sword, which was knocked away by the K.T.T.O.U.S., but heard Iris scream "Hiccup!" and turned to see the beast attacking her.
Hiccup grabbed the Terror by its wing and wrestled it to the ground. It rolled on top of him and bit into his shoulder, this time actually causing Hiccup to scream.
All seemed lost for Hiccup, but then he heard the popping sound.
Hiccup rolled with the Terrible Terror to the spot where he heard the popping, making sure the monster was in the right spot.
A jet of flame shot up right where the K.T.T.O.U.S. was laying, causing it to catch on fire. Hiccup took this opportunity to jump away.
Hiccup, seeing the creature charred, weak, and on the brink of death, picked up his sword and stabbed the evil Dragon and put it out of its misery.
Hiccup sighed and turned to Iris. It was over.
The two continued through the swamp, the rest of the trip comparatively uneventful.
Finally, they reached the end of the Fire Swamp.
"We did it." Said Iris, obviously relieved.
"Yeah," Hiccup replied, then smiled. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"
The two walked into the open air, grateful to be out of danger.
But their happiness was short lived, for who should ride up but Dagur and his men.
"Surrender." Dagur demanded.
"You mean you wish to surrender to me?" Hiccup asked, in that cocky attitude we all love him for. "Very well, I accept."
"I give you full marks for bravery…" Dagur continued. "Don't make yourself a fool."
"Ah, but how will you catch us? We know the secrets of the Fire Swamp, and can live there quite happily for some time. So anytime you feel like dying, feel free to drop in."
Iris looked around and noticed an archer hidden nearby.
"I tell you once again," Said Dagur. "Give yourself up!"
"It will not happen!" Hiccup replied defiantly.
Iris saw the archer load his crossbow and aim it at Hiccup.
"For the last time," Dagur shouted. "Surrender!"
"Death first!" Hiccup shouted back.
"Will you promise not to hurt him?" Iris shouted, surprising both Dagur and Hiccup.
"What was that?" Dagur asked.
"What was that?" Hiccup asked, turning to Iris.
"If we surrender, and I return with you," Iris replied. "Will you promise not to hurt this man?"
"May I live a thousand years and never hunt again." Dagur vowed, though he had a sly look on his face.
"He is a sailor on the pirate ship 'Revenge', promise you'll return him there safely."
"I swear it will be done."
Iris turned to Hiccup and they looked into each-other's eyes.
Meanwhile, Dagur turned to Alvin and whispered to him, "Once we are out of sight, take him back to Berk and throw him in the pit of despair."
"I swear it will be done." Alvin replied, with a cruel smile.
Back with Iris and Hiccup, she saw from the questioning look on his face that he didn't understand what she was doing.
"I thought you were dead once, and it almost destroyed me…" She explained. "I couldn't bear to lose you again… not when I could save you."
Hiccup was speechless.
Iris tried to speak again, but Dagur lifted her up onto his horse and rode away with her.
Meanwhile, Alvin's warriors brought Hiccup over to where the man sat on his horse.
"Come Sir," He said. "We must get you to your ship."
"We are men of action." Hiccup replied, glaring at Alvin. "Lies do not become us."
"Well said." Alvin agreed calmly, as his warriors began tying up Hiccup.
As his hands were being tied, Hiccup happened to notice Alvin's left hand.
Sure enough, he saw six fingers.
Hiccup smiled.
"What is it?" Alvin asked.
"You have six fingers on your left hand." Hiccup replied. "Someone was looking for you."
Alvin drew his sword and clubbed Hiccup in the head… hard.
Hiccup fell to the ground and everything went black.
Chaos dose not own The Princess Bride or HTTYD but she owns Iris, Hikari belongs to WingBladeWeaver1357, and Drew belongs to RedDiEnd.