OKAY, so right now my fanfiction account is glitching a little bit, but I just wanted to say that the cover for this story was made by the incredibly awesome TheLastNightFury777. The Cover to "Animal House" was made by the same user. The cover for "Remember Me" was done by the super fantastic silverwolvesarecool. I cannot draw, so any covers you see are not done by me. :D Thanks to all you amazing people, shout-outs next chapter! :D
The Outcasts were absolutely insane. And even that is an underestimate.
I ducked as an Outcast swung an axe at me. My right arm hurt like crazy, but I ignored it. In war, you have to expect to feel pain. Because if you aren't expecting it, when it finally does come, you will be taken back, giving your attacker a distinct advantage.
And so as the weapons clashed against each other, the dragons roars echoing down the long tunnels as Berkian fought Outcast, I waited for what I knew would come.
Alvin came at me first, because I was who he wanted. If he had me, then getting the others wouldn't be too much of a problem, if he even wanted them. He had said in the note that he wanted me, but of course, he was treacherous. His word meant nothing.
"You're going to regret not taking my offer, Hiccup!" Alvin threatened as he swung at me with his sword.
"Uh-huh," I said. "Yep. Sure."
"Don't act so smug, Dragon Conqueror," said Alvin, parrying with me. My dagger was small, and suddenly, I felt pathetic against Alvin, but yet, I fought on. "We'll see how smug you act when you watch Berk destroyed right before your eyes."
"Really?" I asked with fake interest. I didn't even try to hold it back. "That'd be a sight. You destroying Berk...never gonna happen, Alvin, you know that."
"Why, certainly," said Alvin. I knew he was being sarcastic the minute he opened his mouth. I knew how to catch sarcasm; I used it every so often. "You know, your sarcasm rubs off on someone quicker than a Speed Stinger runs to catch its next meal," said Alvin as he laughed as he swung at me once more, parrying. "Speaking of Speed Stingers," said Alvin, "I have a few of them here. Maybe if you train them, I'll let you go."
"Pfft," I rolled my eyes. "Of course you'll let me go, and I have both my feet. You don't want to let me go, Alvin. You want me to stay here forever, where you can torture me for the rest of my life."
"Clever boy," said Alvin. "But Hiccup, that's exactly why I can't let you leave."
"Right, right, been through this before," I said. "Toothless, please finish him for me."
Toothless came up from behind me and pounced Alvin, pinning him to the ground. Satisfied, knowing the dragon had the upper hand, I turned and ran to help Astrid and Snotlout.
"This is your plan, Hiccup?" Astrid said, knocking an Outcast off balance with her stick as she spoke.
"Yeah," I said, parrying with an Outcast soldier. "Pretty good, huh?"
"No, actually, it's not," said Astrid.
"And if you think this one is bad," I said, "wait until you see my plan for getting out of here."
"Sounds dangerous," said Astrid.
"Love it!" shouted Snotlout.
Spiritflash roared and lit the corridor with his lightning. Outcast soldiers were blown off their feet, tumbling to the ground left and right. Stormfly and Hookfang were taking care of the ones who were still conscious while Toothless fought off Alvin.
Actually, Toothless finished off Alvin. The Outcast leader laid unconscious (probably not dead) on the floor, his soldiers taking a moment to stare in shock.
"GO, GO, GO!" I shouted, pushing Astrid and Snotlout towards the top of the tunnel. They ran with little to no hesitation, flanked by their dragons and soon after, me. The remaining Outcasts charged with a scream of fury as they ran after us, gaining on us quickly.
I turned around, facing the soldiers. I made a promise to myself at that moment, that if they caught up with us, I would fight, just to make sure Astrid and the others got out safely. I turned around, just as Snotlout and Astrid, followed by Toothless, Hookfang and Spiritflash, made it to the top of the tunnel, just about to run out.
Astrid suddenly noticed that I wasn't making a move to follow.
"Hiccup, come on!" she shouted.
"I can't, Astrid!" I shouted back to her. I could hear the footsteps of the Outcasts, pounding against the floor of the tunnel, echoing off the walls, their war cries ringing in the same way. Their shouts rang through my ears, worsening my headache, not that I cared at that moment. "It's me they want! If they have me, you can escape!" I called to Astrid, Snotlout, and the dragons.
"What are you talking about!?" Astrid shouted, almost angrily, although I thought I had heard her voice crack on the last word. "Get over here, you idiotic Haddock! We can still escape, with you!"
There wouldn't be enough time, I knew that already, and I knew that Astrid did as well. I couldn't run to the top before the Outcasts overcame me. I had to hold them back long enough for Astrid, Snotlout and the dragons to escape.
"RUN!" I shouted to my friends. "THERE'S NO TIME! GO!"
"NO!" Astrid yelled back.
"GO, ASTRID!" I nearly screamed. The Outcast footsteps were getting louder and louder...they were coming up on us, and fast. Soon, it would be too late, for any of us...none of would escape if Astrid and Snotlout didn't get out of there right then. "NOW! HURRY! GO WITHOUT ME, NOW!"
"Astrid, we have to go!" said Snotlout. He was my cousin. He knew there was no reasoning with me once I got my mind set on something.
"If you die, Hiccup…" Astrid threatened, "...so help me, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, I will kill you."
"Duly noted!" I shouted back to her. The Outcasts were practically on me now. I only had a few seconds before they got there, and I would be forced to fight. "Now go!"
As Astrid, Snotlout, Hookfang, Stormfly and Spiritflash turned and ran off, Toothless ran and stood behind me, growling, his teeth unsheathed and set for the ready. I stared at the area ahead of us, just as the Outcasts started to show themselves.
"Let's get 'em, Toothless," I said.
And we charged.
