Dragon Master
Author; Nightstar Fury from Nightstar Productions.
Rated; M for various things that will happen.
Disclaimer: I do not own HTTYD, Brave, or any of the songs I use. Everything belongs to its original creator/artist!
Chapter 10: Captured.
It was late when he returned to camp, both Astrid and Valka were asleep. Hiccup laid down against Toothless and looked at the two of them. He could see Astrid had tear marks, she'd been crying over what he said no less. Hiccup sighed closing his eyes. 'I'm sorry, Astrid...You suffered because of me, and I can't let you suffer anymore...I'll fix this. I promise...' Hiccup thought as he closed his eyes and let sleep take over him. It was going to be a long flight back to the nest and he needed to sleep.(A/N: Referring to Ryder & Cloud as Hiccup & Valka now!)
In the morning he woke up after Valka and Astrid had, he stretched getting to his feet. "We leave in an hour." Hiccup stated firmly. Astrid nodded as Valka frowned and walked over with help from Cloud Jumper.
"Are you alright, Ryder?" Valka asked with concern. He never answered as he walked towards the castle with Toothless. She sighed climbing on Cloud Jumper's back and him walking behind. Astrid did the same silently. It took them 30 minutes before getting greeted by the king and queen.
"Ah so they were protecting this woman...all set now?" King Fergus asked.
"You won't have anymore trouble." Hiccup said calmly.
"That is great to hear. Will you be staying for breakfast?" Princess Merida asked smiling.
"You two go eat. I'll stay out here with the dragons." Hiccup ordered.
"B–but you need to eat too..." Astrid said softly with a shaky tone.
"That was an order, Storm." Hiccup said coldly, Astrid nodded as she helped Valka down and they went inside. Hiccup sat with Toothless, Stormfly, and Cloud Jumper in the grass.
"You should eat too." Toothless mumbled.
"I'm fine Toothless..." Hiccup replied. An hour later as planned, they were up in the air and flying back towards the nest in utter silence.
(2 Days Later)
It'd been two days since they left Dunbroch and no one had said a word other than Valka asking Hiccup if he was alright. He never replied nor did he make any eye contact with Astrid. He simply gave orders with his hand and both Stormfly and Cloud Jumper obeyed. The skies were cloudy and a storm was coming, judging by the suns position Hiccup had to guess it was close to 3pm. They were flying in full days from sun up to sundown, Astrid had said she wouldn't make it harder for him by needing a break in between. Valka sat on Cloud Jumper with her broken leg stretched out, and Hiccup just stayed looking forward watching the oncoming storm.
"Hiccup...we're being followed. Those ships have been following us for 3 hours now..." Toothless growled a bit.
Hiccup looked down and behind him, he recognized the insignia. Outcasts. This wasn't good. His mom had a broken leg and Astrid was in no state of mind for an attack. Before he could react a net was fired at Astrid and Stormfly. "ASTRID!" Hiccup yelled out as she screamed falling in to the water while still on Stormfly. "Dive Toothless!" Hiccup commanded, Toothless tucked his wings and dove towards the water once under he fired a blast at the net to break it open and get Astrid out. Stormfly used her tail to slice the net and got out as well all 4 of them flying back to the surface and air. "Astrid...Astrid...Come on...wake up, Astrid!" Hiccup pleaded.
Finally she coughed and spit up some water. "Wh–what happened..."Astrid asked quickly holding her head.
"You're okay now...you're safe. Are you alright to fly?" Hiccup asked quickly.
"Yes...I think so." Astrid replied.
"Let go of me!" Came Valka's voice. The roar of Cloud Jumper got Hiccup and Toothless's attention.
"Hiccup! They have your mom!" Toothless warned him. Hiccup whipped around and looked on the ship to see them hauling his mother below and she couldn't fight back with her broken leg. Stormfly came beside Toothless now as Hiccup put Astrid on her back and she held on.
"Fire Toothless!" Hiccup yelled as Toothless fired at the boat making the men let go of her, Toothless flew in close and grabbed her hand but a metal chain grabbed Toothless's tail and dragged him on deck with a hard slam forcing Hiccup to fall off him.
"Unhand me! Ryder!" Astrid had been captured again too. Cloud Jumper and Stormfly were the only two not caught. Hiccup watched as his mother and Astrid were tied up and his dragon thrown in a cage. Hiccup was grabbed and tried to fight them off but there were to man finally he let out a massive roar dragon call and the two flew away in the direction of the nest.
"At last...We have the dragon master and his Night Fury...You're losing your touch if you didn't see us coming...And you have 2 new riders...This will be fun." Came a familiar voice. Hiccup looked up to see Alvin the Treacherous and glared at him.
"Fine you have me. Let them go then..." Hiccup ordered angrily.
"No, I think we'll be keepin all 3 of ya..." Alvin chuckled. "Take them below." Alvin ordered as they were dragged below and locked in a cell. Hiccup couldn't believe this, how hadn't he noticed. He was so lost in thought he forgot to check below and behind them. His stupid actions got him, Astrid, and his mom captured. This is exactly what he'd been afraid of happening.
"Is everyone alright?" Valka asked.
"I think so..." Astrid replied coughing a bit. No response from Hiccup as he sat against the wall with his knees up and arms draped over them, his head down.
"Ryder?..." Valka asked.
"This is all my fault...I should of been paying attention." Hiccup whispered.
"Its not your fault...None of us noticed..." Astrid said now. Hiccup slammed his fist in to the ship's wall.
"Damn it..." Hiccup closed his eyes angrily.
"We'll figure out a way to get out of here..." Valka told them.
"No we won't. You can't even walk on your own and she doesn't know how to handle these situations..." Hiccup said coldly.
"You could give me a chance..." Astrid grumbled.
"No. One wrong move and it gets worse. Just be quiet and let me think for a minute..." Hiccup growled. How could they get out in this. Astrid was full of fear when captured, and his mom couldn't walk on her own. Even tricking the guards to letting them out wouldn't work because they would have to run fast and get away. More to the point, if they got as far as freeing Toothless, how would they all get away? Toothless couldn't carry the 3 of them. Hiccup sighed, this was his fault. Entirely his fault and he had to make it right. "Toothless. Are you okay? What's going on up there?" Hiccup asked now.
"Lets see...I'm locked in a cage with my mouth muzzled...How do you think its going?" Toothless grumbled.
"I know...I'm sorry...Just...try and see if you can hear what they are talking about for me..." Hiccup asked.
"I'll try..." Toothless replied. It was quiet for about 20 minutes. "They plan to torture all 3 of you on your dragon knowledge until we reach port. If nothing, the girls will be sold to slavery then you and I killed." Toothless answered.
"Great...How long until port?" Hiccup asked.
"2 weeks at least...You got a plan?" Toothless asked.
"Trying but it's not just us. My mom can't walk and Astrid will break under pressure..." Hiccup grumbled.
"What was that roar you let out to Stormfly and Cloud Jumper?..." Toothless asked.
"A distress call, any dragons in the area willing to help out to come..." Hiccup sighed.
"You think it'll be enough?" Toothless asked.
"Thousands of dragons against one ship...You do the math." Hiccup remarked. "Doesn't do any good if we can't get out of here though..." Hiccup added.
"We've made it out of worse..." Toothless reminded him.
"I know...but that was just us, not one dragon and 3 people..." Hiccup sighed again. "I'll figure something out...if nothing else...I'll get you and the girls free...I'll stay here." Hiccup said lowly.
"No chance! I won't leave you here, Hiccup." Toothless screeched out.
"I'll be fine. I'll find another way, I care about them getting out...Toothless please...do this for me...If I get you out, you take them to safety..." Hiccup asked.
"You better be alright..." Toothless grumbled.
"I will...Just sit tight bud...I'll think of something." Hiccup said. Hiccup knew it was risky but he had an idea, he'd need a few days to memorize the guard schedule. A guard came by and opened the door grabbing Hiccup by his arm and pulling out.
"Alvin wants to talk to you boy." The guard said roughly.
"Ryder!" Astrid calling running to the cell door trying to reach for him but the guard hit her hand and she cried out pulling it back. Hiccup reached his head back and whacked the guard in the face.
"Don't touch her again..." Hiccup seethed out angrily, he then faced Astrid. "I'm fine, Storm...I can handle myself." Hiccup told her firmly. Astrid nodded as she stepped away from the bars and sat with Valka sadly.
"Gods...He warned me about the things these people can do..." Astrid whimpered out. Valka held her in her arms.
"Ssh now child...Ryder will be fine...Trust him." Valka soothed.
(The Captain's Quarters)
Hiccup was shoved inside the captains quarters where Alvin sat, then forced to sit in a chair that he became quickly tied too. "Must say, its an honor to have your aboard dragon master." Alvin chuckled darkly.
"Can't say the same. Where's my dragon?" Hiccup asked.
"Safe for now. His life and your two friends lives depend on your answers for me..." Alvin got up now. "Tell me how you control the dragons." Alvin asked throwing a dagger between his feet.
"Carefully." Hiccup remarked coldly. A guard punched him only to pull back his hand angrily. "Gronckle Iron. Strongest, lightest metal around. Good try though." Hiccup chuckled.
"Take 'is helmet off, lets see who is under there..." Alvin ordered. The guard tried but it wouldn't budge.
"It won't come off sir." The guard said.
"Alright wise-ass...I ask again. How do you control your dragons!" Alvin asked again.
"Okay dumb ass, I'll tell you again. Carefully." Hiccup smirked. Alvin kicked him in the stomach making him grunt out leaning as forward as he could coughing once or twice.
"We've been through this before...He won't budge no matter what we do to him sir." The guard sighed out.
"You're right. Go get me one of those girls we nabbed." Alvin smirked, Hiccup's eyes widened now as the guard pulled him from the room.
"Hiccup! What happened, I heard you the Alvin yelling." Toothless asked.
"I'm..ugh...fine. He's interrogating...I got hit and kicked...now they're gonna question Astrid or mom...Gods that hurt..." Hiccup replied.
"I swear I'll kill him when we get out of this." Toothless snarled out.
"Easy bud...easy...we've done this before...it's okay...I just hope they hold against Alvin..." Hiccup grunted. Hiccup was thrown back in to the cell as Astrid rushed over to him, seeing him wince in pain holding his stomach.
"Alright little missy, you're turn..." Said the guard grabbing her arm. She screamed as Hiccup lifted his leg and kicked the guard away. "You're going to pay for that boy!" The guard snapped.
"Ryder...Don't let them take me...please...!" Astrid pleaded to him.
"Ssh, its okay Storm...it's okay. You're a strong woman, just remember all those beatings you were willing to take for Hiccup...You can do this. Don't show fear...I promise...It'll be okay. Be strong...for him, for yourself..." Hiccup told her panting a bit. The guard grabbed her arm again as she struggled in his grip to get free. The guard pulled her from the cell as Ryder angrily punched the floor making his knuckles bleed. "GOD DAMN IT!" He yelled out. Valka crawled over to him.
"She won't break...She won't son...Believe in her." Valka told him.
"If anything happens to her in there because I brought her with me...I'll kill everyone on this ship..." Hiccup said in a cold tone.
"I won't blame you but she won't break...She won't." Valka soothed softly.
(With Astrid and Alvin)
"Well now, who would you be little girl." Alvin asked with a smile. No answer. "I asked who you are. The dragon master never has anyone with him." Alvin said angrily slamming his fist on the desk cracking it slightly. Nothing still. She'd admit she was terrified by the large Viking before her but she had promised Ryder she wouldn't budge. "Take her mask off..." Alvin ordered. The guard reached for her mask and pulled it off without a problem. "Oh well well well...You're from Berk. That blonde who always hung with Stoick's little embarrassment, Hiccup." Alvin chuckled.
"Don't you say his name!" Astrid growled.
"Oh did we have a soft spot for the boy? Maybe we should sail to Berk and capture him? That might get you talking." Alvin snickered.
"Might have a hard time capturing a ghost then. Hiccup died 5 years ago, he was killed by dragons." Astrid huffed.
"Awe the poor lad. Stoick must of been thrilled...I'll have to pay him some late last respects." Alvin said getting close to Astrid now, she head butt him, then she spat in his face. "Alright girl, I've been patient. I want to know how to control the dragons and you're going to tell me or else." Alvin warned.
"Or else what? You gonna hit me, beat me up? Go ahead, I don't care." Astrid remarked angrily.
Alvin neared her again with a finger on her cheek, stroking it. Astrid bit him and glared intently before he backhanded her. It hurt but she fought back the tears. "Hey Alvin, why not break her in before we reach port? That should get her talking." Suggested a guard. Astrid's eyes widened as they all grinned at her.
"Not a bad idea, Savage. Cut her ropes." Alvin ordered. The guard cut the ropes on her legs and arms, as soon as she wasn't bound anymore she lifted her leg and kicked Alvin in the balls, she jumped over the back of the chair and threw it at Alvin's face, she grabbed his sword and held it out. "You can't fight us all..." Alvin smirked.
"Then I'll die trying!" Astrid yelled out as she started to fight them, she wasn't giving up. She wasn't weak, she was a fighter and she'd fight. She blocked other swords and punched a few guys unconscious. Alvin was becoming angry with this as he marched over to her, Astrid swung the sword with her eyes closed hearing a screech of pain, she looked and saw she had cut Alvin across the chest making him fall back bleeding profusely.
"Take that bitch back to the cell..." A guard ordered. They grabbed her and tied her hands behind her back after making her drop the sword.
"You'll get what's coming to you..." Alvin panted out as a warning. Astrid jerked from the guards grip and kicked Alvin in the face now before being forced from the room.
(The Cell)
"You stupid girl...Should of just given Alvin what he wanted, you have no idea what he'll do to you when he wakes up..." Said a guard in a sympathetic type of voice.
"Why do you care..." Astrid asked.
"I hate how he treats people...I'm here because I have no choice, he has my sister on another ship...I have to serve him or she'll die..." The guard stated as he opened the cell and pushed her in, she fell against the wall.
"You don't have to serve him! You can help us get away, we can help you get your sister back..." Astrid said quickly.
"I'm sorry...I can't risk her life." The guard said looking to the side.
"So you'll just let him continue to hurt people? Raping women and treating innocent people like this! How do you even know your sister is okay! How often do you get to see her?" Astrid grumbled.
"Not often...I trust his word that he hasn't hurt her..." The guard said lowly.
"They could of beaten and raped her and you'd never know! Help us...please..." Astrid pleaded.
"I–I can't...I'm sorry..." The guard walked away. Hiccup went beside Astrid instantly and hugged her.
"What happened in there. Tell me everything!" Hiccup asked with worry in his tone. Astrid only cried against him, Hiccup was fearing the worst and if it was true he would take the next chance he had to kill them all without hesitation.