Author's Note: After much deliberation I may definitely wind up tweaking areas after the release of Race to the Edge s5. As well after doing some serious research and plot bunny thinking. Meanwhile enjoy one of many of my favorite parts.
Ivar lifted his gun, aiming it at the fallen vikings before him. The pleading calls from Toothless behind him went unheard. He was finally going to put an end to his meddling niece and the beast that ruined his life once and for all. That is, till he heard a scream of anger coming from above.
Looking up, Ivar could see yet another dragon rider had come through the portal. She had leapt from her saddle. Her body arched back with her ax cocked. Ready to strike. He raised his gun up to block the ax from impact. Astrid landed between Ivar and her injured friends.
"You think you're going to stop me?" Ivar laughed, looking at Astrid before him.
She brandished her ax invitingly as she stood between him and the others. Daring him to come at her. Astrid sneered, teeth bared through pulled back lips.
With a shout, Astrid rushed at him. Ivar began using his gun as a staff. Fending off Astrid's advances. She was faster than him, and more agile. She didn't just fight with her weapon. She used her feet and hands with skill. When Ivar would block her ax, she would strike with her fists. She knew this left him open to an attack and she used it.
Ivar pulled back. Every time he blocked the ax, he was kicked or punched. He did not find it amusing to be pushed back by a viking savage. He matched her sneer as he blocked her ax again. He eyed her. Waiting. Suddenly her arm snapped back. He launched his arm. A smirk crossing his lips as he grabbed her fist. Astrid looked on, her bravery melting away as she watches on helplessly. He begins to squeeze her fist. Astrid cries out in pain as he bends her wrist back. He pulls her down before tossing her away. He then aimed his weapon at her.
"Astrid!" Renee rested Hiccup against her chest by now, watching as Astrid faced off against Ivar. She was panic stricken watching helplessly as Ivar overpowered Astrid. There didn't seem to be any chance of either of them standing up to Ivar. She watched as Astrid reached for her ax. If she withdrew her sword, it would not help her against a gun. Movement behind Ivar caught her attention. Stormfly managed to pick Toothless free from his prison against the pipes as an idea formed.
"STORMFLY! Fetch!" Renee shouted, catching Stormfly's attention. The staff gripped in her beak. With a shriek, Stormfly flew overhead. Distracting Ivar long enough to watch as the weapon dropped to Renee's waiting hand. He watches in shock as Renee gently lay Hiccup on the floor of the roof and rose to her feet.
"How… How are you holding it!" Ivar shouted in shock. Seeing her standing before him with his heavy weapon. Last he left her, she was weak as a newborn kitten. She couldn't lift a shield let alone his staff.
"There's a lot you don't know about me. Uncle." Renee spoke calm. Lightning struck the spire once more as sparks rained down around them.
"A wise viking once told me. That if I don't stand up for myself. I will never make peace with my demons." She launched herself at Ivar. She then struck the gun out of his hand in his moment of shock. It flew over the ledge of the roof to the streets below. Ivar rushed to the edge, watching as it shattered against the streets below on impact. He then turned to face Renee, growling.
Astrid looked back, seeing Renee hunched over and facing Ivar. Giving up on her ax, she turned her attention onto Hiccup. She crawled over to him, favoring her sprained wrist, she pulled him against her.
Ivar looked around. Looking for something, anything that he can use as a weapon. He then spotted the discarded ax the viking woman abandoned. He rushed to it and grabbed it.
Renee launched an attack on Ivar, swinging at him. Ivar reached up with the ax, blocking her attack. He pulled away and swung at her. Renee thrust the staff up before her, blocking the attack.
"I was also taught to face my fears. Tell it that I am not afraid of it." Renee shouted, blocking another swing from Ivar. Their weapons lock in a struggle against brute force.
"And I am no longer afraid of you." She locked eyes with him. She twisted the staff, almost knocking the ax from Ivar's hands. She used this opportunity to thrust the staff at him.
Astrid watched from the sidelines, proud to see Renee standing up for herself. She no longer saw the cowardly teen she once knew. She saw a brave viking before them. Toothless limped towards the two humans he considered family. He brushed his snout against Hiccup's pained face. Worried.
"I was also told I need to be strong. To ignore what others think of me. Focus only on what I think about myself. To know when to defend myself. And above all, believe in myself." She swiped and stabbed at him with the staff. Renee slid on a pool of rain. She made the mistake of breaking eye contact with Ivar. Who took the opportunity to knock the staff from her hands. He then took the ax and, with its wedge, pinned her against the base of the spire by her throat.
"You think that because these savages told you something, it will make you brave?" Ivar laughed as thunder rolled overhead.
"You are nothing more than a pathetic weak hiccup!" He roared. Watching as she flinched. He snickered seeing this. Proving his point. He pressed the weapon tighter against her throat.
"Ah, yes. This brings me back." Ivar grinned, seeing the pained fear in her eyes. He savored the moment.
"You bare the same look of fear and betrayal as your parents right before I killed them. And your mother. I promised her that you would be well taken care of," Lightning arced across the sky behind Ivar. Renee's eyes dilated hearing the truth. "And now I'm going to make due with that promise!" Ivar snarled. He lifted the ax into the air, readying to strike Renee down.
Something in Renee snapped. She shrieked. Her scream drowned out by thunder as she launched herself at Ivar. She rams into him like a freight train.
The sudden violence caused Ivar to stumble back. The roof, wet from rain, made it impossible for him to gain traction as Renee pushed against him with all her strength. He fell back over the side of the roof. But not before grabbing Renee by the back of her tunic. He pulled her down with him over the ledge.
"Renee!" Astrid shouted. Leaving Hiccup with Toothless, she ran over to the ledge and looked down. The boot of the ax had caught on the edge of the roof. Ivar dangled from the handle. Renee clung onto his boot desperately. Her grip slipping with each passing moment. She gasped as she looked down. Seeing a police force began swarming the base of the building.
Ivar looked down and snarled. Seeing she was still alive and clinging onto him. Ivar began to shake his foot, trying to dislodge Renee. But with each shake, he began to lose grip on the ax. Which he desperately clung to. He gave his foot one final shake and thrust Renee against the building. He knocked her hard against the building. Dazed, she lost her grip. By the time she realized what had happened, she was plummeting. The crowd below watched in silence as a figure began to fall.
"No!" Astrid cried out. Helpless to watch.
Thunderhead rounded the corner of the building. He grabbed Renee and began to return back to the roof.
"I knew you wouldn't abandon me." Renee looked up, smiling to see Thunderhead as he carried her to Astrid's waiting arms.
"Thank the Gods." Astrid sighed as she pulled Renee to safety.
"Next time I jump off a building, I better be wearing a flight suit." Renee gasped. Feeling her heart pounding from the adrenaline rush of gravity. She trembled against Astrid.
"Please! Help me!" Ivar begged. He reached up to grab the handle with his other hand, only to miss. He slid further down the shaft. A sharp gasp escaped him as he dangled in mid air.
Renee stood over the ledge, looking down at the once mighty tyrant as he begged for his life.
"Look at you… You're not brave. You're hardly a man. You don't show compassion or sincerity to those under your command like a true chieftain. You're nothing but a bully! And bullies only express themselves through fear by hurting those around them. These people never did anything to you. You're a child hurting others for your own loss." Renee spoke in contempt of her uncle as he dangled below her, wailing for his life. She watched him dangle beneath her with disgust. As much as she wanted to let him fall to his death, she couldn't.
"We should let him fall." Astrid crossed her arms over her chest.
"No. He may be a tyrant. But killing him won't bring my parents back. There's a lot of people below who would be happy to take him into custody for conspiracy and murder." Renee reached down. Grabbing onto the ax, she held a hand out to Ivar. Astrid watched. Shocked and dismayed by her choice. With a grunt, she too edged over and held her arm out for the monster that threatened her family and friends.
With their help, Ivar grabbed onto the handle of the ax with his free hand. He shimmied his way back up onto the roof. As Renee and Astrid helped him back onto the roof, a low chuckle could be heard coming from Ivar. The laughter escalated as he stood to his feet. Renee pulled Astrid behind her as she turned to face him. Pulling her blade out she held it before her. Ready to defend. Ivar cocked the ax, ready to swing at them. Only to stumble back. Fire streaked across the air above them, hitting him in the chest. The ax was launched out of his hand and landed behind the girls with a loud clatter. Unable to grab anything to stabilize himself, he fell over the ledge.
Ivar screamed for his life as he plummeted one hundred and two stories to the streets below. His body slams into one of the search lights aimed up at the roof of the building. Sparks fly and metal bends beneath the impact. Emergency responders scatter for cover.
Both Astrid and Renee rushed over to see the fate of the fallen tyrant.
"May you find your loved ones and peace waiting for you in Valhalla." Renee spoke with remorse. Watching as emergency responders began work to pull his body from the mangled debris. With a sigh, she sheathed her blade. It was over. She could finally awake from this nightmare.
Astrid looked around. Toothless and Stormfly both were guarding Hiccup. She then looked towards Thunderhead. His defiant stance and raised wings was all she needed to confirm. He was the source of the blast that protected them both.
"Once you've earned his trust, there's nothing a dragon won't do to protect you." Astrid said with pride, reaching out to take Renee's hand as she stepped away from the ledge. Renee looked up, seeing that Thunderhead was rattled. She glared at him with tiring contempt.
"That makes twice now he's killed someone to protect me." Renee sighed. Surprising Astrid.
"He takes after his mother after all." Astrid laughed.
"You mean?" Renee looked between Stormfly and Thunderhead. She looks back, surprised to see a confirmed nod from Astrid.
"Astrid…" Hiccup groaned as he came to. Hearing Hiccup, Astrid hurried over to his side.
"It's over. Ivar is gone." She announced as she held onto Hiccup's hand and helped him sit up.
"Stragglers… When the storm started." Hiccup tried to rise to his feet, only to slip. Astrid caught him in her arms and steadied him.
"We need to retrieve them." He groaned.
Renee looked back over the ledge to see authorities scrambling to clear the area. Men began entering the building in droves once they received the all clear. Her body shook as she breathed deep. She was finally free. But without Ivar. She was going to wind up in foster care. As would Helga. Her body shuddered at the thought. She then looked towards Hiccup and Astrid. Wondering. The portal drew her attention as it came into view. She understood what risks she had to take.
"No." Renee spoke up. She approached them. Taking Thunderhead's snout into her hands as she approached.
"The portal is losing its strength. I can't risk you two stuck in my time. No telling what consequences that might have on history." She said.
"But the dragons. They're scared from the storm." Hiccup looked up into the sky. Rain gently pelted his face.
"I promise to take care of them. It's time my world learns the joys freedom can bring." Renee swore as she presented her forearm to Hiccup. With his good arm, he reached out and pressed his forearm against hers firmly. As if making a pact.
"But Toothless is injured. Stormfly can't carry all of us." Astrid said, watching their dragon friend favoring his forelimb.
"Perhaps I can be of assistance?" Jet boomed, coming in to land on the roof. His dragon clutched two nets of wrangled Ivar followers in his claws. He drops them against the roof before landing.
"Just in time." Renee smiled as she then hopped on Thunderhead's back. She looked back to the access door, watching as it shook and rattled. Announcing the arrival of the armed forces she saw entering the building.
"That door isn't going to hold them back. They're not friendly after tonight's events. They're going to think WE'RE the invaders." Renee warned. Watching as Astrid helped Hiccup onto Stormfly's back before getting up behind him.
"Then let's not wait any longer." Jet stated, his dragon picks up Toothless in his claws gently and takes flight.
The group immediately took off. Renee looked back at the door to watch the door fly open as the men began flowing through the door. They exchange eye contact with her. Basking in the sight of her on the back of her dragon. She salutes them before she takes off to follow the others.
Helga watches as Snotlout soared over open ocean, coming back for her as promised. She swings Renee's bag over her back as she grabs hers. Waiting for her ride.
"You sure you want to do this? Once you're on the other side of that portal, I won't see you again." He warned. Hookfang lowered his head to allow access to the saddle.
"I'm sure." Helga affirmed as she climbed into the saddle behind her cousin.
"You'll be leaving behind an open position on an auxiliary team too. And your friends? Did you patch things up with them?" Snotlout said as they flew back towards the captured flagship.
"Yes," Helga grunted a frustrated reply. "In fact, it was Pudge and Viktor who encouraged me to go with her." Helga confirmed. Smiling.
"You're gonna miss me kicking your butt, aren't you?" Helga asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
"No!" Snotlout objected.
"You're my favorite cousin. I'm… going to miss you when you're gone. That's all!" He admitted. Growing flustered. Not use to admitting his feelings. Helga looked at him, smirking knowingly.
"You're my favorite cousin too." She punched him in the shoulder affectionately. He flinched, but smiled.
They land on the deck of the flagship and dismount. Watching as the others finally come in for a landing.
"That ghostwing is not going to last much longer. He needs to hibernate to rebuild his strength!" Jet observed as he retrieved the remaining hostages.
"You two concentrate on getting home. We'll free the ghostwing." Hiccup promised.
Renee came in to land on the flagship. Her arm extended out to Helga. Helga looked up. Renee seemed different than when she left before. Despite her visual injuries, She beamed with pride. And she no longer held herself in a submissive slouch. Her eyes revealed someone who was tired, but free. Helga rushed at Snotlout and hugged him one final time.
"Go, you've got an adventure waiting for you." Snotlout smiled as he returned the hug.
Helga pulled away and looked to him. She then turned to Renee. Grabbing her hand, Helga hoisted herself into the saddle behind Renee. She wrapped her arms around her. Renee smiled and looked to Helga who nestled her jaw against the crook of her neck. She then looked towards Hiccup.
"When we're on the other side, take this ship to the deepest trench and sink it. I don't want anything on board getting into the wrong hands." Renee ordered.
"Will do." Hiccup nodded.
"You sure you don't want to stay here, with us?" Fishlegs asked.
"As much as I want to stay, my place is there. Besides, I have some wayward friends to look after." Renee smiled.
"I hate to admit this but… I'm going to miss having you around." Snotlout admitted, pulling away after securing Helga's duffle bag to the back of the saddle. He looked up at Renee.
"We both are going to miss all of you. You all hold a special place in my heart. And I know, some day we will meet again." Renee smiled.
"Once a Hooligan, always a Hooligan." Hiccup promised. Smiling as he leaned against Astrid. Renee looked to Hiccup, nodding.
"Sorry to break up the tearful good-byes but, we need to go. Now!" Jet shouted. Eyeing the weakening portal. He beat a hasty retreat for the portal once he retrieved the last of the captives.
Renee took one final look to their friends before following after Jet.
"You ready for adventure?" Renee had asked, looking over her shoulder. She could feel Helga holding on tight to her as they neared the portal.
"Born ready." Helga confirmed. Looking back one final time as the scene melted from view.
"Think she'll make good on her promise?" Astrid asked as Hiccup leaned against her. The group watched as the three disappeared through the portal before it closed for good. The ghostwing began to lose altitude. Growing tired.
"Ruff, Tuff. Concentrate gas in the shackle's locks then spark it." Hiccup turned to the twins.
"On it!" Tuff hopped into his saddle. Waiting for his sister. The two flew towards the limber dragon.
"I have faith she will." Hiccup then looked towards Astrid.
As Hiccup expected, the shackles popped off the dragon as the twins worked to free it. Trumpeting its gratitude, it pumped its wings to stay aloft. The group watched as the lithe beast took to the clouds where it disappeared with a thunderous roar.
"We should make due on our promise." He then looked to the ship they stood on.
"The treasures on board must not reach the wrong hands." He confirmed.
"Are you… Crying?" Astrid noticed a sniffle coming from Snotlout. She turned to look at him.
"No! I just… have something in my eye. That's all!" Snotlout objected.
"It's okay. We're all going to miss them." Hiccup comforted him.
"I said I'm not, crying!" He shouted objectively. He turned and marched to his dragon where he resumed position in his saddle.
"Well? Are we going to destroy this ship or not?" Snotlout demanded.
Helga looked on with a sharp gasp at the new world she entered. Her grip on Renee tightened as she looked around. Taking in the sights of the alien world. An image came into view out of the corner of her eye. She turned to see a familiar green statue as Renee rounded it once more. Staring in wonder.
"Welcome home." Renee called back to Helga, smiling with pride.
"This is… your world?" Helga asked. Watching as they near the harbor. The city skyline comes in closer.
"This is only the beginning. There's so much more! And we're going to see it all. Together." Renee promised.
They bank and begin to dive, following Jet who took the lead. As they approach land, Renee watches. Jet approaches the wary force with caution after delivering their hostages. To see a giant carnivore land before them, and commanded by a human was an intimidating sight. They were unsure whether to open fire or stand down.
"I assure you they're harmless." Jet tried to explain as he dismounted and approached the force, his hands up above his head. They looked on, watching as Renee comes in to land beside Jet's dragon.
"Stay here. I'll come back for you when it's safe." Renee promised.
Helga grew concerned as she dismounted. She watched Renee put her hands up above her as she approached the chilling scene slowly.
"Jet's right. They're harmless. They won't attack unless they think we're threatened." Renee approached to stand beside Jet.
She winced as a helicopter hovered overhead, shining a spotlight on them. She covered her face as she looked up through squinted eyes. She glanced back, hearing their dragons growing increasingly insecure. She grew more concerned with Thunderhead. Knowing his temperament when she's threatened.
"Renee?" A bewildered voice came from the crowd. Hearing her name, Renee looked towards the crowd.
A police officer skirted the barricade and approached the two. Renee spots him, and watches. Insecure.
"Renee Marilyn Baxter?" The man repeated as he came to stand before them.
"Should I… know you?" Renee looked up, her head tilted in confusion as she approached him. She can see in his eyes, the look of disbelief.
"Impossible. Witnesses saw you die in the festival bombing. There was no body, so they marked you as deceased. Thinking you were obliterated by the blast." He proclaimed, kneeling down before her. She watched the man speak as though they knew each other.
"Don't you remember? It's me. Kevin Sutton. I use to, bully you in high school." He admitted with a pained heart. He watches as Renee stares at him. As though trying to make the connection.
She reaches up and takes his adult face into her youthful hands as she explores his features. Trying to find the young man that bullied her. She still didn't believe him. There was no way this officer that knelt before her was her bully from high school. The same bully that tormented and terrorized her.
"When I learned about what happened to you. I felt guilty. So much that I dedicated my life to making up for hurting you all those years ago." He explained.
"Years… ago?" Renee repeated. Uncertain on what year it was. She thought she was back in twenty-thirteen.
"Seven years have passed, since you disappeared. It's twenty-nineteen." He explained carefully. He could see the red trickling of blood on her neck where her uncle had tried to slit her throat. The gash on her arm that exposed muscle. And the barely healed cut on her face. He winced, taking in the sight of her injuries.
"I'm so sorry. For everything." He admitted. Realizing she had an even bigger bully than him to deal with.
"It's okay," Renee wrapped her arms around him as she buried herself against him. "I forgive you." She spoke soft. Kevin froze as she hugged him. Inhaling deep, he returned the hug.
"Stand down. They're friendly. Get a bus in here. We've got injured." Kevin called out over his com line. Renee looked over his shoulder and watched as the wall of police lower their weapons. She felt an instant wave of relief wash over her.
"What's going to happen to me now that Ivar's gone?" Renee asked with worry as she pulled away. She had no where to go and no blood relatives to take her in. She would still wind up in foster care until Jet adopts her. Or at least files as her legal guardian.
"Don't worry. I'll see to it you're boarded in a private hotel for the time being. At least until arrangements are met." Kevin promised.
Renee sighed with relief hearing this. Feeling it was safe enough, Renee parted. Returning to the dragons. She held her hand out for Helga as she approached Thunderhead.
"It's okay. It's safe now." Renee promised. Gesturing her to come. Hesitant, Helga slides off the saddle and takes Renee's hand. She looks up in time to see an ambulance backing up through the parting crowd of police. Seeing the large metal beast was an intimidating sight. She had never seen such a creature before. She gripped Renee's hand tight. Renee looks back, seeing the ambulance coming to a stop. Helga was reluctant as Renee approached the metal beast. It took some coaxing before Helga approached.
Helga watches as the paramedic inspected Renee for any further injuries. Before delicately stitching up her wounds. Renee had to fight back the pain of the needle as it stitched through her sensitive skin.
"You've got some bruised ribs. But those will heal on their own. That armor you're wearing absorbed much of the blow. The cut on your neck luckily isn't deep and doesn't need that many stitches. The cut on your arm however…" The medic finished as she tied off the stitch. She rolled up the blood soaked sleeve of her shirt and went to work stitching sliced muscle. Renee cringed in pain as the paramedic worked. She looked up, seeing Jet approach.
"It's a real mess." Jet acknowledged. Watching as the paramedic repaired Renee's arm. Helga stood as close to Renee as she possibly could. Curiosity lighting her eyes. Renee remains stoic as she looked away.
"Nine-one-one dispatch is being flooded with panicked calls about dragons. People are looting and gathering in mass to protest. Your only lifeline of staying out of the foster care system is dead. And what's WORSE, you brought a native into the future! She's as screwed as you are. She's not a legal. And if she doesn't get vaccinated, she might fall to our modern diseases. She doesn't have the bitter cold to protect her anymore." Jet berated her. The paramedic paused briefly. Startled. She listened to Jet scold the child. She resumed work noticing Jet eyeing her. Renee looked up at him. Swallowing pain as her brows furrowed.
"Thank you for summing that up." Renee pouted.
"Well. Was it worth it? Do do you think our world is ready for freedom?" Jet then asked.
"If Chief Hiccup can change his people's minds about dragons. I'm certain I can change ours." Renee spoke calmly. Turning her attention to the paramedic as she began to tape gauze over her fresh stitches.
"Then you're going to need this." Jet pulled out her book and held it up before her. Renee looked back, shocked to see he still had her journal.
"My journal? But I don't understand. It's brought me nothing but trouble." Renee objected.
"Maybe. But if you're going to try and change the world. You are going to need help. And you have the answer in here." He patted the cover. Renee slowly took the book and looked it over.
"Just one more cut to stitch up." The paramedic interrupted, reaching for Renee's face with the needle. Seeing this, Renee ducked out of the way defiantly.
"No." She objected. Leaning back out of reach.
"If you don't let me sew it up, it'll scar. You don't want a big scar to ruin your pretty face, do you?" The paramedic asked.
"It'll be a good look for me." Renee argued. Glancing towards Helga who stood at her side.
"Then at least let me clean it before infection sets in." The paramedic obliged.
Renee was hesitant at first. But eventually relaxed. Allowing the paramedic to clean the cut of any debris with sterilized tweezers. She flinched when the paramedic applied alcohol to her cut. Finished, the paramedic began to place medical tape over her neck to protect the stitching.
"Regardless, I've got some good news. And bad." Jet announced.
"More bad news?" Renee sighed.
"There's a media circus on the other side of the barricade wanting to know what happened tonight. Kid, you're famous!" Jet exclaimed. Renee moaned. She was happy being a nobody. And now here she was, at ground zero of a historic event. She then realized she was going to wind up in the history books.
"Gods… Can't you take care of the media? I don't want to deal with that pressure." Renee frowned. She stood up once the paramedic finished.
"Well, I can. But they're going to want to hear straight from you eventually." Jet defended. His shoulders rolled back into a shrug. Renee furrowed her brows, but groaned in defeat.
"And the good news…?" Renee then asked. Hoping this would cheer her.
She watched on in confusion as he pulled away. He motioned for someone to come forward. She looked out to the crowd. Then her eyes widened upon seeing her. Agnes Duffey parted through the police. The woman was seven years older. Her once greying brown hair now a silvery salt and pepper color. She hobbled forward. Renee looked down. She noticed the woman was wearing a prosthetic leg. She winced. Not remembering her having one before the bombing.
Renee slowly parted from her friends and approached Agnes. Agnes looked down at her, seeing her young as the day she first disappeared. The two stared at each other in disbelief at first. It was Renee that threw herself into Agnes' arms first. Sobbing.
"It's alright child. You're safe." Agnes promised, hearing Renee's sobbing distress. Removing her helmet, she ran her hand through Renee's unkempt hair tenderly as Renee clung onto her.
Hiccup stood before a large map that covered the back wall of the captain's quarters. Staring in awe at the expanse territories he had never seen before.
"Hiccup?" Astrid peered through the door, finding him staring in reverence.
"You're thinking about taking the map. Aren't you?" Astrid asked, seeing an all too familiar sparkle in his eye.
"How could I not? Astrid, this proves that I was right. That our world is far bigger than anyone can ever imagine!" Hiccup argued. He turned to Astrid. Gesturing to the large map on the wall.
"We made a promise to burn this ship." Astrid reminded him.
"I know," Hiccup sighed, looking longingly at the map. "What harm would it do if we take just a section of it?" Hiccup asked, looking towards her.
"It might hurt the fate's design." Astrid warned. Coming to stand at his side. She looked up at the expanse map. Understanding why he wanted to take it.
"If you want to take it, I can't force you. I just worry it might fall into the wrong hands." She explained. She knew Hiccup all too well. When his mind was focussed, he wasn't going to give up easily.
"We're approaching Niflheim's trench. It's up to you whether you take the map or not." Astrid spoke.
Hiccup watched as she parted. He looked up at the map long and hard. Torn on what to do.
"What do you think? Should I go against my word and take the map?" Hiccup looked towards Toothless who lay resting nearby. Toothless looked towards Hiccup. A powerful sneeze forced Toothless to shake his head. He turned his attention to grooming.
"Maybe it's for the best." Hiccup sighed.
Astrid turned, hearing Hiccup approaching from the captain's quarters. Toothless close behind him.
"Well?" Astrid asked.
"As much as I want to take it. It's better off at the bottom of the ocean. I made a promise. And I'm not about to break it." Hiccup admitted. Earning a reluctant smile from Astrid.
"Then we should be getting out of here. Now!" Eret spoke up as he came in for a landing on the deck.
"Niflheim's trench is home to hostile submarippers. These guys will sink this ship in less than a minute with us onboard if we don't get off. And we're quickly approaching the edge of the trench." He warned. Looking up to view Fishlegs, the twins, and Snotlout pulling the ship by rope.
Hiccup looked out towards the ocean where the blue waters grew dark. He knew the dangers of approaching this territory. He glanced down. Toothless had rubbed up against him, lowering his head to allow access to the saddle. Toothless was injured, but still willing to fly.
"Alright, let's clear the ship." Hiccup ordered. Hesitant to get on Toothless' back. Being forced into the saddle gave him the motivation he needed.
In minutes, they were airborne. Watching as the waters began to churn and lurch, forming a massive vortex. The riptide took a hold of the ship as it tottered and began to circle the current. Hiccup looked between everyone before giving the hand signal. In a brilliant display, the dragons unleashed a torrent of fire. Exploding parts of the mighty flagship on impact. Fires began to break out and soon the ship is engulfed in flames. The ship began to tear apart and disintegrate as it reached the center of the vortex.
The riders watch as the remains of the ship is torn apart and disappears into the depths of the ocean. Hiccup watches on with deep regret. He had decided against taking the one thing to prove he was right. He breathed in deep as he looked between him. He found himself smiling despite himself.
"Let's go home." Hiccup announced.
"Best idea I've heard all day." Snotlout agreed.
Hiccup glances back towards Niflheim's trench as the riders retreat for home. His mind was swarming with memories of what he'd bare witness to that morning. Of the mysteries the future he had seen. He reflected on what Renee said. About seeing her village being only the beginning. It left him wondering, what he was missing out on. Toothless glances back at him. Concerned. Hiccup reached down, patting him reassuringly.
They were going to cross paths with the child once again. He was certain of it. This was not the end.
