I'm so glad you guys are enjoying this story! I'm sad to say we only have a little left, but I'll try and make it good! I apologize in advance for the cliffhanger at the end...
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Hiccup hadn't heard from Astrid is two weeks and he would be lying if he wasn't worried. He tried to tell himself that she probably didn't have anything to tell him, but he couldn't his worry off.
He couldn't help but think that something had happened, Drago had found out, or maybe Drago was on his way now. He knew he'd been the one who'd been so sure of himself. He had been the one who had insisted they try and negotiate for peace. He'd been the one who'd been so overconfident in his abilities and those of Berk's dragons.
But when they'd gone to speak with Drago directly, all of that had gone through the roof. They'd been captured in minutes, taken in, and proclaimed prisoners. It wasn't until Astrid had showed up looking calm, quiet, reserved, and nothing at all like the confident and proud Viking he'd seen on Berk. Everything she said was what she should have said, but they sounded completely unlike the Astrid he'd come to adore.
She sounded defeated, anxious, and meek. It was like she was walking on eggshells around him, knowing that one wrong step could mean the end for them all. It wasn't until Drago had left them alone, that she returned to normal. She'd let them have it, and he'd breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn't gone, and she was still the brave Astrid he adored. He only hoped she would still be here for him to show her just how much.
Toothless nudged him and he chuckled," What's wrong, bud?"
Toothless just grinned and crooned up at him mischievously and batted him playfully. He laughed," Are you really going to do this, bud?"
Toothless laughed, too, and was about to tackled him when he turned his attention behind him and sneered menacingly.
Hiccup frowned and turned," What's wrong...what are you-"
There before them were huge ships nearing Berk. They looked every bit as menacing you would expect from such a dangerous man. Drago was serious, and now Berk would have to prove just as serious if they wanted to make it out alive.
Hiccup brought out his sword, mounted Toothless, and sighed grimly," Well, bud, might as well go see what he wants..."
Toothless growled, but took off and together they joined the rest of Berk who had stopped whatever they were doing to face whatever Drago had in store for them.
Astrid hadn't felt the ship move in quite sometime, and she had an awful feeling in her gut. It could've been her ribs, which were most definitely cracked, or it could've been the bruises, or she could just be suffering from blood loss. Whatever it was, she didn't like it. They must be near Berk, and if they were, she didn't know why Drago hadn't just killed her already. She had betrayed him, she should be dead.
Unfortunately, that meant that Drago most likely had other plans for her. Plans that were most definitely worse than death.
Eret had tried to take the chains off of their hands, but had been very unsuccessful. Without something sharp, they weren't moving. Even if Astrid could have mustered enough strength, she still wouldn't have been much help. Her head was pounding, and she was just barely hanging onto consciousness. Eret had made it a very irritating point of making sure she was still awake.
She knew enough from Gothi that she most likely had a severe concussion. She also couldn't afford to lose blood, but there wasn't anything she could do. She didn't give herself long before she passed out.
Just as she was about to close her eyes, she felt a painful jab in her ribs and Eret's voice calling out to her," Astrid! Don't close your eyes, lass!"
She would never admit to it later, but she whined pitifully," But it hurts so much...I'm-I'm just going to close my eyes for a little bit...until-until-"
Then they were met with a blinding light that came flooding into the dank dark cell they had been placed in. A terrifyingly familiar voice called out in strangled alarm, "Astrid!?"
She managed to open her eyes enough to make out a hazy silhouette of Drago who was looking at her like she had grown dragon scales or something equally as alarming," What's wrong with her?"
She didn't hear an answer, and couldn't bring herself to answer it, either. He didn't like this, he didn't like much of anything really, and he grabbed her violently. Her ribs protested and she was brought back out of the fog. She felt cold. So very cold, but she looked up at Drago's face.
He was frowning, and she couldn't be sure in her hazy mind, but he almost looked concerned. The concern was gone as soon as it had appeared, but he still picked her up with more care that she had expected. Someone had grabbed Eret, and she was brought to one of the chairs that had been on deck before.
She lifted her head and, sure enough, there was Berk. They were right by the docks. There were dragons, people, and while she couldn't see him exactly, Hiccup.
Drago sneered down at her," Do you want to get him or should I?"
She tried to move, but it hurt so much. She managed to push herself up as she summoned any and all stubborn Viking demeanor she had in herself, and she came face to face with him.
"And just what do you want with him?" she asked in a surprisingly stronger voice that she would've expected, considering.
Drago might have thought so, too, but he only narrowed his eyes at her," You know why, Astrid. And now you can either get him for me or I'll have my men get him and then-"
She cut him off," I'll go."
He looked at her suspiciously," And how exactly are you supposed to do that?"
"On Stormfly," she said shortly and made a move to walk away, but he caught her arm sharply bringing tears of pain to her eyes.
She blinked them away as he snarled," You do realize that beast is gone, right?"
She tried her best to keep her vision clear and said nothing as she made her way over to the side of the ship. She ignored Drago's angry calls and pushed herself up to the side and then very clearly called out," Stormfly!"
There was no sign of her and she could vaguely hear Drago storming over behind her, and then as he reached her, Stormfly made to sweep her off of the ship. She would've succeeded, if she hadn't chosen that moment to promptly pass out once more.
Hiccup had made his way over to his parents where they were already anticipating Drago's next move. He didn't know what was next, but he felt uneasy. In the sense that he knew there was a certain purpose or vendetta against Berk as a whole. He knew what had become of other islands, and entire villages across the Archipelago, and he prayed to the Gods that Berk wouldn't be next.
Astrid hadn't sent them a heads up, like she had for everyone else, and that terrified him the most. Not the massive army of caged dragons on ships, not the swarm of angry men aboard those ships, and not even Drago, himself. What terrified him the most, was not knowing what had become of Astrid.
He was tempted to circle the ships in the hopes of seeing her, but knew that would be stupid, and unnecessary. He had to play his cards, right, and trust Astrid would be okay. She was strong, stronger than most. He would do it for her.
Stoick looked at him," Did Astrid send word of what to expect?"
He shook his head frowning grimly," I haven't heard anything from her in weeks."
Stoick tried to not look disappointed, but it crept into his face, anyways," I see..."
Gobber pointed at a bubbling object, or animal, coming up to the sea's surface," You won't need to wait for long to find out..."
Out of the sea, emerged an enormous white dragon that looked both menacing and cruel. It easily knocked over half a dozen ships full of both dragons, and men without second thought. It's tusks were attached to chains and shackles which were in turn, attached to (presumably) Drago's ship. It let out a loud, ear piercing roar, and riled up the dragons left of the other ships. In the distance he could see Drago's figure, so small in the distance, mounting the dragon, and commanding him forward...to Berk... This had to be the Bewilderbeast Astrid had warned him about...the new Alpha...
Once close enough, he moved a staff he was holding and let out a long, loud, and savage sounding battle cry. It was unclear what it was supposed to do, but he then pointed towards us, and the dragons gave a loud roar, and suddenly any and all dragons on Berk started flying towards them...as if in a trance-
Toothless even started to make a move towards them and if it hadn't been for his lack of solo flying abilities would have made it...
"Toothless!" he called out after him," What's wrong, bud? What are you-"
Toothless then growled at him and he jumped back hesitantly," Toothless?"
The dragons had all paused surrounding the ships. Toothless might have joined them if he could've flown without him. A small part of him was thankful he couldn't, as awful as that sounded.
The commotion stopped as they waited with baited breath. Hiccup brought out his telescope. Suddenly he saw Drago going back on a ship. He went down and then emerged with a smaller figure in his arms. Astrid! he thought.
They seemed to be debating something when she stood and walked over to the side of the ship. He saw Stormfly flying towards her and he saw her sway as she struggled to mount her dragon. He didn't know what happened but the next thing he knew, she was falling down into the freezing waters below the ship. He didn't have to think twice before mounting on Toothless and rushing to catch her.
He managed to catch her just as she was about to hit the water. He pulled her into his arms," Oh thank, Thor, you're okay!"
She didn't respond and he panicked," Astrid? Astrid!"
She opened her eyes and blinked up at him before smiling softly," Hiccup...am I dreaming?"
"No," he said heartbroken for her and moved her a bit," You're not, but are you okay, milady?"
She whimpered and winced at the sudden movement and then he noticed the bruises and cuts all over her skin," Astrid! Who did this to you?!"
She laughed dryly," Who do you think?"
He glared at the ship in front of them," Drago..."
She nodded and then winced once more," He wants to see you..."
"Now?" he asked confused.
She nodded once more but a bit weaker," He asked me if he should get you himself or if I should. I tried to go on Stormfly, but I...it worked out either way...you're here...right?"
"I'm here, Astrid," he said trying to figure out a way to get her to Gothi as fast as possible," I'm not going anywhere."
"You might not be," she said almost deliriously and she seemed to be nodding off," But it hurts too much...I don't...I'm just so tired, Hiccup..."
He shook her," Astrid! Don't close your eyes! You hear me! Stay with me...please!"
"Talk to Drago," was all she said," Protect Berk...tell my parents that I love them...know that I love...yo-"
"Astrid!" he screamed fighting back tears.
Toothless made a questioning croon but he only said," Let's go, bud, we have to talk to Drago. Now!"
They looked forward and noticed that Drago had gotten off of the ship and he was surrounded by a lot of armored men. Hiccup refused to acknowledge them and instead glared right at Drago Budvist, himself," You wanted to speak to me?"
Drago didn't look at him and was instead looking at Astrid who was passed out in his arms. He seemed to be staring at her in concern and that only disgusted him even more. He had no right to feel bad about anything concerning Astrid anymore. He did this to her and he would pay. He would pay and he would be damned if he let anything happen to Berk, either. He had promised her.
Drago seemed to sense his growing anger and looked up at him with a sneer and a cold laugh," I see the girl managed to do something right after all."
The other men on the ship joined him in his laughter and it only fueled his animosity towards the barbarian," That's really funny, only not to us."
Toothless growled at them. Drago didn't seem fazed and Hiccup continued," So now what? You wanted to talk to me?"
He sneered at him again. That look on his face was really starting to annoy Hiccup but he stayed quiet as Drago spoke," I just wanted to see what the son of Stoick the Vast had to say before I destroyed the entire island. If he would resent his father for not agreeing to join me all those years ago. You must really hate him now."
Hiccup barely registered his dad's presence beside him if only because of the growing anger that had begun to radiate from him.
"No," he said," I don't. The only person I hate right now, is you. All this loss and destruction...for nothing. What exactly is it you even want from all of this? To become unstoppable...to rule the world?"
Drago only nodded simply but didn't say anything and Hiccup powered on," Dragons are amazing creatures who can bring people together."
That's when Drago laughed bitterly and put his staff down to remove his entire left arm," Or tear them apart."
Hiccup looked at the lumpy stump of what was left of Drago's arm as he continued," I know what it's like to live in fear, to watch as my village was burned to the ground, my family taken from me, but even as a boy, left with nothing...I vowed to rise above the fear of dragons, and liberate the people of this world."
"Then why a dragon army?" Hiccup asked not believing what he was hearing.
"You need dragons to conquer other dragons," Drago retorted condescendingly.
"Or maybe you need dragons to conquer people. To control those who follow you, and to get rid of those who won't," he said looking at Astrid who still hadn't regained consciousness.
Drago only laughed," Clever boy, but Astrid did this to herself."
"I'm sure she beat herself up until she passed out," Hiccup said bitingly.
Drago glared at him," She knew who I was, what I was capable of, and yet she still defied me. Time and time again. I was forgiving, and she betrayed me. Traitors must be punished. No matter who they are to me."
"She did it to save the people around her!" Hiccup said glaring at him," She did it for those who want peace. Those who have the answer back on Berk. The place you stole her from. If you had just listened to her, you would've been able to see. Let me show you why she did it and-"
"No, let me show you," he said and then let out a battle cry.
Out of the water the Bewilderbeast rose out of the water. It was dirty and scarred and angry. It was in chains and completely at Drago's beck and call. Drago moved his staff around and them pointed at Toothless who still had Astrid on his back.
His eyes started to become mere slits compared to his usually fully dilated pupils. He started to growl and snarl and seemed to be fighting an internal battle all by himself. Something seemed to take over because all of a sudden he threw Astrid off and made a slow but menacing start towards him," Toothless?"
He was just greeted by another snarl and Drago's dry laughter," Bud? Come on! Snap out of it!"
No response but the white dragon's eyes seemed to be fully concentrating on him. He turned back to Toothless in time to see his ready to blast him," Toothless! No!"
He waited for the inevitable but it never came. It happened too fast to register but suddenly he was pushed aside by a familiar blonde who screamed," Hiccup!"
"Astrid! No!" both he and Drago yelled.
Again sorry, but I hope you still liked it, things are getting interesting...