Okay, I admit, I take it back. When I imagined that being in a sea of Vikings must be a lot like drowning, it sort of was for that moment in time. However, nothing compares to this awful and hopeless feeling of actually drowning.
My lungs scream for air but I'm too weak and the surface is too far away. Ironic, that this is the way I'll go. Not in glory, but saving some stupid half reptile who probably won't ever forgive me from the same insufferable fate. It's not like anyone will ever tell you these important things to know, like what it feels like to drown. Not only is it dreadfully and terribly awful it just plain hurts, and the pain is something I had not expected. This cove is a lot deeper than I previously expected and, unfortunately, I don't have the same lung capacity as a reptile. But that's besides the point, the real point is that I'm drowning and I'm not even going to get a chance to see the ending and do you have any idea how much that sucks? I mean, think about it; I go through all this trouble, I betray my tribe, I risk my life coming out here once again and I don't even die by the hands- I mean, claws- of the main enemy? How freaking embarrassing. Gods, I thought I was better than that. And I'm not even that bad of a swimmer!
I'll be honest, I don't really want to die. The concept of the whole 'eternal sleep' thing intimidates me a bit, though I won't admit it. There has to be something after you die and I refuse to accept that there isn't, that it's just a black nothingness that you're trapped in for the rest of forever, and yet my mind just can't bring itself to believe that there is such thing as Valhalla. Maybe because, how can a heavenly place exist, watching over us all, when all these terrible things are happening down below? How can our creator be so great when Odin allows Dragons to roam the earth? This isn't proof and though I'm all for jumping head first into something it just doesn't make any sense. They're all just legends for children and I am no longer a child.
Who knows? Maybe there will be something after this. I sure hope so, because my life will have been a major bummer if there isn't. Maybe, if Hiccup decides he doesn't hate me in the afterlife, we can be friends again. It irritates me more than anything about how much I'd like that.
I can feel my consciousness slipping away like stream water through my fingers, and there isn't anything I can do about it. Somewhere in my mind recognizes that the water around me is filled with this loud shrieking noise that is seriously giving me a headache but there's too much water and I can't breathe and I can't think. That same part of me realizes that it's Hiccup screaming in the water but that's only moments before it fades from my mind. Is water supposed to be this black? Isn't it daytime? Granted, it was a rather cloudy day, but it still should be daytime, and not this dark. Especially since the boat had burst into flames right before we sunk, so it definitely shouldn't be this dark.
Who honestly cares about the light? I ask in my head. All I know is that the darker it gets the less it hurts and I am sick and tired of being in pain. Hmm, nothingness is actually sounding very promising right now. Yes, I'd like that. I don't have to worry about anything else. They're all better off without me. I can just close my eyes and leave, it won't be painful…
How did things even come to this?
"Oh my gods."
Yep, that's about all we have to say as the whole flock of us come upon the scene. Asmund and the other Dragons momentarily pause their flight just to stare in awe at the sight before us. Dragons, hundreds and hundreds of them of all shapes, colors, and sizes, are flying in utter chaos in one giant tornado of colliding limbs, wings, and claws, but they still manage to fire below every now and then, picking off a few Vikings here and there. Though the Dragons are a shrieking mess it's obvious there's something ordering them around, somewhat, and three guesses who.
"How are we going to get into that?" Fishlegs exclaims nervously, a hopeless air to his tone.
I can't help but want to despair a little alongside him at our situation because, hello! Here is this giant mass of ferocious Dragons all semi controlled by a crazy Alpha species and we're just five kids with Dragons who consist of exactly one who has tasted the freedom of the skies in the past few days. We are so screwed. The reality of it settles in the pit of my stomach, making me realize just how much we're putting our lives at stake, here. Of course we're going against a greater force than us but I'm already stuck beyond help, might as well go deeper.
"Look, guys, this isn't your fault, and I understand if you don't want to help me," I tell them, my eyes trained on the swarming horde of Dragons.
"We're not going anywhere," Ruffnut responds, the rest of them nodding in agreement.
"Besides, that whole swarm of deadly, mindless beasts causing complete and utter havoc in everything they do… it's beautiful," Tuffnut slumps his shoulders and I swear his eyes water but I glare at him and wish he was in punching range.
"Not the point," I growl. "We're gonna need all the help we can get. The Dragon Queen works by tricking Dragons into wanting to help her, we've got to get through that mass to help her. Start by one section, make some noise, fire at the Dragons, get them distracted and maybe they'll snap out of it long enough to fly away. Those Dragons don't want to be here any more than we do; they fear the Dragon Queen. Let's try and help them remember that. I've got to go find Hic- uh, the Night Fury. He'll know what to do."
"Don't die!"
"Don't get eaten!"
Very helpful remarks made by my new group of saviors, if those don't fill me with confidence I don't know what will.
"Asmund, let's try the ships. I don't think they would have moved him off," I say and the large Nadder nods, soaring over the ships. Luckily, no stray fire bolts have made their way over to this area so if he is here he won't be harmed… too much. I think. I hope.
I'm starting to panic just a little because he should be here and he's not and I don't know what to do if I don't find him because, for all I know, they could have lopped off his head the moment they came to the island and if he's dead oh gods I don't even want to think about-
"A-As-str-tri-d!" Asmund cries, swooping down and causing me to yelp and immediately reach for the nearest thing to steady myself, which just happens to be my purple companion's wild mane. "T-there!"
I squint and sure enough, there's Hiccup on one of the boats. Now that the large Viking contraption isn't shifting with the weight of oncoming over-sized men, he's on his feet and desperately trying to break free of his chains but to no avail. Every now and then he'll hurl himself into the air but even if there weren't necklaces of chains choking him back he wouldn't be able to fly away. All because of me.
"Hold on, Toothless," I murmur into Asmund's hair and direct him down to hover right above the ship. Once he's low enough into a comfortable jumping distance, I hop off of his back and gracefully land on my two feet, making a loud thudding noise. Hiccup's head darts to me, his still damp hair falling in his Dragon eyes. He makes a low growl in his throat and I hold up my hands.
"Easy, Hiccup, it's me!" I shout to him above the clatter of all the shrieking Dragons and screaming Vikings.
Something shifts in his demeanor and his eyes soften, but only just. "Astrid? What are you doing here?"
I scurry over to him and slide my ax from its place on my back. "Well I couldn't just leave you here to die," I explain and set about knocking off the chains tying him to the ship. "I've got your tail."
"You shouldn't be here," he says plainly though I ignore him. Quickly and expertly, I buckle his tail in place and snap everything in place, double checking the gears to make sure they run okay and weren't damaged from the flight here. After it's secure, I pry apart one of the cuffs on his hands with a grunt and he brings it over to his still-chained hand to rub the raw skin. "I mean, you really shouldn't be here."
"Hiccup, I'm gonna get you out, okay? We're going to take care of your mom. Together. Alright?" I stop for a moment to stare back at him with a stubborn gaze, silently but firmly telling him that I'm not going anywhere.
He doesn't even blink. "No. There is no 'together'. There's nothing you can do to stop her, she's too far gone. You're not going to do anything. There's nothing you can do! What are you and a Deadly Nadder against a Dragon Queen?"
"I'm not alone," I stick my chin out stubbornly. Seriously, there are more productive things we could be doing other than arguing about stupid little things. "And you need my help just as much as you need mine."
"I've got it handled, okay?" he snaps.
I snort. "Yeah, like you've got this," I gesture to the flock of Dragons encircling the sky and the rain of fire that comes down every now and then before leaning back down to break free another chain, "handled."
"You Vikings will just get in the way," he says exasperatedly, but with a furrowed brow that I can't quite figure out. However, what he said makes me angry and I snap back up to a standing position and poke him in the chest.
"Excuse me, your royal highness Night Fury, but who is the one saving who right now? That's right; I'm risking my life right now for you because I couldn't stand the thought of you dying at the hands of Vikings or that damned Dragon Queen. And for your information, I'm not even a Viking anymore, okay?"
"Wait, what? What does that mean-"
"Hiccup, my dear," a crazed but gentle voice speaks behind us and we both break our intense staring contest and jump. I turn to find Valka Haddock… but this woman, no, Dragon, is definitely not Valka Haddock. She's not even a Stormcutter. Why is she here? What makes Hiccup so special to leave the flock of Dragons to come and talk to him?
Her giant four wings are practically the same size as her, hiding her from view every wing beat for a moment or two as she hovers above us. The gentle spikes coming from her head are now sharp and unfriendly looking, a deadly and malicious gaze in her eyes, the pupils as thin as a piece of thread. Her off white coloration has faded to a dull blueish green and the red accents are no longer an appealing color. There are no traces of what she once was- who she once was. This is not a creature I would want to engage. Her wicked sharp fangs are prominent with every word she speaks and her clawed hands outstretch with her second pair of wings. Her actual appearance isn't what's shocking, it's the simple feeling that I get from being in the very and ungodly presence of her. This is a power beyond me, beyond Hiccup, beyond an armada of Vikings. Alone, she'd be able to take us on and probably win. I take a glance at Hiccup, so scrawny and frail-looking compared to her, and I can't help but think that this is the Dragon we feared so much. He's nothing more than a boy. A brave boy, at that, one willing to growl at the Alpha species before him, but a boy all the same.
"What on earth are you doing down here? We need you in the skies," she smiles cruelly down at him and he bares his fangs. My grip on my ax handle shifts from tight to deathly. She mocks surprise at seeing me and her gaze hardens even further, though I previously wouldn't have thought that possible. Something about it makes my stomach drop in the most unpleasant way but I shove the feeling away and glare at her.
"Ah, the little halfling. You and your kind are causing me an awful amount of trouble. My Dragons are having a hard time concentrating."
"On what? You controlling them?" I spit defiantly.
She laughs humorlessly. "You are a lot more trouble than you're worth, little Viking." Flames crackle on the end of her fingertips suggestively. "You really have no idea how disposable you truly are. What a shame; nice fire. You would have made an excellent Dragon had your Nadder not been so weak. I have half a mind to show you now."
A burst of flame erupts from her hands. Yep. Fire definitely got some upgrades. The heat sears my skin for a moment and I cry out, leaping out of the way and falling backwards but immediately cursing myself when I do. Hiccup growls loudly at the threat and I hear him take a step towards her.
The Dragon Queen gives Hiccup a funny stare, something akin to confusion, if, in her state, she were able to produce such an emotion. Then, though, her eyes widen in realization of something and she cackles, sounding like she's about to regurgitate a fish or something. I turn to Hiccup for an answer but his gaze is hard and he keeps his slit eyes trained on the Dragon above us.
A few moments later, it finally dawns on me that she's laughing.
"Are you here to gloat?" Hiccup eventually asks, and I notice a flash of pointed teeth in his mouth. I feel like grimacing because, oh, Hiccup, in all your Night Fury glory, how can you possibly take on this powerful and fearsome Dragon?
She promptly stops laughing and addresses Hiccup. "Hiccup, you are in so deep, you can't possibly imagine. But this will play out rather tragically, I'm afraid."
The Dragon Queen lands on the ship, disregarding the thing with a look of distaste. In the blink of an eye, something cracks against my face and I'm sprawling across the deck. I hear someone shout my name but my eyes are watering.
"She cannot give you anything. You are over your head, little Night Fury. Before, you made me believe that there was absolutely nothing I could tempt you with in order to control you. This is your dirty little secret? You shame Dragon kind- this girl is nothing."
I crawl to my feet and find Hiccup glaring at his mother with pure and utter hatred. I hear him mutter something, but I can't make it out above the shrieks. Suddenly, the Dragon Queen retracts, taking a few steps before launching back into the air.
She turns to give us a snide smile. "I see you no longer belong to the skies, young Night Fury. I think it would be wise if I were to show you just how in over your head you are."
Hiccups eyes widen in something I later recognize as fear, and he only has half of a second to shout "No-" before the Dragon Queen thrusts her arms forward and our world is engulfed in flames.
You'd think the cold water would be nice compared to the forges of Hell that were so powerful it completely blew the ship to smithereens I just went through, but oh no, that only makes my lungs hurt more. If that's not bad enough, as soon as I fall into the water, my body automatically takes one large gulp of water and I have to claw my way to the surface, even though I'm not entirely sure which direction is up. I take a guess and hope I'm right.
Air- beautiful, glorious air- greets me along with the smoke of burning wood but hey, it's still oxygen. I'm alive. I'm not underwater anymore. Oh gods, how amazing it feels to be alive. I cough and continue to flail around in the water, desperately seeking the shore, but then, something far beyond the hurt of the scorching flames and the freezing cold hits my system; realization.
"Hiccup!" I gasp, forcing my lungs to relax so I can take one giant gulp.
The water is murky and it's hard to see anything, but sure enough, Hiccup's sunk to the bottom and is desperately pulling at the chains trying to get free. Unfortunately, his one hand is still trapped in his bounds and is caught on some rocks, along with the other chains still attached. That Dragon I swear has the worst luck in the history of all Dragons.
The pressure sends warning bells all throughout my brain, that I should not be this deep, and my lungs scream at me that I won't be able to help him in time, but I urge my arms to move faster and kick with both my feet. I will not let Hiccup die like this, especially when he was being such a jerk about me being there to save him.
He catches sight of me and lets out an incoherent roar. I try to quiet him but he keeps struggling. I hope he knows that's not going to help, if anything, he'll run out of air sooner. I am such an idiot, though. I couldn't pull apart the chains all that well above water, what in Odin's name makes me think I'd be able to under it? All the same, I try and try and try but the chains aren't giving.
Hiccup lets out a loud roar once again and I give him an apologetic look because I simply have to get back to the surface. One more gulp of air, and I can try to get help, maybe another Dragon…
I push off the ocean floor and swim as fast as I can but my head is fuzzy and I can't exactly think straight. All I want is air but it's not there and my body doesn't know what to do. It hurts worse than I'd ever imagine and it suddenly hits me that I'm drowning. I force all my strength into my legs and arms but they refuse to cooperate and I want to scream but then I'd let out any remaining oxygen in my system.
And just like that, the darkness is all too tempting. It doesn't hurt anymore, and I can hear my pulse in my ears. Is that normal? I don't think so. I don't remember being able to hear it before. I've never really listened for it, honestly. I can feel the darkness seeping into my body, slowly, but it's trickling in like sand and soon I won't be able to hold it back. What little strength that is left is holding it back in a barricade but it's fighting a losing battle. I'm slipping away and it just sounds so promising, to close my eyes and let it all be done.
I'm sorry, Hiccup, I think. I'm sorry. I couldn't save you. I couldn't even save myself. At the very least, I tried…
This is too much darkness. It was supposed to be slow but now I can't see anything. My eyes are open, I'm sure of that, but the light disappeared far too soon far too fast. No, this darkness doesn't belong here, it's too big, too threatening, it shouldn't be here…!
All of a sudden, my line of sight goes from black to red and I'm laying on my back spitting up about a bucket's worth of sea water. I flip over and bend on my elbows hacking up the liquid that definitely doesn't belong in my lungs. How am I alive?
I turn to steal a glance at the water around me through a blurry gaze and I see something- no, someone, diving back into the sea. The figure had been indistinguishable, especially with all the smoke and shadows from the flames around me.
"As-stri-id!" Asmund exclaims, dropping his head right in my face. "Y-you-u're o-ok-kay!"
"Yeah, I-I'm fine," I say, sucking in deep breaths. "W-what about Hiccup?"
"Alpha g-g-o t-to s-s-a-ave N-Night Fu-ry," he explains.
"What? No, the Dragon Queen wouldn't-"
The water explodes before us, showering us with water droplets. I shield my eyes and quickly uncover them to witness Hiccup, fully free of his chains, flapping his wings and lashing his tail out of the water- thank the gods the tail survived it all- but that's not the weirdest part of it all. No, the weirdest part is that, with his free hand, he's dragging a very large and very soaked Stoick the Vast.
"Hiccup!" I shout, scrambling to my feet and running to meet him at the water's edge. He unceremoniously drops Stoick half in and half out of the water, gulping for air and resting his hands on his knees. "Oh my gods, thank goodness you're okay!"
"If you're going to insist on coming into this battle we need to get in the air," he says with a blank stare, unfolding his wings and rocketing into the sky.
I let out a disbelieving breath and stare at his quickly disappearing form. Is he serious right now? We almost die, me from trying to save him- again- and that's all he has to say? Something in me drops because wow, he must be really mad at me for killing that Nightmare, and for some reason, that hurts a lot- that Hiccup would hate me so much. Why does this matter, though? It really shouldn't. That's what I get, I guess. Risking everything for the hope that Dragons aren't what we think they are, and even though they can occasionally speak, they're really no different.
The thought makes my eyes sting but I inwardly growl and fight the cowardly emotion back. Now is not the time to deal with the rejection from a mindless beast.
"Come on, Asmund," I say, narrowing my eyes in concentration. I just hope Hiccup has a plan.
"I-is A-Astri-id o-ok-kay?" he asks, concerned.
"I'm fine," I protest and he tosses me onto his back piggy-back style.
"Astrid!" someone calls behind me and I jump at a hand coming to hold me back for a moment. I snap my head around to become face to face with none other than Stoick.
My eyes narrow and my mouth twists in an irritated scowl. "What do you want?" I ask harshly.
He seems to be taking a moment to process audible thoughts into words, but he eventually says, "It's Valka, isn't it?"
I don't know why, but something about seeing this great Viking so pathetic looking makes me feel almost sorry for him. My eyes soften, much to my displeasure. As much as I hate to admit it, he deserves the truth. I'd want the same in his position, and it's time for me to stop being so selfish.
"No. It's not. That is the Dragon Queen, and she will not hesitate to kill any of us." Except that, well, she's had multiple chances to kill me and yet she hasn't, but, besides the point. "She may look like Valka to us but the women we used to know no longer resides in that body. I don't know if she's still in there or if there's a way to get her back, but she is not your wife."
"Aye, I figured as much," he agrees dejectedly. "... Which is why you were right. This is something I can't fight."
I nod stiffly.
He doesn't say anything else and though I know I should go, I have to ask. "Why did you save us?"
He sighs and blinks. "I s'pose the least I could do was make sure you didn't die before you got a chance to be a hero."
"I'm no hero," I say with a blank expression but with all the truth in the world in that statement.
He shakes his head ever so slightly, but I ignore the gesture. "That Night Fury," he says, almost as if he's asking a question. "He's… Well, I mean, he's… He's my..."
"Yeah," I confirm, putting him out of his verbal misery. I wonder how he pieced it together, but perhaps that's a story for another time. I think he's reached his mental capacity for the time being enough already.
"By the gods," he murmurs and tilts his head back, eyes squeezed shut. When it doesn't appear that he's going to say anything else, I whisper for Asmund to take flight. Right before he does, Stoick calls out:
"You'll make your parents proud."
I freeze and Asmund senses this, pausing his takeoff. I turn around to look at the chief, who refuses to meet my eyes. I stare at him for a long moment or two before I finally understand.
There's this idea in my head, that Stoick and I can come to a singular understanding better than most people because we are die-hard soldiers prepared to do anything to win. We don't let anything get in our way, and people respect us for it. I like to think that this is the reason why I register that this is as close to an apology that he can give, that he's taking back my banishment. And I like to think that this is the reason why he understands my forgiveness, apology, and acceptance all in my one curt nod of my chin. The reality of it is, though, being soldiers has nothing to do with why we understand each other. It's because we have both lost everything and had to keep going, spending the years sharing our pain with no one. I don't know what to think about the fact that I understand what he's been through, that I know what's it's like because we're really not that different. It's so much easier to despise him because he's the reason I'm about to risk my life and he's the reason Hiccup and I almost died, but that's the simple way. I know far better than to believe that life is simple.
"Hiccup, I hope you have a plan," I mutter into Asmund's wild and untamed mane. He's disappeared in the clouds and I try to tune out all the Dragons to search for the other teens, but they're nowhere to be found. Great.
"Where the heck are-"
"You, little girl, are one hard helmet to crack," none other than the Dragon Queen speaks behind me.
Asmund whirls around, making my head spin a little, but his crown of horns visibly flatten to his head and I feel his entire diaphragm shake, something I realize is a very low growl.
"Hush, Nadder," she snaps and the rumbling stops, but I can still feel the tense sensation through his frame and erratic beating of his wings.
"Why are you doing this?" I shout.
"Why am I doing this? Doing what?" she asks innocently.
"Killing all the Vikings, controlling the Dragons, losing yourself, why? What are you gaining from it?"
"Gaining from it?" I'm beginning to get a little tired of her answering all my questions with another question. "Little girl, you are playing with a fire that is far too great for you. You better back off before you get burnt."
"I'm not a little girl," I snarl. "And you're not Valka Haddock. But you remember her, don't you? The Stormcutter in you. I'm sure the real Valka is somewhere inside your brain right now, fighting you for control over her own body. Isn't she?"
"No. I am the Dragon Queen and I will prevail!" she shrieks, throwing a ball of flame at me. Luckily, Asmund sucks his wings to his side and we plummet down, narrowly missing being the target of the fire.
"Prevail over what?" I call. Asmund can't take her on, I know that much. Hiccup was brave enough to stand up to her with no fear, I have to hope that he can come through with his threats and hold his own against her. Maybe I can stall her and keep her in place until Hiccup finally decides to show his face. Note to self; the instant he's not attacking the Dragon Queen and saving us all give him a good punch to the face. He could use it.
"Valka's still in there, I'm sure of it," I say to her. "It's why you don't kill Hiccup; it's why you haven't killed me; it's why most of the Vikings down there are still alive. You remember them, don't you? Don't you?"
"No!" she shrieks. "This is beyond you, you've taken one step too close to the fire. It's far too late to go back now, it's time for me to show you just how useless you truly are."
A large fire blast grows in her hands, becoming larger and hotter with every passing second. She grins maliciously and I know that I should be scared. For some reason, I'm not.
Hiccup better have a plan…
The Dragon Queen roars and the giant fireball is suddenly a lot bigger and a lot hotter I yell out and shield my eyes but it won't help; I'm dead either way.
"There's no one to save you now," she tells me with the most evil and chilling tone of voice.
Suddenly, we both turn our heads up at a scream. It's a high pitched and eerie sound, something that is mysterious and definitely dangerous. When the Dragon Queen's eyes widen, only slightly, but still, I'm struck with the hopeful feeling that maybe all is not lost yet because, yep, you guessed it, that scream is definitely and undeniably the shriek of a Night Fury- the sound he makes right before he strikes.
And he never, ever misses.
Haha, and you thought you weren't gonna get an update tonight! Yeah, I didn't really either… The past two weeks have been my spring break so I maybe get an excuse? No? Okay. Anyways, as you can probably tell, this is kind of going slower than I'd like but this chapter started to get so long and I just hated the pace it was going at so I kind of deleted it all and started over. This is the end product. I know it's still really -ish but it's better than my first attempt, trust me. Next chapter, we finally, finally get to see some action from the Night Fury, yes! You guys have no idea how close this story is to finishing. Like, three more scenes but the chapters will probably be longer. So maybe around five chapters left, give or take. Alright, see you next time!
And by the way, special shout out to The Amber Fury and a little bit of Twilight Moon 1 for coming up with last chapter's title, 'How To Do Something Crazy'! Okay, now see you next time.