Chapter Twenty One

The plan was simple enough. Catch Volstaf while he was alone and take him to a sea stack for questioning. The only problem was that it meant exposing Toothless or Cybele to the people on Burgus. Aniu had volunteered to take herself and Cybele out to the island and catch him off guard. Volstaf would never see them approaching, and it would give them the perfect opportunity to rile him up. Zena refused to join them this time, and tried to think of ways to distract the Chief in order to get him alone. Meanwhile, Hiccup, Stoick and Toothless would wait on a nearby sea stack for their arrival.

So that led to Aniu and Cybele waiting on a nearby cliff for Zena's signal. Cybele's eyes were narrowed when she saw Volstaf leaving his place. It was a large house, bigger even than Stoick's place. Aniu wondered if she would have lived there had she grown up with him.

It's better not to think of what could have been, she reminded herself. Besides, I would rather live among dragons than with him.

That gave her a sense of determination when Zena gave her the signal. Volstaf was alone, with no one protecting him. Not that he needed it. Aniu had to remind herself more than once that Volstaf was perfectly capable of defending himself.

"Let's do this," Cybele warbled as she took off and dive-bombed towards Volstaf. The Chief didn't even see it coming until it was too late. He was perfectly happy minding his own business until hearing the screech of a Night Fury. By then, her talons had already wrapped around his torso. Aniu smirked at the cry of alarm that followed.

"This is gonna be interesting," she said with a sly grin.

"Oh, I can't wait to see the look on his face when he sees you and everyone else!" Cybele added as they reached the sea stack where everyone was waiting. She released her grip on the Chief and landed gracefully beside Toothless, who warbled a cheerful greeting at them.

"I'm glad to see you were able to make it," he told them.

"I wouldn't miss this for the world," Aniu replied.

Hiccup stood next to Stoick as Aniu joined them, crossing her arms as Volstaf finally stood up and glared at them. Tension filled the air when he realized he was surrounded by enemies. Well, if he counted this as an attack.

"Do you know what I hate more than a Chief who can't protect his own?" Stoick began, earning a stunned look from Volstaf. "A Chief who disowns his own child." And it was true. He hated himself for what he put Hiccup and Aniu through.

"I don't know what you are talking about," Volstaf snapped, ignoring the glares Hiccup and Aniu gave him. He was more nervous about the two dragons who were glaring at him. They were the real threats, who could easily plasma blast him off this sea stack and right into the ocean. "But if you don't get me off this blasted sea stack, this will lead to war between Burgus and Berk."

"Do you really think that's a good idea?" Hiccup asked incredulously, earning a look of surprise from Stoick. "Going to war against an island full of dragons?"

"Dragons who can, and will hurt you with more firepower than you could ever dream of having," Aniu added in a dangerously low voice. Volstaf's eyes widened as he heard her voice for the first time in his language. Almost as if he recognized her.

"You… I thought the dragons would have taken you," he choked out.

"Do we really have that bad of a reputation?" Cybele asked with a roll of her eyes.

"Turns out, the dragons are actually better with people then people are," Aniu snapped.

She didn't care whether it made sense or not, she just knew that it was true. For once, Stoick didn't argue with her response. The fact that she was speaking for herself had really taken a turn for events. Normally Aniu was so quiet and soft-spoken that it was rare for her to say anything at all. Now she was fuming as she glared at Volstaf, who actually looked a little nervous.

"Why did you bring me here?" he demanded after realizing there was no point in arguing. Hiccup and Stoick exchanged looks while Aniu unfolded her arms and sighed.

"So that you can admit the truth," Hiccup replied calmly.

For a moment, Volstaf didn't say anything. Aniu suspected he knew what they were talking about. But he was too stubborn to admit the truth. Volstaf would never tell anyone what really happened unless it was forced out of him. So she made a motion to Cybele that startled Hiccup and Stoick.

"He isn't going to tell us unless we do something about it," she growled in Dragonese. Cybele smirked as she understood where Aniu was getting at with this.

"So we knock the answers out of him," she suggested. Aniu nodded in agreement and climbed on her back without another word. She shot Stoick and Hiccup an apologetic look before having Cybele take off and grab Volstaf again with her talons. "If you weren't such a stubborn human, this would be easy!" Cybele roared as he cried out in shock.

She started spinning in circles during their flight, Aniu clinging on for dear life while Volstaf was thrown in all different directions. Of course Cybele caught him with ease when she almost 'accidentally' dropped him. A few times she dove into the ocean until she was sure that he'd had enough. Then she landed in the village plaza where a large crowd had gathered to watch the spectacle. Luckily it didn't take long for Hiccup and Stoick to catch up with them on Toothless.

"Alright! I'll tell the damned truth!" Volstaf choked out once they landed nearby. His eyes were still closed, so he didn't notice that a crowd had gathered to watch them until it was too late. "Yes, your mother died giving birth to you. I still blame you for what happened to her! You are nothing but a—"

"I would watch your tongue, human!" Toothless snarled, cutting him off.

"You are no child of mine. You do not deserve the name of a Chief." A few people in the crowd gasped at that, while others were whispering anxiously to one another. "Because of you, I lost my wife!"

Aniu didn't bother denying what fate had given her. She had already lost her father, but to hear that her mother was dead too struck a nerve. Cybele only glared at Volstaf and rounded on him, her teeth bared in a snarl.

"I should rip your throat out for hurting my sister!" she roared with fury. Aniu held her back, earning a look of surprise from Cybele.

"No, he needs to hear this from me," she said, her voice oddly calm. "For six years I was abused while living on this island. Six years I put up with the lies that I was worthless, that no one wanted me." Volstaf flinched under her piercing glare, and even the crowd began to bow their heads in shame as they suddenly realized who she was. "Then the dragons took me in, and changed everything. I suppose I can thank you for giving me the chance to meet them, and the people of Berk."

All the while Volstaf had kept quiet. Even he didn't know what to say in a situation like this. Aniu found herself sighing in relief once she had gotten everything off her chest.

"I-I don't even know what to say," he stammered, stunned to silence.

"Then don't say anything," Stoick said for the first time in what felt like hours. Aniu glanced over her shoulder to see the people she once called mum and dad watching in utter shock. "Chief Volstaf, your daughter will always have a place on Berk. But it is obvious that she has no place here."

Aniu flinched at that, remembering all of the times her people used to torment her. Mum and dad were no different to what had happened. She wouldn't forgive them for what they had done to her, all because of something she had no say in.

"I think that is a wise choice," Volstaf replied after giving it some thought. "The peace treaty will be signed, but only if you keep those beasts as far from us as possible."

"Deal."

The crowd began to disperse, and soon people were beginning to shoot Aniu strange looks. She stayed close to Cybele as the day dragged on. Returning to this place only made her realize just how much she had grown over the years. If she were any younger, she was certain she would have panicked and run.

"You okay?" Hiccup asked as he sat beside her.

"I don't know," she admitted with a shrug and leaned against Cybele. "I never thought I'd be back here to face him. Or the rest of these people." Hiccup nodded in understanding.

"I kind of know what that's like," he said. "Look, Aniu, whatever happens, just know that we'll always be there for you." Hiccup paused as he let this sink in, and Aniu found herself blushing as he gently squeezed her hand. "I'll always be there for you," he added quietly.

The moment didn't last long when they were suddenly joined by Zena. Aniu narrowed her eyes at the sight of Zena as she sat down beside her. Cybele didn't bother moving; she'd just found a comfortable spot in the sun and not even Toothless would budge her.

"So, I was thinking maybe it would be fun to visit Berk," Zena remarked once she settled down. "Maybe stay there even, if you'd give me a chance."

Hiccup and Aniu exchanged looks of surprise. Aniu wasn't sure how Zena would get along with the dragons. She'd probably be best friends with Astrid and maybe even Ruffnut. Yet she couldn't help but feel a little envious. Zena was great at just about everything, and would certainly catch everyone's attention.

"I don't see why that's a problem," Hiccup replied.

"I sense some unease," Cybele growled, noticing how Aniu hadn't said anything.

"It's fine," Aniu reassured her, though doubt clouded her voice. Either way, she couldn't help but shake off the feeling that Zena would fit in just fine with everyone on Berk.

AN: I am so sorry it's taken me so long to update D: Call it pure laziness, and a lack of motivation. I did have this chapter all typed up, I just wasn't feeling all that motivated for some reason...

MMM - Well, that answers at least one of your questions :P No, she won't take her father's place as Chief. And she wouldn't openly admit that she loves Hiccup. At least not in the human language ;)

dracologistmaster - Thank you! And yeah, the meeting didn't exactly go as planned. But they got the answers, dragon style XD

grapejuice101 - Thanks!

The dragon1010 - Thank you, yeah, I'm a bit a bit surprised too... than again, I'm not. But your reviews are definitely appreciated, and they motivate me to update faster :)