Chapter 21
To Helheim's Gate
POV: Stoick the Vast
There I was again. Helheim's Gate. But this time, instead of blindly sailing through fog, we had a dragon to guide us. "Sound your positions. Stay within earshot," I ordered the other ships.
"Here."
"One length to your stern."
"On your starboard flank."
"Three widths to port."
"Ahead, at your bow."
"Haven't a clue."
I stood at the bow, attempting to see through the soup. The only things in sight were sea stacks. Gobber hobbled up to me from behind. "Listen, Stoick…" he began. "I was overhearing some of the men just now and, well, some of them are wondering what it is we're up to here- not me, of course. I know you're always the man with the plan. But some- not me, are wondering if there is in fact a plan at all, and what it might be?"
"We find the nest and take it," I said bluntly. The man's mouth would make a Terrible Terror proud.
"Ah. Of course. Send them running. The old Viking fall-back. Nice and simple," the man prattled on. Suddenly, I noticed a change in Hiccup's dragon. It was twitching its ears, as if it were sensing something. I hushed Gobber, and then moved to the stern, pushing the helmsman out of my way. "Step aside."
I took hold of tiller, watching the dragon, moving with as it was forced to lead us home.
POV: Hiccup Haddock
I stood at the gate to the Nightmare's enclosure, the last one. I hesitated in opening it.
"If you're planning on getting eaten, I'd definitely go with the Gronckle," said a voice from behind. I turned around in surprise. It was Fishlegs, Snotlout, the twins: Ruffnut and Tuffnut, and Astrid.
"You were wise to seek help from the world's most deadly weapon," said Tuffnut, marching right up to me and trying to sound intimidating.
Snotlout pushed him aside. "I love this plan!" he said.
"I didn't…" I began, but he was replaced by Ruffnut before I could finish.
"You're crazy!" she said, and then leaned closer. "I like that."
This was growing more uncomfortable by the minute. Thankfully, Astrid saved me by swooping in and pulling Tuff away. I let out a sigh of relief.
"So, what is the plan?" asked Astrid.
I looked over her shoulder at everyone else. Five bodies. Five heads. This was going to work perfectly. I smiled.
POV: Stoick the Vast
We had been steering through the mist for what felt like hours. Suddenly, a large dragon's head emerged from the mist. It was a ship. One of ours, by the looks of it, but no sign of the crew.
"That's not very encouraging," somebody muttered.
"Ah. I was wondering where that went," said Gobber weakly. An unearthly buzzing pierced the air. Suddenly, the dragon's head shifted to directly ahead of us. I held course. Then I saw it: An immense mountain reaching up and out of the mist. I hopped out of the boat. The buzzing stopped the moment I hit the beach. "We're here."
POV: Snotlout Snotface
I wasn't seeing this. Hiccup was leading the Monstrous Nightmare, the dragon that was about ready to kill him a few hours ago, out of its cage with his outstretched palm. Needless to say, I was terrified. I noticed a broken spear from the earlier battle. I picked it up, just in case things went askew. Astrid slapped my arm. "Uh-uh," she scolded. I dropped the spear.
Hiccup led the dragon right towards me. He grabbed my arm, moving it towards the dragon's head. "Wait! What are you—" I said, surprised.
"Relax," Hiccup said. "It's okay… it's okay." He placed my palm on the dragon's snout, but instead of eating it like it should have done, the dragon accepted it. It was the coolest thing I had ever done.
Hiccup began to walk away. "Where you going?" I called, not wanting the dragon to change its mind in his absence.
"You're gonna need something to help you hold on," said Hiccup, fishing some rope out of a nearby bin.
We looked at the other uncaged training dragons. Hiccup's plan suddenly became clear.
POV: Stoick the Vast
The catapults had been set up, stakes were sharpened and driven into the ground, the army was ready to fight.
I stood over a battle plan scratched in the black sand. The army would attack the nest from three angles, while the catapults provided support from the back. "When this mountain breaks open, all hell is going to break loose," I warned my generals: Spitelout, Gobber, and Phlegma.
"And my undies!" Gobber replied. "Good thing I brought extras."
"No matter how this ends," I said loudly. "It ends today!" I signaled for the catapults to fire. They all concentrated on one point, but hit far enough apart to get the widest area of effect possible. The mountain broke open. I stepped into the dark tunnel that opened up. An eerie silence filled the air. I signaled for a catapult to fire its burning payload. It soared into the cavern.
What I saw was beyond what I had ever seen: Hundreds, no, thousands of dragons lined the walls. I charged, screaming a war cry and swinging my hammer like a psychotic gnome. The dragons charged back, I swung my axe at anything that moved. I hit nothing. Gobber hit nothing. Spitelout hit nothing. Phlegma hit nothing.
The dragons killed no one.
They simply fled, almost as if they were afraid. "Is that it?" asked Gobber, bewildered. He shrugged, then addressed the army. "We've done it!" Everyone broke into cheers.
All except for me. I had seen something the others hadn't: Hiccup's dragon had renewed its efforts to escape. It was terrified. Then I heard Hiccup's words. "There's something else on their island… you don't know what you're up against… it's like nothing you've ever seen… FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE WOULD YOU PLEADE JUST LISTEN TO ME?"
'I listened, Hiccup, just not soon enough,' I thought. But this wasn't about to end here. "This isn't over!" I shouted. "Form your ranks! Hold together!" The loudest roar I had ever heard from a dragon echoed through the tunnel. The gust of air it created blew the boats back. "Get clear!" I shouted. The ground began to crack, and the mountain burst open. And all hell broke loose.
Yes, I am that cruel to cut off there. And yes, I did get around to posting a new chapter. At this rate, we might actually reach my goal of twenty-five chapters. We'll see. In the meantime, REVIEW!