Warnings and Attacks
"Don't let them get away! They'll warn Berk!" We heard Ryker yell furiously as he came to, causing Ragnhild and I to run even faster.
We were forced to stop suddenly when there were five hunters in the doorway that was our escape route.
I drew back an arrow and aimed it at them. Ragnhild readied her whip.
"You think that a little arrow and a whip will be enough to get past us?" The guard in the center asked with a laugh.
"No," I responded casually, "but a dragon might help."
The guards all looked confused then I shouted, "Dawn!"
Suddenly the guards were all on the floor, pushed down by some invisible force. I laughed when Dawn appeared right in front of me, panting with her tongue hanging out of her mouth and her tail wagging like a happy dog's.
"That's my good girl! Let's go!" I said as I climbed onto her back. I reached down and pulled Ragnhild up behind me. She wrapped her arms around my waist and then Dawn ran out of the building, trampling a few more hunters while she was at it. She shot a plasma blast into the sky, signaling the others, wherever they were, it was time to go.
"Stop them!"
I glanced over my shoulder and saw Ryker charging at us.
I leaned forward and Dawn shot into the sky. My eyes wandered to the sleeping volcano. I could see it now, the scales, the soft movement of breathing, subtle shifts as the beast moved in its sleep. If Berk was warned ahead of time, we might have a chance. But if we couldn't reach them before… Berk would fall.
We didn't stop until we were at the rendezvous point on the other side of the island. Dawn stumbled as she landed because of the speed we had been flying at and Ragnhild and I landed in the dirt. Dawn walked over and nuzzled us to make sure we were okay.
"We're fine, girl. You were great back there!" I said, taking her face in my hands and smiling at her. She grinned a toothless smile and bounded towards the dragons that had been left behind. She rubbed against Blizzard, who I could swear rolled her eyes at the enthusiastic NightLight. Dagdrom and Mareritt looked up from where they had been napping, but when they saw it was us and not their rider, they went back to sleep. Nosey was sniffing all over Dawn, causing Dawn to bat at him with her foot.
"Incoming!"
We looked up and saw Buff and Eira coming in for a landing on Dusk. They crash-landed right in front of me. Buffnut was tossed off and landed at my fight. He looked up at me sheepishly. I shook my head but smiled anyway as the younger teammate got up to go say hello to his dragon.
"Did you guys find anything?" Eira asked.
"The mountain isn't a mountain. It's some kind of dragon. That's the king. We have to warn Berk. Have you seen Ozzy and my sister?" Ragnhild replied.
"Not since we left, but there is no way they missed that plasma blast," Eira answered.
Ragnhild sighed and scanned the sky, looking for any sign of the others.
"Don't worry, they'll be here," I reassured her.
No sooner had the words left my mouth then we saw Phantom flying towards us with our teammates on his back.
"See? Told ya," I teased, elbowing Ragnhild's side. Phantom soon landed safely with Mila and Ozzy.
"Did you guys find anything?" Ozzy asked.
"I'll explain on the way. We have to get to Berk," I responded, whistling for Dawn. She bounded over and lowered her wing so I could climb on. Everyone else mounted their dragons and we took off.
We had to be fast.
Berk was about two hours flight from where we were. I caught everyone else up on the new discoveries.
"Wait, that mountain was a dragon?" Ozzy asked incredulously.
I nodded. "It must not have left with the other dragons all those years ago. It sounded like it had been there a while from what Ryker had said," I replied.
"And Brandt was adopted by Viggo Grimborn?" Mila asked.
Ragnhild nodded in response.
We were all silent for the rest of the flight. I was relieved when we finally got sight of Berk. I glanced over my shoulder and saw a small puff of smoke on the horizon.
"You don't think that's the dragon… do you?" Eira asked.
I frowned. "I think it is. We have to find dad and Uncle Dagur," I said with urgency.
It was another fifteen minutes before we landed. As soon as Dawn touched ground I jumped off and ran for the center of town.
"Buffnut, Eira, you two go sound the alarm horn. Mila, go check the catapults and ballistae," I shouted over my shoulder. Ragnhild and Ozzy were running beside me.
"I bet there is a committee meeting today. Let's try the Hall," Ragnhild shouted to be heard over our quick breathing as we ran. We finally made it to the Great Hall. We burst through the heavy wooden doors. Ragnhild had been right, all our parents were there. Even Brandt and Mila were there with Arlo. My eyes scanned the surprised faces and I saw my sister. In those few seconds of eye contact, we said all we needed to say. We had both been idiots and were both very sorry. I sent a soft smile her way and she returned it.
"Ahem…."
My dad cleared his throat and we all looked at our chief.
"Hi Dad," I said quietly.
"Nuffink," he responded curtly.
"Where have you been, baby?" my mom asked as she got up to hug me. I sighed and wrapped my arms around her.
"We were at Dragon's Edge," Ragnhild said. My dad's eyebrows nearly raised off his face.
"What were you guys doing at Dragon's Edge?" Uncle Fishlegs asked.
"We were looking for a way to convince you that he is hiding something," I said, pointing at Brandt.
Brandt laughed and shook his head. "I have no idea what you are talking about, young brother. I am not hiding anything! I just want a relationship with my parents," he replied.
I glared at him. "Don't you ever call me brother ever again," I said, balling my hands into fists.
Ragnhild placed her hand on my shoulder.
"We found a letter addressed to Brandt. We met your Uncle Ryker and we have seen your King, Brandt," Ragnhild said. I took the letter and the sketch out of my pocket and handed it to my parents. Uncle Fishlegs examined the sketch.
"That is definitely a class ten…" he muttered.
I kept my eyes on my dad as he read the letter.
"I do not understand," he said, putting the letter down and turning to Brandt.
Uncle Dagur got the letter next he read it then glared at his son-in-law.
"What does it say?" Brandt asked.
"How did you end up with Ryker? We sent you to a safe home," my dad said.
"Viggo found him and killed the parents you sent him too. He took Brandt and raised him. Now they blame you for Viggo's death for some reason and are out for revenge," Ozzy explained from what I had told him on the flight here.
"Brandt, please explain this. Is all this true?" Marina asked her husband, holding their child protectively.
Brandt sighed. "It's all true," he replied.
"Oh Thor…" my mom muttered.
Brandt stepped up to me and glared at me. "Everything was going well until you just had to get in the way. But you will fall. Just like everyone else on this damned island!" he shouted.
Then we heard the alarm horn long and low. I smiled. Buff and Eira were doing their job.
And then the ground started shaking.
"What the hell?" Uncle Snotlout shouted as he fell off his chair.
Brandt just laughed. "That would be my King!" he shouted as he ran outside.
We all followed him and froze when we saw it.
The water at the beach was parting and a dragon head at least three times taller than the Great Hall slid out of the waves and onto the sand. The body started following as the snake-like dragon slithered along the ground, crushing ships as more of it slid from the water.
"Thor help us," Ragnhild muttered next to us.
Berkians were screaming and running as the dragon moved between and through houses and shops. It was destroying everything in its path.
The beast slithered right up to Brandt after it had destroyed many of the buildings on Berk. Brandt laughed with a venomous tone and held his hand out to the creature. He moved his mouth to whistle but before he could make a sound I yelled to get his attention and aimed an arrow at his head.
"Call it off. Tell it to leave or I will release this arrow and you will die," I said as intimidatingly as I could.
"You can't possibly hit me from there," Brandt said. I was still in the doorway of the Hall and he was more than a hundred yards away now. He had walked out to meet the dragon.
"I don't miss," I assured him.
"Fine!" he said and turned back to the dragon. He whistled once in a low tone and then again at a much higher pitch.
The dragon's eyes narrowed and it raised it's head to look over Berk. It opened its mouth and spewed fire at the houses around it.
"I said call it off!" I shouted.
I released the arrow, but before it could hit its mark, the beast incinerated it.
Brandt just laughed.
"Now I will finally avenge my father's death! I will rule Berk. But with this King of all beasts, I will be able to take over as many villages and kingdoms as I want!" he shouted in victory.
"No! Brandt, you have to stop!" Marina shouted. Arlo was crying.
Brandt paused for a moment and looked at his wife and child.
"Brandt, you can stop. It isn't too late. Do it for your wife and baby," my dad said, taking a few cautious steps toward him.
"Don't come any closer!" Brandt shouted. He whistled and the king slithered up behind him, ready to strike at Brandt's command.
Hiccup raised his hands up in submission but continued taking slow steps.
"Brandt, my son, I know you are better than this," he said softly.
"I am not your son! Just because you brought me into existence does not mean you are my father!" Brandt responded, his face contorted in anger and hatred.
"Okay, I understand that, but think of your family, Brandt," my father continued.
Brandt was not listening. He raised his hand and whistled.
"Dad, look out!" I shouted, running for my father. But I wasn't fast enough.
The beast rammed into my dad. He didn't bite or shoot flames at him, but it was strong enough to send my father flying back a hundred feet. He landed with a loud thud and did not move.
"Hiccup!" my mother screamed and ran to him, dropping down next to him. She lifted his head into her lap and sobbed.
"Dad!" I shouted and ran after her. I heard Zephyr racing behind me.
"No no no no no…" I said as I knelt beside him. I wove my hands into the fur of his cloak.
"Dad?" I whispered, tears streaming down my face.
Brandt turned away and began directing the dragon to destroy a different part of Berk.
"Oh my Thor what happened?" Eira shouted as she and Buffnut ran into the scene. She saw our father and froze.
My mother pressed her forehead against my dad's and sobbed. Zephyr rested her hands on dad's cloak next to mine. Eira knelt beside me and leaned her head on my shoulder.
My mom looked up at me with tears in her eyes.
"You have to stop him, Nuffink. Please," she pleaded, tears still dripping off her chin.
I wiped my eyes and stood to my feet. I turned to face a burning Berk.
Brandt was not going to get away with this.
He was going to pay.