Hello everyone. Happy year 2021. I hope you are all happy and well, despite the Covid-19. I am here today with a new chapter for you.
Originally, I had planned the final battle to be a certain lenght, then thought about making it shorter, but now it will propably be closer to the original lenght. Even if I don't write this story as much as I used too, I'm keeping my promise to finish it.
Quimby Fletcher: I'm glad the battle impressed you so far. Then, you won't be dissapointed by what happen next.
Now, let's get to reading.
Hiccup's POV
My eyes keep moving between the hunters main fleet, their second fleet separated in two lines and the wild colony, my mind racing to find a solution. We can't deal with all of them at the same time. Our main troops are already occupied fighting against the hunters main fleet and we can't risk crippling them too much. And even if we were to divert some of them, who would lead them? Toothless and I are in charge of the dragons, Dagur and Heather are leading their men, same for Gobber on Berk and for Mala and Atali. Somehow, we'll need to split up our chain of command.
-Son, what do we do?
Hearing my mother's voice, I look at her and my friends who are awaiting my answer.
-Don't forget you're the chief of the coalition, Astrid tells me gently, everybody will follow you. Nobody will surrender until victory is ours.
-I know, I respond on the same tone before turning back to the others. Listen up, we can't let that smaller fleet reach Berk. Snotlout go tell Mala and Atali to intercept them.
-You really think they'll be enough to stop them, Snotlout asks.
-Yes, they may not be numerous, but they both are among the best warriors I've ever seen. Plus, they won't be alone. Snotlout, you, Spitelout, Gustave and the Twins will go help them. Mala and Atali already know what they must do and how to lead their people, so you'll be there to support them. Don't forget. Without synchronisation and teamwork, we don't stand a chance.
I hear Toothless say something to the dragons. The four riders nod before the dragons fly away.
-As for the others, we stay here. Dragons need us to guide them otherwise they will attack individually and like I said, we need synchronisation and teamwork, so I'll stay with you. There are approximately one hundred wild dragons coming at us. We can't let them reach us or Berk, so Toothless will go stop them with half of our own dragons.
Everyone gasps in surprise hearing the last part. Toothless looks at me with the most astonished expression I've ever seen on his face.
-Are you sure it's a good idea, Eret asks unsurely. I don't recall you ever fighting without him and winning. Oh sorry…I…I didn't mean to offend you chief.
Honestly, I'm not offended. Annoyed, definitely. Myself would have never thought of suggesting something like that a few days ago. But the situation doesn't leave us much choice. Each front needs a leader to lead our troops. I have faith in our abilities, or at least enough faith, to try such an idea. Even afar, we'll still be together in spirit.
-It's okay Eret. You're not wrong, but it's the best option for us. During this time, I'll fly with Astrid on Stormfly. Now go, we'll join you in an instant.
The other riders nod before flying toward their respective battle area. Looking down, I see Toothless is looking up at me. He let out a worried coo.
-I know buddy, but I believe in you, just like you always believed in me, even when I didn't.
He responds with a firm jaw snap before positioning himself so I can jump on Stormfly's back without problems. I look at my dragon and notice Falla haven't left. Somewhat, I feel better knowing he's not alone without me. I want to say something, but I feel it isn't a good time for that, so I simply wish them both good luck before Stormfly flies back toward the battle.
Toothless's POV
I look at Hiccup as he leaves with Astrid and Stormfly. It's hard to believe it has come to this, and the idea came from him. In a way, I'm proud of his recent growth, but I also can't stop worrying about him.
-Toothless?
Turning around, I see Falla hasn't left.
-Falla? Why didn't you go with the rest of the group?
-I didn't want to leave you alone. Hiccup has his mate and the rest of your friends to help him, I thought my place was alongside you more than anyone else.
Her answer surprises me and I can't restrain a toothless smile from appearing on my face. Sadly, the reality of the situation prevents me from dwelling on that longer.
-Thank you, I say before flying away with her following me.
We are currently fighting for the future of the dragon's world, and those wild dragons are attacking us who are on the dragons' side. Just like Drago's Bewilderbeast said, if we don't stop them, everything could be ruined. Taking I deep breath, I light up my backspines and release a long and powerful roar, ordering half the dragons to come to my side. At first, I doubt most of them heard me, but then I see some flying out of the battle zone toward us. More and more join us, and quickly I'm surrounded with enough dragons to fight off the Wild Colony.
-Dragons, hunters aren't our only opponent today. Wild dragons who wish to destroy us as much as the hunters do, and they are coming to attack us from the North. We must stop them before they can reach Berk. Follow me.
I fly toward the Wild Colony and they all follow me without hesitation, Falla flying the closest to me. All our attention focused on the wild dragons. They are now close to our island, just above a series of sea stacks. As we get closer, the wild dragons a adjust their trajectory toward us, the Queen Skrill flying in front. I begin charging a plasma blast, soon imitated by my dragons. The Skrill and her dragons does the same. The impact is extremely violent.
Third's POV
-Come on, we need everyone. Faster, we've got to move, Snotlout screams as the Wingmaidens and the Defenders of the Wing begins moving toward the second Hunters' fleet.
-Son, I don't think they need you to know that, Spitelout interrupts him. Save your energy and voice for the rest of the battle.
-Yeah yeah, Snoutlout responds grumpily.
Alongside them are the Twins and Gustave. The Wingmaidens fly higher and higher in the sky while the dragon riders stay close to the Defenders of the Wing. On the front boat, Mala is watching her enemies as the hunters begins firing inflamed boulders at them.
-Take cover. Evasive maneuvers, she yells.
The order is relayed just in time. The Defenders of the Wing manage to dodge the first boulders, but the second wave isn't the same. The hunters have adapted their aim, causing two boats to be destroyed. The twins go to rescue the survivors while the other dragon riders draw the hunters' fire toward them by trying to reach the ships. Three dragons aren't enough to get through the number of projectiles, so they have no choice to back away. During this time, the Defenders of the Wing continued their advance. As soon as they see this, the hunters target them again.
-Shift starboard.
Again, the helmsmen react quickly, avoiding a good number of boulders. This forces the hunters to adapt their aim again. They destroy another boat before Mala changes their pattern again while the dragon riders continue their attack and retreat maneuver. This strategy allows the Defenders to greatly limit the losses despite their great numerical inferiority while getting closer to the hunters' ships. However, it won't protect them indefinitely, and they can't try to board one of the hunters' ships in their current position.
'Please Atali, hurry up' Mala thinks as she gives a new direction for the helmsmen to follow.
On the other side of the Hunters' armada, Atali and her Wingmaidens, after having flown above their enemies, are now flying above the water to attack them from behind. Of course, the hunters saw them coming and a line of archers is formed on each boat. There are more arrows than they had anticipated, but thanks to their small size and the speed and agility given by the baby Razorwhip, most of them manage to dodge them until the group reach the hull of the middle ship. Thankfully, the cargo they are transporting didn't slow them down too much. They then fly straight up and, in a swift and fast attack, take out the archers before they can hit them. Landing on the deck, surrounded by the corpse of the fallen archer, Atali see a hunter sound the alarm.
-Spread out! These men deserve no mercy, she orders.
The hunters are running toward them, weapons out. They can't use their artillery against them, but they still got bows, crossbows and bolas. However, in close combat, the Wingmaidens have the advantage for the same reasons they could more easily dodge the arrows than a full-grown dragon.
Atali, followed by four of her warriors, stay close to the first boarded ship. They take out the hunters they encounter and successfully reach the ship's artillery. Atali then take out of one small bottle attached to the straps she wears, both given by Hiccup, and throw it on a ballista. The Monstrous Nightmare gel inside explodes when the bottle hit the object, destroying it and hurting a hunter that was too close. 'It works' she realises happily. She had been a bit doubtful at first of this suggestion from Snotlout, but an involuntary demonstration (again by Snotlout) has convinced most of the utility of this new weapon. Hiccup added the idea of carrying them with straps and give them to the Wingmaidens, the most capable of flying through ships defenses. However, there wasn't enough gel and bottles for a huge armada, so this strategy was planned as support.
On the other boats, groups made of four to six Wingmaidens does the same thing. Minden, in charge of a group of five, takes out two hunters before destroying two catapults while her teammates protect her. However, as they move toward their next objective, an arrow hit one of them, hurting both the woman and her baby dragon.
-Aysha, Minden screams as they gather around her.
-Don't stop for me, the woman says. The mission must be completed, such have we vowed to Freya.
Minden is about to respond before another arrow almost hit her. To make things worse, more hunters are running toward them, weapons out.
Back on the front side of the battle, the Wingmaidens attacks have caused the desired distraction for the Defenders of the Wing. Having reached the hunters' ships, they begin to board several of them while the dragon riders have successfully, after several failed attempts, managed to pass the hunters' defenses. Their dragons first target the ships' artillery using the same strategy they used when they destroyed the Screaming machines. Meanwhile, a fierce melee breaks out on the boarded ships.
…
Back on Berk, Gobber is watching the two battles currently occurring. His fingers, at least those remaining, are twitching. He yearns to be out there, fighting against these piles of old yak dungs, just like the rest of Berk's warriors. But Hiccup's plan requires them to stay on Berk. While others are fighting for them. To say most of them are not pleased is a euphemism. Thankfully, Gobber is there to keep those with the hottest blood in line.
-I know the stakes of this battle are higher than ever, a man says, but how I wish for us to be fighting instead of waiting here like grazing yaks. Why has the chief done that?
-Aye mate, Gobber responds. Hiccup may not do things like most Vikings would like, but most of the time he's right. Besides, knowing how things tend to never work like we want, I'm sure we'll get to fight.
-GOBBER. GOBBER!
Turning around, Gobber sees one of the sentries running toward him, a completely panicked expression on his face. When he tries to speak, he does so quickly his words are incomprehensible.
-Calm down lass, Gobber urges him, we understand none of your blabbering.
-Sorry, the sentry responds. I just spotted at least warships heading toward us from the West. They'll reach our shores soon.
-See, what did a tell ya, Gobber says to the other warriors surrounding him. Someone sends a Terrible Terror to Hiccup. We're the only ones available to stop them. If they take the village, we lose so get your lazy butts moving.
Every warrior cheer before running west, except for a small number asked to stay behind. Gobber follow them once he saw the Terrible Terror fly off. By the time they reach the closest cliff, they see the hunters' ships have almost reached the island. Had they arrived sooner, the Berkians could have prepared something, but it is now too late.
-What do we do, a warrior asks Gobber. They are obviously more numerous than us and we can't stop them from boarding the island.
-Then we do it the good old-fashioned way. I know where we can ambush them. Come on.
Gobber takes the lead and everyone follows him to the top of a slope between two cliffs. This is the only way between the beach the hunters are currently invading and the village. Having the upper ground, it gives the Berkians an advantage. Soon after their arrivals, they see the hunters arriving at the bottom of the slope. 'Crappy yak dump, Ah didn't think they'll be so fast and numerous. A chance the sentries were at their posts, otherwise, these hunters might have taken us by surprise'. When the hunters see the Berkians at the top of the slope, they stop.
-Hey fellas, Gobber tells them. It's nice of you to come visit us, but the island is closed for murderers like you, so I suggest you turn your butts around and go back where you came from.
-If you think we're scared of traitors who prefer beasts to their own kind, responds a man obviously the one in charge of this attack. We won't let you help them bring downfall to humanity. CHARGE!
The hunters begin running again while archers fire at the Berkians who raise their shields to protect themselves.
-The only downfall we'll bring is yours, Gobber retorts blocking an arrow with his axe. TAKE THEM DOWN.
Berks archers fires back while most runs to meet the hunters head on. The choc between the two groups is violent, each side pushing against the other trying to break its warriors apart. During a short time, nothing seems to move except for the arrows and warriors who are struck down. Then, the more numerous hunters manage to take the advantage and push through the Berkians warriors who are pushed back or on the ground. Gobber manages to remain standing and quickly parry a sword aimed at his head. With his hand, he grabs his attacker and headbutt him, sending the guy unconscious on the ground. Keeping the hunter's sword in his hand, he swings his axe to force the remaining opponents away from him. His stand up allowed the Berkians behind him to recover and counterattack.
-Come on, don't let them pass, Gobber orders as he battles two hunters.
Defending himself with the sword from a lateral attack, Gobber tries to slash his second opponent with his axe. The hunter dodges his attack and both jumps on him at the same time. Gobber blocks both attacks and knock their heads against each other with the flat of the blade. The hunters fall on the ground defeated. A third comes at him directly from his right, but before he can hit him, Gobber hit his foot with his peg leg. The hunter screams in pain and drop his weapon, allowing Gobber to finish him with one hit on the head. He is suddenly tackled to the ground, the impact knocking his breath out of him. He didn't see that one coming. Gobber quickly raise his sword, but the hunter disarms him before he can do anything and with his foot block his other arm. If Gobber still had his hand, he could have twisted his wirst to hit the hunter's leg with his axe, but he can't. Fifty-five years of life and battles, surviving the craziest of situations to end up killed like this, in the beginning of the battle, nonetheless. How disappointing. Gobber always thought he'll die eaten by a dragon like he lost his hand and foot. The worst is that he never found the guts to confess his deepest secret, not even to Stoick, or Valka or Hiccup. The hunter raises his own axe to deliver the final blow.
'Sorry Hiccup. I did all I could.'
Yeah...sorry for that Gobber. This chapter is shorter than the previous and next ones, but there's already everything I wanted in it. I didn't see any good reasons to make it longer. We finally saw the Defenders of the Wings and the Wingmaidens enter the fight, which we haven't seen much in RTTE. I hope I did those small put competent tribes justice.
Al always, reviews are welcomes. Don't hesitate to follow the story and put it iny our favorites if you want.
The next chapter probably won't come up before one or two months. Until then, take care.