Vincent, Fjalar, Katla:
The sky was filled with storm clouds, rain poured from the heavens in a furious manner. Lightning struck a tree making it catch fire and thunder roared through the sky, the wind whipped around the three figures standing on a small hill in the middle of a clearing in dense woods. "Do not be afraid of the storm, this test, should you pass it will give you the strength to conquer any storm, on land or at sea." Vincent's voice echoed in the minds of his apprentices. Another bolt of lightning this time eerily close to Fjalar. "And what are we supposed to do again?" Fjalar asked, having to stream his voice over the wind and rain. "Catch lightning." Vincent spoke as if it were a simple task. His hand reached out as a massive bolt of lightning shot down into his palm, the bolt became a ball that then dissipated into nothing."Focus on letting the lightning flow through you into the earth, you must stand strong, do not falter or it could cost you your life." Vincent once again spoke into the minds of Katla and Fjalar.
Both of whom put their hands out waiting for lightning to strike them. Katla was the first, a bolt of lightning came thundering down into her hand and she began to strain her arm shaking, she began to falter but at the last second the bolt turned into a ball then to nothing."I did it, I did it!" She exclaimed overjoyed at how easy it came to her. Katka looked over at Fjalar just as lightning struck, sending him backwards about 15 feet.
"Fuck... Fjalar get up" Vincent rushed to the side of the young man."That felt great." Fjalar joked, "Yeah I'm sure it did, you alright?" Vincent asked looking over him making sure he wasn't on fire, Katla was there in the next instant doing much the same thing. Fjalar nodded and with Katla's help got up to his feet. "Once more, you can do this Fjalar." Vincent's voice rang in his mind. Fjalar put his hand up and the lightning struck it slowly and painfully dissipating into nothing. With a strange and loud shout that shook the earth Vincent dispelled the storm bringing back clear sunny skies.
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Fjalar, Katla: ' It's been two months since Vincent showed back up on Helgafjall. I haven't confronted him about my vision and what I saw, no doubt he'd probably lie to me and say that's not what happened. Both Katla and I decided it was best to keep up appearances and continue to train with him up until the time is right. Vincent said that Ragnarok is upon us but he also says we have maybe a year before the signs truly show, I'm uncertain if he is telling the truth but in my vision I saw him kill Odin and reduce Asgard to ash, so if the legends are true then Ragnarok is coming. Either way the training had stepped up in difficulty leaving both myself and Katla sore day in and day out. We had mastered simple magic and begun to learn how to enhance ourselves through magic. When doing so we became faster and stronger than 10 men but it was taxing and to be used in a sparing manner, finally Vincent began training us in advanced forms of magic the first one was catching lightning and bending it to our will...' Two loud horn blasts ripped Fjalar from his journal and the thought of what Trjonn had said to him about the horn rang in his mind"One blast for friend two for foe" He bolted out of the house and down to the forge grabbing his machine that he decided to rename it from 'The Mangler' to 'Gjallarhorn'. As he got to the docks Katla was by his side, and they could see dark clouds on the horizon. The Skrill was coming. Archers set out along the sea wall, three boats set in the harbor on one stood Fjalar and his Bola launcher an intricate device built to send the bola's out fast and spinning far faster than a human could get it. An archer yelled out causing everyone to look to the skies, Fjalar could see it about a mile off riding the lightning closing fast. After
minutes of trying to slow the skrill down with stone tipped arrows and spears neither of which did much of anything to it, finally the skrill came barreling down towards Hiccup, in a split second he fired the Gjallarhorn, the bola wrapped around the talons on the beasts wing and its foot. The beast dropped from the sky everyone cheered but Fjalar saw where it was heading and ran towards Katla trying to get her out of the way at the last second he jumped in front of her the Skrill's claws tearing into his chest through his armor leaving three distinct wounds. Katla dropped to her knees holding Fjalar,"I've lost everyone please I can't lose you too!" She cried out and the skrill broke free and looked at her curiously before flying towards her and carrying her away. The storm faded and Hiccup was quickly seen to by Trjonn. He brought him to a healing hut before going and getting Vincent knowing that he would want to know what happened.
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Vincent, Katla:
" It's been three months since the skrill attack… I can't believe you were able to befriend it Katla. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad you did but I don't know how." Vincent spoke softly as he looked down at Fjalar who had been in a coma ever since the skrill attacked. "We don't have much time left. The end is coming and if this world is to survive then he will have to wake up soon." Vincent trailed off knowing that soon he would fulfill his destiny. "Ever since you got back from Asgard, you've been different… What really happened there?" Katla was scared to ask unsure if Vincent would lash out or remain calm. Vincent looked at her and for the first time in a long time Katla saw him not as an old warrior or mage but instead a tired man who had been around far too long, yet his eyes spoke a different story, one of Death, War and Chaos.
" I've seen a lot in my time, Empires rise and fall, planets on the edge of the universe. Men who thought themselves gods and God's who were no better than the lowest human, yet in all my time one thing always stayed the same…. Every story has a villain and most think themselves the hero and the savior…. But in Asgard I gazed into the Abyss and it stared back, I know what I am and what I've done and in the end it won't be me saving the planet but the one who plunges it into Death, War and Chaos…. When the time is right I shall await you in Vesalon, there my story will end and yours and his will begin." Vincent spoke slowly calmly,reflecting the life he lived and as he spoke all sound stopped on Helgafjall, no birds sung their songs, no hammer fell upon an anvil no sword clashed with one another, it was as if the world stood still. Katla's heart raced as Vincent the Fiend confirmed her and Fjalar's worst fears. A strange horrific ear shattering roar pierced the veil of silence that had fallen heavy on the island, A massive shadow flew overhead and landed with a thunderous thud. An ancient black dragon twisted and warped sat outside of the healers hut, a strange black viscose liquid oozed off of him, the Dragon's eyes were a sickly green and in-between its scales that same green could be seen. Vincent walked out of the room, his form shifting into a tall black cloaked figure with large curved split antlers, a wreath of green flame forming a halo sat in the middle of his horns. His skull long and like a deers with wolf's teeth cracked and bloody with loose skin hanging off of it, that same strange black shadowy goo dripped and oozed off of him. The stench of Death hung in the air. "I will leave you with these words, When the time comes my power will be His and he will in time be like me. If you truly love this man who claims to be a deceiver… Then when the time comes you will bring an end to the line of kings and an end to Vesalon." The Fiend's voice echoed in a strange grotesque dual tone that shook Katla and nearby bystanders to their core, chilling their very souls. Katla knew then that the end was near, that Ragnarok was upon them. Hiccup's eyes opened wide with a deep gasp as he sprang back into consciousness.
The stench of Death and burning bodies hung like a thick fog in the air as Helgafjall burned. Katla and Hiccup fought valiantly to save their town from the Roman legion together many men and creatures fell to their fury and wrath that they felt from being betrayed by their mentor. Memories flashed before then of the many rigors they endured to become stronger, and now as they sailed away from their home and out towards the west, towards Elyria and onward to their own individual fate. The stars in the sky reflected wondrously in the still ocean water off the coast of the strange mist-covered land that lay but 20 miles ahead. Looking at it filled them with fear, grief, and an overwhelming sense of dread. "It all happened so fast, I can barely believe it….. one day we stood together all of us in the clearing training and fighting but now…. Our home is gone, Ragnarok is upon us and we are forced to kill the man who taught us to wield magic." Hiccup spoke plainly still in shock from the events of the previous weeks. Beaten and bloody he sat slowly rowing the small boat towards the black rocky shore of the cursed and forsaken land of Chaos and Death. "I know he told us this would come to pass but I never really thought it would but here we are…. At the doorstep of fate,... of destiny and if we succeed our world will be saved but if we fail, then what?" Katla replied, trying to make sense of the fatal tragedy thrust upon the two young adults desperate to live a peaceful life.
"Then I guess its not our problem, we either defeat the Fiend… defeat Chaos or succumb to it and the world is plunged into darkness, into war and famine, pestilence and death…. But now is not the time for thinking. Now we must get to Vesalon and destroy that which plagues this world." Hiccup's voice became harsh and truthfully speaking with great confidence as the boat scraped against the stones smoothed by the sea. The trees no longer seemed as large nor as looming but they knew the trees hadn't changed. Powerful surges of an almost electric feel rippled through the air, the hair on the back of Katla and Hiccup's neck stood on end. A storm had been brewing and was now looming on the horizon like a mountain looms over the lowlands and valleys that which it oversees. They walked in silence for hours until they could hear drums…. drums that echoed in the deep. A massive wall rose from the darkness, hundreds of feet into the cold and crisp night sky. The walls, broken by time and countless years of siege. The air grew heavy a bone chilling wind howled through the cracked open gates of Vesalon, it seemed to carry a message on it, one of darkness and war, of Death and Chaos. Slowly the duo pushed forward toothless stayed back on the boat knowing that The Fiend could warp his mind and turn toothless against his dearest friends. As Hiccup and Katla pushed forward weapons at the ready they could hear crying and faint music, the laughter of children. Another gust of wind brushed past and the laughter and cries turned to screams and wails of agony and sorrow. The very ground they walked was consecrated in blood and sorrow. Hiccup felt a voice pry deep into his mind." Behold that which has come to pass upon my land, by my hand. The storm hath cometh." The voice was but a frail whisper that carried on it a burning desire, rain began to fall as they pushed towards the old white oak that marked the center of Vesalon. In the blink of an eye an arrow Shot passed Hiccup who narrowly ducked and weaved out of the way. In the next instant a blade came crashing down on Katla's form, she managed to block most of the blow, Hiccup let out a roar and fired a bolt of sickly green Lightning at the shadow that attacked from nowhere. The bolt illuminating the massive hulking figure of sharp, jagged, black plate and monstrous sword that could only belong to one man, Vincent the Fiend. Katla moved to flank Vincent but he was faster and another thunderous blow hit again and again. Hiccup rushed behind and landed a solid strike across the back of the plate, where blood should have split but instead a grotesque black ichor seeped oozing out. "Good fight wreathed in wrath." Vincent spoke aloud, his voice distorted by agony and sorrow. Another rapid blow from Katla forced Vincent back their fight lasting for hours, neither side faltered or failed. Vincent had broken Hiccup's left arm and had wounded his left eye. Katla had multiple broken ribs and numerous small cuts on her body. As they fought through Vesalon the city was torn asunder and the cries of the damned dead echoed and wailed louder and louder till silence fell, no wind no rain not even the heavy breathing of the combatants. "I have trained you well, you fight with wrath and hatred, let it burn deep. Fear not the end but the suffering it will bring!" The Fiend shot forward and skewered Katla through the stomach a sickening squelch followed by a gurgle of blood her body went limp as the life drained from it, her soul a brilliant blue light was drawn into the blackened steel greatsword.
"NNNOOOOO!" Fjalar yelled in fury as he rushed in cutting vertically down and Cleaving deep into Vincent's shoulder a thunderous wave emitting outward from Fjalar's blade sent Vincent flying through a nearby house. Fjalar cradled Katla as her last breaths left her body and she uttered her final words." It will be okay, this is not the end. We shall meet again." Fjalar held her close the rain seemed to fall harder and thunder roared across the sky the wails of sorrow and hatred rang like a church bell throughout Vesalon, a bolt of lightning cut through the darkness illuminating a small golden ring…. A ring that once belonged to Vincent's beloved. Fjalar picked it up and felt a rush of cold surge through his body has he saw how Irene was killed and saw the many countless years Vincent had witnessed.
"Now you shall see, the struggle of life and death… of chaos and order. You will suffer as I have suffered and through that suffering you shall find your meaning. COME NOW AND FACE THE END." the deranged voice of Vincent roared louder than the cracks of thunder and with his body shaking in grief, guilt and wrath Fjalar rose to his feet and marched forward through the broken city, the spirits clung to his legs with every step as he trudged to the keep of Vesalon. The high walls encased in vines and overgrown now wreathed in intestines and drenched in blood the clouds and rain stopped the sky a deep blood red, a black sun hung low in the sky. The wails of agony pleading for peace and freedom grew louder as Hiccup walked up the stairs covered in the blood of the woman he loved only thinking of one thing, to kill the creature responsible. With each step climbing higher an overwhelming sense of dread began to creep and claw its way into the back of Fjalar's head. The massive doors that lead into the keep were broken and bent from the inside. The hall was dimly lit and the stench of fire, ash and blood filled the air, Hiccup got to the iron doors of the throne room and with a heavy sigh he pushed them open. "In this place, in this time…. You shall come to know pain and fury…. Agony and sorrow, and a death you can never escape." Vincent rose from the black ironstone throne of Vesalon the accursed city and dragged his greatsword down the steps before rushing up to Hiccup and swinging in a massive horizontal arc, a Shockwave blasting out, Hiccup stood tall and defiantly, blocking the blow with a single hand. Without a word Hiccup thrusted his glaive forward Vincent parried the blow but Hiccup had taken a sword from Katla and had now embedded it deeply into Vincent The Fiend's upper abdomen a deep guttural splurtting of blood spilled out of Vincent's mouth as Hiccup twisted the blade and with a snarl on his face ripped the black shortsword out of the flesh and bone blood spewing freely and dripping down the side of Vincent's armor. Vincent fell to his knees, his massive sword clanging to the ground as silence fell once more. A soft ringing in Hiccup's ears was all he could hear as Vincent lay dying in a pool of his blood.
"T-thank you.." Was all Vincent could mutter between choking and coughing up his own blood. The room grew brighter as The Fiend drew his last breaths the strange horrific intestines the hung and curled around the pillars and walls slowly turned back into vines that blossomed white and red flowers, Fjalar placed the small golden ring on Vincent's corpse and slowly he walked out of the keep and into the dusklight the stars just beginning to creep out and into the sky, the spirits of Vesalon were quiet and the forest beyond was quiet, Hiccup picked up Katla's body and began to walk out of the Damned and Forsaken city. He saw the treeline breaking and giving way to the familiar rocky shore before he collapsed and faded from consciousness.
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He wasn't sure how much time had passed but when he came too, it was an old familiar sight, a wooden and thatch roof, atop a bed much too small for him, he was bandaged and sore, He looked to his left and their sleeping in a chair was the hulking figure of Stoick the Vast, His father. Hiccup slowly rose from his bed and looked out his old bedroom window as the sun was rising"A new day is dawning. And with it a new beginning." Hiccup spoke softly to himself before heading downstairs and the door of his childhood home.
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A.N: And with that the story ends, the rest is up to you to decide, does Hiccup ever fully recover from his battle and loss or does it consume him like it did Vincent. How do the hooligans of Berk take to his return and what of toothless. Another story will come in time perhaps, but for now, take care, get up and get started on your life. Thank you for reading I know it's not the most coherent but I hope you enjoyed it and of course take it easy till next time.