Everything seemed lost in a haze at that moment. A white noise filled their air as the King roared out and lunged at Sylerion with all his might. The older Night Fury barely managing to dodge the attack. Meanwhile the rest of fighters, except for Raeya, took flight and battled Rhyax.
Both older dragons slashed and bit at each other. Currently, Re was on top trying to slash down at Sylerion; however, the Night Fury kicked out under him, sending the king flying sideways before spitting out two powerful plasma blasts at him. Sand flew everywhere as the blasts seemingly hit their mark.
Sylerion smirked, relishing in the fact he struck the almighty king. His glee only lasted a brief moment as Re slowly emerged from the settling dust, albeit with yellow markings along his face, wing membranes, and plated, winged underbelly.
"No one...messes...with my family." Re glowered. His eyes glinted with a fierce animosity as he stood menacingly with his Titan Wing activated.
The Dragon King then rushed the Night Fury, dodging a couple of ensuing plasma blasts before knocking into Sylerion's side. Before Sylerion could recover, he was instantly doused in a jet of flames by Re.
The King's fire was twice as hot due to his Titan Wing form and covered a wider range, engulfing Sylerion's entire body. The Night Fury tried to get fight it but the flames pushed him down. When the flames stopped, Re instantly swatted across his face, leaving four nasty gashes across Sylerion's face. The Night Fury tried to get up but Re pinned him down again and released another jet of flames directly onto Sylerion's face. The Night Fury could do nothing but face the intense inferno head on.
Re kept up his flamethrower for a minute or so before finally stopping. He glanced down and realized he burnt Sylerion so intensely, the gashes on his face instantly cauterized. The intense scorching on his face made it difficult to discern where Sylerion's eyes and mouth where.
Re huffed and puffed as he stepped off his opponent, deactivating his Titan Wing. No sooner than that, he heard shuffling and a few plasma blasts ahead of him. He glanced up and notice Raeya desperately trying to dig out the buried hatchlings. He too sprinted over and began blasting away some of the rubble.
"There is too much rubble! We both can't do this alone!" Raeya panicked.
Just as Re was about to say something, he heard a roar. He turned around and saw Aurora and Tenor flying towards them. Tenor climbed a bit high before diving downward into a power dive, charging a plasma blast, while simultaneously activating his Titan Wing to add more power. Raeya and Re stepped back and with a deafening boom, the plasma blast sent the rubble flying in a spray. As the dust cleared, Re rushed in.
"Kids...kids! Avalon! Apollo! Black Widow!" Re desperately called out.
Everything was silent for a moment, but as the faint moonlight slowly crept in he was able to make out some distinct shapes.
His eyes widened when he saw the group lying huddled together and covered with dust. He nudged his daughter and son slowly, praying that they would rouse. The moonlight making them appear sickly pale.
After a few silent seconds, they did not stir.
"Come on...Apollo...Avalon…" Re pleaded softly on the verge of tears.
Another couple of seconds and all seemed lost...until Apollo started a fit of coughing before groaning. Avalon too gave a slight cough before whining in discomfort.
"Oh thank heavens!" Re sighed, releasing a tense breath before nuzzling and licking his hatchlings. He then nudged and prodded Black Widow who proceeded to groan and cough as well.
He grabbed them the best he could and hoisted then on his back, carefully. He then turned around and was greeted by the sight of both his Draconian family and the Berkians.
His family immediately rushed around him and crooned in relief; Aurora licked and checked her children for any injuries while Tenor did the same for his daughter.
"Are you okay?" Tenor asked concerned. His concern for his daughter's well-being temporarily masked his recent heartbreak.
"Y-yeah...just scared...I really thought I was going to d-die. We couldn't do anything and when the cave collapse in...I-I..." Black Widow admitted shakily, still shivering in fear.
"Shhh...it's okay my child. As long as I'm here, I will do everything and anything to protect you. No matter what, I will always be here." Tenor gently said to his daughter, nuzzling her.
"I know father...it's just...I wish m-mother was here too." Black Widow said before she starting crying softly. "Where is she? I saw her fly away and you crying. What happened? Does she hate me?Did I cause her to leave?"
His daughter's mention about his ex-mate stung him a bit but he reassured her the best he could. "Black Widow, your mother could never hate you. She loves you with all her heart. You did not make her leave...I did." Tenor struggled to say.
Black Widow looked up, "What do you m-mean?" She said through tears eyes.
Tenor looked in his daughter's eyes and could instantly see the pain the recent separation was causing her. Watching her mother leave without no knowledge of if she would ever return, not even knowing why she left in the first place. Tenor closed his eyes and mused over what happened a couple hours ago. He saw himself when he stared into his daughter's eyes. He didn't want her to live a life of sadness and confusion like he did. He didn't want her to grow up without both parents like he did. He wasn't going to allow his daughter to go through similar circumstances like he did growing up.
He gazed back into his child's eyes. "It's a long story. A story I will explain when you are older. All you need to know is that I'm getting your mother back. I promise." Tenor said before nuzzling his child tenderly.
Black Widow was confused but trusted in her father. Nodding and crooning as her father licked her in comfort.
Re regarded the Berkians as he finished making sure his hatchlings were alright. "Where is that other Night Fury?"
The riders of Berk gazed between themselves, sheepish and awkward, before Hiccup stepped forward.
"Uh...well Re...we tried catching him, but he's a Night Fury...and you know how agile and swift Night Furies are..." Hiccup slowly admitted.
"He escaped." Eret said.
"What?!"
"It's true, sir. We had him cornered actually. We told him how we captured his mother and that his father wouldn't stand a chance against you." Stormfly squawked.
"Then he glanced down at you defeating his father, then he left. I guess once he realized he was outnumbered the only thing he could do was escape, which he could do since Night Furies are extremely fast." Skullcrusher added.
"He's gonna be back." Re sighed angrily.
"He will...but we will be ready." Eret said determined.
"Speaking of Night Furies…" Aurora added as she gazed heatedly at Raeya who was standing quietly and timidly a few yards away from the group.
Raeya tensed a bit as all eyes shifted to her, she found the black stares of the humans and the fierce looks of the dragons a bit unsettling.
"Look...I understand-" Raeya began, slowly being surrounded.
"What exactly do you understand? As far as I know, you have been the center of almost all the problems that happened in these past weeks." Hookfang glowered.
"If you would let me ex-"
"What do we need to know that we don't? You have caused strife to everyone on this island." Barf stated.
"Even though your reason behind exposing your family for who they were and what their ulterior motive was, that doesn't excuse the fact you knew about this for quite some time and went along with it." Belch added.
"That proves we can't trust you." Meatlug retorted sternly.
"I-I know but please-"
"It's probably because of you that Toothless is gone! He tries his best to look good for you, impress you, and make you see the beauty in our village, and what did you do, you just coldly reject him!" Stormfly cried out.
"He wanted you to stay, you know that? He liked you! He wanted you to call this place home! Give you and your family what you guys always wanted. It's obvious that isn't the case." Hookfang growled.
"ENOUGH!" Re roared, silencing the onslaught of the dragons of Berk, even though their words already left an impact on Raeya.
"Raeya, you said you were gonna explain everything. This still doesn't make sense. The whole crown thing, your family's true plan." Aurora added.
Raeya was visibly upset. The dragons of Berk reminded her how horribly she treated Toothless and their words made her realize Toothless wanted what was best for her, and she realized that Toothless was what was best for her. She exhaled a shaky breath, trying to quell her storm of emotions. She couldn't hold anything in anymore. There was no point in delaying the truth; She had no reason to do such.
"My family wanted to rob you guys originally. They figured King Jack had riches because what king doesn't? We were gonna rob you all of your most valued possessions. We planned to rob you guys and that's it! I was the only one in my family who realized that was wrong and that responding to negativity with negativity solves nothing. It wouldn't be fair to just rob you guys! So I planned against them, I took Windwalker's crown. I took it and planted it in the cove because I was planning on getting you guys to catch my family with the crown, that way they would get captured and never even have a chance to rob you guys in the first place! Then we met you guys and we realized that King Jack passed away and Re took his place.
"I didn't know we were gonna go after the children! That just took a turn for the worst! My father realized Re valued his family more than any material item so that's why he went after the children in response to Re's father shunning us because of me–his child. I knew I had to stop it, but I didn't know how! I didn't know how to approach you guys about it without it sounding bad, but it sounds bad regardless. Then you guys showed me what it was like to have a family, a real family where you guys didn't just focus on revenge and blaming others for one's misfortunes, and Toothless showed me what it was like to have a home...I just...just caught up in what it was like to be...to be a part of a community."
Everything was dead silent.
"I caused all of this. You are right. All my life I have been told what to do and to carry vengeance in my heart for what you father did to my family, when in reality it is my parent's fault for holding onto that hatred for so long. I did what they said because I believed it to be right. If I had just approached you all sooner...I messed everything up...and I can't forgive myself for allowing all of this to happen...You all have a right to be mad at me. I'm just a stranger who just came into your life and basically caused all this drama. Just be mad at me knowing why I did what I did, instead of being mad at me for the wrong reason. Now you have a right reason to be mad at me...and I'm sorry! Sorry doesn't cover it but I'm sorry!" Raeya closed her eyes and crooned sadly, hanging her head in shame. There was nothing left for her to say.
Re came forward, looking down at her. Raeya looked up, visibly upset; not scared, but accepting her fate.
"Raeya...what your family has done is inexcusable. It's one thing to go after me, but to go after my family...my instincts tell me to kill you all. However, I can see in your eyes true regret. I would have reigned down on you and your family severe agony for endangering my family if it wasn't for your confession. Although, it's rare for a dragon to admit he is wrong, I could hear the truth in your voice as you confessed. You seemed visibly and honestly upset. You realized the error of your ways, and for that, only you will receive a small punishment, mercy really. Your family however will endure justice."
Everyone was confused by Re's declaration, especially Raeya. The Night Fury glanced to her defeated father, to the sky for her long gone brother, and back to Re. She gathered herself.
"So, what does this mean?"
"It means your family will be imprisoned. However as punishment, you will help Hiccup and I recover Toothless and my son...and you will have a rider from this day forth until you ascend to the heavens."
That statement gathered murmurs amongst the crowd.
"Uhh, we all have dragons, none of us are gonna ride her." Ruffnut commented.
"Oh me me! I wanna ride her! We are gonna have to call you something worthy of a Viking rider! Hmmm how about...Deathbringer!" Tuffnut exclaimed excitedly.
"I wasn't referring to any of you all." Re responded.
"Then who is gonna ride her then?" Snotlout grunted.
Re gave the slightest hint of a smirk at Raeya, causing the Night Fury to widen her eyes in shock.
"Does he mean…" Raeya thought to herself.
Kassandra sulked in her prison. She was so confused, and felt a tinge of betrayal. She just discovered a crown and then suddenly she was thrown in jail.
The flapping of wings got her attention. She rushed to the bars of her cell and pressed against it, trying to peek out at what was happening. Hiccup then emerged.
"Hiccup? Look please, I didn't do anything! I just saw a crown and then those dragons turned on me! I'm innocent, I didn't know what the crown was! I didn't know it belonged to them…" Kassandra began to ramble.
"Yeah, uh, there was a bit a of a mix up, and we realized that you didn't steal it, as a matter of fact, Raeya stole it...in any case, you are free to go." Hiccup said sheepishly as he released her from the cage.
Kassandra stopped mid sentence as Hiccup explained what happened and was shocked as he swung open the cell door.
"Wait...What?! So it wasn't my fault? Wait, dragons can steal? How can they steal? They are just...dragons!" Kassandra questioned as she hesitantly stepped out of her cage and into the open. She immediately became quiet as the large group stared back at her.
"W-what's...what's going on?" Kassandra stammered nervously, trying to back up. She thought this was trick and that the group was there to deliver a somewhat worse punishment besides imprisonment.
Re came forth "Kassandra, you being put in jail was a mistake. This was due to a large misunderstanding ultimately caused by Raeya. We can explain everything along the way."
Kassandra regarded the king and was confused by his words.
"What..What do you mean, 'along the way'?" Kassandra asked.
"You are going to accompany myself and Hiccup, and will guide us to Rome."
Kassandra took a step back. "Why...why are we going back to there...I escaped there for a reason...are you guys taking me back...look I'm sorry I-"
"Kassandra, my dragon, Toothless, has been captured and we know that Alastair has taken him and consequently took Chris as well back to your city. We are going to rescue them and you are the only one who knows Athens well enough to guide us there and help us track them down, besides you are the only one who speaks Greek...and I hate to say it but you kinda owe it to Re and his family since you were the one who caused Chris to forget his memories." Hiccup explained.
"Um, Okay...I guess we aren't taking a boat back then." Kassandra stated with a defeated look on her face, knowing where this was going to lead.
"Why would you need to when you got dragons, duh!" Fishlegs interjected.
Kassandra hung her head in defeat. Her recent interactions with dragons didn't go so well.
"I...I don't know how to ride one! I don't know the basics and I don't even know what to do! I don't think a dragon even wants me on their back! Why can't I ride on Re behind you Hiccup?" Kassandra cried out.
"You will at first, but having extra weight on my back will slow me down, so you will be riding another dragon after awhile." Re chuckled lightly.
"There is one dragon that kind of trusts you, and you guys have been close to each other and gotten to know each other fine." Hiccup smiled as he commented, patting the neck of Raeya, who at the time looked nervous and wasn't making eye contact with her at all.
Kassandra looked down, unsure what to make of this sudden turn of events.
"When do we leave?" Kassandra gulped, nervous to be on the back of a dragon, let alone be thousands of miles up in the air.
"We leave immediately" Hiccup said.
"I'm afraid that's not possible." Aurora interjected, "There is a store coming a few miles from here. It will make flying impossible."
Everyone turned to where she was pointing and the brewing dark clouds hovering above the horizon a couple of miles away confirmed her words.
Re growled in frustration "Just great! Now that just puts more distance between us and those damn Romans!"
"Well there is no other choice: we will have to wait until tomorrow when the storm passes." Hiccup decided.
Back in Rome, Toothless stirred. His head throbbed sorely. He wondered why it hurt before he remembered he was hit over the head hard by that man, Gallus. Toothless fluttered his eyes open and took in the new surroundings. He was being dragged on a rolling platform through some type of tunnel made from small blocks of stone, with torches lined every so often along the walls. An entourage of ten or so soldiers escorted him, glad in their red and brass armor.
He growled and began thrashing again but to no avail. His limbs and muzzle were clamped shut to the platform with iron shackles; Toothless could barely look up because of it. The soldiers noticed his struggle and shouted back and forth to each other in their strange language before rolling Toothless faster down the tunnel. Toothless would have kept on growling but a soft rumbling began to echo throughout the tunnel.
The rumbling grew louder and Toothless realized it was the shouts and roars of a crowd of humans, a large one at that. Toothless gazed forward and saw light at the end of the tunnel. A thick, iron portcullis blocked the end, allowing some natural sunlight to filter through.
The entourage quickly held down the Night Fury, prompting him to growl louder. A sinister chuckle then echoed through the tunnel. Toothless' eyes darted towards the right, the voice all too familiar.
"Well well...looks like you aren't so mighty after all. No need to fear, I'm not gonna kill you." Gallus said as he walked slowly into Toothless' line of vision. The Night Fury's eyes slitted angrily, his growl became a muffle snarl.
Gallus picked up some sort of metal contraption with spikes jutting out at different angles. The big brute threw it over Toothless before reaching under him and securing the metal band with a thick click of the metal harness. Toothless felt a pricking, sharp pressure along his wings and adjacent joints whenever he tried to expand his wings. He couldn't move them at all and were effectively pinned back behind his body.
"This'll prevent you from trying to fly away. If you try, the spikes will pierce into your wings and wing joints the more you expand those appendages." Gallus darkly chuckled.
He went around and looked Toothless dead in the eye before slapping Toothless' cheek in a mockingly playful manner. "I can see it in your eyes how much you want to kill me. I see it all the time in the dragons I've captured. However, killing me should be the least of your concerns now. You got bigger things to kill than me."
Gallus barked something to his men and the entourage formed a wall with their shields and their spears jutted out from the spaces between the shield, forming a spiked wall of sorts.
The blonde then moved around behind Toothless and withdrew his sword before heaving it down and slicing the metal ring which secured all the chains–minus the contraption–to the wooden platform.
Toothless immediately shook off his chains, spun around and threw a plasma blast at Gallus. However, Gallus was already behind the closing group of soldiers and his plasma blast bounced off the heavy, metallic shield of one of them. They cried some type of unison shout before slowly advancing on the dragon. Toothless growled and tried snapping his jaws at one of the spears but the other spears would try to stab him in return. He had no choice but to fall back.
Toothless heard clinking metal and realized the gate of the portcullis was opening and he was being forced into the open. After a tense minute, Toothless emerged into blinding sunlight and to the roar of the crowd.