Hellfire was completely worn out and badly injured when he saw approaching him, and Hawks was Diablo.
"Well, I wasn't expecting to find you here," he said and then suddenly surrounded the three of them with a massive wall of blue flames.
"The League of Villains… Diablo…" Hellfire glared. He read the report on the attack on the escort for Grimmel and how the hero in charge of the convoy, Sandman, had been killed. "You killed, Sandman. He was a good hero."
"Sandman, huh?" Diablo shrugged. "That doesn't ring a bell. Why don't we forget about him and have a friendly chat? Who knows when we'll get another chance."
Hellfire tried to stand, but he was still rather weak with his fight with the Red Death in almost toppled over.
"You can't fight like this," said Hawks. "Just recover your strength for now; I'll take care of this guy. I only have small feathers left, but I should be able to buy us some time."
"Ah, no need for heroics; the only reason I'm here is to retrieve my fallen Red Death," Diablo assured them in a mocking tone. "I mean, there's no way I can win this fight, right?" Blue flames then covered his hands. "Unless the top two heroes were bloodied and beaten already!"
He had just released his blue flames when suddenly appearing out of nowhere was Cottontail. She delivered a powerful kick that shattered the pavement and dispelled the blue flames, surprising everyone.
"Saw the news and hopped over," she explained and looked down at Diablo. "Patchwork! You're with the League, huh? I'll kick your butt!"
"Man, and things were just getting good," he grumbled and then reached for the radio in his collar. "Do it…"
Then black water shot out of his mouth and began to consume his entire body.
"See you later, Number 1; I'm sure we'll have time for heart-to-heart someday; I look forward to it," said Diablo. "Until then, try not to disappoint and don't you dare get killed, Spitelout Jorgenson!"
"Tell me what your friends are!" Cottontail demanded, swinging a powerful kick his way.
However, before her kick made contact, Diablo disappeared without a single trace. The moment he disappeared, the wall of blue flames vanished, leaving the three heroes completely alone.
"Vanished," said Cottontail looking back at them. "The same way they bounced out of DC that day."
"Whatever the case, we managed to stop that juiced-up Red Death," said Hawks.
"Idiot, this is just the beginning," said Hellfire.
Hellfire was then taken to the nearest hospital to have his injuries examined. According to the doctors, the only lasting damage was the wound surrounding his left eye. Fortunately, his eye had received any damage, but it had left a massive scar.
In an unknown location, Diablo was face-to-face with Hawks, who replaced a large feather beneath his chin like a blade.
"That was and how you said things would play out," said Hawks in a dangerous tone.
"Oh, is that the fact?" said Diablo, not looking concerned with the featherlike blades beneath his chin.
"I'd prefer it if you and I got along better, Diablo."
Diablo raised an eyebrow. "Thought you only have small feathers left after that battle."
"If me to lie in a secret location, I'm not coming unarmed. The flight was supposed to go down at the warehouse tomorrow. Instead, you unleashed a Red Death in the middle of the city. One at a totally different level than the others we've faced. If we're going to trust each other, you have to keep me up to date."
"I guess I had a certain change of heart," Diablo shrugged. "But I did give you advance warning that I wanted to test the new Red Death in the field. Besides, you're not without blaming yourself; you said that you would bring a random pro along. I did expect the Number 1 Hero; now that's not very fair."
Hawks narrowed his eyes. "Your piece to gave Hellfire severe injuries, I figured you would have been thrilled to give him such a workout. I did what you asked of me; you're the only one who broke a promise here."
"Think of it of me testing our pet project to see if I can actually trust his word." He then pushed the feather blade aside and then gave him an inquisitorial look. "I couldn't help but notice that you saved a couple of bystanders. You came to us saying you sympathise with our cause, yet you fought so hard today."
"I'm no good to you if the hero community loses its faith in my work. The more they trust me, the more intel I'll be able to collect on them. You know that unless you're incapable of thinking long-term." Diablo then walked past him as he left the warehouse. "Everything I do is in the name of advancing the League, got it?"
"Sure, say that all you want, but I can't let you see the boss yet. I'll be in touch… partner."
Hawks just stood there and closed his eyes.
He then remembered being called in by Hero Public Safety Committee as they had an important mission for him.
"We need you to infiltrate the League of Villains," the Police chief informed him.
"Uh, you're going to have to explain because that sounds crazy," said Hawks. "Aren't you forming a search team to find them? Like with Technora and the others?"
"Where did you hear about that?"
Hawks kept his mouth shut.
"We need your assistance; it is vital, Hawks," said the president looking at him sternly, and she continued. "You've just proven how sharp your eyes and ears are."
"At DC, we have to consider the safety of the kidnapping victim, so we rushed the operation and didn't gather enough intel," the Police chief explained. "We miss read their strength. To truly stamp out these dark organisations, we need more information. Especially about those bioengineered humans. Were they may just buy Drago Bludvist's power? If we don't learn everything we can about the League, then we'll just keep making the same mistakes."
"So you want me to get close to them but sit back and ignore all the harm they cause?" Hawk questioned.
The Police chief turned and looked him in the eyes. "We're asking you because you're somewhat you can ignore it. You are indifferent to prestige and fame, and you have your eyes fixed on your long-term goal. We think there's no one more suitable than you."
Hawks made his way to the hospital in order to visit Hellfire, who was still recovering, though he didn't look particularly pleased to see him.
'I am sorry, Hellfire. Really, I am.'
Diablo was currently at the docks when he suddenly remembered who Sandman was.
"Ah, that was Sandman, the sand guy, right?" he said.
He remembered what Sandman had said to him before he killed him about the families of the people he killed. As he stood there thinking about it, blood poured out his patchwork eyes like tears.
"I thought about it so much it's driven the insane," he said, brushing the blood off his cheek.
After his release from the hospital, both Hellfire and Hawks were making their way to the train station. Hellfire had made a full recovery, but he wound up having a massive scar on the left side of his face. Hawks feathers were also starting to grow back, but he still wasn't a full-strength.
"Isn't this great?" Hawks asked. "You only had to stay in there for two days. Bonus, your left eye is still working, which is honestly surprising. I'm sorry, this was all my fault."
"Don't flatter yourself," Hellfire huffed. "My injuries are my own responsibilities."
"Ah, man, can eyeball that line the next time I get the crap beat out of me?"
Hellfire looked at him. "Focus on what's important. That Red Death came straight for us as if it knew where we were… the exact moment we were talking about it. An odd coincidence, wouldn't you say?"
"Ah, the new top heroes walking around together in broad daylight, we just drew too much attention, and they decided to take a swipe out of us," said Hawks dismissively. He then gave him a serious look. 'Drop it. I made a scene while on the streets just so I can make this flimsy excuse.'
"I was thinking, it's possible the Red Death rumours themselves are being used as bait to capture elite heroes," Hawks continued as they went about budget stairs. "I was thinking we should contact the team searching for the League and get more info."
"You should be more careful," said Hellfire as he carried his suitcase up the stairs, and Hawks gave him a confused look. "If you plan to keep investigating this, you're going to need someone to back you up. A hero who can stop a Red Death like that."
"Ha, and you care about me so much that you're willing to be my bodyguard. That's so nice."
"I'll incinerate you," Hellfire warned.
"Once my feathers grow back, I can start patrolling again," said Hawks as they made their way into the train station. "It'll probably take another day or so. Can't wait."
Hellfire merely grunted as he made his way through the barriers.
"And what about you, huh? Taking some R&R big guy?"
"Possibly."
"Okay, catch you later then," Hawks waved.
Hellfire waves without turning around as he continued to make his way into the station.
"Is this absolutely necessary?" Hawks asked the president.
"This is a proposition; by going after the League of Villains from the inside and outside, we can cut off their retreat and lock them in," she explained.
Hawks raised an eyebrow. "Really? You're calling it a proposition even though you know that I can't possibly refuse you. Well, that's a laugh."
"I won't try to deny that; you're not wrong there," she admitted. "We got lucky that you weren't able to make it to the fighting DC."
Hawks began thinking back to when he was a kid; he had used his powers to rescue some bystanders from a terrible accident which caught the attention of the Heroes Safety Commission.
"A kid? You mean a child saved everyone?"
"That accident was terrible; I can't believe it."
"Find the child who saved all those people immediately!"
Hawks came from a very poor household, and his only toy was a doll of Hellfire. Members of the Heroes Safety Commission managed to locate him and offered him a deal to his mother.
"This boy has a natural gift; he should become a hero."
"Please allow us to support your family while we help him reach his potential."
His mother accepted the offer, and thereon, the hero Hawks was born, but unbeknownst to the public, he was actually the enforcer of the Heroes Safety Commission. He did the dirty work in the shadows to maintain a public image to keep the public ignorant of what looked in the shadows.
Hawks bowed before them. "A secret investigation into the League. If getting my hands dirty will help everyone else rest easy, and I gladly take on the task."
'My name is Hawks, and too fast for his own good. I want to live in a world where heroes have too much time on their hands, and I'll make sure that happens as quickly as possible.'
Spitelout had returned home to San Francisco, where his family were waiting for any in the dining room.
"Welcome back home," said Adelaide, his only daughter.
"Yeah, it's been a while," he said as he entered.
He was rather surprised to see Snotlout, though given what happened the last few days was to be expected.
"Snotlout got permission to leave campus for dinner," Adelaide explained as if reading his mind. "I asked his teacher to come in to join us, but… hmm, he said no. Anyway, that you're super excited to celebrate your big victory over that monster, huh, dad."
Their mother, Agatha, who so happened to be Hiccup's aunt, scolded her. "Adelaide, I'm sure the last thing your father once is to relive that battle."
"Cool scar, though," Snotlout noted.
"Snotlout!" their mother glared.
Scoldlout, his eldest son, just sat there eating his meal, though everyone could feel the resentment in his stare.
"Come on, Scold, you can at least congratulate him," Adelaide hissed. "Can you at least pretend you don't hate him?"
"I can hear you know," said Spitelout.
Scoldlout then slammed his cutlery onto the table. "Sorry, but I'm out. I can't do this!"
"Wait!" Adelaide pleaded.
Scoldlout ignored her and made his way to the door, but Spitelout grasped a shoulder.
"Scold, you have something to say than talk," he said.
"Oh, that's rich, coming from you," Scoldlout glared, shoving his hand away. "Okay then, I found out today that Snotlout likes mutton. I know nothing about my brother because you didn't want him to have anything to do with as failures."
Snotlout said nothing; it was perfectly true that the rest of his family didn't possess super strength for his pyrotechnic powers. As a result, their father spent most of his time at home training him, so he had very little contact with his other siblings.
"For some reason, mum and sis are both ready to forgive you for how you treated us," he said furiously, clenching his fist. "But to me, you're still the maniac bastard who ruined our family! You look like you are different, but you don't act that way. You neglected us, even if you're the Number One Hero that doesn't erase the past. Especially after what happened, big brother Scorchlout! You may have had a change of heart, but you can't walk in here and think that we'll accept you! How disgusting can you be?"
Silence filled the room as all eyes fell upon Spitelout.
"I plan on being your father now and to atone for what I did," he said.
"It's too late!" Scoldlout yelled and turned to his sister." I'm sorry, sis… mum… thanks for the food."
He then ran out of the dining room, and Adelaide chased after him.
"Scoldlout! Come on!" she pleaded.
"Let him go," said Agatha.
Adelaide sighed. "Well, that went terribly. All I want is for us to be like a normal family. Is that too much to ask?"
"We're anything but normal," said Snotlout. "Besides, this is the first time I've ever seen Scoldlout show so much emotion."
Then everyone's eyes turned towards the television, which was reporting Spitelout's battle a couple of days ago.
"Two days after the fight, public opinions about the new Number 1 Hero continue to evolve rapidly," said the report.
"You sure that he's okay? He was covered in blood by the end."
"I can't believe he didn't arrest anyone from the League. I thought we would record a ton of those Red Deaths things. Why was he having such a hard time with one?"
"Despite his win, the—"
"Turn that thing off!" Adelaide yelled.
"No!" said Snotlout.
They then showed a clip of that boy encouraging everyone about Hellfire.
"I used to be a huge fan of Edgeshot, but Hellfire is totally my top hero after that!"
"I was actually super excited to see representation of fire types."
"I can't ignore that boy's passion."
"The child that spoke out Hellfire during his battle struck a chord," said the reporter. "However, we cannot forget that—"
"That's the boy I met on the streets," Hellfire noted.
He then began to remember his talk with Stoick along with his warning.
"Hellfire, the top hero was amazing, but that's not standing here," said Snotlout. "As much as I hate agreeing with Scoldlout, he's right. I'm gonna have to watch your actions to see if you earn me to call you my father because I know that something small can change a person if they want it to."
Adelaide smiled broadly, and Agatha remained quiet as she focused her gaze upon Spitelout, who remained completely silent.
'I didn't become number one the way I wanted to. So my hero work is tainted with shame. What is my power even for?'
Stoick asked him why he was so fixated on becoming the strongest, and the answer may very well be inside him. 'When he said that, what suddenly came to mind was one resounding thought. I must guarantee their future. If that is the job of the pro at the top, then I have failed with my own family. How could I demand forgiveness for so long?'
He then began to leave the dining room.
"Dad, you haven't eaten yet," said Adelaide.
"I want you to know that I'm sorry for everything, and I should handle that conversation with Scold differently," he admitted before walking away.
He then went outside where Scoldlout was standing.
'Even if it is too late, I'll try to make amends. It's my only path forward.'
At Berk Academy, Hiccup was making his way to his room after a long day of training. He was so worn out from training that the moment it hit the pillow, he fell asleep.
It was then that he began having a weird dream, or at least what he thought was a dream, but it was so real. He tried to take in his surroundings, but his body wouldn't move, and it was moving on its own.
It was then that he noticed that she wasn't in his body because he noticed that his arms were very muscular. Then he saw standing in front of him was a man with a face like sandpaper and long black dreadlocks. It only took him a few seconds to realise that it was Drago Bludvist, but he was much younger and had both arms.
"Stop this madness, Drago!" he demanded.
'That's not my voice,' said Hiccup to himself, and he recognised it as it belonged to his father. 'Wait, why am I dreaming that I mean Dad's body and dreaming about Drago?'
"Stoick, why do you feel the need to resist me?" Drago asked.
"Because I refuse to stand by and let you in the lives of everyone around you!" Stoick yelled defiantly.
"I am only trying to compromise, but I guess tolerance is not something you can't accept it with your view of justice," said Drago.
"The world is falling apart, but you're using meta abilities for your own personal interest! All you're doing is fulfilling your own desires!"
'This doesn't seem like a dream, more like a memory,' Hiccup frowned. 'But how am I seeing it through my father's eyes? Wait, Toothless' implant is infused in our nervous systems; suppose it is theoretically possible that I would be able to see my father's memories, but why now?'
"Come," said Drago.
Suddenly two figures emerged. One looked like a regular guy, and the other had massive jaws and a sharp pair of fangs.
"This man's jaw was transformed," Drago explained, gesturing to the man with the large jaw. "Those fangs simply won't stop growing; he's a kindhearted man who takes care of his elderly parents. But he was persecuted, called sick and a monster, even his own parents have abandoned him."
He then gestured to the man next to him. "This man has no abilities. On his way from work one evening, he was attacked by a gang of metas. His stun gun was rendered useless, and the tentacle hair of an assailant held him down as he was beaten."
Stoick realised what he was going to do. "Don't do it! There will be no going back!"
Drago responded by pushing him back with a powerful air blast before turning to the two men.
"Please help me," said the fanged man.
"Just do it," said the regular man.
Drago placed his hands on their heads with a smile to beaded his power. The fanged man's fangs and large jaw disintegrated, and the regular guy began forming what looked like roots on his body.
"If I'm ever in need, would you lend me your aid?" Drago asked them.
"Yes, of course, I will," said the former fanged man as he felt his jaw. "I-I can go home. Thank you!"
"I'll help too," said the former regular man as he looked at his new power for arms. "I am forever in your debt after this gift."
Drago smiled at his two new underlings. "Is this the world that you call chaotic? It doesn't seem so to me, Stoick. I saw two people in need and help to both of them using my ability."
"It may seem like that, but in truth, you don't really care about them," Stoick growled angrily. "All you're doing is adding lackeys to your collection as you begin your conquest to take over the world from the shadows."
"I do need people I can trust and depend on," Drago admitted. "However, for someone who is so concerned about righteousness, why do you ignore the joy my power brings to people? The concept of humanity is now broken; I am merely using my power to restore order. So you tell me the one actually indulging in their self-interest?"
Stoick glared at him. "What kind of order is it if you're taking advantage of people? Do you even remember how many innocents of people you've toyed with the boy you abandon them!"
Stoick then charged but was then suddenly pinned down by a muscular man.
"You lose your tongue before you insult him again," the thug warned.
"As you can see, I have many friends to back me up, but you have no," said Drago. "Your strength is impressive, but you're still far too weak to challenge me. You're nothing more than a pitiful hypocrite, but out of our past friendship, I will let you go this just this once. However, if you ever challenge me again, I will not be so lenient."
Hiccup's eyes widened. 'They used to be friends?'
Suddenly, the image changed, and Hiccup watched from the rooftops as Drago paraded down the street. There are two groups on each side; one group would like regular people while the other was filled with mutated metahumans.
"I will give you everything you want if you agree to join me!" Drago announced. "You have my word. Choice of those without power, mercy to those who have sinned."
"He's growing in power," said a new voice.
Hiccup felt his father's head turn, and his eyes fell upon his mother, but decades younger.
"I could have stopped this before it even began," said Stoick clenching his fist. "Now, it may very well be too late."
"It's never too late, but if we're going to face him, we're going to need an army of our own," said Valka. "An army of heroes who believe that we do."
"That's easier said than done. Every day more people gather around him, and we don't know who to trust."
"But if we do nothing, he wins."
"He won't."
The scene changed once again, and Hiccup found himself on what can only be described as a battlefield. On one side, he could see Drago and his followers, and on his side could see his mother, a young Gobber and a number of heroes so, who he recognised as the first heroes.
"So you decided to recruit your own followers, a little hypocritical, don't you think?" Drago asked.
"They followed me because they want to put a stop to your madness and to bring real order to this world!" Stoick yelled.
Drago looked at all the heroes that had gathered. "So all of you decided to let your powers go to waste. Now you have formed factions to stand against me. Such incidents cannot go unpunished, and this time Stoick, I will not let you escape with your life."
"Have you ever listened to yourself," said Gobber. "You become a mad tyrant and murderer."
"I have not killed anyone," said Drago. "All those who stand against me, I allow my friends to punish the wicked. I am merely trying to bring about peace, and you so-called hero of disturbing the peace."
"Peace," Stoick spat. "You're using fear to control the people around you and use metas to crush all those who would stand against you. You're living in a fantasy world and believe yourself to be some sort of tyrannical king. However, you keep on forgetting that whenever there is villainy, there are those who would stand against it. No matter how many times we heroes may struggle, we will keep on fighting until we save the world. The villain always loses in the end."
"Dreams have now become a reality, and reality does not follow stock plots," said Drago. "As much as I would love to have you join me, I know that will never happen. So you leave me no choice but to eliminate you and across the flame of resistance. Destroy them!"
Drago's followers then attacked, charging towards them filled with bloodlust.
Hiccup suddenly sprang up and nearly took in moments to realise that he was in his room. He was breathing rather deeply, and there was sweat all over his body. What he had just witnessed shook him to his very core, and he had no idea what it meant.