=Bolverk's POV=
(Friday; 6/14/2020-11:00 pm)
(Outcast Island; Docks)

I could not believe my friends made such a decision to bring Astrid here. For Odin's sake, the five of us knew firsthand how dangerous it was. Before going to Archian Isle, the only reason we had the pull to do whatever we wanted was that of being the children to some of worst villains to ever grace the Barbaric Archipelago. Oswald Berserk was known for being crazy and using potions to cause people to fight, he loved to antagonize, which earned him name of Oswald the Antagonistic. Madguts Axall the Merciless, his name speaks for itself. Eretson Trapp was one of the best dragon trappers around. Alvin Ogglebert the Treacherous, another earned nickname through the acts of treason, stealing, lying, capture, and torture. All their wives had similar crimes, hence what drew them together to cause more havoc. Then there is my father, Drago Bludvist. One of the strongest sorcerers in the known universe, right beside Stoick and Valka. My father excels in dark magic, spells, potions, dragon hunting and trapping, capture, torture, and killing. I actually think that Alvin, and Oswald had a few kills under their belts too. I know Madguts did, for sure. As far as I know, my father was the worst. But our parents crimes, their very names, were all it took to put us kids at the top of Outcast Island as in charge.

Regardless, us OKs(Outcast Kids), knew where we came from, and the place we grew up in. All we knew how to do was cause trouble, wreak havoc, and make everybody fear us. This was no place for Astrid to be in, even if her intentions were good in wanting to come after me to talk about what happened. I was fairly sure that I stated in my note why I left, but I knew she was stubborn and she wouldn't let go easily. My friends still should have told her parents, or the guards, anyone that she wanted to come after me instead of letting her. And now I'm dealing with Dagur the Deranged, his earned name because he definitely inherited his father's insanity, to get Astrid back. When I did, she was going straight back to Archian Isle and would be staying there. So far, Dagur and I have gone through the song and dance of taking hits at each other verbally, but as much as I'd love to continue making him look like a terrible villain; I had to stop this and get Astrid, so that left threatening Dagur to either let her go or deal with me.

The area was quiet and everyone was waiting for Dagur to make the move I challenged him to do. I was not in the mood for this and I had no problem being bad to get this over with. Dagur finally smirked as he sat down across from me with his arm up and elbow down on the table.

"Here's the deal," Dagur started.

"Just like your dad, always making deals with no intention to carry them out," I remarked.

"Bring me the scepter that controls the barrier around Outcast Island," Dagur demanded sternly, his arms crossed over one another. "I want it delivered here on my ship, by noon sharp, tomorrow. And if you blab to authorities or her parents, you can kiss your queen goodbye…" He added coldly. "I'm going to do what you couldn't, setting everyone free from this place to rain revenge on the people who trapped us here."

I merely shrugged, remaining calm as I stood up and turned from him and his crew, then began walking up the dock to leave. "See, Dagur? That wasn't so hard, was it? Just saying what you want?" I chuckled with a smile. "Had you led with that, I could have already been on my way to get scepter. See you tomorrow, brother," I vanished from sight after that and made my way to the hideout, thinking the entire walk on how I was going to do this.

. . .

(Saturday, 6/15/2020-12:00 am)
(Outcast Island; Hangout)

I got inside the clubhouse, another name we had for our hangout spot, and ascended the stairs and entered the main area to see my friends sitting around. The four quickly turned to look at me as I came into view.

"What happened?" Olivia asked.

"Where's Astrid?" Heather got to her feet.

"Still with Dagur. Sort of sarcastically threatened him to either tell me what he wants in exchange, quit and give up Astrid, or I was just going to make him regret crossing me. He chose the first option, so he gave in told me what he wants," I stated.

"And…What did he say?" Eret inquired.

I looked at them seriously. "The scepter that control the barrier around this place, so he can set everyone free and they can get revenge. Basically wanting to do what we didn't back in January,"

"We can't give him the scepter, no way," Olivia stood up quickly.

"Well, this is clearly out of our hands…Let's go back to Archian Isle and tell Stoick and Valka," Soren suggested.

I shook my head. "Nope, can't do that," I said. "Dagur said not to blab to them, or Astrid is dead. Also, I only have until noon today to bring it to him,"

"Great," Heather sighed. "So what do we do, Bol?"

"I don't know," I started thinking. "The scepter isn't kept in the museum with all the other magical artifacts, it's in the castle, heavily guarded at that,"

"Stoick and Valka let you use it before, maybe we can…Just ask to study it or something? They trusted you to wield their power," Eret reminded.

"Different situation. The scepter was already out and with them for Astrid's coronation, also, it was under the pretenses of using their good magic to beat my dad…" I dropped down into a chair with my head in my hands. "I can't just go ask Stoick and Valka to give me the scepter because they'll want to know why I'd need it when it's only function is to maintain the barrier spell around this place. And I was told not to say anything to them…" I sighed. "This never would have happened if I didn't leave. She wouldn't have blamed herself and wanted to come here…"

"Yeah…" The four sighed together.

"Okay, maybe I chose to leave and she decided she wanted to come here, but you four could have done anything to stop her other than choose to be her guides!" I glared as my friends flinched and looked down. "I left to keep her safe! Astrid and the people of Archian Isle deserve better than me as their king. It was easier to leave before she ended up hurt from thinking I could be anything other than what and who I am. I might not be an evil villain anymore, but it doesn't change that I'm still an outcast and I don't fit in or belong there,"

"Bol…" The four said sadly.

"Enough…We have work to do before tomorrow at noon," I said firmly.

"What are we doing?" Olivia asked.

"When I figure that out, I'll let you know…" I mumbled, trying to think of anything on how to make this work. After twenty minutes, I had nothing other than going to Stoick and Valka, explaining what happened, and making them stay on Archian Isle while I got Astrid back, then making sure I got the scepter back from Dagur. This idea did not include any of the what if's of things going wrong. "Ugh…" I groaned. I felt something touch my shoulder and looked over to see my dad. "Don't suppose you have an idea, do you?" I questioned him. My father tilted his head at me as I sighed and closed my eyes again. There had to be something, but I was clearly missing it. I felt my dad scurry down my arm and off of me, a moment or two later, I felt something get pushed against my leg as I looked down and found that my dad, with help from Toothless and Sharpshot, brought the spellbook over from inside my bag.

"This supposed to help the current situation?" I looked at my father, and he nodded once. "How? It's useless inside the barrier because it-," I stopped, eyes widening in realization. "I know what we can do," I informed my friends.

"We stealing the scepter?" Soren stood up.

"No," I shook my head.

"Sneaking on the docks and fighting it out?" Eret inquired.

"No," I said again.

"Then…What's the plan?" Heather arched a brow.

"As my father just made me see with the spellbook…It's useless inside the barrier because there's no magic here. The barrier negates all magical power." I reminded.

"Okay, but…How does that help us get Astrid back?" Olivia wondered.

"The barrier negates ALL magic power, guys. The book is as powerful as the scepter, but it's useless in here where magic doesn't work. Bringing the scepter here would render it just as useless inside the barrier…" I enlightened.

"We're still gonna have to get the scepter…" Soren mentioned.

"No, we don't. We just have to give Dagur a fake scepter and make him think it's the real one long enough to get Astrid and bail," I revealed as their eyes widened. "If we get the tools we need to make a model of the scepter…I can wire a battery-operated light into a stone on top, so he thinks it's working,"

"We don't have stuff like that here, and you know it," Eret stated.

"I know, you're gonna have to make a trip back to Archian Isle and get what we need," I grabbed my notebook and made a list of items. When done, I handed it to them. "Make sure you're back here by 11 am tomorrow. That should be enough time for me to wire the light before noon."

"Aren't…You coming back with us?" Heather asked.

"I told you I wasn't going back, guys…I meant it," I remarked. "Tomorrow, when Astrid is free, you four grab her and get out off the island. You are not to wait for me. You are not to look back. And you are not to come back."

Bol, we're…Not leaving you behind to fend for yourself against Dagur. When he realizes you've tricked him, he'll come after you. He'll kill you!" Heather screeched.

"I can handle myself, Heather…But I will not endanger all of you because of his obsession with me. So you will take Astrid and go back to Archian Isle. You will leave me here and not come back for me," I ordered. "I have to stay here…It's what's best for Archian Isle, and Astrid." I paused. "Now, go. We're wasting time…" Slowly, and with obvious frowns, my friends moved to leave our hideout and were soon gone as sat back. I knew it was harsh, but I had no place on Archian Isle. I'd never fit in and I didn't belong.

. . .

=Normal POV=
(Saturday, 6/15/2020-10:30 am)
(Archian Isle; Archia Preparatory)

The four outcasts moved as fast as they could to get all the things on Bolverk's list, and begin assembling it all in the boy's dorm room. Bolverk would still have to do the lighting part, but for pulling an all-nighter, the friends felt they did good. The fake scepter before them looked dead on the real one.

"Alright, we gotta move," Soren reminded.

"Yeah, it's already 10:30 am," Olivia nodded.

Working together, the four friends gathered up their stuff, and the fake scepter before quickly hurrying to leave the room. Unfortunately, they were not expecting, nor prepared to end up in front of Stoick and Valka. "And where is it you're rushing off too?" Stoick asked.

"Um…" All four of them stalled on an answer.

"Don't try lying, we know all about Astrid following Bolverk to Outcast Island. Now where are they?" Stoick demanded.

The outcasts sighed and moved to let Stoick and Valka in, behind them were Snotlout Ruffnut, Tuffnut, and Fishlegs. "So, what happened was…" Eret began.

"We don't have time for long version!" Heather snapped at him. "The truth is that Bolverk went back to Outcast Island, feeling he didn't belong here and wouldn't fit in. Astrid followed, and we went with her to keep her safe. Astrid wandered off after talking to Bolverk, who evidently rejected her request to come back here. Dagur the Deranged found her, and has her hostage for the scepter, so he can break the barrier and set the outcasts free," She explained quickly.

"My daughter is being held captive by Dagur the Deranged?!" Valka panicked.

"We'll gather the guard right-," Stoick began.

"NO!" The four friends yelled.

"No?" Stoick stared at the outburst.

"You can't be there. Neither can the guards," Soren responded.

"Dagur warned Bolverk not to involve you two or authorities otherwise Astrid was dead…" Olivia glanced down.

"Then I assume he will be saving her himself?" Valka questioned.

"Yes, ma'am," Heather nodded.

"So you're here with this…Copy and he's what? Stealing the scepter himself?" Stoick asked firmly.

"No! No, sir. Bolverk would never, and he's not even here," Soren said.

"Yeah, Bolverk is still on Outcast Island…Watching Dagur's moves and working out the last of his plan," Eret informed.

"Does the plan have to do with this?" Fishlegs admired the fake scepter in Heather's hands.

"Bolverk realized that his spellbook was powerful, but useless inside the barrier over the island. And assumed that if the scepter was brought here, it would also be rendered in effective. So his plan was sending us here to make this fake scepter and he's gonna wire a battery-operated light into the stone so it will glow like the real one, and then he's gonna give it to Dagur in exchange for Astrid," Olivia explained gently.

"Well, the idea is genius," Valka shrugged a bit. "The real scepter actually would work inside the barrier since the scepter is only for maintaining the shield spell. It's still mine and Stoick's magic, which wouldn't be affected inside the barrier that we created,"

"I assume Bol thought of that theory, and that's why he's going to make sure the stone is glowing, so Dagur believes it works," Heather mentioned.

"We'll return her right here by 1 pm. As soon as the exchange is made, there will be a ridiculously small window to grab Astrid and escape before Dagur realizes he's been tricked. Bolverk's plan is to hand the scepter off at the same time as he gets Astrid from Dagur, then as Dagur is soaking up his victory, we're quickly getting to the car and shooting through the barrier. Bolverk says he'll have a diversion set to buy us a few extra minutes," Olivia added.

"And speaking of minutes, we gotta go now. Bolverk said to be back for 11 am so he can wire the light and then we gotta get to the docks for noon," Eret reminded quickly to his friends.

"Let us come, we can help," Snotlout offered.

"No way," Soren shook his head.

"We don't have time. There's already enough worry and stress to get Astrid back, we don't need to add to the pile. Let us handle this, we're outcasts…We know how things work over there…" Heather remarked.

"Bring my daughter home, please?" Valka asked.

"On our word, Mrs. Haddock," Eret reassured. When the Haddock's moved out of the way, the four friends quickly left to return to Outcast Island.

. . .

(11:15 am)
(Outcast Island; Hangout)

Bolverk impatiently waited in the main area, tapping his foot on the floor and arms folded. "Come on, guys…I specifically said be back here no later than 11 am…Didn't I?" Bolverk grumbled, looking to confirm with his dragons and father. All three nodded to him. Moments later, Eret, Olivia, Soren, and Heather rushed in panting. "You're late…"

"We're sorry…We got held up…" Heather said as Eret and Soren pulled the scepter out of Eret's duffle bag.

"Who knows?" Bolverk asked.

"Fishlegs, Snotlout, the twins…" Olivia replied.

"And Astrid's parents," Soren mumbled.

Bolverk's eyes widened. "Are you serious right now?!" His eyes turned to a glare.

"They cornered us in the dorm room, demanding to know where you and Astrid were…We kind of had the scepter in our hands and at that point, couldn't really lie," Soren explained, handing the object to Bolverk, then Eret handed over the other items for Bolverk to make it glow as he instantly got to work.

"We told them that they couldn't interfere and promised we'd bring Astrid home soon." Heather informed.

"We…Kind'a had to tell them you took off and she followed, but we wouldn't let her go by herself…" Olivia added.

Bolverk stayed quiet for a couple of minutes, still working at hooking up the light inside the stone. "Are they angry at my decision?" He finally asked.

"Not sure…Their focus was kind of on their daughter being held captive by Dagur," Eret replied. Bolverk nodded, but said nothing else as he kept hooking things up. The rest of them stayed quiet, not wanting to disturb their friend, but also praying Bolverk was deep in thought on his choice to stay on Outcast Island, and hopefully, would change his mind and come back with them. But that's all they could do right now. Hope.