Happy New Year's Eve! Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!
Dropping his sword, Hiccup rushed to his betrothed's side. Astrid seemed to be knocked out cold. What had happened to her? She looked the same with the exception of the large pink scar on her left cheek, blemishing her otherwise alabaster face.
And he had knocked her out. He had hurt her.
"Astrid," Hiccup whispered as he reached towards her face.
Then, her eyes flashed open. The next thing Hiccup knew, he was tackled to the ground with an axe hovering dangerously over his chest and Astrid glaring down at him in pure hatred.
"I told you," she growled savagely, "you'd die for that."
In a rush of adrenaline, Hiccup reached over and grabbed the sword, blocking the axe just in time. Trying to regain his ground, he struggled against her hold with every ounce of strength he possessed. He got to his feet and pushed her back, but she charged again, screaming a warcry. Hiccup went into evasive action, dodging her blows and blocking when she got close enough.
"Stupid boy!" Astrid snarled, swinging her sword violently. "Surrender, and I'll make your death quick!"
"Please, no! I don't wanna hurt you!" Hiccup cried.
"Great, that'll make this easier."
Astrid swung her axe at him. Hiccup countered her strike. He had fought with Astrid before, but it was for practice, for training. They never would try to harm another. Yet, here they were, fighting to the death, Astrid ready to slice him into ribbons.
She gave him a venomous glare. "Why do you defend that devil?"
"Because he's my friend!"
Hiccup swung his blade at her, but Astrid jumped back.
"You're an idiot! Dragons are monsters!"
Axe and blade clashed and broke away and clashed again furiously. She was gaining ground again. Hiccup could hold his own against her, but he held back. He did not want to hurt her; he could not risk hurting someone so dear to him. He had to get through to her, persuade her somehow, or she would kill him and then Toothless. After all, he had convinced her before. Surely, he could do it again.
"I know you think that, Astrid, but you're wrong!"
"Oh, I'm not wrong! I've seen the things they've done, the lives they've taken!"
Astrid's axe came crashing down, but Hiccup narrowly blocked it. She pushed down, but Hiccup fought her. He had forgotten how strong she was.
"Astrid, I know you hate them because of what happened to your uncle," Hiccup grunted, his arms aching in protest.
Astrid's mouth parted, her eyes widened in shock; he was getting to her. "How do you-"
But Hiccup continued. "That Flightmare was only protecting itself. They attack us because we attack them."
Astrid looked away for a second, seeming to mull over this, but then she shook her head and resumed her glare.
"Think about it, Astrid," Hiccup urged desperately. "That night the Flightmare came, did it hurt anyone until Finn attacked it?"
Stunned, Astrid did not respond.
"It didn't. It was only following its food source. It didn't want to hurt anyone until it felt threatened. And it's the same for every dragon. They aren't as mindless and bloodthirsty as you think!" Hiccup backed away, lowering his weapon to the side. "You know I'm right."
Astrid's expression softened, she dropped her axe. But still she shook her head, looking down. "No, this-this is wrong. You're wrong. That-" Her finger pointed to the bound Night Fury. "That demon kills every human it meets."
"He's not what you think." Hiccup approached Toothless' side, knelt down, and put his sword to one of the ropes.
"Wait! What're you-" Astrid cried.
"It's okay, just let me show you," Hiccup whispered calmly and went to cut the ropes.
Toothless warbled in quiet fear, but Hiccup sawed at the ropes ensnaring him.
"It's okay, buddy, I'm not gonna hurt you," he whispered.
The ropes snapped. Toothless was free. In an instant, the Night Fury got to his feet and eyed Hiccup questioningly. Without hesitation, Hiccup threw the sword into the pool nearby. Toothless warbled lowly. For a long moment, he kept his eyes unblinkingly locked on Hiccup's as if he were trying to read the human boy's soul.
Hiccup smiled warmly, silently telling the dragon that he meant no harm. Toothless edged in closer to Hiccup and nuzzled his chest.
Hiccup laughed and threw his arms around the Night Fury's neck, feeling relief and joy beyond words.
"What are you doing?!" Astrid suddenly cried. "Are you insane?! It's gonna kill you!"
Toothless then glared at Astrid and made a lunge at her, but Hiccup held him back.
"No, no, Toothless, it's okay! It's okay."
But Toothless was not listening. The only thing on his mind seemed to be killing his attacker.
Astrid raised her axe and held it in front of her. With a snarl, Toothless broke from Hiccup's hold and made a beeline towards the shieldmaiden.
"Toothless, don't!"
Without thinking twice, Hiccup jumped in front of Astrid, holding his hands out. Toothless stopped, his face screwed up in perplexation.
"She's a friend," Hiccup assured the dragon who did not seem to believe him. After all, she had attacked both of them. Why would she be a friend?
"It's okay, trust me," Hiccup whispered calmly.
Toothless narrowed his eyes doubtfully. After a moment, he yielded and sank back. Hiccup breath a sigh of relief he did not know he was holding in.
Astrid's eyes were round with shock and amazement. "I- how the- How do you control it?"
Hiccup turned to her. "I don't control him. He just trusts me."
"But it's a-" Astrid began.
"He's not a monster. And I promise, he won't hurt you-" Gradually, Hiccup reached forward and grasped Astrid's axe by the handle. "if you won't hurt him."
"Wait, what are you-" she began to yell.
"No, it's okay," Hiccup whispered. "You just have to give him a chance."
Astrid glared at him, and fought for the hold of her weapon. "I am not listening to anything you say!"
"Then I won't speak. Just put the axe down and let me show you."
Astrid's breath hitched; she did not reply.
"Please, Astrid."
With a hesitant swallow, Astrid's grip loosened, and she relinquished her weapon. Hiccup dropped the axe which hit the dirt with a thump. Slowly, he reached forward and took her hand.
She was about to shrink back, but Hiccup smiled reassuringly at her. He flattened her palm and gently guided her hand towards Toothless. Both girl and dragon shrunk back from each other in distrust and fear.
"No, no, it's okay," Hiccup whispered. "Just trust me."
Astrid stared at Hiccup uncertainly who gave her a nod. Inhaling sharply, Astrid extended her hand to Toothless and turned her head away. Toothless warbled curiously and glanced Hiccup who smiled encouragingly. Closing his eyes, Toothless touched his snout to Astrid's palm. With a gasp, Astrid turned her head, her mouth agape in disbelief.
"It… He didn't kill me," she breathed.
Hiccup grinned. "See? Not a monster."
Astrid shook her head, scoffing quietly. "We've fought them so long, and we could have just…"
"Yeah. Pretty much."
Astrid stared at the Night Fury who growled lowly at her. She then turned to Hiccup. "Who are you?"
"That's not important right now," said Hiccup. "We have to get to Viggo's base. He has a dangerous artifact, and I need to take it back."
Astrid raised an eyebrow. "Artifact? You mean that thing with the copper lenses?"
"Yes, the- wait, you know about it?" Hiccup questioned.
"I've worked for Viggo Grimborn for a couple years, and I may have glimpsed it once or twice," Astrid explained with a shrug. "Why, what's so important about this artifact?"
"He's gonna use it to find the King of Dragons. Or rather, Johann is. If they find him-"
"They could use it as a weapon," Astrid murmured. "The Hunters could have a whole arsenal of dragons at their disposal-"
Suddenly, Toothless' ears perked up, and he growled ferociously. Before Hiccup could ask what was wrong, arrows came whizzing by.
Toothless fired a blast at the volley of arrows before grabbing Hiccup by the back of his shirt and taking cover behind a boulder.
Hiccup sighed and petted the Night Fury. "Thanks, bud."
Toothless then snarled as a volley of fire arrows was launched towards them.
"How did they find us?" Hiccup wondered aloud.
"Yak dung. Someone must have followed me." Astrid took a peek over the boulder, then immediately ducked back down. "We're completely surrounded. They're gonna kill your dragon and then us!"
Hiccup panted worriedly, his back pressed hard against the face of the boulder as he struggled to think amidst his terror. "Then we've gotta get off Berk. All of us."
"It's useless! We'll never get through the fire, we're outnumbered!"
Hiccup clenched his fists and drew a quick breath. "Then we don't go through. We go over and disappear."
"What?" Astrid eyed Hiccup in confusion, utterly clueless to what he was planning.
Hiccup turned to Toothless. He reached out his hand and cupped his dragon's cheek. "Toothless. Toothless, I need you to do something for me."
Toothless' eyes widened attentively.
"I need you to let me ride on your back. Do you trust me?"
Toothless growled in fear as another volley of arrows darted towards their hiding spot.
"Toothless, it's the only we'll get outta here alive," Hiccup said, his voice urgent. "Do you trust me, bud?"
Hesitant silence was the only answer. But then, the Night Fury nodded. With a sigh of relief, Hiccup climbed onto the dragon's back, then held his hand out to Astrid.
"What are you doing?!" Astrid cried.
"They can't catch us if we go straight up," Hiccup explained.
"What?!" Astrid exclaimed. "Ride on a dragon?! That's crazy! I don't even know you!"
"Astrid! They saw you with me! If you stay here, you will die!" Hiccup exclaimed. "Please."
Astrid, inhaling sharply, grasped Hiccup's hand, and he pulled her on behind him. Hiccup clutched around Toothless' neck and they shot up into the dark sky like a missile. Arrows whistled after them, but they were far out of range before they could be hit. They climbed higher until they were vanished in the cover of darkness.
As Toothless levelled off, Hiccup looked back down upon his home which still was engulfed in ashes and smoke. Hiccup remembered the time that he opted to abandon home. He remembered how scared he was, but he also knew that it would be best to protect Toothless and himself. Now, he was leaving his home to protect not only them, but also to save his people from destruction.
Astrid's sharp exhale brought him back to reality. "I'm a fugitive from my own home."
"But at least you're alive," Hiccup reminded her before turning his gaze to Toothless. "Bud, can you take us north?"
"Wait, north? To Viggo's base? Alone?" Astrid scoffed. "That place is heavily guarded; with only a dragon and two vikings, it's suicide."
"I know that, but-" Hiccup began then sighed. "Astrid, I know it's risky, but we don't have anyone else."
Astrid raised an eyebrow at him. "We? You mean me help you? I don't even know you, and maybe it's escaped you, but I'm not in a hurry to die."
"Astrid, Johann is trying to find the Kings of Dragons, and when he does, he will come for Berk. And he'll kill anyone who gets in his way to rule the world. If we don't stop him, then people will die. You will die. Your family will die."
Astrid looked down and fell silent. After many moments, she looked up. "Okay. Do you have a plan?"
Hiccup turned his eyes towards the horizon which began to show the first orange rays of the morning light. "A bit of one. If it works, then hopefully, we'll get out unscathed."