46. The start of the end

A week. A week had passed since the test attack on Berk, and the water were calm. That simple fact started to grate on Hiccup's nerves, the pair had become more anxious. With this much build up the attack could be huge.

They have been training a lot with the gang, fighting on foot and on dragon. The pair had shown what they really could do, neither had lost a fight yet. The looks Eret kept sending Storm went ignored by her, at least at the moment. She knew she would have to talk with him as soon as things calmed down.

Patrols were happening every morning and night. Their routes were established, Hiccup mostly going along with Astrid, as time alone was almost nonexistent for them and they took what they could. The patrols were mostly void, a few lone ships in the distance was the most they got. They left the ships alone, only observing them from the sky, not getting too close so they wouldn't give themselves away in case it was the attackers.

Their night time patrol were for naught, as when the attack came, it was in the middle of the day.

Storm and Hiccup were on their way to the forge, they decided to use what time they had to see to the gang's weapons and give them a chance to relax. Really, noticing the far away ships was an accident on Storm part.

While the ships were far away, they were moving fast. Three ships. Only three. It didn't seem enough for an attack, but they weren't going to take any chances. They knew they couldn't, especially when they noticed the crest on the ships sails. A crest Storm recognized and was willed with dread.

"Chief," she fearfully called, her eyes not leaving the ships.

Hiccup turned around as he had taken the lead when Storm had stopped cold. He followed her line of sight and gasped, he recognized the crest too. He jumped into action immediately, running the rest of the way to the forge.

"Where's Stoick?" He questioned immediately.

Gobber jumped, not expecting the abrupt entrance. He took in Hiccup's appearance, the man was clearly panicked and in a hurry.

"What's wrong?" the smith asked.

"Where is Stoick?" Hiccup asked again, he didn't bother answering Gobber's question.

"The Meade – "

Hiccup didn't hear the rest of his sentence as he took off in the direction of the hall. Storm was not outside anymore, she had taken off back to the academy as soon as Hiccup was inside the forge. She needed to ready the gang.

Hiccup found Stoick in the hall, where Gobber said he would be.

"Stoick!" he yelled without missing a beat. "Hostile ships incoming, only three."

"Only three? You said there would be more," Stoick questioned, yet he was already on the move, following Hiccup outside. The ships were about half an hour away, they had little time.

"There's something up," Hiccup warned.

The gang was at the plaza, on their dragons. Storm wasn't with them as she went to get Shadow. They had thought the gang could handle the fight from the sky themselves, the pair have been giving them tips before patrol, but now, there was doubt if they could do it alone.

Storm found Shadow, but she didn't show herself just yet. There was no indication on how this would go down, and the 'wild' dragons around the island coupled with the gang could be enough of a deterrent for the attackers. Storm was a safety net once again.

Hiccup anxiously watched as the tribe armed themselves. He was already armed with inferno, but he was worried for what was to come. Of what it could do to Storm.

"They should be outwardly hostile," Hiccup suggested.

"Why?" Stoick demanded. "They are coming here to harm us, which is what you said."

"We don't know how this will go, if they don't know you're armed – " Hiccup stepped back a little, out of sight of the oncoming ships, " – you have the upper hand."

"Okay," Stoick agreed after a few moments.

The ships reached Berk's dock, Stoick didn't waste time and marched to them. Most of the tribe was following behind him, Hiccup hung back, blending himself into the crowd. He would still hear what was going on, but he would go unnoticed by the people on the ships.

"Stoick the Vast!" A man, clearly the leader, greeted the chief from the ship with open arms. Stoick didn't let the man's cheery temper pacify him.

"Who are you?" Stoick demanded with anger.

"Where are my manners," the man laughed, he bowed and gave a sinister smile. "I'm Arrald, Arrald the Bloody. I would like to talk to you," Arrald looked around, "A bit more… privately."

"You came here to talk, with three ships full of people?" Stoick demanded as he crossed his arms, he was clearly irritated.

"I'm excessive," Arrald laughed.

The man's disposition was suspicious at best. Stoick found himself subconsciously looking at his side, where Hiccup had been before. When he didn't find him there, he snapped back at the man in front of him. Stoick agreed with a curt nod and started to head for the Meade hall. Stoick knew the tribe had his back, and the gang were in the air, above the tribe. They were observing everything from the air.

Hiccup was still amongst the crowd. He was moving with the ones who would get into the hall, the others would stay outside. Considering Arrald was taking only a small group of his people, the tribe would need to stay vigilant on the outside.

Hiccup caught Storm's eye when he went past her. She was hidden on the edge of the woods and Hiccup only saw her because he knew what to look for. He gave her a nod.

Stoick entered first, Gobber and Spitelout following close behind him. Arrald and his group were let in next, and only then the rest of the tribe had a chance to enter. Hiccup gained Astrid attention. Astrid dismounted Stormfly and ran to him, hiding herself in the crowd.

"Tell Eret, Snot and the twins to stay outside, if something happens, Storm will need help," he quickly ordered in a whisper, then he entered the hall with the others.

The hall was quiet, Stoick was standing in front of Arrald on the platform. The tribe finished pilling in Astrid and Fishlegs entering the last. Arrald's mood hadn't changed, he was still too cheerful. Astrid and Fishlegs made their way to stand near Gobber, who was standing next to Stoick.

"What do you want?" Stoick didn't waste more time than he needed, he wanted answers and he wanted them now.

"I am here with a deal," Arrald gave a wide smile, "And let me tell you, the deal is worth it."

"What. Deal?" Stoick demanded, furry in his voice. He was not going to be nice or respectful, he did not know this man and he wasn't liking him.

"A deal from Drago himself," the man gleefully stated clapping his hands together.

"Get out!" Stoick growled without a second thought, pointing to the door, he was almost shacking with rage. The pair were right, the attack was orchestrated by Drago.

"Now, don't be too hasty," Arrald laughed, "You haven't even heard the deal. It's a simple deal really," the man pulled out his sword from the sheath on his hip, he held the sword loosely when he pointed it at Stoick, "You surrender, and I may let you live."

Arrald cackled, his men joining in. Stoick's rage grew even more, and so did the peoples' who were inside the hall. Arrald was the most hated man in the room at that moment, but he didn't seem to care, his sinister smile hadn't left his face.

"Oh come on!" the man laughed, "Some of you might have good lives if you surrender. Drago doesn't like you for some reason, and – " he let his gaze wander across the people on the platform, his gaze landed on Astrid, "- I would like a wife."

Astrid visibly gagged, even that didn't discourage the man's attitude. Hiccup's anxiety turned to rage, this man had, once again, gone too far. When the man talked again, Hiccup knew it was time to make himself known.

"It would be the best decision – " Arrald started again, but this time he was cut off.

"It would be the stupidest decision," Hiccup said, bringing attention to himself, he was leaning on one of the columns. Hiccup was trying his hardest to seem unbothered, because he knew that would make Arrald mad. "Really Arrald? You're still spouting this bullshit?"

Even Hiccup's question didn't seem to get the man out of his shocked state. Arrald hadn't expected the 'demons' to be here, that was clear. When he got out of his shocked state, his eyes filled with fear, the men behind him anxiously shuffled around, bringing their weapons out.

The situation shocked everyone. Arrald hadn't flinched when Stoick had growled at him, but he was filled with fear at the mere sight of Hiccup. To the tribe it was just another oddity about the 'demons', to Astrid and Fishlegs, it was another story Hiccup hadn't told them.

"Ah," Arrald finally exclaimed, trying to put up his cheerful persona again, but the fear was evident on him, "I didn't know the freak-show was here!" He laughed, his men giving fearful chuckles behind him.

"Don't even try it Arrald," Hiccup gave a humorless chuckle, "What did you say before? Surrender and you may live?"

"That's a good deal for Berk," Arrald finally dropped the smile, his face only holding fear and fake bravery.

"That's a good deal for you," Hiccup straightened his posture and took a few steps closer to the man. Arrald subconsciously took a step back. "You know how this is going to end, and it won't be with you winning."

"No, I will win," Arrald barked, his sinister smile returned.

A dragon roar was heard from the outside of the hall. Silence cover the ones inside the building. Then, a thunder rang out. The tribe was confused, but Hiccup… Hiccup filled with rage.

"You son of a bitch!" Hiccup yelled and charged at Arrald.

Hiccup was filled with rage, but he wasn't stupid. He was faster than the man before him, taking out inferno and lighting the sword he didn't waste a moment. Arrald barely blocked the sword hit, but he couldn't block Hiccup's prosthetic that was kicked to his head. The strength that Hiccup used knocked Arrald out cold.

Some of the men who stood behind Arrald dropped their weapons in shock or fear, other tried to fight, but the tribe was faster at getting to them. Hiccup didn't bother to see if the men were dead or just knocked out, he ran out of the hall without looking back.

He ran into chaos. The men who were left at the ships were fighting the tribe who had stayed outside. The 'wild' dragons were fighting alongside the tribe, it would have warmed Hiccup's heart if he had been paying attention. Stormfly and a few other dragons were getting themselves out of a nets, and the rest of the gang were trying to get things under control. Hiccup didn't care about that, he went directly to the woods, where he knew Storm was.

Wing beats behind him let him know that someone from the gang was following him. He paid that no mind, if he didn't get to Storm, no one would know she needed help. He knew his plan wasn't the best, leaving Storm alone to look out in the forest, but it was the best plan he could come up with in the little time he had.

Only three ships were suspicious, the ships coming from the same direction as the previous attack was either an oversight or deliberate. Hiccup left Storm to look out for the other side of the island, Hiccup was sure that the three ships were a distraction to get the tribe to overlook a possible invasion from behind.

He was right. He didn't need to run far. He came upon a troubling sight. Bodies. Bodies with various injuries on the forest floor and even more people coming still. Storm was on the holding her own, she was on land, Shadow was alone in the air and Toothless was doing his best with what he could do from the ground. Hiccup saw Eret and the twins join the Skrill and let out a breath.

"Storm!" Hiccup yelled in concern. She was covered in blood, he hoped none of it was her own. Storm brought another man down and turned to Hiccup, her helmet had been knocked off and a small cut was visible on her cheek.

"They're all alive," Storm quickly assured, panic in her voice.

Another man tried to get her when her attention was on Hiccup, he didn't get far. Storm didn't miss a beat and struck him without second thought, the dagger in her hand cutting him from one cheek to the other. Hiccup joined the fight, and with the added support from the sky, the men started to fall back.

Hiccup noticed Astrid, Snotlout and Fishlegs join Eret and the twins. He knew that meant that the battle in the village was coming to an end, and if the gang was here that meant the Hooligans were victorious. Soon the battle in the forest came to an end.

Hiccup felt sad. He looked at the burned trees, at the bodies littering the floor, and he only felt sad. Not for the bastards, never for them. He was sad that it had to happen at all, that Drago had put these people up to this.

Hiccup looked at Storm, at her panicked eyes as she took in the damage. He went to her and took her trembling hands in his own, he looked at her face, the cut was still bleeding, but she seemed okay otherwise.

"It's over," Hiccup quietly promised, gripping her and tighter.

"For now," she whispered.

Storm pulled her hands out of his and picked took her helmet from Shadow who had found it and brought it to her. She petted his snout and told him to go hide with Toothless. Shadow whimpered in concern and only went when Hiccup assure both of the dragons that it was okay.

The gang looked at all of this with concern. Hiccup was only looking at Storm, she appeared calm, but he knew better. As she put on her helmet and started for the village, Hiccup could only follow.

Hiccup hoped, with all his heart, that Storm wouldn't catch a glimpse of Arrald. For her own sake.

[I missed a few days, sorry about that. Here's four chapters to make up for it.]