Chapter 21: The Return
Cock-a-doodle-doo! Cock-a-doodle-doo! Cock-a-doodle-doo!
"Stupid chicken!" a viking roared as he bursted through the door. The viking came out of his own house to the outside where it was still very much dark out to the angry disappointment of the viking.
"You're suppose to cluck when the sun comes out," the viking yelled at the chicken that was sitting on top of his roof, "Do you see the sun anywhere?"
Cock-a-doodle-doo!," the chicken remained undeterred as it continued to cry out.
"Shut up," the viking yelled as he threw a rock at the chicken.
Fortunately for the chicken the throw was off the mark and the rock flew over the chicken's head. Clucking in surprise the chicken took off to the other side of the roof to get away from the the angry viking.
With a grunt the viking turned around to look out to the sea. The viking was expecting to see the moon descending in order to estimate the time until sunrise. However as he look out towards the coast he could see glimpses of the sun. Its rays sun rays were reflecting on the ocean's surface but the light did not reach the island. The darkness was not from the sun being away but because the sunlight was blocked for the entire island. The sun was blocked by hundreds of dragons that were flying towards the island.
"What in Thor's name?" The viking yelled out in the surprise, "Why hasn't the bell been rung?" Without the bell, the vikings that were still in their homes and asleep would be taken completely off guard. The viking ran towards the watchtower to find out what was going on.
Climbing up and entering the watchtower, the viking saw two of his brethren unconscious and on the floor. Sitting on top of each of the fallen vikings were Gronkles.
"Move aside you stupid dragons! The viking roared as he picked up the hammer and made his way to the bell. If he got the bell ringing, his brethren could still be woken with enough time to prepare the island defences and have the dragons in their cages released to defend the island.
Picking up the hammer to ring the bell, the viking tried to move in between the Gronkles. But suddenly, the viking was slammed against the wall by the heavy tail whip of a Gronkle. The hammer fell to the floor as the viking slowly lost consciousness but still saw the hundreds of dragons that flew over the watchtower.
Hundreds of dragons swarmed over the Lava Lout island. The dragons easily outnumbered the vikings. Their only saving hope was their own dragons but that turned out to be their downfall.
"Get out there and fight!" yelled a viking as he opened the cage to his dragon. And fight they did as the dragons turned against their former masters.
In less than a hour, the once great Lava Lout island was left but a smoldering piece of rock and not a single dragon in sight.
OoOoO
At the center of their humble village, Camicazi leader of the Bogs Burglars, watched as her fellows sisters made their heartfelt goodbyes to their dragons. Although they have only known their dragons for a short time, the Bog Burglars had bonded with their dragons nonetheless.
Reports of Hiccup with a massive army of dragons and his subsequent attack on Lava Lout island came in as fast as her Bog scouts could fly. Hiccup was mad and it was very clear that he was coming for all their dragons.
A large shadow fell on Camicazi from behind. With a sigh Camicazi turned around to face her mother to find Big Bertha the former leader of the Bog Burglars. Despite her own achievements Camicazi was still jealous of her mother who was still bigger than her in more ways than one. In recent days is seemed that her mother had a permanent disapproving frown.
"What's the point of me succeeding you if you are simply going to try and lead from behind me everytime?" Camicazi asked her mother.
"I'm not trying to lead anything. I am your mother and the former leader. As such I don't have to disagree with everything you do," Big Bertha replied.
"And what is it that you disagree with?" Camicazi asked her mother, "I am doing exactly what a Bogs Burglars would do,"
"Which is the most surprising," Big Bertha added, "It is usually the elderly that emphasizes tradition."
"So what's the problem if I am following our ways?" Camicazi asked.
"Because of what we are, thieves and liars which is why trust is the most precious thing that we have. Trust between our sisters and trust with our promises. It is other people's fault if they trust a thief but when we sign our name, we give our word and our trust for something greater than our nature. Without trust we can never be more than parasitic thieves waiting to stab people in the back." Bertha answered.
"It's Hiccup, he has always been too foolish and trusting," Camicazi retorted.
"Yes, but you made a promise. You broke the spirit of the treaty. Trying to circumvent what was intended and now retribution is coming. It is no longer on him but on you," Big Bertha replied.
"Peace is not we Bogs are suppose to be," Camicazi said.
"You are suppose to be youthful, full of new ideas for change in the future. Peace would have been a very difficult change in lifestyle that goes against everything we are but nonetheless a noble one that has a more lasting future ," Big Bertha replied.
"New idea is exactly what I am about to do. What I am doing is going to be the biggest change for the future of the Bog Burglars," Camicazi yelled at her mother. The plan had already been set and nothing was going to change her mind
"He's here!" the Bog sister that was on watch shouted. Upon hearing her voice the other sister looked up warilly to the sky to see as hundreds of dragons as they flew closer and closer to their island. In the past it was the landscape and the difficulty of navigating through the marsh that gave the Bog's Burglars protection against other viking raids but that had changed with dragons flying over it all.
Any time to change her mind was now over, Camicazi turned away from her mother and made her way to the front of the island. Seeing their leader move, the rest of the Bog's Buglars followed but continued their heartfelt goodbyes to their dragons.
They had met and played together once but that was from a long time ago. Now Hiccup was taller than ever domineering of Camicazi. Landing down onto the ground with his Nightfury, Hiccup dismounted his dragon and started to approach the other Bogs. The atmosphere around him was that of an enraged dragon that could not be contained and was ready to snap at any moment. The only sign of fear was a single gulp from the leader of the Bog's before she stepped forward to face Hiccup.
"I hope you know what you are doing Cami!" Big Bertha shouted.
Hiccup came up and faced Camicazi alone.
"Why?" Hiccup asked with narrowed eyes.
"What do you mean why?" Camicazi asked as if the answer was the most obvious thing in the world, "we are Bog's Burglars, it's your fault for trusting a Bog."
"Why did you have raid from outside the archipelago, why did you have to get innocent outsiders involved?" Hiccup continued to ask.
"We had no problem raiding other vikings before. But now with dragons, any viking clan that we attack would retaliate and we don't have the numbers to defend ourselves. As such we have no choice but to raid others from outside the archipelago. It's in our nature Hiccup, you can't change the world all by yourself.
"But you got caught and now other vikings have started raiding the outside world. They have no way to defend themselves against dragons and hundreds have been killed." Hiccup answered back/
"And that's why you are here. We know about what happened on Lava Lout island. You're here to take away the dragon's are you not? This is your fault for giving us dragons after all." Camicazi said.
"And you're just going to let me?" Hiccup asked with a raised eyebrow in disbelief. But nonetheless, Hiccup made an upward gesture and the dragons that stood at the side of the Bog's began to take off. With tears and cries the Bog's waved their winged companions goodbye.
"We're not blind Hiccup, we can see the hundreds of dragons that you have behind you." Camicazi said, "we don't pick fights we can't win. That's why we raided the outside."
Suddenly the earth beneath began to rumble. In panic the Bogs though it was an earthquake but it was much more than that. Whispering Deaths bursted through the roofs of the Bog's homes, earth rock and all kinds of debris flew into the air as more and more Whispering Death emerged.
"What are you doing Hiccup?" Camicazi cried as she watched her home get destroyed. "We gave you back your dragons!"
From within the holes of the Whispering Deaths a swarm of dragons emerged as they raided the homes of the Bog's. Within mere seconds the dragons took off once more. Camicazi could only watch in horror.
From the sky a spherical object fell that was dropped from a passing dragon. Hiccup caught the falling object with both hands to reveal an opal colored dragon egg.
"Never trust a Bog," Hiccup said offhandedly briefly glancing at the dragon egg he was holding. "Isn't that right Camicazi?"
Camicazi could do nothing but hold her tongue and grit her teeth.
"Did you honestly think that if I was going to take away the dragons that I won't have a way to find dragon eggs as well?" Hiccup said smirking with malice as he outsmarted Camicazi.
"Just go!" Camicazi yelled at Hiccup. The king of dragons had carried out his punishment and now there was nothing left for him to do but leave.
Mounting Toothless, Hiccup and the dragons left Bog's Island forever leaving nothing but fire, ash and rubble behind. There were more dragons out there and Hiccup would not rest until he has taken back every single dragon.
OoOoO
"Wind Shear faster!" Heather yelled. Together the dragon and rider pair flew through a rock formation that rose above the sea. Swerving left and right, Wind Shear expertly navigated past each rock at a death defying pace. Flying closer and closer, Heather could see a large mountain with an opening that lead straight to the heart of the island.
"To that cave Wind Shear," Heather said as she braced herself into the embrace of the darkness. Despite not being able to see in the darkness, Heather trusted her dragon to get them through. Wind Shear jerked and dived in every direction, narrowly dodging rock as Heather held on. They did not have to wait long however as Heather could see the light at the end of the tunnel.
But reaching the end of the tunnel filled Heather's heart with despair. There was no freedom to be had in the open skies.
From above and below, hundreds of dragons filled the sky with no hope of escaping. Looking behind Heather hoped to escape back into the cave but it was already too late as a large number of Gronkles, who were less agile than Wind Shear, managed to bump and crash their way to the front of the cave to block Heather's final option of escape.
A drop down with a thump causing Heather to jump slightly in her seat and turned around facing forward. Gritting her teeth, Heather saw the last person she wanted to see at the moment.
"Give it up Heather. There's nowhere left for you and Wind Shear to run," Hiccup said as he hopped off Toothless and started to approached the pair.
"I won't give up on my dragon Hiccup," Heather yelled back. Heather quietly urged Wind Shear to attack Hiccup. If they could get rid up Hiccup, the other dragons would leave and they would only have to worry about an angry Night Fury. The odds would still be abysmal but it would be at least something. But no matter how much she urged Wind Shear to attack, her dragon refused to do as she asked. As the Guardian of Fire, Hiccup superseded all other wills. Whether it was his own alpha dragon, Heather, or Wind Shear herself, Hiccup was in complete command.
"Please be reasonable Heather. Even your brother Dagur and his viking weren't this stubborn," Hiccup asked.
"It doesn't have to be this way Hiccup," Heather stuttered out as she tried to think, "Wind Shear and I could hide. No one has to know about us,"
"It would only take you one mistake for the both of you to be hunted down for the rest of your lives. It would be safer for the both of you if would just let me take Wind Shear," Hiccup replied
"No!" Heather refused to let Hiccup take her dragon as she jumped off Wind Shear with a front flip and charged at Hiccup. With her weapon at the ready, Heather swung at Hiccup only to hit at empty air. With a frightening roar, Heather continued her assault. With each swing Heather managed to push Hiccup back a little bit more. And with each swing, gave Heather a little bit of hope in keeping her best friend.
"Enough Heather," Hiccup yelled. Done playing around Hiccup moved in closer to Heather after dodging her next attack. Grabbing her by the front of her neck, Hiccup shoved her back as hard as he could. Thrown backwards Heather was slammed against her dragon and losing all the progress she had worked for.
"Enough Heather," Hiccup said once more, "Don't make this harder than it already is."
"Please Hiccup. I can't lose Wind Shear," Heather pleaded. Her best friend that had kept her alive, kept each other alive. Heather couldn't imagine a future without them together. From behind Heather could feel a small bump. Turning around Heather could see the sad eyes of her dragon. Wind Shear was telling her to give up as well. Tears welled up in her eyes as she silently communicated through the eyes of her dragon.
After a long silent goodbye and partners sharing their feeling, Heather turned back to Hiccup with tears in her eyes.
"So what now Hiccup," Heather softly asked, resignation in her voice.
"The closest island is Berk. I can drop you off there and give you some more time to properly say goodbye to Wind Shear," Hiccup answered.
With a soft nod, the two dragons riders mounted their dragons and took off with the rest of the dragons.
OoOoO
Berk, the stronghold of the Berkians. Under Hiccup as the chief of Berk with all of his inventions and ingenuity, the island became a fortress impervious to both viking attacks and dragon attacks. After the dragon attack from Drago and the signing of the treaty a year ago, extra precautions were needed. Massive contraptions surrounded the island. Within these structure held numerous ballistas that could sink any ship or down any dragon.
Regardless of the number of viking or dragons attacking, nothing could attack Berk without significant losses.
"Is everyone manning their post?" Astrid yelled out as she swirled her head from left to right. Her eyes searching for any lazing viking that she could rip into with predatory glee. Without the chief of Berk home, it would only be natural for the second strongest and most scary viking on the island to be leading.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Fishlegs asked walking next to Astrid. Her ears twitched, as she sensed an enemy and turned to face Fishlegs.
"Nevermind," Fishlegs managed to to squeak out and downgraded himself back down from enemy to follower in the eyes of Astrid.
"Is everyone manning their post?" Astrid repeated, this time slowly to make sure that each word went into Fishleg's head.
"Yes maam!" Fishlegs shouted as he smashed his right hand to his forehead. Astrid's dominance forcing him to salute.
"We are back!" The Twins voices echoed. Running out from the alley between the buildings the twins stumbled their way in front of Astrid.
"What have you got to report?" Astrid ordered.
"There's not a single dragon on any island. They have all taken to the skies and they are all flying north.
"Every single viking clan has been attacked by Hiccup and Toothless. Yesterday they attacked Bogs Island," Ruffnut reported, "Although there ain't much of their island left."
"That would make us the very last island," Fishlegs said in solemn resignation.
Astrid was about to give more commands but stopped because of a singular loud noise The bells from the scout tower rung loudly that echoed across the island.
"Hiccup's here!" Fishlegs screamed as he grabbed onto Meatlug with all his strength.
"Quit your whining and let's go," Astrid yelled, "we are the best line of defence for Berk!"
Grabbing Fishlegs from the back of his shirt, Astrid dragged him and the twins towards the shoreline to meet the threat against Berk. All around them vikings scrambled to their final positions. Vikings hopped onto their ballistats while dragon's stood on standby ready to load the next arrow. Other Vikings and dragons gathered to key areas to defend the stationeries and village.
Running out of the village the group ran to the shoreline to see Snotlout and his dragon Hookfang staring out to the sea.
"Sweet mother Freya," Snotlout whispered as he could feel his legs shaking and a sense of dread filled inside of him.
Flying towards them were hundreds of dragons. The numbers was easily double the numbers dragons of when Drago attacked Berk. But what was most worrying was the massive dragon that was leading the charge.
"Another Bewilderbeast!" Valka gasped out as she stood a few meters off the coastline with Cloudjumper, "Where did Hiccup manage to find another alpha?"
Hearing the voice, the grouped turned to face Hiccup's mother. Sensing their attention, Valka gave a quick glance to the group before quickly leaving the coastline and disappearing back into the island along with Cloudjumper. Because of hte recent news of Hiccup's actions, Valka had made herself very scarce on the island lately.
"Two dragons are approaching really fast!" Tuffnut yelled as he had his hands in the forms of circles in front of his eyes to create hand goggles and drawing the attention of the group back to the danger in front of them.
"Can't make out what dragons they are, they are still too far," Ruffnut complained as she squinted her eyes.
From his pocket, Fishlegs pulled out a telescope to actually get a better look, "Its Heather and Hiccup!"
Instead of landing in front of the group at the coast line, Toothless and Wind Shear flew over them and headed straight towards the village.
Running back to the village, the group could see that the vikings and dragons have already formed a circle at the centre of the village. The group quickly pushed their way through the circle, to see Hiccup, Toothless, Heather, and Wind Shear.
Hiccup simply watched as Heather quietly said goodbye. With one last hug, Wind Shear spread her wings and took the skies.
"Fishlegs!" Heather cried as she ran towards him and wrapped herself around his neck, tears in her eyes.
Now it was only Hiccup and Toothless that stood alone amongst the circled crowd of Berkians and Dragons.
"Hiccup what are you even doing?" Astrid yelled out as she walked out to face him.
Hiccup looked like a complete mess. He looked a very sickly pale and it looked like he hadn't slept for days now. Astrid noticed how his body was slightly twitching from forcing his body to stay awake for so long. His right eye was red, showing that he was in berserker mode but at the same time, his left eye was still his normal emerald green. The heterochromia unnerved Astrid.
"I am trying to fix my mistake," Hiccup replied back
"By doing what exactly?" Astrid asked.
"The dragons need to return to their birth place. They are too powerful to be left in this world. If the dragons stay here, they will eventually be forced to become weapons of war."
"You are the chief of Berk and not some God, why must you take any responsibility for the actions of other vikings? Why should you care about the rest of the world?" Astrid retorted
"That is exactly the point!" Hiccup yelled out, "I am not a God, I can't stop the vikings from fighting. I can't stop vikings killing and waging war but I can stop the dragons from being involved.
"So just take away their dragons why do you have to take away our dragons." Astrid asked.
"I can't take that risk. It would only takes one dragon for all of my work to become undone. And I won't be alive forever to keep watch." Hiccup said/
"And what would we do without our dragons? You don't think the other vikings won't attack in revenge now that we don't have any dragons? We would be extremely vulnerable and completely outnumbered without them!" Astrid yelled back.
"Leave," Hiccup answered simply.
A collective gasp echoed through the crowd.
"Leave this island and leave the archipelago. We have hidden away from the rest of the world for too long. It would be your only chance at survival," Hiccup said.
"So you want us to leave our island, to abandon our ancestors and our heritage?" Astrid yelled out, "Your plans have always pushed our way of thinking. But there are limits in what you can ask of us Hiccup!"
"If you are so worried, why not simply take over the archipelago. If it's you Hiccup than you could do it. We could do it and create the perfect world you want instead of giving up and running away." Astrid begged.
"How many lives must be sacrificed in order to see this perfect world?" Hiccup asked, "You didn't see what I saw. Countless villages burned to the ground and hundreds of people are now dead because I gave vikings dragons. And once again there are no guarantees once I'm dead"
"The dragons are a part of our family Hiccup, I won't let you force out half of our tribe just because you are the chief," Astrid said. Knowing that there was no other choices Astrid used the only option she had left at her disposal. "I demand a right of succession!"
Gasps and shocked echoed across the vikings crowd.
This gave Hiccup pause. As progressive as the Berkian tribes were they were still a viking tribe. Only the strongest person could be the chief of the viking clans. Of course it was inarguable that Stoick the Vast was the strongest viking and eventually it became obvious that Hiccup was as well. The only person that could ever contest Hiccup was Astrid. And for obvious reasons Astrid had no interest in contesting Hiccup.
If Hiccup ignored the request and tried to leave he would immediately forfeit his status as Viking chief. However, none of that mattered because he would still have the power of the dragons in his control. Having the dragons leave would no longer be a simple task. Because of the defences he created for Berk there would undoubtedly be casualties on both sides in the transition.
Despite all he had done so far, these were still his people and he wanted to end this with the least amount of blood shed. "I accept your right to succession! Hiccup returned for all to hear.
"It's my job to knock some sense back into you," Astrid said, "and that's exactly what I am going to do."
"Meet me in the dragon ring tomorrow. As soon as the sun rises," Hiccup said. Mounting on Toothless the pair took off to the outskirts of the Berkian island.
The other vikings all watched as Toothless and Hiccup took off.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Snotlout asked. But the only reply Snotlout got was a shove, as Astrid pushed her way past everyone. There was no words to be said that could stop the fight between Hiccup and Astrid. Like all viking conflicts it will be ended with actions and not words.
OoOoO
Off in the uninhabited part of Berk, Hiccup rested against Toothless as they both stared quietly at the campfire that Toothless made. The moon in the night sky was at its peak and the stars dotted the night sky with endless waves. Not a single sound could be heard except for the crackle of fire as it slowly chipped away at the firewood.
The serenity was interrupted as two figures emerged from the shadows of the treeline. Leaving the shadows and the cover of the treeline Valka and Cloudjumper emerged and entered into the radiated stars and moonlight.
"Mom," Hiccup said in surprise, "Shouldn't you be at home sleeping?"
"I may be getting on with my years Hiccup but I am still a viking. Sleeping in the wilderness with dragons has become second nature to me," Valka said as she brushed aside a strand of white hair. The signs of aging was coming through as her hair started to slowly turn white and wrinkles formed around her eyes.
Resting her staff on the ground, Valka rested her back onto Toothless as she sat next to Hiccup. Cloudjumper simply laid on the ground across from Toothless with only the fire to separate them.
"Whatever it is you are doing, I'm sure you must be very conflicted at the moment. Aren't you Hiccup?" Valka asked.
"This is the hardest thing I ever had to do," Hiccup said.
"If you are having doubts, you can still stop all of this," Valka said
"I've killed so many vikings already just to take back the dragons. It's too late for me to stop now. I have attacked every viking settlement and burned them to the ground in order to take back the dragons. All the suffering I have caused, it would be all for nothing if I stop now. It's too late for me to stop," Hiccup said.
"It's never too late Hiccup. You look terrible and probably feel terrible. Maybe if you slept, you'll feel better and perhaps you'll even change your mind.
Taking in his mother's words, Hiccup remained motionless as he contemplated. All the destruction and bloodshed had traumatized him. And Hiccup had not been able to sleep a wink ever since he came back from the outer world of the archipelago.
"You don't have to dictate what the world should be," Valka said, "But that also doesn't mean you can't try. When you were first born I knew you would grow up to do great things.
"Sometimes, it's not about what is right or wrong. Some people see the world differently than others. If people disagree in what the world is than how can you expect to agree on anything?" Valka continued as Hiccup simply listened.
"And what about you mother? After all of this is over, you'll be ostracized from the clan." Hiccup asked.
"I failed you once Hiccup. Leaving you alone with your father as you grew up when you needed me. You have already forgiven me but a mother's guilt will never truly go away. I won't let this become another mistake. I am with you to the very end Hiccup, no matter what you choose to do." Valka said as she pulled Hiccup into her arms and embraced him.
For the first time in a week, Hiccup could finally feel his heart slowing down, the adrenaline flowing through his bloods had disappeared and Hiccup fell into a deep sleep in his mother's arms.
Here we are at the Fanfic's action finally. Who will win? Hiccup or Astrid. With this next chapter things will be wrapping up very soon.
And as always reviews and feedback is welcome