There was nothing for the longest time. Then, there was a slow sensation dawning upon him. The feeling of being dragged across the floor. It stung a little bit, but Hiccup didn't have the strength to protest either way. It was so dark for some reason. He tried opening his eyes but they wouldn't budge, they just stayed closed and blinded him from his surroundings. It was cold. Hiccup never really felt too cold since he was a dragon, but this, this was just a different kind of cold all together, like it wasn't really coming from around him, but within him. The dragging persisted for a while. A few bumps here and there and the slightest sounds of whispering. He could never make out the words as they were always just out of reach for some reason. Hiccup was too dazed to really comprehend what was going on, where he was at, who he was with, it was all just a mystery to him. One mystery that he was too tired and too out of it to solve. His head hurt, he knew that much. The last thing he clearly remembered was walking towards the docks with thunder and lightning flashing across the sky.
"What happened after that?" Hiccup thought to himself. No matter how hard he tried, a wall just kept him back, as if there was nothing there to begin with, just black empty space in his mind. His head still hurt like hell and it didn't feel like it was going away soon. What was this other pain? He realized he was being dragged by his tail. Along with that, he could feel the cold and chaffing feeling of chains.
The dragging stopped for a moment and a muffled sound rung through his head, intensifying his headache. The Night Fury squeezed his eyes as if to block out the sound. He suddenly felt weightless for a moment or two before hitting into something hard and rolling a few feet. Now his side hurt as well. Maybe, maybe he should just rest for a bit, forget the worries of now and succumb to the sleep that was dragging down his eyes. Sweet, sweet sleep.
Toothless could slowly feel his senses returning to him. It just started off as a dim haze of light that slowly grew brighter and brighter. A loud ringing was ever present as his mind tried to adjust to the sounds around him. It was hard to concentrate, even though the room was next to silent. He felt a bit weightless, as he was being suspended from something. Glancing around with blurred vision, he could see chains propping his body up in the air. It was strange, seeing these cold metallic objects grasping at his scales. He didn't quite realize where he was, for a moment or two who he was. It just came rushing back quickly.
Lusolith, the hive, Hiccup, his name.
"Toothless," He thought to himself, "Hiccup?" He looked around again, noticing the room, no the cell completely vacant. It started to stir inside of him that something was deeply, deeply wrong. Something had gone terribly wrong. He knew they were suppose to go to Outcast Island, and he knew they were there, that he was there. He was at Outcast Island. He was a prisoner. As if he came full circle, back to being a slave once again.
Toothless thrashed about wildly, trying his hardest to break the chains, but no matter how hard he tried, they just wouldn't budge. He tried to angle himself so he could fire a plasma blast at, well, any of the chains, but he just couldn't. He then realized he was wearing a muzzle, and that was the reason his mouth wouldn't open completely. His thrashing slowly died down as his strength slowly weakened. His will was still strong, he still had a purpose. He had to get out, and he had to get back to Hiccup. Surely Hiccup wasn't captured. None of them were captured right?
A clanking on the metal bars in front of him suddenly attracted his attention. He didn't know who it was, all he could see was a silhouette in front of a bright light. This person stayed like this for a few moments that seemed to last forever and just stared into the cell. The viking paced a few steps as if examining the dragon before him. Just patiently watching, like he was waiting.
"Waiting for what?" Toothless thought to himself. He knew it was a longshot, but he opened his mouth the best he could and tried muttering out just a few words.
"What do you want?" Toothless barely managed to muttered out through the restraints. The viking suddenly stopped his pacing and concentrated his gaze on the dragon. The viking put his hands around the bars and stared deeper into the cell, tempting his fate by getting as close as possible.
"What do you want?" Toothless repeated. The figure wrapped it's fingers around the metal bars and bent them towards him just ever so slightly. The viking suddenly let go of the bars and walked away, and with it, the once bright light. Now it was just dark outside the cell. Nothing illuminating the cave but a small, small window at the top of the room. Just three bars, and terribly small, but the moon shone through it, providing the smallest amount of light. Just the smallest amount of hope.
Hiccup opened his eyes slowly, wondering where he was. The walls were dark and rocky, the ground was hard and cold, and the air was stale and musky. His body ached so much that he wondered if he should even try to move, and when he decided to take a risk, he felt the chains. His was chained all over, and left on the floor, unable to move out. When he tried to scream out for anyone, his mouth was held closed by a heavy wooden muzzle. He tried to fight against it, but it was much too strong. Hiccup started to freak out, trying to move but unable too, like the walls around him were just too small and just getting smaller and smaller. Tears rolled down his cheeks as his panic attack slowly subsided and his heart beat slowly, and every so slightly died down. He needed to focus.
"I'm in a cell," Hiccup thought to himself, seeing the heavy iron bars in front of him, "Where, where could this place be? Why am I here? Rewind Hiccup, rewind. Today we were going to Outcast Island, and we...No no no no no, did we fail? Did I fail? They were here? Of course they were here. Dad was just too stubborn to admit it. Why did I have to see that boat? Why did I have to go chasing after it in the first place? Why did I have to go looking for trouble?"
A loud bang scared Hiccup to death. There was another bang, and another, and another. Then it was suddenly quiet. Out of the blue there was this horrible, horrible screeching sounds and then another bang. He could hear the sound of something hard hitting flesh. The sound liquids make when smash suddenly rippled throughout the enclosed space. The tears started coming back.
"Don't tell me," Hiccup thought in fear, "Please tell me no one else is here besides me. Please tell me that was some food, some food that, that that screeches? Oh gods, oh gods, please don't let that be anyone!"
Outside his cell, he could see a hard rock wall that looked burnt black. On that wall was a single torch that provide some amount of light. Hiccup's heart froze when he stared out into that small little hall and saw some reddish liquid slowly making its way into his cell. It was just pooling and spreading, the harsh scent of blood filled the room. Hard footsteps bad their way closer to his cell door. A figure loomed in front of the bars, holding a large war hammer. It was terrifying, the way the blood on the hammer glistened in the dim light. This wasn't just covered a little in blood, this hammer was drenched in it. Blood just dripped down from it in an almost constant stream.
The man set the hammer down for a moment, leaning it it slightly. He stared into the cage at Hiccup, watching as the dragon slowly wept silent tears that hit the ground with inaudible splashes. The man started to chuckle a bit before turning into a harsh, and rough laughter.
"Well all we have left is you little dragon," The man said with an invisible smile, shrouded in darkness, "We still can't decide if we want to kill you and sell your hide for a high profit, or just extract every little bit of knowledge from you. The secrets of the elusive Night Fury! Oh, its just so exciting! I can't wait to play with that brittle little body of yours and figure out all its secrets! I know I'm going to have more fun with you than the other vikings!" With that, the viking swung the hammer back over his shoulder and waltzed off, looking quite content with himself. Hiccup stared in complete shock and horror.
"Other...other vikings?" Hiccup thought to himself as the pool of blood slowly came to a stop outside his cell, just sitting and glistening in the dim light.
It was several hours before Hiccup was fed anything, and when the food came, it was bland, tasteless, and small. It was enough for him to survive on for a while longer, but he knew they were trying to break him down as much as possible for whatever reason. Every once and a while, there was the same silhouette outside the cell door, watching him with careful eyes. It wasn't the same viking the first time, the one who had the blood stained warhammer, but just a smaller body, with a careful look on him. He, maybe it was a she, would always watch him for the longest time as he layed alone in the cell room, unable to properly move. Watching as everyone in a while, Hiccup would start to cry. It was never loud, just silent tears that moved down his face and onto the ground.
"Crying is only going to make you dehydrated," the voice said. It was the first time Hiccup ever heard him talk, but he talked so low and almost inaudible. He left for a few moments and then returned with a bowl of water, he grabbed a nearby stick and slowly slid it towards Hiccup, making sure it got close enough. Hiccup looked down at the bowl and up at the viking. The figure just stood there, watching intently and moved his hand out, gesture for the dragon to drink. Hiccup sniffed the bowl a few times, finding nothing wrong with it at all. The dragon hesitantly took a few laps from the bowl. After a few moments of nothing happening, which quite shocked the dragon, he took a few more, and more, until the bowl was completely empty.
Looking up, Hiccup saw the same stick come back into the cell and snatch away the bowl. The figure quickly left and returned. He looked worried about something, like, this was clearly visible. The got closer to the cell door an cups his hands, hoping that the sound would only travel into the cell.
"Listen, you have to trust me, okay?" the man said, "I know you have nothing to go on, but you're going to have to." With that, the figure disappeared once again, this time, permanently.
Toothless was having trouble keeping awake when the cell doors suddenly flung open. It was just one man, and with his sleep deprivation, he couldn't see quite right. It was just all a blur to him. The man held up a bowl full of what seemed to be water.
"Drink it," the man whispered softly. Toothless, not in the correct state of mind, obediently drank from the bowl until it was nearly empty. The final lap, he caught something metallic with his tongue and brought it into his mouth. Looking down, the bowl slowly retracted.
"There is a time and a place," the man said softly, "You are being less guarded. I'll come back soon enough, but for now you have to keep the key or else he'll find it. He always does. When I can, I'll get you out and we'll get your friend two and you both can leave."
With those parting words, the man who seemed to be a moving silhouette left the room rather quickly, letting the door close loudly. Words were exchanged outside the cell door and footsteps grew more distant until nothing remained but the soft breathing of Toothless. The dragon shifted the key in his mouth and let it sit before he slowly succumbed to the weights on his eyes as darkness slowly enveloped him.
Something grabbed Hiccup's head and forced it upwards, causing the dragon to wake with quite the start. A bright light was being shined into his eyes, blinding him for a few moments. In that time, chains around him were being rearranged so that he was sitting upwards, staring towards the entrance of the cell. As suddenly as they were loosened, the chains returned to their painful hold, keeping his body in such a position. At least it was more comfortable than before. Vikings fled the room quickly and another, larger man entered. Hiccup knew the face from one or two encounters Berk had with him in the past.
Alvin the Outcast, Alvin the Treacherous, formerly known as Alvin the Brave back when he was still a part of Berk. The large man with dark brown hair that looked severly ungroomed. His teeth were jutting each way. His skin was lined with scars, ranging from small to very large. His face looked disgruntled, but happy in a way with the wicked smile that seemed cut into his face. This viking was large, larger than Stoick and his clothing matched the Outcasted look. Rough, dirty, cut up, and worn down.
Alvin was dragging a stool behind him and stopped directly in front of Hiccup. He set the stool down, and sat down in front of the dragon. He leaned on his left knee, using his elbow for support. The Outcast chief looked up and down at the dragon sitting in front of him, watching his movements meticulously. The chief looked up into the Night Fury's eyes and stared for a few long moments, judging him intently.
"I didn't think it was possible," Alvin said with his harsh voice, "but here you are, alive and well. I'm going to be honest with you boy, I thought it was all some joke played on poor old Alvin here. I don't like jokes." Alvin looked at the boy, noticing his worried expression and frankly deprived look.
"You are definitely not the boy you once were," Alvin said with an interested smile, "You were such a disappointment back then. Couldn't even hold a sword, let alone kill a dragon. You were just this little thing that looked like a passing breeze could knock you over." Alvin let out a short and loud laugh, wiping away a tear that was never there to begin with.
"Who would'a thought you'd end up in old Alvie's hands now, huh?" the Outcast chief said with slight excitement, "Now, tell me everything you know leading up to this. What happened while we were away? Actually, what happened to you?" Hiccup stared at the Outcast chief like he was insane, and he honestly believed he was too. The muzzled still confined Hiccup's mouth and prevented him from the slightest of words.
"Oh, let me help you with that," Alvin said sarcastically, ripping the muzzle off, "Now, tell me what you know." Hiccup stared at the chief defiantly, not caring what the chief wanted.
"Oh, not a talker I see. Well you know that blood that pooled outside of your cell just last night? That belonged to a Nadder you see. Now, who did that Nadder belong too? Was it that boy Johan? I think that's what his name was. I didn't really pay attention to names. I mean, he didn't talk so whats the use for him and his dragon right?" Alvin said with a slight chuckle. Hiccup looked on, absolutely horrified. It seemed like he was going to puke, hearing that awful screeching followed by that juice filled smashing.
"Johan can't be dead...he can't be...his...his Nadder can't be dead," Hiccup thought to himself. Alvin stood up slowly, stretching himself out and popping his fingers.
"If you won't talk, I'll just have Savage grab another one of those vikings and try to get them to talk. If they don't, well, then I'll just have to kill 'em," Alvin said with such a sadistic tone. What happened to the brave man in the stories his dad always told him? Could he really have gone this far off the deep end, or was this how he always was, and his banishment only let this part of him free?
"Wait," Hiccup whispered out, "Just...what do you want to know." Alvin looked over his shoulder and smiled. He sat back down in the stool and scooted a bit closer.
"Now remember, if you hurt me or any of my men, I'll slaughter the rest of your friends," Alvin said with a smile, "Now, tell me how your journey began." Hiccup stared at the viking with such sullen eyes. He felt like giving up there, he was under this guy's thumb. He had so many secrets, but he couldn't let his friends die, knowing he was the key to their survival.
"Come on now, don't be shy," Alvin said, "Or do I need to persuade you somehow?" Hiccup shook his head and swallowed hard, feeling so sick, weak, and hungry.
"I...I...I woke up one morning...and I just...changed into a dragon," Hiccup said, glancing up at Alvin, expecting a scornful or disbelieved face, but, he looked almost understanding. It was strange, but he knew the chief was just trying to manipulate him.
"Toothless helped me cope with it, and I convinced my tribe that it was for the better. Then, Dagur attacked Berk, but we held him off and defeated him. Time passed and I went to an emergency conference with other tribes with my dad and...and Toothless...and we convinced the tribes...well...some of the tribes that dragons are not our enemies. A few of the tribes came to Berk afterwards to learn about dragon riding. The new Berserker chief, Iona, was there with a few of her men. She offered only peace. We trained and after a while, Dagur returned with another army. We defeated him again...this time for good. Iona killed him. After that...after that the tribes left and Berk went back to normal," Hiccup said softly, muttering occasionally and skipping over many details. Alvin was rubbing his beard, interested by the story but looked rather deep in thought.
"What happened next?" Alvin asked suddenly.
"What?" Hiccup asked. Alvin got closer, and stared at the dragon intently.
"What. Happened. Next," Alvin said again, clearer with his statement. Hiccup tried recoiling away from the chief, but the chains kept him locked in place. He flinched at the words. Alvin noticed and backed away slightly, but his intense gaze remained.
"S-some outsiders came...came to Berk a-and...and they were being chased by something, dragons I think, like none I've heard of before. They destroyed most of Berk, and I thought I saw an Outcast ship so, so...so we came here looking for answers," Hiccup said, starting to feel more pressured. Alvin nodded his head and ran his hand over his beard once again.
"These...outsiders...was one of them...a boy, Tatsuo by any chance?" Alvin said. Hiccup looked a bit shocked, and certainly failed to hide it. The Night Fury shook his head in response.
"I thought so," he said with a devilish look, "If that boy and his family stay on Berk, well, Berk won't be around too much longer." The Outcast got up out of his stool and left the room, leaving behind only the sounds of his fading footsteps, and two guards standing firmly outside the doorway. Hiccup didn't know whether or not to believe Alvin. He was called Alvin the Treacherous for a reason, but still, those words hung in his heart. It worried him deeply, and he just hoped that all he said saved his friends lives, at least for the time being. By now, Berk has to know something went wrong. They've been gone for...actually...Hiccup didn't know how long they were gone. It felt like maybe a day or so had passed, but it could've been weeks by now, he just didn't know.
"They'll be here," Hiccup whispered to himself, "They have too."
Toothless stared down at the floor, trying to formulate some sort of escape plan. He was never good at plans, that was usually what Hiccup did, and he was brilliant at it. All Toothless knew for certain was that he was here and so was Hiccup. The metallic taste in his mouth was slowly etching away at what little tolerance he had left for his surroundings.
"Why give me the key?" Toothless thought angrily, "What the hell am I supposed to do with it?"
The cell doors quietly, and ever so slightly opened and a figure slipped in. Now that it was brighter out, Toothless expected to see his face clearly but was met with a cloaked figure, concealing his identity for whatever reason. The figured held his hand up, waiting for the key which was slid into his head. It was slick with saliva and shone brightly as the sun above reflected off of it. The cloaked viking quietly walked around the dragon, unlocking each chain as he went around as quietly and delicately as possible. Clink, by clink, Toothless felt the chains relaxing and losing their grip.
"Prepare yourself," a voice whispered. Quickly, Toothless dropped to the ground. The Night Fury, not completely release, pulled the muzzle from his mouth and tossed it aside. He opened his mouth a few times, feeling grateful he could move his mouth again. The figure moved towards the cell door and motioned the dragon closer. Toothless watched the figure and walked closer, grabbed the robe with his claws and spinning the figure around and pushing him against the wall.
"Why did you help me?" Toothless asked sternly. The figure just stared at the dragon, too terrified to move.
"Why did you help me?" Toothless asked with more intensity. The figure just shook his head and muttered out a few words.
"I can't understand you," the viking said. Toothless relaxed his grip and the viking slipped away. The figure just ignored the threat that was just given to him and glanced out the cell door. He looked up and down several times and looked back at the Night Fury once last time.
"Just...trust me alright," the viking said grouchily, "You two are leaving."