"Why would they do this?" Hiccup asked, brushing ash from his scales. "Why would they go out of their way to split Berk in two? What advantage does that give them? They already had safety here, so why destroy the one place they felt safe? The one place Ryuu's parents most likely would not look at again?" Hiccup asked into the open air, hoping any of the others listened.
They sat on the stairs of the Great Hall, the village below returning to some semblance of normalcy. The forest fire dwindled down to the last embers, the once fighting inhabitants now sat quietly with one another, and the skies began to clear of the ash and smoke that had previously filled their lungs. The chief's house smoldered in the distance, just ash and charred wood holding up flimsy pieces of wood. Svelta had began to administer aid to any who needed it while all of Berk began to rebuild and mend any wounds. The two dragons and the chief sat and spoke, hashing out any theories they might have developed.
"Do crazy people need reasons, son?" Stoick answered, his beard spectled with grey that he desperately tried to clear out. The second Night Fury chuckled and nodded, his eyes sullen and weary from the long series of events.
"Yes, yes they do, because even if it seems crazy to us, it makes sense to them," Hiccup said, his frustration beginning to show as his voice tapered off. "Look, it does not add up! Why would he destroy the one place that gave them shelter, the one place they felt safe? Instead, he took advantage of any opportunity that came his way in order to undermine the authority here on Berk." Hiccup scratched at his head, trying to figure out the endgame for Tatsuo. Sure, he was only a year or so younger than Hiccup himself, but his small scrawny size made him appear all the more innocent and child-like.
Well when you phrase it like that, he sounds a lot like myself, Hiccup thought to himself, internally chuckling before regaining his serious composure.
"Wait," Stoick butted in, "What about the boy's father? Ken? We sent him off on his own to die, what makes us think he actually left the island? For all we know, he could still be on the blasted Isle pulling the strings from afar! I should have had a more foolproof plan for dealing with him." The chief got to his feet and rubbed his forehead, ash smearing across his aging skin. The two dragons looked at one another and thought for a few long moments.
"Even still, why?" Toothless asked. "I get they said they needed a new home, but why? Why even keep Ryuu? Why live their lives on the run for this child? I remember someone saying something about Ryuu being the next in line to the throne of whatever mountain they lived near, right? Why not kill him and sever the dynasty? Are they holding him for ransom? If so, it clearly did not work since they are hunting them down island by island!" The Night Fury sent a blast of plasma up into the air before it burst above the clouds.
Hiccup thought long and hard while the smell of ash and fire filled his lungs. He breathed deeply then exhaled, trying to think.
"None of it makes any sense!" Hiccup said, his voice echoing off of the burnt houses. As his voice reverberated, a smoldering house in the distance collapsed in on itself, sending smoke and ash outward and filling the air around with ashy substance. "None of it makes any sense. Are you positive it was Tatsuo who attacked you? That scrawny kid?"
"Oh believe me, son, that boy had the strength of several men," Stoick said. "His punches hit harder than my own despite him being a quarter my size! Explain that!"
Add that to the list of growing questions and inconsistencies, Hiccup thought to himself. This all just smashed together in one giant mess.
"We need to find Tatsuo, and we need to find Ryuu. Does anyone have any idea where either are?" Toothless asked. Inside the Great Hall, the pitter-patter of small feet made their way towards the door. The little blue dragon slipped through the cracked door and stood proudly.
"Here I am Mr. Toothless!" He said, his voice soft and delicate, pure and innocent.
"Hey there, bud," Hiccup said, getting close to little Ryuu, "I have a couple questions for ya if that's alright." The little dragon smiled brightly and nodded. Clearly, he loved questions.
"Do you remember why Tatsuo and his family took you? I know you said it was a long time ago and that you don't really remember, but can you try real hard for Mr. Toothless and I?" The dragon asked, watching the smaller one put on his best thinking face.
"Oh! They were supposed to keep me safe from the bad one!" Ryuu said with a look of pride and accomplishment. The three looked at each other, then back at the small dragon.
"Ryuu, what do you mean by 'the bad one'?" Toothless asked gently.
"The big, mean dragon that wants to get me! I think Mr. Ken and his family took me because my mommy and daddy thought the bad one was gonna hurt me!" Ryuu said, his voice strained due to his apparent intense concentration.
"So.. there are three dragons out there?" Stoick asked, his voice failing as he attempted to finish the sentence.
"Mhm! Mommy and daddy are right behind him too! I think the bad one was the one who made the village catch on fire," Little Ryuu said, bouncing on his paws as he spoke. "I think he wanted to get me then, but I think Mr. Toothless and Mr. Hiccup scared him away!"
"Now, what makes you say that, Ryuu?" Toothless asked.
"Well, Mr. Tatsuo started acting weird before the fire started. It was like he wasn't Mr. Tatsuo anymore. He wouldn't give me hugs anymore, he wouldn't rub my head...," The little dragon trailed off, his voice weak and sniffle filled.
"Sh, sh, don't cry, Ryuu," Hiccup said softly, picking up the small dragon with his claws and rubbing his head slowly. "You're such a brave dragon, you know that?" The small dragon smiled softly and nodded.
"Why didn't you say anything before?" Stoick asked.
"I was afraid Mr. Tatsuo would get into trouble and have to go away like Mr. Ken did!" Ryuu said, his voice beginning to break again. Hiccup held him close, humming softly and licking his head slowly.
"Sh, sh, you're okay, Ryuu," Hiccup said, his voice but a whisper. "Tell me what happened next. Why did Toothless and I scare the bad one away?"
"C-Cause.. cause there are so many dragons here, more than I have ever seen in one place," Ryuu said softly. "After the fire, Mr. Tatsuo kept whispering to himself about how much he hated the dragons here.. b-but when we arrived, he said he was so happy to see more friendly dragons like back home."
"So.. this mean one-" started Stoick.
"Bad one!" correct Ryuu.
"Yes, the bad one," Stoick corrected, "If what Ryuu said is correct, then this bad one came here to take Ryuu after presumably chasing Ken and his family across the globe, just as Ken originally said. Now, upon seeing the dragons on Berk, he elects to burn down the village and avoid any confrontation, and hopeful kill Ken's family and Tatsuo in the process."
"Maybe he saw Ken out on the ocean and realized they were still alive?" Toothless said.
"Possibly... He could have found Ken then stumbled upon the Outcasts with Ryuu and Tatsuo onboard and unsuccessfully attempted to kill them, again," Hiccup said, added a hypothetical piece to the puzzle. "Okay... That explains the spontaneous burnings, the attack on the Outcasts, and the reason why Alvin knew Ryuu's parents were out following him, because they actually are, but what he didn't know though, was that there is a third dragon out there as well."
"Okay, but none of this explains Tatsuo or his behavior..." Stoick said. They all three stared at the ground, attempting to come up with some sort of theory. Ryuu mimicked the adults and stared at the ground too, looking all grumpy and stern.
"Maybe... he's been hexed? Charmed? Put under a spell of some sort?" Toothless said, "Think about it. That is the only explanation for Tatsuo changing his behavior, and the only explanation for his sudden strength." Hiccup tilted his head and scratched his scales again, glancing out at the smoldering village once more as villagers passed out rations and water.
"But why? Who would put him under a spell and why?" Hiccup said, "Unless.. Ryuu said just before the fire swept through Berk.. Before that he was walking on his own and bumped into me, and I can definitely say he was acting strange. Do you think the bad one found him and cast a spell on him?"
"A back-up plan for uhm, hurting Ryuu if the fire didn't?" Stoick said, adjusting his words after a quick glance to the young dragon.
"But if that were so, then why didn't he hurt Ryuu?" Hiccup said. They all looked at one another, then in different directions. They had theories, but they did not have solid evidence for anything. Hiccup's face twisted into a look of intense concentration, Toothless stared up a the sky, watching the ash blow through the wind, and Stoick rubbed his face and beard, no one sure of what to say or what to think.
"First things first...," Hiccup said, the silent world they all succumed to breaking in that moment, "We need to question Alvin and get as much information out of him as possible. Dad, you seem to have the best bond with him, so I will leave that to you. Make sure you're thorough." Stoick nodded in agreement, rubbing his hand over his son's head.
"Will do, son," the chief said, giving Toothless the same treatment before heading off. "Stay safe. I don't want anything happening to my boys!" The chief smirked and made his way down the stairs and into the village. The two dragons smiled, watching their father leave.
"Next... We need to find Tatsuo and confront him. He could be the key to many unanswered questions," Hiccup said, holding Ryuu close and rubbing his head slowly. "Until then, we should leave Ryuu here, at the Great Hall, where the villagers can look after him. Is that okay, bud?" Hiccup glanced down at the smaller dragon, already having dozed off while they all hashed out ideas. The two dragons chuckled, Toothless giving Hiccup a loving smile before the pair made their way into the Hall. Finding Fishlegs, Hiccup left the small dragon in the care of his friend and the villagers, trusting them to keep him safe. With that, the two Night Furies exited the Hall and began their search for Tatsuo.
Stoick pushed through the crowds of people, searching every inch of the village before finding Alvin among the last of the vikings putting out the last of the fires near the edge of the forest. Flagging down the former Outcast, Stoick pulled him aside, garnering several looks and glances and glares from the other vikings. Stoick bit his tongue, deciding against making any snide comments for now. The last thing the village needed was tensions flaring up again. It was only a few hours ago that the town was at each others throats, ready to kill one another to secure the future of Berk, whatever that may be.
"Okay Alvin, I'm gonna need you to be a bit more specific," Stoick said, once they reached a place quiet and desolate enough to speak. "You said that the dragon or dragons that attacked Berk were Ryuu's parents. How did you get that information?" The former Outcast looked at the chief with quizzical eyes.
"I uh.. I have men who travel far and wide and report back to me what they heard," Alvin began, "Unfortunately, one of the men I killed out on the docks was the man who got me the information. He said he got the information from a man in England. Said a family from Japan came through, seeking shelter from a dragon trying to kill young.. what did you say, Ryuu. Then, the next day, a dragon appeared and burnt down the village, demanding they hand over the baby dragon. When the man come out from his hiding place, the single dragon was joined by another, this time demanding their son be returned. When they realized he wasn't there, they demanded to know where they were heading next, and the man sent them back in our direction. I interpreted the story to mean that the family had stolen the young dragon, spread lies throughout the kingdoms to gain sympathy, all while remaining on the run with the child."
The chief looked at Alvin, gauged how he spoke, his ticks, his mannerisms; all fundamentally different from how he formerly presented himself as Alvin the Outcast. It put him off, but at the same time lured him in. He put all his faith in this man he once knew, but now he was beginning to question where his loyalties lie. Why put his faith in him? Why believe him? Was it because Alvin was familiar and Tatsuo was not?
"You alright there, Stoick?" Alvin asked, pulling the chief from his thoughts. Stoick huffed and gave a slight nod, thinking over what he heard.
So the Englishman knew of one dragon, this one demanding they hand over the baby dragon. Then, later, when he emerged from his hiding place, the dragon was supposedly joined by another, this time they demanded their son. What if the third dragon, the bad one, was the dragon who burnt down the village before he doubled back to find Ryuu? If thats the case, the parents would have to have been hot on his trail if they showed up shortly after.. The question is.. where are they? Stoick thought to himself, beginning to walk away from Alvin, leaving the former Outcast with a perplexed look.
The chief found himself at the docks before long, his mind in the clouds as his gaze brought him to the actual clouds above Berk. Ash and smoke intertwined and coated the skies, skies vacant of any life.
Where are you two?
Astrid finished stamping out the last of the fire, her foot smothering the smoldering ash and embers near the edge of the forest. She huffed, her body coated with a thin layer of ash and dust. Every breath filled her lungs with the thick smoke of the forest, her throat burning from the thick particles clinging to her mouth and tongue. Charred wood was all she could taste as she looked at the decimated forest. For as far as her eyes could see, nothing but blackened trees, smoldering embers, and smokey air filled the former forest. Her heart sank with every passing moment, and though she understood the necessity of the fire, her jaw could not unclench. Like the forest in front of her, a smoldering fire burned deep inside her.
She opened her mouth and screamed with all her might at the dying forest, her voice echoing into the skies. In the distance, branches fell, ash flew into the air, and smoke obscured her vision. Her breaths were deep and her chest ached. She needed water, she needed rest, and she needed a break from all the bullshit life kept throwing at her. Astrid put her hands on her knees as she attempted to catch her breath, her mind cluttered with the last several days' events.
As she looked up, she could see a shape within the smokey clouds. It moved and swirled around a silhoutte seemingly unfazed by he hot air and ashy remains of the forest around them. The smoke shifted with the wind and the silhoutte became the ash coated face of Tatsuo. The glare from his void-filled eyes made Astrid stop. Her throat clenched up, either from the smoke, or from apprehension. She froze, and she could not understand why. Those eyes, they held her in his grip.
"Tatsuo," Astrid said, her voice a hoarse whisper. She turned around and yelled as hard as she could, the smoke and ash collecting in her throat.
"H-Hiccup!" Astrid said, her voice struggle to form, "Toothless! Hiccup!" She turned around, the smokey cloud hiding any evidence of Tatsuo's presence. Her teeth grit together, looking around for anything to protect herself. She grabbed a sword stuck in the ground and pulled it out. She took a piece of cloth and slipped it over her nose and mouth, stepping forward into the smoldering forest and disappearing behind a wall of smoke.
The young viking stumbled around, tripping over charred logs while struggling to see past the smoke. Sounds seemed to echo all around her, reverberating off the failing trees and piercing through the smokey air. Within a few minutes, she found herself in a clearing, the ground coated with a thick layer of dust and ash and smouldering ember. In the center, Tatsuo.
"Why are you doing this?" Astrid said, her voice strained and strangled. "We gave you a safe place! A place away from the dragon trying to kill Ryuu! Why would you turn around and try to destroy this entire village?" Her chest heaved while Tatsuo remained unfazed, unaffected by the heat, by the ash, by the smoke, by the unclean and unpure air. His vacant, void-filled eyes watched her movements, his body remaining unnaturally still. Astrid could see no breath, no twitch of the body, nothing. He simply remained silent. Astrid watched, waiting, silently hoping that the two Night Furies would make their grand appearance on the scene.
"I do what he commands," Tatsuo said, his voice monotonous and emotionless. "He came to me and spoke such wonderful words. He brought me to my senses." The young man stared, his mind far removed from this shell of a body, that Astrid could tell. He spoke, but no soul seemed to inhabit his body. A shell carrying out the will of this 'he.'
"And who is he, Tatsuo?" Astrid asked, hoping to press him for more information. The young man simply smiled, showing the first expression, the first ounce of emotion Astrid had ever seen him express.
"I ran so far from his grace and his wisdom, but he caught me and made me listen, made me see the truth," Tatsuo said, his voice but a whisper that the wind carried. "But I keep failing him, for I cannot kill Ryuu." Astrid's voice caught in her throat as Tatsuo spoke. Just as his eyes, his voice felt devoid of any life.
"Why can't you kill Ryuu, Tatsuo?" Astrid said, her voice beginning to fail. The young man's smile slowly faded away until the same expressionless face stared back at her. For a moment, she saw a light shining behind those eyes.
"I could never hurt Ryuu," Tatsuo said, his voice filled with grief and agony and frustration and hoplessness. Then, as soon as the fire behind his eyes lit, it extinguished. Astrid looked with confusion, wondering what caused this seemingly split personality.
"But that is alright, for he shall return soon and finish what I cannot," Tatsuo said, his vacant eyes slowly turning towards the smoke filled skies. "But he must hurry, for the other two shall be here to take their son home."
Loud, thunderous roar filled the air, crashing into Astrid's ears. The piercing cry, sounding as if some ancient diety had awoken from its slumber, penetrated the air and the smoke and the ash as if it the air and smoke and ash were the ones screaming. The young viking looked to the skies, watching the clouds in the distance, far out in the sea, part and allow the sun to shine down upon the blue waters. From the hole, a long, serpentine shape rolled through the clouds. One, single entity. A dragon unlike any Astrid had ever faced, unlike anything the Book of Dragons had ever recorded. Something god-like and as ancient as Berk itself. Green and serpentine, coiling up into the clouds and down into the visible skies. It's shriek, foreign and gut-wrenching, called for the destruction of any that stood in its way.
"Here comes the bad one," Tatsuo said, his voice right next to Astrid's ear, "Warui." She whirled around, but to her dismay, the boy had vanished from sight. Her eyes looked to the skies above the oceans of Berk, awaiting the serpentine god to destroy all she loved. As she stood in the charred remains of the forest, she braced for the reality that this could soon be Berk.
As foretold in Ragnarok, life will begin anew within the ashes of a forgotten world, and as Astrid's lungs filled with smoke and ash, the world she knew fell away as the cold embrace of darkness took her far away.