Hadrian rushes through the branches and vines that the moonlight would allow him to see. He spared a looked behind him and saw Gobber and Astrid after him. He only smiles as he pulls out his sword and sliced at every branch he could see.
An avalanche of twigs, branches and leaves showered over Gobber, and when Astrid managed to avoid it, Hadrian pulls back a branch and holds it for a second, then lets it swing back. He's rewarded with the sound of it slamming into Astrid's face. He keeps running as he hears her body collapse on the ground.
"Come on now, guys. You'll have to do better than that. I haven't even broken a sweat." He says.
He looks up to the trees and sees them relatively clear. He looks back just in time to see Snotlout swinging a heavy branch. Hadrian skids to a stop and bends his back as the branch swooshed over his head. He slings back up and punches Snotlout right in the nose. Then adding on, slamming his knee into the boy's diaphragm, then while he's doubled over, he chops at his neck and Snotlout falls to the ground.
"You ever have those days where it just feels good to be alive?" he mocks as he continues running through the dark forest.
Back by Grandmamma and Goathi, Stoick had sent the others out while he and Fishlegs stayed enclosed around Hiccup's stiff body. Stoick stroked the boy's hair as he held him close to his chest. He begged to the gods he'd be okay. He knew he was denying the obvious, but it just didn't feel like he was gone.
Stoick didn't care if he couldn't face it. He'd already lost his wife, and that pain was still fresh, like a burn marked on his skin, making sure he'd never forget it. And he'd sworn he'd never lose another family member. He just couldn't face the world all alone.
He looked back down and brushed a few strands of Hiccup's hair out of his face. Hiccup's face was, emotionless. It was just blank. Stoick begged Thor to have him open them again, to show him those emerald green eyes. But he only stayed stiff and asleep like a rag doll.
"Hiccup," Stoick whimpered. "Please, please wake up."
Nothing happened.
Meanwhile, Gobber and Astrid and the others were on Hadrian's trail. Hadrian had been running in a beeline direction. Wherever he was going, he was getting there. Astrid landed right in front of him and Hadrian skidded to a stop. He went to go punch her, but she grabbed his fist and hurled him over her.
But Hadrian flipped and landed with his feet on the trunk, pushed off and slammed his fist right into her diaphragm. He then punched Snotlout who was coming in from behind, and ended with knocking his feet out from under him. He heard a heavy thump and saw Gobber standing a few feet away.
"Run out of tricks? What's a matter, afraid we've seen them all?!" Gobber called mockingly.
Hadrian only smiled and in a flash he flicked his wrist and sent five daggers flying. Gobber saw it coming and blocked with his axe hand. But the second he lowered it, Hadrian sucker punched him right in the jaw, sending Gobber skipping across the dirt.
"I have my moments." Hadrian replied.
He could hear the whizzing of two knives and whirled around and formed his arms in and X across his chest. Once they were close enough, he whipped his arms out and sent the daggers spinning and slicing into two trees on his left and right. The trees creaked and cracked and Hadrian dashed for Astrid who had thrown them.
She readied herself for a harsh punch, but felt a tackle instead. She squeezed her eyes shut and readied herself, but popped them open when she felt nothing. She looked and saw Hadrian was next to her on one knee. She looks ahead and sees the tree collapsed in front of her. The branches were cracked and she realized she would've been flat if she stayed.
She looked to Hadrian on his feet. "You saved me?"
He took her chin. "I'm not ready to dispose of that pretty face just yet. Don't get your hopes up." and in an instant, he punched her, knocking her out.
Grandmamma comes back out with a washcloth and small bowl of water. She wets it and pats it on Hiccup's forehead. After Stoick trying the Heimlich maneuver, they managed to restore Hiccup's breathing, but his heartbeat was slow and he still won't show any signs of movement.
"He should be fine." Grandmamma assured, but Stoick refused to let go of Hiccup's hand.
His own meat-like mitts swallowed Hiccup's whole. He stroked the back of Hiccup's hand with his thumb and only prayed in his mind.
Hadrian had broken through some foliage and found what he'd been looking for. Grandmamma's boat. She and Gotahi took it while Hiccup flew. He didn't need to have Hiccup's memories to know that.
As he breaks through and charges for the boat, he stops and draws his sword. He lifts it behind his head, and hears a metallic clang. He pushes off and spins down, kicking out Gobber's legs from under him.
"Hm, you've got guts, Gobber. Let's see if I can pound that out of you." Hadrian says as he holds the tip of his sword on Gobbers nose. "Better yet, I'll slice it out of you."
"How could someone like you be trapped inside our little Hiccup?" he asks as he props on his elbows.
"I asked myself that every day I suffered in him, but now, I can call my own shots." He says, and he raises his sword, but it's knocked out of his hand and sent flying behind Gobber.
He looks and sees one of his old abandoned daggers. He turns to find Astrid with another prepped in each hand. He only smiles and abandons Gobber and sprints for her. She wastes her throws as he dodged both and he launched himself into Astrid and the two crashed into the sandy shore. Hadrian uses his momentum and lands on his feet.
"Let's see how you do in hand-to-hand combat." He says.
Astrid stands and shifts to a fighting stance.
"You want me babe? Come and get me." he says with a sly smirk.
Astrid's blood boils and she charges forward. She throws a few missed punches, and after Hadrian lowers after another one, she takes advantage and slams him in the stomach. He grunts and stumbles back. He holds his middle and takes a few deeps breaths.
"Not bad." He says in a rusty tone.
"Glad you enjoyed it." Astrid snaps.
Hadrian smiles, and as if by a snap, his voice was normal. "Now it's my turn!"
He rushes in and punches Astrid left and right, kicks her legs out and kicks her mid-air sending her crashing into the trunk of an oak. Her spine slams into it with a bone-jarring crash. She slides down and slips to the grass. She breathes it off and stands again.
She blinks her eyes and waits until the world settles into focus, but that was a mistake. As she's waiting, she can still see Hadrian charging. But since she sees three at once, she doesn't know where to aim. So all she can do it take the next two hits to the face, then the stomach and finally a hard blow to the neck, cutting off her voice and breathing.
Dropping to her knees, Astrid wheezes and holds her throat. She coughs few times and looks to see Hadrian standing proud and tall. Her blood boils and she still stands, but on weak knees.
"I always knew I made you go, 'weak in the knees'." Hadrian mocks and Astrid grits her teeth.
She runs forward and tries to tag him, but he dodges every one, and when she goes for his face, he moves his hand I front and snatches her fist.
"Good technique." He says. He twists her wrist until he hears the sharp snap. Astrid yelps and Hadrian lifts her, whirls so she's on his back, and spins and sends her flying. She crashes into the sand and slides until she hits a rock cliff with a bump. "Good, but not perfect."
Astrid tries to stand, but only falls to her knees. She holds her throat again and tries to make use of the air that seems deprived of oxygen. She clenches fistfuls of sand as she hears Hadrian cruel and unforgiving laughter.
"I understand your frustration, Astrid. You hate losing as much as I do. One of the few things we have in common." He says.
"I am nothing like you." she snaps in a rusty tone. Her bangs fall over her eyes she so bent forward.
"You know Astrid, I've always wanted to know. What hurts the most? That I'm free? That I'm practically killed your boyfriend without even trying? That Hiccup probably likes Heather better than you?" he watches as she fists her hands until they're white.
"Shut up." she warns.
"Or is it that deep down inside, you really believed he actually loved you."
Astrid suddenly springs up using her feet, and slams her fist into Hadrian's jaw. He flies backward, flipping and lands on his toes sliding across the sand.
He smiles and adjusts his jaw. "Guess I struck a nerve?"
"You don't know anything about me or him!" she screams in fury.
"You think I don't know myself?" Hadrian says in such a cool voice, Astrid wanted to scream.
"He's nothing like you, and neither are you."
"Oh really?" Hadrian counters. "You don't think he'd be willing to kill me, as I would be willing to him?"
Astrid goes rigid.
"We're a part of each other Astrid, whether you like it or not. And that means," he suddenly rushes to her and wrenches her arm behind her back. Astrid draws in a hiss at the pain. Hadrian leans down and whispers in her ear. "I know all your secrets."
He feels Astrid shudder and sees goosebumps crawl across her arms. She tries to wriggle her way free, but his grip was too strong. "I know everything, Astrid. Remember that."
With his free hand, he chops at her neck from the back. Astrid's body goes limp and Hadrian lets her fall to the sand with a muffled thud.
"Better luck next time, kid." With that he turns and heads for Grandmamma's ship.
Gobber tries to push himself up, but his numb arms slip out from underneath him. He sees the ship sailing out, and he pounds the sand with his fist.
Back by Stoick, they've managed to restore Hiccup's breathing and after making sure his blood level is secure, and Goathi and Grandmamma let Stoick carry him to Thornado. Gobber and the others break through the bushes with Astrid on his shoulder, and sees Stoick. Hiccup still unconscious in his arms makes everyone on edge.
"Where's Hadrian?" Stoick asks.
"He's gone. And he took Grandmamma's ship." Snotlout says.
Grandmamma and Goathi exchange looks of worry. "We'll gladly take you both back to Berk." Stoick suddenly said.
Astrid moans and Gobber gently sets her down on her feet. "How's Hiccup?" Astrid asks.
"Still hasn't woken up." Grandmamma says. "And I wonder if he ever will."
"He will!" Stoick snaps. "He will. He has to." Stoick rises his feet and mounts Thorndao. "Hadrian got away, so we'll have to worry about him later. Right now, we'll fly back and focus on Hiccup."
Everyone nods and no one disagrees. Goathi rides with Gobber and Snotlout takes Grandmamma. Everyone else mounts their dragons and as they fly off back to Berk, Stoick simply holds Hiccup in his arms, and hopes he's not too late.
Hadrian's boat coasts into Outcast waters and all he can do is smile. He noticed and listened as Outcasts shouted back and forth to ready their forces and alert Alvin.
"Let him come." Hadrian dared.
He watched as soldiers readied at the docks and Alvin and Mildew approached the front. After their fail at controlling Hiccup, they spent their time in jail, but the Vikings simply thought it wouldn't be worth it. They brutally flew Alvin and Mildew back on dragons, just dropping them in mid-air like sacks of flour.
And it was safe to say, Hadrian wasn't back for a warm family reunion.
As the boat stopped and as he laid down the bridge, he could hear Alvin asking questions. The moonlight was shadowed by the clouds so no one could see his face. So Hadrian decided to have fun by throwing another dagger at Alvin. He blocked it, and Hadrian stepped up on the bridge.
Once Alvin and Mildew saw, along with the other soldiers, Hadrian simply smiled.
"Hi-Hadrian?" Alvin says in pure shock.
"Hello father. Miss me?" Hadrian says as he steps down from the bridge. The way he pronounced father made it seem like he had a bitter taste in his mouth. "I've come home."
Alvin, for the first time, was left speechless. How did this happen? Dow did he get here? What happened to Hiccup?
"Surprised to see me?" He rhetorically asks.
"What, how did you get here?" Alvin asks.
"Took the boat. Long story, and I don't feel like telling it." Hadrian snaps. "But all that matters, is that I'm home."
He steps closer, and the soldiers and Mildew actually step back.
Then, inexplicably, Hadrian lashed out his hand and grabbed Fungus by the head.
"Fungus!" Mildew cried. He tried to stop Hadrian, but he was flung back with a harsh punch in his chest.
Mildew felt as if his feet had been frozen in blocks of ice, he could only stare at the scene of horror unfolding before him, completely helpless.
With a sickening, wet thunk, the dagger slammed into Fungus' chest, burying itself to the hilt. The sheep screamed and fell limp, his body already convulsing. Blood poured from the wound, dark crimson. Hadrian tossed him to the ground unceremoniously and Fungus' legs slapped against the floor, feet kicking aimlessly with onrushing death.
Red spit oozed from between his lips. Mildew felt as if the world were collapsing around him, crushing his heart.
He fell to the ground, pulling Fungus' shaking body into his arms.
"Fungus!" he screamed; his voice felt like acid ripping through his throat. "Fungus!"
The sheep shook uncontrollably, blood everywhere, wetting Mildew's hands. Alvin watched in horror, as immobile as his soldiers. Fungus' eyes rolled up in their sockets, dull white orbs. Blood trickled out of his nose and mouth.
"Fungus . . ." Mildew whimpered. The sheep stopped convulsing, stilled. No, he thought. Not Fungus. Anything but Fungus.
Nobody moved, and deep inside, Mildew knew why. Not only were they scared, nothing could help now. It was over.
Fungus' eyes closed, his body went limp. One last breath wheezed from his mouth.
Mildew didn't even get one last chance to stroke Fungus' wool, as Hadrian shamelessly kicked him aside and into the water.
"No!" Mildew shouted, sadness consuming him. He watched as blood oozed and spread out in the water. Contaminating it and spreading like a deadly crimson virus.
Hadrian snatches Mildew's head and tilts it back, the tip of the dagger, still wet with Fungus' blood, gently pinching his Adam's apple. "And this time, I'm in charge." He bites.
He releases Mildew and walks up the docks. The soldiers immediately make a way, allowing Hadrian a straight path.
"Why?" Mildew cries. Tears stinging his old eyes and his nose fairly congested. "Why?"
Hadrian stops. "Consider it payback for all the lies you fed into my mind." He turns. "And why so upset? You should be grateful. I could've killed you on the spot, just as easily, and just as vicious. But it turns out I actually have a use for you. The sheep, was worthless. You should be grateful."
He then stands horizontally, so he can stare at both the soldiers and Alvin and Mildew. Mildew looks to Alvin with pleading eyes, begging him to do something. Alvin takes a half-step forward. The now large pool of blood in the water out of the corner of his eye.
"Y-you're going to wish you hadn't done that." Alvin says, but his own voice betrayed him. It was shaky. What's wrong with me?! He thought.
Hadrian only laughs. "I only wish I'd done it sooner." Then with a leap in the air, he kicks Alvin hard in the chest and sends him skidding and rolling until he stops just at the edge of the dock. "I'm in charge now, Alvin."
He then looks to the Outcasts.
"And if you all swear to serve me, if you follow every command I have to the letter, I will allow you to live. But, if any of you disobey even the smallest request, I will annihilate you without hesitation, and I'll make everyone else watch. If I sense any treason, any weakness, and any hesitation, I will snip it out of you."
He walks through the path made by the soldiers, and he can just feel the fear and power he holds over them. As he reaches the middle, close to the end of the path, he stops, and the soldiers go rigid.
"I know it seems bad now boys, but trust me. You will learn, to like it."
He then walks off into village, leaving a trail of blood in his wake.