Chapter Twenty: Ukiah's Burden Lifted
"Just die! Meet your fate that your parents sealed for you!" Strogg roared as he slammed Heather's axe into a large rock, right where Ukiah leapt off of. The Gronckle Iron blade easily smashed the rock, leaving the blade unmarred. What room was available in the cave, was utilized by Ukiah's shifty and loose foot moves, though Strogg had no care for what was around him.
Ukiah was able to unload three bolts into Strogg, all sticking out the think dragon hide vest. Sweat ran down his face as he leapt backwards as Strogg original large and broken axe smashed the ground right in front of him. "I told you!" He panted, grabbing a bolt from his quiver "My fate isn't falling to you!"
"Brat! You're still delusional that you're different from your people!" Strogg roared, swinging Heather's axe horizontally; right into the cage and bending one of the bars.
"I am different!" Ukiah fired back, reloading the crossbow out of muscle memory; being both fast and efficient "But you're not going to live long enough to see why!"
"Shut up!" Strogg roared, running straight at Ukiah "We're not going to have a draw again! You're going to die!"
Ukiah fired his crossbow at the behemoth, sinking it in right were his heart was. The thick vest stopped it again, and didn't slow down the giant barreling towards him. At the last second, he flung himself to the right, crashing against the cage bars.
Strogg overshot him, but shifted his shoulder into him; which he was able to smash Ukiah against the cage.
"Gah!" He shouted, feeling his breath pushed out of him. Ignoring the loss of air, Ukiah planted his feet on the ground and drew his dagger. He lunged forward, straight at Strogg's back. Strogg turned around in time to see Ukiah ram the dagger into his side, piercing the dragon hide armor.
"Arrgghh!" He roared, using the backside of his hand to drill the side of Ukiah's head.
Ukiah flew at the hit, pulling his dagger with him. Rolling on the rocky ground, he quickly sprung to his feet, shaking his head at the blow. His feet slipped as he tried to stand up straight. He forgot that Strogg's hits usually hurt more than what normally should have been. Strogg simply walked towards Ukiah, ignoring the stab in his side; he knew the cave was small enough to keep him from rolling around him, and was going to capatilize on that advantage as much as he could.
Heather finally finished cutting the rope around Astrid's wrists. Looking up, she saw the fight was starting to circle back towards her. Grunting, with her chest still hurting, she crawled to her feet.
"Can you help me get the door open?" Astrid asked loudly, rubbing her wrists in relief.
"Yeah, just one problem. Windshear's out cold, and the keys are on Strogg's belt!" Heather replied, pointing to Strogg as she backed up from Ukiah; who was backing into her.
Strogg finally looking aside from the fight with Ukiah, and saw Astrid was untied. "Aggh! I should have just killed that black haired witch instead of toying with her!"
Wasatch threw himself at the cage's door, screeching in anger and invigorated by the sudden change in events.
"Just you wait until I get out of here Strogg!" Astrid barked, trying to push the door open as well "You'll definitely be wishing you did a few things differently!"
Heather squared up to Strogg, standing alongside Ukiah. Narrowing her eyes at him she then shouted "This 'witch' is going to kill you!" Glancing at Ukiah, she growled "I'm helping you!"
"No! This is just our fight!" Ukiah roared, not taking his eyes off Strogg "Get back and out of the way!"
"It's my fight too!" She shouted, jumping back with Ukiah as Strogg swung her axe horizontally, hitting the cage a second time. "He killed my friend!"
"No! We've been at this for years! This is my fight! He killed my tribe! He killed my family!" Ukiah growled, sheathing his dagger and beginning to reload his crossbow "He ruined my life! Because he wouldn't stop hunting me or those I cared about!"
"He killed the only person that really cared about me!" Heather shouted, her eyes burning with fire "He killed Matt!"
Ukiah's head snapped in her direction. "Matt? Wait, you must be Heather! He's alive!"
Strogg roared, charging the two and interrupting the sudden conversation. Heather bounded to the right, climbing up the cage. Ukiah leaped left, running along the wall and past Strogg.
Whirling around and striking the wall behind Ukiah, Strogg then roared "He's dead you fool! I sent him to Helheim!"
"No you didn't. I pulled him out of the ocean when you left him." Ukiah yelled back, glaring at Strogg "He's alive! And looking for Hiccup as we speak!"
"Matt's alive?!" Heather gasped, dropping from the cage next to Ukiah. Staring at him, she pleaded "Where?! Where is he?!"
"Finding Hiccup! Right now, help Astrid out!" Ukiah growled, ignoring Heather's plea "I'll keep Strogg busy while you get her out of here!"
"Get me the keys or my axe, and I'll do it!" Heather answered, her eyes narrowing as she gripped the quill in her hand.
"I'll just cut you in half with him!" Strogg roared, thrusting the broken axe forward. Drilling Heather in the chest with the top of the shaft, and launching her backwards. He then swung it horizontally, catching Ukiah in the side with the jagged, broken edge.
"Gaagghh!" He cried out, getting thrown against the cave wall. His chainmail protected him from the broken pieces of the axe, but didn't do a thing to cushion the force behind the hit.
Strogg charged him, raising Heather's axe. As soon as he began to bring it down, a sharp pain surged through his forearm, flowing through down it and into his shoulder. It completely stopped his momentum! "Grrggghh!" He roared, flinching vividly as he lost feeling in his hand. Looking at the arm, he saw a large quill embedded on the bottom side of his forearm! He turned and stared at Heather, who was glaring at him with fire in her eyes.
"I want my axe back…" She growled, backing up as Strogg completely forgot about Ukiah and was slowly making his way towards her.
His eyes began to lose any kind of color, being absorbed by blackness. They started to have a wild and crazed look in them. The torches' lights danced off the caves walls, adding to madness overcoming him. In one motion, he dropped his broken axe and pulled out the quill. Looking at the wound, he quietly whispered "Oh, I'll give it back to you…" At that, his left hand crushed the quill.
Heather kept the face of being angry as she backed away, but couldn't help but wonder if this man was even killable.
Ukiah slowly crawled to his feet. Gasping in a little bit of air, he looked up to see Strogg advancing on Heather. He could already tell that the giant was starting rage, making finishing him a lot harder of a task. As he stood up, he saw Astrid glare at him, as she kept on trying to open the door.
"You better help her…" She mouthed, her eyes burning into his.
Ukiah's face darkened. If Strogg killed Heather; any chance he had to be welcomed, even tolerated back at Berk, would be but a dream and a pointless hope. Taking a deep breath, he felt an overwhelming calming running through him. He was returning. Returning to the monster that he viewed himself as. "I'm over here Strogg!" He roared, raising his crossbow and firing it.
The bolt sank into Strogg's lower back, right under where the protective vest ended. Strogg whirled around, his eyes getting bloodshot. Bolt or not, he didn't show any sign of pain! He raised Heather's axe, swinging it horizontally at the speed of a diving falcon. Ukiah leaped backwards, just barely out of the way; while dropping his crossbow. This was it. If he didn't finish Strogg now, death would be the only home for him. The axe sliced the air, only inches from him. There it was, the opening he was waiting for. Planting his right foot down, he pushed forward and plunged his dagger right into the center of Strogg's stomach, putting him in a position to put some distance between himself and the raging giant.
Heather and Astrid watched as Ukiah's face was emotionless, as he spun away from Strogg with dagger in hand. He wasn't done there, as soon as he finished squaring back up to Strogg, he planted his foot down and lunged forward in-between him and the cage, slashing at his side and forcing him to stumble.
Even the bloodlust and the rage running through his body, the chieftain could feel himself fade faster and faster. For the first time in his life, he actually felt defeated. Even when he was on his knees four years ago, he still felt like he could beat Ukiah; but this was different. Ukiah wasn't just beating him; he was killing him.
"Heather!" Ukiah roared, spinning around to face Strogg "Catch!" At that, he threw something in his left hand, right over Strogg. Heather instantly caught the object. Opening her hands, she gasped at seeing the key to the cage. Ukiah slashed the belt! She instantly bolted around the other side of the cage, rushing to the door.
Strogg, with one last push, roared as he raised Heather's axe "I'll let you take her dead body!" Bringing the axe down with all his might, he smashed the cage!
Crash! The metal bars broke at the sheer power of the axe. The force of the hit even bent the Gronckle Iron that her axe was made of. He used his free hand to pull back on the broken ends, opening up the hole a lot wider and letting him be able to get to Astrid.
Ukiah let out a war cry, leaping in the air to stop him. With his dagger thrust forward, he buried it into Strogg's back like it was the blade's sheath.
Collapsing against the cage, Strogg dropped Heather's axe and grabbed Ukiah by his hair. In one last heft, he flung him over his back and into the jagged bars that were broken and opened up.
"Aaarrrrgggh!" Ukiah yelled, feeling the chainmail catch edge against the sharp metal bars. Slowly, he fell into the cage, landing on his back and looking up.
Strogg ignored him as he reached in. Grabbing Astrid, who was trying to back away from him, he was able to feel her shoulder armor. Though weakened and literally dying, he gripped her shoulder and squeezed; pulling her towards him.
"Ahh! Let go!" She cried out in agony, feeling her metal shoulder guard crumple under the intense pressure.
"Astrid!" Heather shouted, panicking as she fitted the key into the cage's lock.
Ukiah rolled to his knees. About to grab Strogg's arm to try and make him release her, he was suddenly pushed down and pinned. All he could hear was an angry screech and vivid roar. Finally looking up, he gasped as he saw that the Skrill had fastened itself on Strogg's arm!
"Gaargggh!" Strogg roared in surprise and pain. Though he had bone plating protecting the top of his arms, he had nothing on the bottom! Save a few straps.
Wasatch jerked back, pulling the arm against the jagged ends. Strogg had no choice but to let go of Astrid, who was promptly pulled away by Heather and through the door out of the cage.
"Stupid lizard!" Strogg coughed, pulling his arm back to the point that he mauled Wasatch's head against the cage wall. Wasatch let go of the arm, recoiling back in from the blow. Feeling released, Strogg felt the weakness of blood loss begin to set, and making his vision blur and spin. Gasping, he slowly slid down against the cage, knowing he was finally beat.
Ukiah turned and ran out of the door of the cage, careful not to step on the recovering Skrill. Seeing Heather and Astrid watch him, he promptly ignored them as he ran and grabbed Heather's axe from off the ground and stared at his nemesis.
Strogg was on his knees, holding himself up with the cage. The dagger remained in his back, the wolf head handle looking like it was coming out of him. Blood was dripping down him like a small stream; coming from the many different wounds. Even the giant couldn't get himself to stay on his feet with the pain and blood loss. "Ergh…Ukiah…I'll be damned…" He coughed, blood trickling out of the corner of his mouth. His eyes were no longer blood shot, though they retained the blackness that seemed to have grown in them "You won. Soundly. With friends of course…but here you are. Delivering the final blow."
Ukiah didn't say anything. The comment about friends, burned him inside. Not the fact he had help, as Strogg used his own army to hunt him and Arrow; but the fact they weren't his friends. They wanted nothing to do with him. Shaking his head slightly with his black, lifeless eyes; having no sign of emotion as he walked behind Strogg and simply pondered the situation, and the past that led to this moment.
"What are you waiting for, brat?" Strogg growled, his eyes narrowing as he stared back into Ukiah's "Three years of running, hunting, and killing; and you want to savor the moment out of spite? You truly are a Crevite. Sick and twisted; killing only for the sake of killing…"
Ukiah, still not saying anything, simply raised the axe high. He paused as he stared into Strogg's hate filled eyes. Then, the sight that grabbed his attention. It was Astrid. Staring at him with furrowed eyebrows, she had a small scowl on her face. Not so much angry, as it was disappointment. Maybe even regret. Perhaps regret that she even knew him before he turned into what he was.
Then the thought hit him, making the cold and senseless feeling begin to reside within himself, something he didn "No. I'm not like my people. I'm not going to kill you."
Strogg's eyes stared at him in shock and confusion. Astrid and Heather both recoiled back in surprise.
Lowering the axe, he then explained with a low whisper "I finally figured it out Strogg. I figured out how I'm not the same as my tribe. Or as you." Looking up at Astrid, he continued to say "I thought killing you was the thing I wanted the most. The only thing I lived for, for the last three years. But I was wrong."
Astrid watched him as his eyes returned to a hazel color and his face began to emit emotion. For a second, she thought saw the old Ukiah she knew; before he almost killed her and Hiccup.
"I want to have a home. I want to have friends." He whispered. Walking past Strogg again, he gripped the dagger and pulled it out of his back. Strogg flinched in obvious pain "That's what I want most in this life; but I know I can't have it. Ever. So, I'll be running. If you die, fine. If not, I'll be ready." Ukiah continued to say, walking up to the girls and the Skrill. Handing Heather her axe, he then said "If you want to kill him, I'll let you. I no longer care if he lives or dies." Sheathing his dagger, he knelt down and picked up his crossbow from where he dropped it earlier in the fight.
Heather looked at her axe. The two heads were all mauled and mashed, being nothing more than a dull shovel head. Sighing, she shook her head and dropped it. "I don't need it. Not anymore." Looking at Astrid she asked "Come on, let's go home."
Wasatch had other plans. Screeching loudly, he rushed past Ukiah and lunged at Strogg.
The party watched as Wasatch spun around, cracking his tail against Strogg's back.
"Agh!" Strogg gasped, getting slammed into the cage.
Wasatch refused to stop. Again and again, he rained down strike after strike after strike. Strogg kept on getting pounded into the cage, his head often hitting against the broken bars. After finishing his beatings on Strogg, Wasatch squared up to his barely breathing prey. Getting close to where his head was, he waited until Strogg slowly turned to face him.
Blood was dripping down his beard, staining the grey hairs and turning it red. With black eyes, the chieftain stared back into the Skrills. A fire burned in them, making him regret that he listened to Viggo and kept the lizard alive. "I wish I just killed you…and your rider…" He whispered with a small gasp.
Wasatch screeched in his face! Biting Strogg's neck, he then rolled on the ground, dragging Strogg with him!
The three stared as they watched Wastch tear Strogg apart, ripping off the armor and making a gruesome scene all over the cave.
The killing lasted only a little bit, but ended with Wasatch standing angrily over Strogg and looking down at him.
The giant didn't even groan. He just stared up at the lizard, taking his last breaths and finally, after years of living on vengeance and hate, moved no more.
Wasatch stood over him proudly, watching the man who killed his rider and beat him with a chain, finally die.
"Wasatch doesn't know that Matt's alive." Heather whispered "He was probably getting his own revenge."
"And for what Strogg did to him." Astrid added, making both Ukiah and Heather turn to look at her "See the red marks all over his back and side? Strogg did that to him with a chain…probably why he beat him with his tail." Shaking her head at the memory, she turned and glared at Ukiah. It was everything for her to not punch him in the throat. Even the fact that he was the reason why she, Heather, and Windshear were alive; it was still hard for her to see him. The past of what she did with him, what she told him, of what they were together, was a lot fresher in her mind than what she thought. Though watching him spare Strogg surprised her beyond all; perhaps confused her more so. Swallowing her anger, she simply whispered "Let's help Windshear out."
Ukiah took one last look at where Strogg lay, while Wasatch turned and slammed his tail down on him one last time. "I hope the God's are merciful to you…Strogg the Murderer." At that he turned to walk with the others towards Windshear, still laying out cold. "Arrow, help us out!" He called out.
At that, Heather watched a black and brown dragon, the exact size and shape as Toothless run into the entrance. He growled happily, seeing Ukiah. She stared at the unique dragon, finally picturing what kind of dragon he was. "So that's a Sand Wraith?"
"Yeah, found him with an arrow buried in his side." Ukiah explained, guiding him next to Windshear "Half the reason why I named him that."
"Wait, he was here all this time?! Why didn't he help us?!" Heather asked, seeing that Arrow was just around the corner.
"Look and you'll find out why." Ukiah simply replied, throwing one of Windshear's claws over Arrow.
Heather rounded the corner and saw a group of men, all laying on ground. Shocked, she turned to see Arrow and found blood staining his claws and teeth. The dragon was defending the entrance single handedly.
"Where's the rest of the Hunters? They should have heard us fighting as well as Arrow killing them!" Astrid asked, glaring at Ukiah.
"My guess? Chasing after Matt and Hiccup!" Ukiah replied promptly, glaring back at her "Let's get out of here before they actually do that!" At that, he grabbed Windshear's body and tried to heave it onto Arrow. Wasatch quickly got under her, helping Ukiah lift her up.
Astrid just huffed, both out of pain and anger. Trying to vent the frustration and confliction inside of her, she slowly undid her crushed shoulder guard's strap, letting it fall off and clang on the ground.
"Astrid! Your shoulder!" Heather cried out, seeing exactly what Strogg did to her. With the crushed shoulder guard removed, her shoulder was bruised and even a little displaced.
She grimaced as she turned to hide it from both Heather and Ukiah. "It's fine. Just a little sore. And bruising."
"And out of place. It's dislocated." Ukiah pointed out while walking up to her. Gesturing to her shoulder where her arm was hanging out of place, he then asked "Do you mind if I…"
Astrid just glared at him, her blue eyes like daggers. "Fine. But don't try anything!"
Ukiah let out a sigh, knowing that what he did to her was still fresh. Gently, he gripped her arm and lifted, trying to pop in back in place.
"Easy!" She hissed, a jabbing pain shooting through her shoulder.
"Sorry! It's tougher to do when it's been out as long as it has." Ukiah apologized, knowing that he was still walking on thin ice with her.
Pop! "Rrrggghhh…" Astrid groaned as her shoulder was finally set back in place, closing her eyes to help deal with the pain. Almost instantly, she cradled the arm, while at the same time trying to act like it wasn't a big deal.
"Alright, come on. Let's get going before the Hunters decide to come check on Strogg!" Heather urged, standing next to Windhear. Arrow snorted as he began to walk out, careful not to let his passenger fall off.
Ukiah took a step back from Astrid, giving her space away from him "Matt was looking for Hiccup on top of the island, he shouldn't be too far from us."
"So you saved him? How?" Heather asked, a light shining in her eyes that Ukiah didn't notice before.
"How about I'll tell you when we get off this island?" Ukiah replied, flashing a smile for the first time since he landed on the island.
"How did you find us?" Astrid asked, looking at Ukiah skeptically and gripping her shoulder in pain.
"Arrow. He heard you." He answered swiftly, taking the lead of the group. Reloading his crossbow, he kept a wary eye out "Stormfly led us here to the island. I heard you guys from the cave and Matt said he saw Hiccup. So we went our separate ways." Looking at Astrid, he whispered "She's doing a lot better. The slash didn't slow her down one bit. She wanted to come find you."
Astrid didn't say anything, not wanting to fall in to an empathy trap.
Heather could only nod in understanding, still amazed to hear Matt was still alive.
Astrid, however, was more worried about something else "Where is everyone? This entire place looks abandoned! I remember seeing an army here."
Climbing to the top of the pathway, overlooking one of the many cliffs, Ukiah then answered "I remember a fleet being here too."
As the rest of the party met up with Ukiah, they gasped as they say where the ships were all supposed to be moored, were all gone!
"They…they left. Abandoned everything…" Heather whispered, looking at Astrid in shock "Why would they?"
Astrid shook her head "I have no idea…"
"Because they have what they wanted!" A voice cried from behind them.
The three whirled around and saw Hiccup shouldering Matt. Both Heather and Astrid lost their breath, seeing that Matt was indeed alive!
Pushing Hiccup away, Matt let a small, weak smile grow on his face as he stood there on his own. Heather sprinted to Matt, only to be pushed aside by Wasatch. The Skrill rammed himself into Matt, pushing him back.
"Grrr!" Matt groaned, trying to stay on his feet. Holding onto the happy dragon's head and feeling Wasatch shock him, he whispered "I was worried about you too bud!" Looking over the red stripes all over his body, he growled "What did they do to you?"
"Matt!" Heather cried, scrambling to her feet. Running right at him, she grabbed him in a hug and pulled him away from Wasatchs; which made them both stumble.
"Gah! Watch it! I'm barely able to stand on my own." He grunted, feeling himself go into world of lightheadedness.
"You're alive! You're actually alive!" She cried, holding him and not hearing what he said "My Gods…"
Realizing the potential rollercoaster ride her nerves went on, he closed his eye and whispered "Hey, it's alright! I'm here. I'm alive and…heh, sort of well."
Astrid smiled, seeing Heather hold onto Matt, as well as helping him stay standing. The bandages around his head told what he was suffering from. Honestly, having watched what Strogg did to him, she was surprised that was all he needed.
Wham! Something grabbed her from behind. Wincing as the shoulder lit up in pain, she turned around to see Hiccup also hugging her. Blushing, she quickly returned a small hug of her own.
"Astrid! Oh thank Thor! Are you alright?" He asked, finally pulling away from her. His eyes were filled with a mixture of relief and anxiety.
"Heh, I'm fine Hiccup. At least now I am." She replied, letting a small smile grow on her face "Thirsty and hungry, but that's it."
"Astrid…" Hiccup whispered, pulling her into another hug and not letting go of her.
Astrid was taken back by the affection. Then, slowly, she used her good arm and gently squeezed back, giving him a real, meaningful hug. "Thank you Hiccup…"
Ukiah just stood there, watching the reunion between the two couples. Starting at the corners of his mouth, he let a hurt smile grow slowly. At least he knew he did one thing right in helping them. Then the thought of Strogg ran through his mind. He was glad he was dead; though, ironically, was grateful he wasn't the one who dealt the ending blow. For some reason, it felt right that way. Finally, the nightmare was over. He felt he could breathe again and not need to look over his shoulder; or Hiccup's and Astrid's either. Arrow, still carrying Windshear, growled softly as he looked up at him.
"I'm fine friend. Just…taking it all in." He whispered, closing his eyes as imagined the last time he had this feeling. It was when he rode Arrow for the first time. Both Hiccup and Astrid had helped him strap on a makeshift rope harness. The feeling of riding Arrow was incredible, but something even more amazing was the feeling that there were others that cared about him. "Come on. Let's go."
At that, Arrow slowly lowered Windshear down, shuffeling her off his back.
Looking up at the two couples one last time, he let a small smile grow on his face and then turned to walk away. As the two were about to disappear, a lightning bolt struck right in front of them, forcing them to stop in their tracks. Teton landed roughly in front of them, standing up straight and letting lightning run up and down his back.
"Ukiah?" Matt called out, looking up and seeing he was trying to walk away.
"What is this thing?! Another Skrill?!" Ukiah gasped, staring up at Teton.
"Easy Teton, he's a friend…" Matt groaned, walking up to the skeptical dragon. Wasatch also walked up to Teton, growling to acknowledge the big dragon. Standing next to Ukiah, Matt asked "You weren't just leaving like that were you?"
"I was." Ukiah replied, forcing a hurt smile "I did what I needed to. Strogg's dead, and Astrid's safe." Looking at Hiccup and Astrid, he whispered "I'm keeping my word that I don't want to be around them to hurt them any more."
"Ukiah…" Matt quietly scoffed while shaking his head "That was you banishing yourself! Not what you really wanted to do!"
"But don't you see that it failed anyways?! That I didn't need to 'banish' myself so dramatically?!" Ukiah quickly shot back, glaring at Matt. Gesturing to Astrid, he explained "Strogg still came for her. Because I didn't leave a trail for him to follow, he decided to draw me to him!" For a second time, he looked at Hiccup and whispered "Besides, they don't want me back anyways…"
"Ukia-" Matt began to say, only to be cut off.
"Of course they want you to come back!" Heather interrupted, walking up to Matt. Seeing that he was struggling standing, she grabbed his arm and shouldered him "You saved us! Astrid, Windshear, me, and Matt!"
"Let's ask them." Ukiah challenged, looking at Hiccup in the eyes "Do you want me to come back?"
Hiccup just stared at him, unable to answer. He did save Astrid. And Matt. Plus apparently Heather and Windshear. Remaining silent for a bit, he simply looked down, unable to answer.
"Hiccup?!" Heather cried out in shock and disgust.
"It's harder for us to say yes." Astrid defended, her eyes narrowing at Ukiah "What he did, it-"
"Was fake!" Matt growled, cutting her off "He did it to banish himself to draw Strogg away from you guys!"
"Didn't really work, did it?" She growled, rotating her shoulder that was dislocated and letting it pop.
"Astrid…I'm sorry he still went for you…" Ukiah whispered, looking away from her "He was focused on me until I didn't give him a trail to follow. I…I'm sorry…"
"Stop saying that this was all Strogg's fault! He's dead now!" Astrid growled back, causing both Matt and Heather to stare at her in shock "You coming back to us almost cost us our lives! Especially Matt!"
"Astrid please!" Ukiah cried out "I'm not trying to convince you to forgive me! I'm trying to leave to keep my word! Maybe I can't help but rage with my tribe's blood, but I'm trying to keep it from ruling over me!" Looking at Hiccup, he explained "I'm so tired. I just want to have a home! I don't want to be running anymore. And if I have to find my home elsewhere, I'm fine with that!" Finally looking at the ground, he whispered "Hiccup, there's nothing more than I want, than to be called your brother again. But I know that's impossible." Looking back up at him with a pleading in his eyes, begged "But please recognize that I'm at least trying to make the wrongs right. I've lived with regret and guilt since that day, four years ago…"
Hiccup just looked at him with folded arms. Slowly, he turned to Astrid and asked "Did he fight Strogg?"
Heather answered, yelling "Of course he did! He saved me!"
Hiccup looked up and stared at her "How?"
"Strogg had one of Windshear's quills pressed against my neck when Ukiah stopped him!" She yelled. Gesturing to Ukiah, she demanded "I understand what he did to you. Trust me, I do! I did something similar to you guys only a few months back!" Pointing at herself, she asked "He's done more for you guys tonight than I have the last year! Why are you being so hard on him?! Matt's alive because of him! I'm still alive! Astrid, can you forget that he was fighting for you? Even if he knew you hated him?!"
Astrid's face darkened as she glared at Ukiah "It's not the same thing Heather. It's what we did for him before he attacked us that sets him apart."
"Listen! I'm sorry!" Ukiah cried "I'm not trying to bury the past! I'm trying to move on!"
"Shut up!" Matt roared, his voice echoing "Everyone just shut up!" Everyone froze, staring at him with wide eyes. Holding his head, as it hurt for him to yell like that, he walked away from Heather as he growled "Look, he screwed up. He almost killed you Astrid. You two were close, like you and Hiccup are!"
Astrid and Hiccup blushed, each taking a small step from each other.
"He almost killed Toothless too, with Arrow!" Matt added, watching Ukiah hang his head. Pointing to Heather, he then said "Heather betrayed you two, capturing both of you and your dragons for Dagur! She almost killed me during that time too! Then I refused to listen to you guys, and almost got killed a few times myself!" Gesturing to Hiccup, he pointed out "You've had your stubbornness run wild before! You get so focused sometimes you fail to see the big picture! Trust me, I know! I have the same thing!" Glaring at Astrid, he then growled "And we all know what kind of grudge you can carry, even if it's wrong!"
Everyone stared at Matt, wondering why he was only talking about each other's flaws.
"We all screw up. Some bigger than others, but we all fall short." Matt continued to say, fighting the dizzying feeling he was getting "Ukiah saved my life. I was dead in the water when he picked me up. Put my head back together, and here I am." Gesturing to Heather, he pointed out "He saved Heather and, like it or not, you too Astrid! We couldn't have done it without him! I couldn't have!" Focusing the best he could, he then yelled "If that doesn't deserve him to be at least heard out, I don't know if I want to be a dragon rider with you guys!"
All four people stared at Matt, knowing he rarely made threats like that.
"You guys were the ones that convinced me to believe in Heather! Remember? I never trusted her to begin with!" He continued to shout, finally starting to stumble. Heather quickly grabbed him, helping him stand. "And look! She's the best thing that's happened to me!" He growled, closing his eye to try and refocus "I'm telling you, if you did that with Heather; you have to do the same with Ukiah. He hates what he did, and is doing everything he can to not repeat it! You guys are the ones holding on to it! You guys even kept it a secret from me and Heather! If anything, we should be mad that you held this from us for so long! That's what almost killed me! Not Ukiah trying to come back!"
Everyone was silent. Hiccup glanced back and forth between Matt and Ukiah, who kept staring at Matt with surprised expression. Sighing, he then agreed "Fair enough Matt. We'll let him tell his side of the story. For now, let's get out of here. Since Viggo has the Dragon Eye, and his fleet's gone, who knows where he his."
Ukiah couldn't believe it! Matt defended him! Matt and Heather! And they were succsefful.
Hiccup saw his shocked expression, to which he pointed out "Mind you Ukiah, I'm only inviting you to Dragon's Edge. I can't officially invite you back to Berk and our tribe. My dad's got the final say in your banishment."
Ukiah only nodded, still looking relieved at the change in mind. "I understand Hiccup." Then, rather awkwardly, whispered "Thank you…" Turning to Heather, he then suggested "Come on, let's see if we can't wake up your dragon. I don't care if this place is abandonded, we've been here way too long."
Hiccup watched Heather lean Matt against Teton, and then jog to help Ukiah. Letting out a long sigh, he silently whispered "You know what Ukiah, I miss you too…I…I'm sorry."
"How's the hand Darien?" Viggo asked, walking into a hidden room in a cave, where she and Banshee were resting.
"It's been fine." She whispered, stroking Banshee's head "It's Banshee I'm worried about."
"How's he doing after that lightning strike?" Viggo asked, taking a seat near her.
"Well, he's still stunned; but I think he'll be back too normal given he gets a little rest." She answered, letting a worried smile grow on her face "Heh, didn't think I'd be caring for a dragon after joining you and your crew…"
"Glad you did…you're certainly an asset that going to be invaluable to me." Viggo smiled with a confident, almost evil smirk.
Looking at him, she raised an eyebrow, asking "What are you planning?"
"Something that doesn't involve Dagur. Or Strogg…" He replied, pulling out the Dragon Eye "Dagur betrayed me. He told Heather where Astrid was being kept."
Darien gasped in shock at the news "What? Are you kidding me?!"
"I'm not. He told here what cave she was kept in, which ultimately led the boy Ukiah to her as well." He continued to explain "Strogg is…dead now."
Again, Darien let out a gasp "The giant?!"
"Aye, I don't know what Ugo has planned now, but I guess we'll find out soon enough." He commented, still smiling at her "But for us, while Ryker leads the fleet on a journey, which will make Hiccup think we're gone; you and I are going to dig through what the Dragon Eye, and see what it has to offer."
Darien just sat there in shock. So much happened in such little time. From learning Matt was still alive, to learning Strogg was killed, it was honestly the last thing she expected. Only able to nod, she simply looked down at Banshee, who in turn looked up to her.
"Do you think I could borrow Banshee for a moment?" Viggo asked, spinning the Dragon Eye in his hand "I need his help to access the knowledge in here."
"Uh…sure, I guess." Darien replied, shaking her head at the request.
"Thank you. Can you have him fire at the cave wall? I need to burn off the seal that locks the Dragon Eye. Only a Flightmare's mist can do it." He replied with a widening smile "It was an emergency release."
Darien continued to listen to Viggo, realizing why he had a Flightmare captured to begin with.
"Hiccup will come to know that every dragon will be slaughtered and sold, due to his carelessness. Including his Night Fury." He revealed to her, his eyes narrowing with resolve "And I plan on you helping me, every step of the way…"
There you go! Hope you enjoyed it, and where I took it. There's still one more chapter that I need to finish, and then the story is complete. At least for this season of the show.
To the question and request with Matt's dad coming, it won't happen in this story. And I can't guarantee that it'll happen later. I still have to draft the plot line for the next story and I'm still juggling whether to wait for Season 4 to come out, or just take it to a point near the end of Season 3. Still debating it. Any who, I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
