A/N-Over 1,000 visits already! I feel loved :D
More of an action-packed chapter here, though it still pales in comparison of what will come. Also, if anyone has any questions relating to anything at all in the story (timing, characters, me, etc.) feel free to ask! I will try to answer as best as I can as long as it doesn't give away anything later on in the story.
Two Worlds Collide
Chapter 11: Battle
I woke up on day four of my now only slightly reluctant stay on Berk, remembering that I had a job to do. I had to go and find out whether or not the Clubswingers (who should really find a better name) were here on revenge, like everyone thought, or if they were here for a different reason. I got up and headed out of Hiccup's house, followed by Toothless, since Hiccup wasn't up yet, and met up with Astrid and Thorn near the Mead Hall.
"You two ready?" I asked. Like I needed to: I was met with a unanimous "Of course!" "Okay, okay, let's get going then." I had left my weapons in Hiccup's house, figuring I could always come back for them, and they would slow me down. Now, as Astrid saddled up on Thorn, I focused on a new image, a picture somewhat like Toothless, but at a size nearly three times larger, with wings like a Timberjack. I felt the changes take place at lightning speed, my body stretching out to nearly 60 feet in length, and my swept back tail and crests appeared. My head formed into an elongated version of a Night Fury's, and from my back sprouted massive, razor sharp wings nearly 60 feet long each. Of course, like always, my own characteristic swept-back tail and crests appeared as well. Astrid stared up at me in amazement, and Thorn only slightly less so, since she knew about the gift more than Astrid did. "I don't think that's a dragon in the books," Astrid commented. I laughed and shook my head. "No, no it's not. Just another surprise for everyone to see."
I spread my wings and lifted myself off the ground in one powerful burst, followed by the two girls. "So what exactly are you planning?" Astrid queried. I pointed with one claw toward the ships visible only a couple of miles out. "I'll head down toward the ships, and you stay up and behind me, in case they shoot. If everything is fine, you come down and do the talking with me. If not, Thorn can take you back to Berk and alert everyone. I can change to something more water adapted and disappear, Thorn can't." I looked out and focused on the ships again, trying to count them. There were at least twelve, and all were barely 2 minute's flight out.
As we neared the leading ship, I turned to Astrid again. "Alright, remember, if all is well, you talk and get back to Stoick. If they shoot, head back and alert the village, while I try and slow them down somewhat. Got it?" She and Thorn nodded "Got it." They swung back above me, close enough to hear me if needed, but out of range of danger if need be as well. I began lowering altitude, and closed the distance on the first ship.
Once we were a couple thousand feet away, I saw the lead ship begin to come alive. They had noticed us. As we got closer, I spotted a group of Vikings hauling out what looked like a harpoon launcher and swerving it to aim in our direction. I twisted my head and yelled back at Astrid. "They're shooting!" Thorn immediately flared her wings and spun around, heading for Berk. At least we knew their intentions now. Meanwhile, I waited until the launcher was pointed directly at me, and watched it fire. The spear screamed through the air toward me, and as it neared, I banked to the side and grabbed the shaft, making it look like they had hit me. Then I dove nose first toward the ocean below, transforming into the sea dragon I had become to rescue Hiccup the day before. It must have been interesting, to say the least, for the opposing tribe to watch what they probably thought was a dragon deflating, turning into a snake with legs. As I hit the water, I released the spear and watched it sink, and aced myself in the direction of the ships. My plan was simple: the dragon I had become didn't breathe fire, but a far more solid and, in some ways, destructive substance, strong enough to throw any ship off kilter. When I neared the lead ship, I changed my color to match the water exactly, and perked my ears up out of the water.
"I think we killed it!" I heard. "Maybe this'll be an easy victory." "I should hope so," another voice replied, "it's about time they got what's coming."
That was all I needed to hear. I dove back down and under the ship, and took aim at the bow. I felt the cold well up in my throat, and let it loose. The white stream shot through the water, creating an instant path of ice, and hit the ship. I watched as even the small amount of fuel I had used began to coat the entire bow with a foot-thick sheet of ice, and I heard the water-soaked wood begin to creak and crackle as it froze as well. As the lead ship began to veer off course due to the unbalanced weight, I snaked up to the next closest ship and did the same.
Once every boat had a thorough coating of ice, I shot out toward Berk. But I didn't swim all the way back. Once I was sure everyone would have a good view of me, I powered up into the air, stretching out a pair of powerful wings and a long, muscular tail. After that, I cast one last glance at the armada, and shot back to Berk. Behind me, the ships were a temporary mess, and wouldn't be moving for a good hour, especially in the already cold water.
Back in the middle of the village, near the chief's house, I found al of the Hooligans gathered, with Hiccup and his father, along with Astrid and their dragons, at the center of the group. As I neared, Hiccup saw me and pointed. Everyone got out of the way, and I landed, changing into the original half-dragon form I first found myself in. "Well? What exactly do they want?" Stoick asked. "They're here to fight," I said simply. "Oh, of course," was the general reply. "They thought that they killed me," I continued, "but I left their ships temporarily hindered. We might have at best two hours before they reach the bay."
Almost right away everyone was ready to fight. Everywhere I looked there was a weapon of some kind. Axes, swords, bolas, and out in the bay the catapults were all being readied for battle. Many of the Vikings were on their dragons, practicing destroying targets. No matter where I looked, though, I could not find one certain pair: Hiccup and Toothless seemed to have disappeared. I flew across the entire village, but they were nowhere to be seen.
Finally, as I began to head down toward the bay where the harbor was, I spotted a shock of black at the top of a hill overlooking the bay. I swung around in that direction, and sure enough, Toothless was standing at the top of the bluff on the cliff. As I neared, I saw Hiccup sitting next to him. I swooped down and flared my wings to land. "What're you two doing up here?" I asked. Hiccup shrugged. "This is our assignment," Hiccup said. "Since me and my dad don't want to risk Toothless getting reinjured in the battle, we're going to blast the shipboard weapons from up here. Though I think it's a lot because my dad wants me out of danger."
I must have had a look of guilt on my face because Toothless chimed in. ::We don't blame you anymore Hawken,:: he said. ::I'll admit I overreacted some too.:: I smiled. "Well, thanks." I looked out across the bay. "Well, if you're going to be firing from up here, try not to hit me." Hiccup looked up, confusion written on his face. "What do you mean? Are you going to be on the boats or something?" he asked. I nodded. "I'm half dragon, remember? I'm better able to defend myself and fight than anyone else here. Besides," I continued, "while I'm here, I might as well help out." Hiccup laughed. "Alright, just don't get yourself killed. You're really a good friend, and I don't want our problems getting rid of you."
I stood there, speechless for a minute. "You-you really think I'm a friend?" I asked. Hiccup nodded. "Well, uh, thank you," was all I managed.
Suddenly below we heard a horn blast, and looked down below. The first ship was heading into the harbor, well within fighting range. Strangely, I noticed it wasn't the original lead ship. Not that it mattered, as I watched the first catapult boulders and spears fly. The dragons and their riders were also getting up into the air. "Time to go," I said, and turned toward the edge of the cliff.
I focused on a picture of a Night Fury, and watched the changes take place. Once I was fully dragon, I launched myself into the air, and climbed higher and higher up, until I was well over a thousand feet up. As I curved over the docks, I saw the first Clubswinger ship pull into the docks, though most of its war machines were now destroyed. I focused on the third ship out, realizing it was the original leading ship, and continued to climb upward. Once I decided I was high enough, I folded my wings in and dropped, holding my weapons close. The wind rushing past began to whistle, and as I opened my mouth slightly, the infamous whistling screech formed, causing the Vikings below to begin to search hurriedly all around. As I readied a blast for a spear launcher, I herd them begin to yell.
"NIGHT FURY! GET DOWN!"
I ignited the fuel in my mouth, sending a blinding indigo fireball hurtling at near supersonic speeds toward the spear launcher. The resulting explosion threw the Vikings manning the machine in all directions, and the machine itself half-vaporized. I blew past, enjoying the sight of the Vikings on the boat throwing themselves to the deck to avoid me.
I repeated the maneuver five times altogether to eliminate the rest of the machines on the ship, then turned and aimed for the front of the deck. Everyone on the boat dove out of the way, some even overboard, as they thought I was going to blast the ship itself. Instead, I flared my wings, shading out the deck, and landed. I waited until I had everyone's attention, which wasn't long, as it's not every day you have a Night Fury land on your ship, and began to transform myself back to human. A collective gasp went up, and a big man with a cloak, who I guessed might have been the chief, stepped forward.
"What in Thor's name are you?" he spat. I laughed. "Actually, a whole different God, but that's beside the point." I pulled my whip off of my shoulder, and pointed it at the man. "The real point here is, I am a friend of the Viking tribe you are attacking, and I am planning on defending them." The man pulled out a sword nearly half the size of me. "I don't know about you, but they're our enemies. If yer their friend, then I plan to do the same thing we're going to do to them to you!" I shrugged. "It makes no difference to me, I will fight anyone who touches me or my friends, no matter what you threaten to do. Now, you and your crew have two choices," I drawled, pointing an accusing finger at the motley crew behind the big man. "You can either pack up and get the rest of you ships to leave, plus accept that obvious fact that your dragon fighting days are over, or you can face me." The man laughed. "You?!" he guffawed. "Ye'll be nothin' more'n a splatter on the deck when I'm through with ye." I opened my arms wide. "Go ahead."
With that, he lifted up his sword and swung it down at me. I more than easily dodged, and as he stood back up straight, I uncoiled my whip and lashed it out, wrapping the end tightly around the hilt, and yanked back. The sword was wrenched out of the Viking's hands and into mine. I casually looked it over, then tossed it over my shoulder and off the ship. "What next?" I asked amusingly. "Why you little-!" the Viking charged at me, and I jumped up and over him, flipping over in the process. As I landed behind him, I spun to face him again and slid my own sword out of its scabbard. As the man turned toward me again, I swung the sword into the side of his head, knocking him out cold. He fell to the deck with a moan. I slid my sword away and looked at the rest of the crew. "So," I said almost venomously, "who's next?"
As it turns out, Vikings are extremely stubborn, even to a fault. I ended up fighting almost everyone on board, knocking most of them unconscious, while giving others the opportunity to enjoy a refreshing swim to shore, until only about five Vikings were left conscious on the ship. They finally got the idea. Unfortunately, there were still around 10 ships left to deal with, and each ship was more hardheaded than the last.
It took about five hours for the battle to finally wind down, and for me and the dragon riders to incapacitate the last ship, but of course, there was also plenty of fighting still on land. Vikings are nowhere near as averse to bloodshed as I am, and so what happened on the shores of the island I'll leave undescribed. From their vantage point on the bluff, Hiccup and Toothless helped out by taking out the largest catapults and harpoon guns, each exploding in brilliant orange and indigo.
By the time the battle ended, it was beginning to darken, and the living captives were taken to the Mead Hall to be chained up, since there were too many to put into the Kill Ring cells (thanks to yours truly). As it turned out, the first Clubswinger I had taken down was, in fact, their chief, so he and Stoick got to have a very heated discussion over the conditions of surrender and release. Halfway through it, me and Toothless were forced to pull the two apart. Luckily, Hiccup and I were able to sit in and helped form an agreement between the two tribes. The Clubswingers, begrudgingly, would end their killing of dragons (or I'd be on their doorstep sooner or later again), and give Berk a treasure chest's worth of gold they had collected over past raids and trades. In return, Berk would release them, and open up trade with them again, as well as try to help patch up relationships with other tribes. Amusingly, the tribe the Clubswingers wanted to return to trading with the most was the Bog Burglars (typical guys; always after the women). Big surprise there, thought Camicazi continued to stay un-dated.
Finally, the Clubswingers left on the boats that weren't too battered and destroyed, and everyone celebrated the new truce in the Mead Hall. Well, everyone, that is, except for me, Astrid, and Hiccup. We were having a different kind of celebration. It was likely the last night I would have to stay, and the two of them were planning on finding out as much as possible about my world before I had to leave.