You're all probably wondering what happened to Stoick and everyone on Berk. Honestly I forgot about them XD So there back in this chapter!
Back on Berk, Stoick and the teens returned from Outcast Island empty handed. The Outcasts claim to know nothing of Hiccup's disappearance or where he could be located. Stoick seemed to drag his feet as he left the boat. His heart felt heavy in his chest. He was certain he had lost his son. Just like he had lost his wife. He slowly walked back to his house and locked himself inside. He walked up into Hiccup's room that was now empty except for Toothless who was asleep with his head resting on Hiccup's bed. Stoick looked to the almost empty bed and felt tears in his eyes. Toothless woke sensing the presence of another in the room. He looked up at Stoick who had his hand over his eyes as he silently cried. Toothless cooed sadly before getting up and walking to Stoick. He rubbed his head against the chiefs leg pulling the man's attention to him. Stoick dropped to his knees and rested his head on Toothless' head. A tear slipped out of his eye and onto his sons scaly friend. Toothless wrapped his tail around the Chief as a way to hug him. He knew Stoick was hurting bad. So was he.
Back on Maldrigard's island, the other group of slaves had just set off the trap from Maldrigard. A slave ran through around the edge of the woods drawing Maldrigards attention to them. The slave was never spotted but he certainly was heard. Silently the slave ran out of hearing and sight range and back to half of the hidden group behind the storage shed. The other half was deeper in the woods waiting to start the plan. One slave stood at the edge of the forest awaiting the signal to go. One slave from the group behind the shed saluted him. There's the signal. He ran into the forest as silently as possible and back to the group ready for action.
"It's time!" He whispered. They all nodded as they took hold of the ropes in front of them and started pulling. A pulley system was set farther ahead that will push the lead plan into view and set everything in action.
Maldrigard stood in front of the forest with his axe ready to fight. He had heard shouting in the middle of the night and got up to find whoever was out past nightfall. Though he didn't see anyone, he heard someone running around at the forest edge.
"Alright runt. Come out or I'll come in after you and I know you don't want that." Maldrigard growled. No reply. "You have three seconds runt." Still no reply. "One..." He listened. "Two..." Something was coming. He could faintly make out a large... Very large figure approaching him through the trees. "thr-" He was cut off when the figure immerged. A well build Red Death stepped out of the woods and roared. Maldrigard screamed and started to run but the dragon snatched him up with its teeth before tossing him in the air and swallowing him whole. Maldrigard tumbled down the fleshy inside of the dragon but instead of landing in a stomach full of acid, he landed in... a cage? The body of the beast fell apart revealing the dozen upon dozen of slaves standing around cheering at their victory. Maldrigard was furious.
"LET ME OUT OF HERE RIGHT NOW!" Maldrigard shouted in furious anger.
"The slavery is through!" Daga shouted causing the others to shout louder in victory. Suddenly a loud roar was heard coming that way. Everyone went silent and looked to where the sound came from and saw a flock of dragons heading for them. They all screamed and started running for the woods but a voice made them stop.
"Don't run!" Hiccup called. They all stopped and looked around. "They're not going to hurt you." He said again. They looked to the dragons just as they were landing and saw all of the other slaves mounted on the dragons back, riding the dragons. The slaves were astonished. Winston and Daga moved to the front of the group. A look of shock and disbelief on both of their faces. Hiccup hopped off of the dragon he was riding on with Fin and walked up to them. "These dragons are our key to freedom." Hiccup said.
"Hiccup..." Winston started. "How did you... I mean... What-"
"How did I get these slaves on dragons?" Hiccup asked for him. Winston nodded. "I'm sure you all heard of the Dragon Conqueror." Hiccup said. The slaves eyes widened in realization.
"You're... You're the Dragon Conqueror?" Daga asked.
"Well really prefer Dragon 'Trainer'. I shot down and tamed a dragon. I killed the Red Death on the island of dragons and I befriended the world's most mysterious dragon of all. The Night Fury." Hiccup said.
"Where is it then?" Came a call of disbelief from the back of the group.
"Back on my island. And we're all going back to our islands tonight. Tonight, we are free!" Hiccup shouted making everyone else cry out in joy. They ran to the dragons and mounted one that another slave was already riding. They lifted into the air and as Hiccup and Fin took to the air, they took hold of Malrdigards cage and brought it to the barn where the Outcasts were still tied up. They dropped the cage through the roof. Maldrigard crashed about 100 feet from the Outcasts. He shook his head trying to settle the pain. Once he looked up and saw the Outcasts, he grew an angry look on his face.
"You..." He growled, spotting Alvin in the center. The man was just waking up from the twins jumping on his head.
"Why look so shocked. I told you I'll take the boy off your hands and that was exactly what I planned to do." Alvin said.
"Well now he's off both our hands." Maldrigard said. Alvin looked up and saw Hiccup standing on the back of the dragon looking stronger and more powerful than ever. Maybe it was the angle of the way they were looking at him or that he had managed to escape a band of Outcast soldiers and a merciless slave owner with only the help of a couple dozen runts.
"I'm sure you two can handle things from here. Take your time getting each other free. In the mean time, we'll be leaving." Hiccup said as he sat back down in front of Fin and flew away. The other slaves waited for him and once Hiccup took the lead off the island the others followed. Some slaves had tears in their eyes and some were crying. They were unable to believe that they were finally free. Some have been slaves since they were nine. And now they were finally returning home as free slaves. As they flew, Hiccup pulled out a dagger from his shirt. He looked back at the other riders.
"Everyone got a dagger?" Hiccup asked. Everyone pulled out a dagger they had snuck from the Armory.
"Why did you have us all take a Dagger, Hiccup?" Winston asked.
"The slave marks. Even if we leave we're still marked as Maldrigards slave. That is unless we destroy the slave mark. Everyone has to cut an X into the slave mark. Then we will truly be free." Hiccup said. Some looked skeptical. Hiccup noticed.
"Guys, we've been through worse things than a small knife wound. Now do you want to be free or not?" He said. They all looked determined. And as they held back the cries of pain, they slowly guided the blade across the slave mark on their chest and made a clean X through the mark. They let their shirt soak up the blood and let the wind dry it faster to scab over.
The wound hurt but a joyous cry came from the back of the group. "WE'RE FINALLY FREE!" A boy shouted. Everyone else cheered.