Okay, so you know Saro's secret. I know the build-up kind of made it obvious, but there are still some good stuff left. Again, let me know if you want me to continue writing about Saro and her adventures with the Dragon gang. The legal stuff, no I do not own anything of HTTYD. Please review, I love feedback. And Enjoy!

How to Choose Sides

Ch.8: Wanted Answers

Saro felt her body being thrown into the ground. She felt the impact harsh against her back. The ropes had been cut so she was free to move her now-burned limbs, rope burn. She grunted as she sat up, the gate soon bolted shut and she looked around.

"Saro." A gasp came. Saro looked up and found familiar faces staring at her.

"Oh no." She muttered.

"Saro, is that you?" came a voice. Saro turned and found an oh-so familiar face beaming at her.

"Taro!" She exclaimed. She got up and ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck. She couldn't believe it! He was here! Still alive, a prisoner, but still alive.

"My sister," he said, softly, embracing her. He pried her off of him softly, holding her by the arms. "How did you get here?"

"I washed up to shore a few months ago and resided here ever since." Saro said, tears stinging her eyes. She gasped and hugged him again. "Oh Taro, I've missed you so much."

"It's okay, sis." He said. "Everything will be okay."

"No, no, it won't be." Saro exclaimed, pulling away from her brother. Defeat written on her face. "I've lost everything Taro. And I can't get it back now."

"I had heard rumors that you were here, on this retched island." Taro said. "At first, I was worried that you would be caught, but then, I realized that you were making friends and starting a new life. I figured you were happy."

"I had friends Taro, I had a home, now thanks to Dad, I've lost it all." Saro hissed, coldly. "The Gods hate me."

"You know," Taro said. "The Gods don't hate you."

Saro looked at him.

"Nothing good has happened-"

Taro leaned forward and pressed his hand against her forearm which had garnered a lot of muscle.

"Wow, good build." He commented, completely changing the subject.

"You are so weird." Saro exclaimed. Taro only laughed, leaning back.

"You've gotten stronger, that must count for something." Taro said.

"What are you rattling on about this time?" Saro asked her brother.

"I'm just saying, that the Gods have granted you muscle. Strength." Taro replied. "Something good must come from that."

"If you're implying that I rip those doors open with my bare hands than you must've drank a lot of sea water and got delusional."

Taro shrugged.

"It's what they're giving us here." Taro said, modestly. She knew her brother was joking by that wicked look in his eye, a trait they both shared. The gate door opened up. The captives looked up, including Saro and Taro. In came Stoick the Vast, marching up to the siblings.

"You," Stoick said, pointing at Saro. Saro's breath hitched. Taro gripped Saro's arm in alarm. "Come with me."

Taro whispered something in their native language and Saro hesitantly rose to her feet. She said something back at Taro in the same language and she followed the Chief out.

She found it almost frightening that the Chief had once built a whole shack for her, welcoming her and now he hated her with all his heart, all in one hour.

Saro was guided into the Mead Hall where she was met face to face with some of the fiercest Vikings.

"Uh…." Saro's voice trailed.

"These are my leaders that help lead when we are invaded." Stoick explained. "An example would be your village's invasions."

Saro grimaced a bit. Stoick glared at her.

"When is the next invasion?" he demanded.

"Look, I don't know." Saro said. "If you want the whole sob story, I was disowned by my father because I didn't like his theories on invading you guys. My brother, Taro, told me to get into a boat and sail far away because somehow he knew that if I still remained there, my father able to see me, he could go on a mad rampage. So I left the village, the storm hit, I was washed to shore up after my boat sank and your son and his dragon took me here. That's all I know."

"Your brother is a prisoner here." Stoick reminded. "How could he tell you get on a boat while he was part of the invasion."

"It must've been the day before they left." Saro said. "It had to be the day before."

Slowly, she began to realize.

"It was the day before." She said suddenly, looking at the Chief. "My dad would've sent out the invasion fleet the next day, Taro wanted me to leave so I wouldn't be forced to join it. Somehow, he knew something would go wrong and-"

"That's enough." The Chief called, ending what he thought was pathetic ramble. Saro remained silent for a moment.

"Please, Chief, you have to believe me." Saro said. "I'm not one of them. I'm not like my father."

The Chief looked away. Saro continued to plead.

"Chief, I'm not the enemy." Saro said.

"Take her away." Stoick ordered. Apprehended again, Saro was dragged off back to the former Kill Ring, now known as the Prison Ring.

Stoick watched as the doors closed. He closed his eyes and sighed with the same betrayal and sadness.

Saro rejoined Taro once she entered the ring and she didn't think twice before asking about his reason for telling to get into a boat.

"I didn't want you to see our defeat." Taro told her. "I knew we were going to lose, I tried to tell Dad but he wouldn't listen. I knew we were going to be defeated because of their dragons. I didn't want you to be captured and treated like the rest of us."

Saro looked at the scene. There were several prisoners, coughing and moaning as illness took over their weakening bodies. Saro could've sworn she saw a couple of corpses. Slave trade was put off till the beginning of spring, thus causing the winter to be unbearable to these poor souls.

"Now, your plan has hit the bottom." Saro said, unbending her legs and reclining against her hands. "Now I'm a prisoner like everyone else."

"Is that my sister thinking the negative?" Taro asked. "Come on now, where's that spark?"

"I don't have it anymore." Saro claimed, darkly.

"Yeah right!" Taro jeered, a widening smile creeping up his lips. He punched her shoulder lightly. "Come on, get up and fight me."

"You've got to be kidding." Saro said. "I don't even have my sword."

"Come on, just skins." Taro said, standing up. Saro sighed and stood up, she raised two fists and the two began to spar.

From above, Hiccup was found watching the scene unfold. The prisoners were watching the two kids sparring, cheering them on. Hiccup recognized one of them as Saro and he only felt worse. He heard a low rumble, Hiccup looked over his shoulder and found Toothless walking up to him. Toothless crooned, sadly at the boy, the dragon could pick up subtle hints that his human was depressed, something he did not like to see.

"I know bud, it's hard." Hiccup said as he scratched his dragon friend's scaly neck. He watched the Celt siblings lashing out, some of the stronger prisoners raising their fists at the enjoyment. Saro said something clever and the boy had responded with a close blow. Hiccup could hear Saro's laugh. He never felt more depressed. "It's hard."

To be continued.

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