Chapter Nine: Fate's Other Plans

"Wow…it's bigger than when we last saw it…" Astrid gasped out loud.

After an excruciating hike on a non-existent trail, the gang had finally arrived at the edge of Fallis Woods and were standing in an open field of knee high grass. In the distance, was Thariin. The Keep was still set high above it, with its grey walls being an eerie sight that blended well with the overcast sky.

"I didn't know so many people could live together like that!" Fishlegs commented. His eyes were wide with shock, being the first time he ever saw Thariin. Turning to Hiccup, he asked. "Was it overwhelming to see this place when you first came here?"

"It was. At first. We got used to it a little bit. Granted, we never really stayed here long. We met Ukiah the first night we arrived."

"And left the next day." Astrid added with a smile.

"I still remember that day as if it happened recently." Ukiah replied, staring at Thariin with a solemn look. "This is as far as I dare go. I'd rather hide in the trees than in a field."

"We can get there on our own. It's not like we can't see where we're going now." Hiccup agreed.

"I don't know. Last time we were here, you got lost trying to get to the Keep." Astrid teased, smirking at him as she recalled the memory.

"Hey! It was a maze on the streets!" He quickly defended.

Heather just stared at the large village, surrounded by decently sized walls. "I wish Matt was here. I wonder how it compares to where he came from."

"Where he's from…" Lydia repeated, shaking her head in dismay. "I still- it doesn't make sense!" Looking at Hiccup, she asked with a hint of desperation. "Did he really come from another…world?"

"He did. It was an adventure when we first met." He replied with a comforting smile. "Trust me, you're not the only one that had a hard time believing him."

Heather smiled as she rested her hand on Lydia's shoulder. "I almost went into shock. I actually didn't believe him until much later from when he told me."

Shaking her head, Lydia put on a wry smile. "Well, I guess there's an answer for everything. Even if it's the last thing you'd expect."

"Better get moving." Ukiah called out to take the conversation over. "It's still a hike to the city. I suggest having Hiccup and Astrid go together, with Fishlegs waiting for a few minutes before he goes through, maybe a half hour. Heather, why don't you head to the North gate. That way you won't be associated with anyone there."

"Sounds good." Heather replied with a smile. Pulling up her hood, she began to make her way to the North side of the village.

"Remember, you check out the Keep and Arena." Hiccup called out to her. "Astrid and I will scout the docks and market, while Fishlegs tours the village and parts of the walls."

"Got it! I'll see you in the evening!" She called out, ensuring her axe was secured to her back.

"Well, ready?" Astrid asked, smiling as she began to make their way to a road.

"Right with you." He replied with a smile. "See you later tonight, Ukiah! Keep him safe, Lydia!"

"Right. Since I'm the one that can protect him." She huffed sarcastically.

Fishlegs followed behind Hiccup and Astrid, though at a slower pace to let some distance grow between them. Watching the four turn into specks and slowly disappear from view, Ukiah quietly turned and walked back into the forest. Arrow growled happily as he watched him take a seat on a log, to which he launched himself into his lap.

"Glad we were able to have someone to keep us company." Lydia chimed in, taking a seat on another fallen log. "I wonder how Matt's doing?"

"He'll be fine. Wasatch will keep Stormfly entertained, as will Toothless. Meatlug will probably nap all day, and Lasher has always been low maintenance." He replied. Stroking Arrow's growing spikes, he let a small smile grow on his face. "He's getting bigger. His tail didn't used to touch the ground when he lay on my lap. And his spikes were tiny. Now they could draw blood if you hit them just right."

"I remember first seeing him. Couldn't believe you had a dragon following you around."

"You had a lot to think about then. You were almost killed, you had no idea who I was, and you probably had no idea with what was going on when I attacked."

"I knew a dragon was behind it, I just didn't expect that you were going to be with it." She admitted, smiling as Arrow leaped off Ukiah's lap to dig into the ground.

At that, the two sat there in silence. Ukiah didn't really have anything to say, and Lydia was unsure of what to ask him; or if she should ask him.

As they watched time draw on, she finally mustered her courage to ask him. "Uh…Ukiah?"

"Hmm?" He replied, not taking his eyes off Arrow.

"I…I was wondering…" She stammered. "Cou-could you tell me more about yourself? About…who you were?"

Ukiah looked up at her with a look that was mixed with surprise and bitterness.

"I mean only if you want to! I know you don't like talking about it!" She quickly defended.

Leaning back against a tree, he simply looked at her, as if studying her. With furrowed eyebrows, he gently shook his head. "If you know I don't like to talk about it, then why did you ask me to tell you about it?"

"I-I mean- I guess-" She stuttered, trying to explain her reasons. Letting out a long sigh, she shook her head and looked down at the ground. "So I can help you."

Ukiah instantly raised an eyebrow at the answer.

"You helped me. You saved me." She whispered. "And since you did that, I can't help but feel that you need help yourself. I mean, not like with fighting or anything like that."

Ukiah didn't say anything, as he simply continued to stare at her.

"I want to help you. I want to help you feel…peace. The entire time I've been with you and your friends, I can't help but feel like you're never actually at ease; that you're searching for something that will, I don't know, make things right? Stop whatever is hurting you?" Watching his face carefully, she was grateful that it never hardened or darkened with anger. "I feel like you believe yourself something that you're not. And from what I do know about you, you fought against it all your life! I want to know more about you, so that I can prove to you that you're not who you think you are. So, that's why I want to know more…"

He sat there with an unmoving face, as if it were set in stone. It honestly started to make her worry that he was bottling up his anger at the subject. Instead, she was shocked to see a single tear roll down his check.

"That's the thing, Lydia…I don't know anything about myself." He choked out. "I'm a Crevite. A person who rages and can't keep sense of my own passions goals. With a heritage of killers and murderers that are dead and gone from this world. Jessika robbed me of any surety I had of who I was, and I will never get that back…"

"But you don't want that to be you! That much I understand!" She argued. "Why are you dwelling on it so much? Even if you raged as you say you do, change its purpose! You say that you're people used it to kill; why don't you use it to defend others?"

"Because I got my friend killed last time I did that…" He whispered hoarsely.

Taken back by the answer, she simply sat there with a saddened look. She didn't know what to say. Seeing him sulk his head, she thought of how much she wanted to help him, but then it hit her. "I'm so sorry…" She whispered, standing up to take a seat next to him. "I don't know what that's like. But this is what I'm talking about."

"What?"

"You believing what you're telling yourself! That you can't defend those you care about; that you can't escape being a Crevite. Ukiah, I'm not saying that you should put away anything, or hide what happened to you. I'm telling you to mark it as an event in your life, and then move on! To use it to carry you where you want to go! I want to help you live in today, not yesterday. To live with passions that you seem to be scared to have!"

"And you don't think I'll be exploited because of that? If I have passions?" He challenged with a glare.

"To be fair, I don't think it's possible to get through life without being 'exploited' as you put it." She replied with a calm demeanor. She was glad that she did pay attention to her dad's lessons with talking to others. It was paying off with trying to reason with Ukiah. "Look at me. Look at my dad. I wanted to see Thariin so bad, that I was captured because I didn't care or think of the risks. My dad almost invaded your island because he was simply looking out for me. So yes. I think you will be exploited for your passions and what you care about. We always will be. That's the point of life. It's not to hide from what could happen, but rather live with what does happen."

Ukiah stared at her with a hardened expression, though it was ever so slightly softening up.

Resting her hand on his single one, she felt him tense up. Instead of lifting off of it, she gripped it and forced him to hold her hand. "So tell me what you went through. Then, maybe we can work through it together."

"What makes you think you'll be able to come with me back to Berk to help me after all this is over?" He quizzed as a last ditch attempt to keep his wall up.

"If I have to run away from my dad, I'll make sure I help you somehow; since it's the least I can do to repay you saving me." She quickly answered. "So please…let me try to help you experience life, instead of trying to help you hide in it."

Ukiah visibly swallowed, with his eyes misting up. Unable to wipe them, as she held onto his only hand, he let the tears drip off his cheeks. "I guess I can tell you the little bit of what I do know about me; being a Crevite and all. And what I did while I was here in Thariin."

"I'm all ears." She whispered as she never took her eyes off of him.

"Banshee? You in here?" Darien called out, poking her head in her room.

Banshee let out a welcoming growl as he sprinted to her.

"Hey buddy! How's my Flightmare doing?" She laughed, dropping onto her knees and rubbing his head. The glowing, moist scales rubbed off of him and onto her hands, adding a little glow to herself as well.

"He's been keeping me company."

Darien turned to see Zekir sitting on the railing of her balcony, all while inspecting a battle staff. It was a simple iron one, though with an Onyx stone set on top. Smiling, he stood up and walked over to her. "Was beginning to wonder if you started your plan without me."

"I'd never leave you. Or Banshee." She replied with a smile of her own. Letting him grab her in a hug, she also held him close. "Are you ready?"

"I think I am…"

"We'll be back. I promise. Who knows? You might not want to leave what we build together…" She continued to say, trying to ease his anxiety. She knew what he was giving up, as she did something similar when she first arrived in this world.

"I'll feel better when we get going. However…can we walk through the village? Just for my sake…"

Darien nodded in understanding, as she grabbed his arm and guided him out of her room. "Come on, Banshee, let's get going."

"One more thing." Zekir replied. Reaching for something behind the door, he flashed a smile as he presented a battle staff to her. "Gabor finished our staves last night. Given what we're doing, I figured I could teach you a little bit in regards to fighting with one."

Darien reached out and grabbed it, staring at the craftsmanship. Similar to Zekir's, it was a simple iron one, banded at the top and bottom. However, long, narrow etches were carved into it. The etches were colored just like Banshee; being blue. It was indeed her staff.

"It looks incredible…" She gasped, taking it to observe the detail a little more.

"It's balanced very well. I almost feel bad for what's going to happen to him."

"How is he adjusting with his new position?"

Zekir shrugged. "He's enjoying the benefits thus far. No one saw through the guise with the few public appearances he's done yet, though Ugo isn't enjoying it at all."

"How is Ugo dealing with…our plan?"

"He's disowned me. He thinks I'm a coward." He replied with an uncaring tone. "He doesn't understand that I'm not running away from my consequences, but simply taking time to prepare for them."

"And we'll be stronger than ever…" She assured, turning down the hallway.

"Of course. I wouldn't have given up so much if it wasn't going to help me become more than what I am." Then, with a small smile, whispered. "With you by my side too…"

Darien smiled at the comment. She was simply grateful that she was able to convince him to agree with her. The fact that he was willing to push the plan farther meant that he was indeed on board with her idea.

The two slowly made their way through the Keep, occasionally stopping for Zekir to either give a short story about a mounted dragon head, or some sort of treasure. As soon as they reached the doorway, the two guards opened up the way for them and let them out. As they stood at the doorway looking below at the village, Zekir let out a scoff. "It's funny. All this time, at least for the longest time, I thought I was at the top. That I couldn't get any more than what I had at the time." Gesturing to the village, the docks, even the arena, he shook his head in disbelief. "All this, the titles that I have, the treasures I have access to; they all made me forget the most important thing I have to live for…"

"Being what?" She asked, taking his arm and guiding to keep walking.

"Growing. Being better." He replied with a shrewd smile. "I was getting soft. I was becoming like my father, being complacent." Then, staring at her with a proud expression, explained. "You helped remind me of that."

"How? By asking you to come with me?"

"No. With what you're deciding to do. You have every right to enjoy your accomplishment of being the new leader of the Dragon Hunters, yet you refuse to slow down. You still have a goal to work towards. I too need to be that way. So, Darien the Snake, what would you have your newest crew member do?"

Smiling at the level of commitment he was showing her, she then whispered. "Well, first off, enjoy what you have made for yourself. And then after, accompany me to my ship and be my personal guard. We have a busy schedule ahead of us."

Zekir did a mock bow towards her, making the nearby guards look at each other in confusion.

Banshee then growled, butting himself in-between the two.

Laughing, Darien stroked her dragon's head. "Don't worry, Bansh…you're part of our team too."

With staff's in hand, and dragon alongside, the two made their way down the path to the market, enjoying the relaxing moment before they would change everything forever.

Fishlegs' eyes darted back and forth, eyeing two guards that were casually atop of the wall nearby where he was sitting. Pretending to be focused on reading, he avoided any chance of making eye contact with them. Seeing them pass by without giving him any thought, he let out a sigh of relief.

"Okay…two guards patrol the outer wall every half hour by the gates…" He whispered, making a small note on a piece of paper. "Great! Now just have to find Hiccup and Astrid…"

Standing up from his seat, he began to walk towards the market and docks; where they said they'd be scouting out. Turning down a street, he froze as he saw a small group of men push a catapult towards the docks, followed by another group pulling carts of boulders behind.

Staring at the sight, he never heard someone step behind him until he felt himself get pulled into an alleyway. Confused at what was going on, he found himself staring at a hooded and masked person with bright green eyes.

"Waghh! Please don-"

"Fishlegs! It's me!" Heather hissed, pulling the mask down. "Calm down!"

"Oh, Heather! You scared me!"

"I figured that the moment you froze." She teased, letting a small smile grow on her face. "Are you done?"

Nodding, he flashed the notes he took. "Yeah, it seems that Thariin is preparing for a frontal assault from the sea. I don't think they expect anything coming from behind. We'll have to see what Hiccup and Astrid find out."

"That's what I noticed too." She replied, double checking the alley way to ensure they were alone. "If Auger can get his men past the walls, he'll have no problem marching onto the Keep. Though they're keeping quite a few men there."

"What did you see anyways?"

"I was able to get a tour of the arena, but couldn't get close to the Keep. I guess Zekir is keeping visitors away from him right now. The arena is full of dragons, though I didn't see how many."

"Really? How do you know that?" He asked, concerned about having trapped dragons to free.

"They told me they received a shipment of dragons a bit ago." She replied grimly. "They use them for entertainment."

Fishlegs nodded with angst. "Do you think Darien is nearby the dragons? She'd have to be, right? She's a Dragon Hunter! She delivered those dragons to Zekir!"

"I didn't see her or her dragon. I imagine she's going to stick close to Zekir." She replied, pulling up her mask. "Come on, let's go find Hiccup and Astrid and get out of here."

Fishlegs awkwardly fumbled his notes as he followed her out of the alley, making sure he didn't crease any of the papers.

The two weaved in and out of the crowd, though no one really cared or seemed to care about Heather's hood and mask. The closer they got to the market, the more they saw people dressed similarly to her, in regards to no uniform like the guards, though they were armed like them.

"This is…weird." She replied quietly to Fishlegs, eyeing a man who was sharpening a great sword. "It explains why no one was questioned me, but why are all these people here?"

"Isn't Thariin a hub for trade and services?" Fishlegs asked moving closer to her. "I wonder if these are mercenaries. Or something like that."

Watching three men wrestle each other; Heather quickly began to walk to the upper market. "Either way, it's a good disguise for me. Do you see them?"

"No. Not in this crowd." He replied as he scanned the crowd for the brown and blonde-haired couple. "How big is this market?"

"The bigger of the two." A voice replied.

Turning to a person running a stand full of weapons, they saw that the person was being friendly.

"Though the lower market has grown just recently; since we're likely to be invaded."

"I see…" Heather greeted, pretending to look at the array of daggers laid out on the table. "How far are the docks from here?"

The man simply pointed, showing a pathway out of the wall, with a line of people going back and forth through it. "Just a small walk that way. I wouldn't go there unless you really need to. It's been a stampede of people carting supplies in for the last week. If you do go, be careful. Not everyone is friendly."

"Uh…thanks!" Fishlegs replied with a thankful expression.

"Come on, we better find the others." Heather huffed out, making her way towards the docks.

Fighting against the crowd that seemed to be in a rush, they were forced to step away from the path due to the amount of people moving around.

"If they went to the docks, they're going to have a hard time getting out." She observed after seeing two carts jam the walkway that stopped the flow of people. "Ugh, leave it to Hiccup's luck that something keeps plans from going smoothly."

"Heather?" A voice called out.

"Astrid! Over here!" Heather shouted, recognizing the voice. Grabbing her axe, she lifted it up to signal where they were.

"We see you! Just stay put! We're coming!"

"Finally!" She gasped out, still holding her axe up.

Fishlegs just stared at the crowd, trying to see Hiccup and Astrid come through. As he was doing so, he heard something that made his blood run cold.

"Make way! We need to get through!"

Whipping his head around, he gasped as he saw Zekir, Darien, and Banshee walk through the crowd, forcing them to stand aside as they came through. Grabbing Heather's arm, he forced it down and pulled her behind a group of people.

"Fishlegs! What's goin-mmpph!"

Clamping his hand over her mouth, he simply pointed down the pathway with wide eyes.

Seeing what he was scared about, she too went wide eyed. Trying to see if Astrid had found them, she watched helplessly as the crowd parted for Zekir just in time to reveal both Hiccup and Astrid standing in the open and right in front of the Black Heart and Darien.

"What the?!" Darien shouted, gaping at the sight.

"Run, Hiccup!" Astrid shouted, rushing ahead and in-between Darien and Zekir, pushing them over.

Hiccup was right behind her, kicking Banshee who was trying to bite at Astrid as she ran by.

"Out of the way! Banshee! Get them!" Darien shouted, scrambling to her feet and chasing after them.

"You two! Come with me!" Zekir shouted, pushing over someone as he drew his broadsword and followed after Darien.

Two guards stationed by the gate immediately followed their chief, letting the people scream and scramble out of the way.

"Come on!" Heather shouted, running into the street and chasing after the group. "We have to help them!"

"Ooooh! Thor!" Fishlegs shouted, running after her. "Why do things like this always happen?!"

Ignoring him, Heather saw Zekir and his guards turn right, to which she ducked into an alley way to try and intercept them. Breathing hard and her feet hitting the ground harder, she was grateful that the alley way not only freed up her pathway from people and stray crates, but it helped her get closer to Hiccup and Astrid! Seeing them pass the other side of the alley, followed closely by Banshee, she braced herself as she leapt forward with arms extended.

Wham!

She tackled Darien, who was completely taken off guard with the force of the hit, and the fact that she was hit in the first place. "Gah!" She gasped out, trying to get her breath back. "Wha- who-"

"Don't get up. Niece!" Heather growled with venom, as she scrambled to her feet and kept running.

Leaving Darien stunned on the ground, she could hear Banshee roar. Looking behind her, she smiled as she saw that Banshee had stopped chasing Hiccup and Astrid to help his rider! Even Zekir and his men had stopped! She at least bought them some time to hide or to get away.

Turning right at an intersection, she continued to sprint down the street, trying to intercept her friends.

"Heather! In here!"

Freezing, she almost toppled over with how fast she stopped. Turning around, she saw Hiccup and Astrid hiding in-between two buildings."

"Guys! We need to get out, now!" She whispered, ducking in the gap with them.

"We know! Where's Fishlegs?" Hiccup asked, looking around worriedly.

"He was behind me…I don't think they suspect him to be here!" Heather replied, turning to see if he had kept up with her at all. "We'll have to see if he can't get out on his own."

Looking worried about their friend, Hiccup reluctantly nodded. They were on a time crunch before the entire Thariin army would be looking for them, and they were nowhere near their dragons. Or any place safe for that matter!

"Come on! We can overpower guards at a gate and then leave this place!" Heather suggested as she drew her axe and gestured for them to follow.

Astrid had her axe drawn as well, knowing full well that they were going to get into at least one fight before they could get out.

As the three made their way towards the gate, they saw that there were three guards standing there; looking alert with the commotion they could hear in the distance.

"Think we can take them?" Astrid whispered, kneeling down and peaking behind a crate.

"I don't see why we can't." Heather whispered in return, unfolding her axe to get ready.

"Wait, look! We can just sneak over the wall! On those crates!"

The two girls saw what Hiccup was pointing out. Stacked a little farther down from the gate, were crates and barrels, set at a height where they could climb them.

"Come on, follow me!" He whispered, slowly making his way to the crates.

The three slid along the wall of a shack, being the closest cover they had before they made a break for it.

"It looks like we might have to help each other up the wall. Those crates aren't as high as I thought." Hiccup observed, staring at the obstacles that were supposed to be the key to their freedom."

He was right. The crates were still a good six feet lower than the wall. For Astrid and Heather, it was hardly a challenge; but for Hiccup and his leg, it was going to have a degree of difficulty added.

"Alright, when we make a break for it, let Heather go first." Astrid began to instruct, crouching and peeking around the corner of the building. "She can help lift you up. I'll be last to make sure those guards don't stop us. Between you and Heather, you can pull me up since I won't have a running start."

Hiccup looked at her with a flash of worry, not liking her being last. "I can hold them off, Astrid. You and Heather would have a better chance of pulling me. You two go first, okay?"

"Hiccup-"

"Ugh! Shut up you two!" Heather growled, cutting off their argument. "Astrid, both of us can jump up those crates together. As fast as we know we are, Hiccup won't be waiting long for his turn or for us to pull him up! Come on! We still have to run to the forest! And we'll have a dragon to worry about!"

Realizing the truth of her words, Astrid nodded. Looking at Hiccup with a concerned look, she then nodded to signal that she was ready.

"Now!" Heather shouted, sprinting from their hiding place.

Astrid and Heather both bounded up the crates, with Hiccup followed behind the two. Heather was already jumping up and grabbing the wall's ledge, pulling herself up. Astrid was right behind her, doing the same though a little more agile as she wasn't wearing heavy Razorwhip armor.

"Urgh!" Astrid grunted, rolling her body on top of the wall. Laying down on her chest, she reached down for Hiccup's hand.

"You there! Stop!" A guard shouted. The three guards obviously saw them try to scale the wall, and instantly began to sprint at them.

Ignoring the order, Heather and Astrid both simultaneously grabbed Hiccup's hands and began to pull him up.

"Stop!" The leading guard screamed, scrambling on the crates. Grabbing Hiccup's legs, he began to pull him back!

"Get off! Let me go!" Hiccup shouted, feeling pulled both ways and getting dragged along the edge of the wall.

"Gah! No!" Astrid shouted, feeling them lose the battle of tug-of-war over Hiccup. Getting onto her knees, she braced herself to get more of a footing to fight the now three guards that were pulling on him.

"Astrid! Let go of me!" Hiccup cried out, feeling himself get pulled lower.

"No! I'm not going to, Hiccup!"

"Astrid!" He gasped, feeling himself get pulled lower. "You can't be captured too…you or Heather! Go get Ukiah! Get Matt!"

"Hiccup…" She cried out, feeling her grasp begin slipping. Their eyes stared into each other, knowing the truth of his words. She felt sick. She felt like she was letting him down.

Heather continued to fight against the guards, not accepting that it was a losing battle. She couldn't let her friends down. She was a Berserker! And was going to fight no matter what!

"Raagghhh! Let him go!"

Everyone, including the guards instantly turned to see a massive kid charge into them. Group tackling the three guards and forcing them to let Hiccup go, they all crashed onto the ground.

Hiccup was instantly pulled up, safe and away from the guards.

"Go! You can escape!"

"Fishlegs?!" Heather cried out, seeing him get wrestled by the three guards.

"Go! Leave me!"

Hiccup, Astrid, and Heather stared at their friend get pinned down, knowing the only reason why they got Hiccup was because of him.

"We'll be back, Fishlegs! I promise!" Hiccup shouted.

Reluctantly, the three turned to leave their friend, who had sacrificed himself for them. With a mixture of anger and sadness, the three ran off the wall, crashing on the ground outside of the village.

Heather and Astrid rolled as they hit the ground, and though Hiccup tried, he ended up flopping onto his stomach.

"Come on! We need to go!" Astrid cried out, grabbing and pulling Hiccup onto his feet.

Heather was already running, which the two quickly followed. The field was open, not leaving many places to hide. The forest they had to get to was still a distance away.

"Just get to the trees!" Hiccup shouted. "We'll for sure lose anyone that will try to chase us!"

"Except for one person!" Heather shouted, looking behind her as she continued to run.

Both Hiccup and Astrid turned to see a blue dragon surging after them; with Darien boarding on it!"

"Get down!" Astrid shouted as she pulled Hiccup down onto the ground.

Heather rolled to the right, just as a stream of mist hit where she was standing.

"You're wasting my time and your energy!" Darien shouted, taking a wide turn for another strafe.

"Urgh, come on!" Hiccup yelled, scrambling onto his knees. "Go! Get to the trees! A Flightmare's mist can't penetrate through the trees!"

No one needed a second warning. Heather was already on her feet, as was Astrid. Pulling him along, they continued to sprint to the tree line, which seemed to get farther and farther away as they ran harder and harder.

"Sick 'em, Bansh!"

Astrid shoved Hiccup away to the left, just as she fell over to the right. Again, a stream of mist ripped in-between them. Heather, who was barely ahead of them, dove out of the way just a second too late. Her left foot was coated in the mist, from the knee down.

"No!" She cried out, feeling it lock up. No matter what, she couldn't even move her knee! Or her foot!

"Come on!" Astrid shouted, scrambling to help her up. "We're almost there!"

"Just go! I can still hobble at least!" She shouted, trying to run with her stiffened leg.

Hiccup instantly had an idea. One that he was sure that would make Astrid kill him. Sprinting away from Astrid and Heather, he drew his sword and let fire run up and down the blade. Waving it to grab Darien's attention, he shouted at her. "Over here, Darien! Let's see how much of a Dragon Rider you really are!" As he watched her, his heart sank as she circled around again, lining up Banshee at the grounded Riders. She completely ignored him as she fired to be what looked like a pillar of mist right at Heather and Astrid.

"Get to cove-Agggh!" Astrid shouted, throwing Heather ahead of her and pushing her back to the ground.

The pillar entirely enveloped Astrid, locking her body up almost instantly.

Heather rolled over just in time to see Banshee land directly over Astrid and was snarling viciously at her.

"Oh, look at that…I guess I got two Riders…" Darien snarled, glaring at Heather with hate. Rubbing her neck in an exaggerated way, she continued to growl with venom in her voice. "You know, auntie…that really hurt my neck when you tackled me. I'm not to keen on letting you live now. And I only need to bring one of you back…can you guess which one I'm going to take to Zekir?"

Heather stared at her with wide eyes, unable to respond to anything.

"Banshee…kill her."

Heather stared as the Flightmare's glowing mouth opened up wider and was getting ready to rip up his prey. Then, almost like it magically appeared there, a crossbow bolt grew out of the dragon's shoulder.

"Bansh!" Darien wailed, hearing her dragon screech in pain and stumble backwards.

Thhiiip! Another bolt hit the side of the Flightmare, forcing it to back off even more so from Heather.

"Grab the blonde and get out of here!" Darien continued to shout in a panic scanning the tree line. Then she saw exactly where the bolts were flying from. Ukiah was at the edge of the forest, while stepping on his crossbow's arm to load another bolt. But the sight that made her flush with more of a rage, was seeing who was next to him. Lydia. The one that was supposed to be Zekir's last defense against Bruvos. Shaking her head, she shouted "Get out of here, Bansh!"

Banshee had already gripped Astrid's arm as he launched into the air, dragging Astrid away with him.

"No! Astriiid!" Hiccup shouted hysterically, finally arriving to where she was moments ago.

Heather also watched in horror as Darien disappeared towards the Keep, landing somewhere nearby. "No…it's all my fault…" She whispered in despair.

"Hiccup! What happened?" Ukiah shouted, followed closely by Lydia and Arrow. "Why was Darien chasing you?"

"It doesn't matter! We need to get her back! Her and Fishlegs!" Hiccup shouted. "We need to get our dragons and get them back! We have no idea what they'll do to them!"

"Hiccup!" Ukiah shouted, dropping his crossbow and grabbing him with his one arm. Shaking him, he growled. "Listen to yourself! You're not thinking!"

"I know that they're in danger, and we're the only ones that can help them!"

Lydia slid on the ground next to Heather. "Are you alright? Where are you hurt?"

"I'm fine, Lydia…" She whispered, staring at the ground with a blank expression. "But Astrid…she…she-"

"Shh…come on." Lydia whispered, slinging her arm over her shoulders. "Let's get back to the cave. Apparently we have a lot to talk about."

"Hiccup, I know what you're feeling. Trust me, I do." Ukiah began to console, seeing Lydia help Heather up. Watching them limp away, since it was hard for Heather to walk on her own. "But we need to come up with a plan. Not a rash attack. They'll be expecting you! Trust me when I say that letting your feelings overpower your head usually leads to a worse situation…"

Breathing hard, Hiccup reluctantly nodded. Turning around slowly, with the Dragon Blade in hand, he whispered quietly. "I'm not abandoning you, Astrid. I'm going to help you. Just…hang on. Please…"