Chapter Twelve: Fulfilling Destiny

"Lydia! Get down!"

Instantly obeying the order, she hurled herself behind a stack of barrels. Two arrows sank into the dock where she was standing just seconds ago. Gasping for breath, she silently sent a prayer of thanks to the gods. Checking her grip on her axe, she peeked around the corner of her cover. Thariin soldiers were all along the walls overlooking the docks, armed with crossbows, bows, slings, and even some ballistae launchers.

"Princess Lydia!" One of her men cried, skidding on his knees next to her. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." She huffed, resting against the barrels as she heard a few more arrows hit her cover. She could see their ships slowly take turns moving in an out of the harbor, unloading their troops and launching catapults at the walls ramparts. It was whittling down the walls slowly, but not fast enough to make a push into the city. Until something happened to push the battle in their favor, they were sitting ducks.

Crack!

Lydia and her lone soldier gaped as a ballista bolt pierced the barrel above her, almost making a clean cut through it.

"We need to stop those launchers!" She shouted.

"Aye, but first we need to get to a safe distance, come on!" The soldier growled, raising his shield to protect her. "Where are those riders that swore to help us?"

"They had complications with their scouting mission. They should be with us shortly!" She replied with frustration in her voice. Ducking under his shield, the two ran further down the dock, followed by a number of other soldiers as well.

As they arrived towards the end of the dock they were on, with their ship moored at the end of it, they were welcomed by an angry looking Bruvos. "Lydia! What in the gods names were you thinking? There's a reason why I told you to hold off on the charge!"

"They didn't have their ballista launchers shown. I exposed where they were hiding them!"

Grabbing her by her tunic, he dragged her back to the ship. "Ugh, I should have taken time to teach you about necessary risks…" Tossing her onto the deck, he watched her roll to a stop. "Stay put. Until we get through the wall at least."

"Dad!"

"Make sure she stays." He huffed, not even bothering to hear her out as he turned back to lead his men.

Going to run after him, she was grabbed by two of their men and held back.

"Let me go!" She shouted, feeling herself heaved back.

"Not yet, mi'lady." One of them replied, standing in front of the gangway with folded arms. "Your father gave us orders. And we plan to fulfill them."

Fuming, she could only watch as the battle continued to rage. Catapulted fireballs were being hurled from both sides, creating an eerie sight. Fires were raging from the village past the walls, and a handful of ships in the bay. Even with the clear sky and the rising sun, the day seemed to get darker as the fighting continued.

She let out a silent gasp, seeing a catapult smash into a small boat, ferrying men from a ship to the docks. Almost instantly, all while screaming, the men in it disappeared in the water, burning with the oil from the catapulted rock. Swallowing to try and stomach the sight, she slowly turned away from the fight. She had tried to prepare herself for the sights that war would bring, but it was still tough for her to experience. Then, in the distance, amidst the sounds of battle, a faint scream was heard. Her head instantly perked up. It was too significant to forget the sound. The sound of a Night Fury.

"Dragons!"

Whirling around, she watched a purple blast erupt in the middle of the village. Then she could see them! Out from the smoke-filled sky, emerged Toothless, Windshear, and Wasatch! All with their respective riders!

"Yes! Go!" She shouted excitedly, seeing them bank around the village. Windshear let loose a series of light blue blasts, creating bright flashes in the distance. The more impressive sight though, was Wasatch. Gliding in large circle above the village, the smoke filled sky slowly began to fill with lightning. Strikes seemed to randomly strike below, creating more fires and even some explosions.

"They ride those beasts?" One of the soldiers gasped out, continuing to watch them strafe the village below. "I though they just told them what to do!"

"They're called Dragon Riders for a reason." She whispered, smiling that she was able to be friends with them.

"Incoming! Two- no, three dragons! Coming around and behind us!"

Those on the deck of the ship turned to see three dragons circle around the harbor, which one of them was instantly recognized by most of the men, being Ukiah and Lasher.

"Stand down! They're friends, you fools! That's Ukiah, Fishlegs, and…Astrid?" She shouted, confused to see her not on Stormfly.

The men braced as the dragons slowly and gracefully landed on the deck, with the exception of Fishlegs, who went to go help the fight at the wall. Ukiah then slid off of Lasher, to which he then pulled Astrid off.

Lydia ran up to him with a concerned look. "Ukiah! What took you so-"

"Your healer. Where is your ship's healer?!" He shouted, cutting her off.

Taken back by the gruffness, she looked down at Astrid and gasped in horror. Aside from seeing the open cuts and bloodstained clothes, she looked like she was beat on with some bruising showing on her face, mixed with drying blood. Her hair was a mangled mess, adding to the story of what happened to her. Shaking her head to snap out of her trance, she shouted at the men with her. "Take her down below! Get her taken care of!"

Ukiah was rushed by a handful of men, who promptly snatched Astrid away from him. Watching them carry her down below, he simply shook his head in angst.

"Was it Zekir? Or Darien?" Lydia timidly asked, walking up to him with a concerned look.

He could only shrug. "I don't know. I'm sure it was. Who else would have done it?"

Looking at him with a grim expression, she could see that his armor and clothes were also stained with blood, most likely from carrying Astrid.

"Can Stormfly stay here?" He asked, turning to mount up on Lasher. "She'll be more worried about Astrid than her own safety."

"Of course! But, Ukiah!"

Climbing on his saddle, he simply stared at her to hear her out.

"Help us with the wall! We can't advance until those archers and ballista launchers are gone!"

Ukiah looked at the wall, seeing what she was pointing out. Then, seeing Hiccup guide Toothless into another dive, firing a salvo of plasma blasts, he slowly nodded. "Fine, then I'm helping Hiccup."

"Thank you." She replied.

Nodding, Ukiah turned Lasher to launch into the air. As he braced himself, he could hear in the back: "Princess! No!"

Just as he rocketed into the air, he felt someone wrap their arms around him. Surprised at being pulled back; he would have fallen off, had he not gripped the saddle. Looking behind him, he was surprised to see that Lydia had pulled herself on just as he took off.

"I'm helping fight! I'm not going to cower on my dad's boat!"

"Your dad is going to kill me." He huffed, not wanting to waste time to take her back. "Focus on spotting those that are taking aim at us! Let me know when they're going to shoot!"

Lydia nodded in acknowledgement. Peering through the pillars of smoke, she saw Lasher line up along the wall. All the guards and defenders were running back and forth, firing arrows, throwing rocks, dropping whatever they could on the assaulters. "They're too busy to notice us!"

"Hit 'em hard, Lasher…" Ukiah growled coldly.

Lasher roared with the sound of a god-like fury. The guards that reacted in time were only welcomed by a large, cone like blast. Flying just above the wall, the Triple Stryke blasted the men as he flew by. Only a handful of arrows were fired at them as they pulled up and flew higher in the sky.

"That should help." He called out, banking for another strafe. "One more."

"Then drop me off at the gate! I can open it for our men!" She shouted, feeling for her axe.

"No. Not by yourself!"

"Look out!" She cried out, wrapping her arms around him and jerking left.

Lasher instantly banked hard to the left with her pulling on Ukiah, narrowly being missed by a hail of arrows.

Flying away from the wall, Ukiah simply looked at her with slight surprise.

"You told me to watch for archers. I did." She explained. "Let me open the gate! It'll help us push Zekir's forces away and let us get a solid foothold! We can move the rest of our men from our ships without worrying about getting hit with a catapult!"

"Urgh, your dad is really going to kill me! Hold on tight!" He shouted, feeling like he owed that much to her. Lowering himself on his saddle with her still holding on, he let Lasher go into a steep dive. "Fly just above the street! Go low and fast!"

Lasher growled in acknowledgement. Falling straight down, he pulled up just feet above the wide street. The few soldiers running to reinforce the line dove out of the way, with a few acting slow enough for one of the three tails to slash at them.

"Get ready...now!" Ukiah shouted.

Lasher instantly used his wings to air brake himself, sending a powerful gust of wind at those atop of the gate and blowing them off the edge.

Ukiah then grabbed Lydia's arm, pulling her off her seat. Shocked at first, she quickly realized he was letting her down. Getting her feet ready, she felt him let go and drop her.

"Gah!" She cried, landing flat on her feet. Grimacing in pain, she tried to ignore it as she looked up to see Ukiah run off his saddle and onto the rampart above her. Knowing that he was dealing with the guards above her to buy time, she sprinted to the bar laid across the gate. "Come on!" She grunted, grabbing it and trying to lift it up.

"Oh no ya' don't!"

Forgetting the bar, she instantly ducked in time to hear something crash into the gate. Spinning away, she stared at a lone soldier pulling his mace out of the door, having left quite a mark in the heavy wooden gate. Swallowing, she drew her axe and braced herself for the inevitable fight.

The soldier charged her with the mace raised high. Lydia leaped backwards, putting a little distance between her and him. The man swung the axe down, narrowly missing her head. Shocked at how close he got, she kept backing up, right into a stack of crates. The man never slowed down, as he swung the mace in an upwards direction. Lydia ducked the attack, spinning around the man while swinging her axe out.

"Agh! You witch!" The soldier shouted, feeling the axe slice into his leg.

Again, Lydia backed off, preparing for another onslaught of attacks.

"Oh, you've done it now…" The man growled, limping after her.

Lydia then noticed something that made her heart sink. Some of the men that were in the streets were arriving to help their friend, being four of them. As they surrounded her, they began to corner her against the gate, all with drawn weapons and some with shields.

"Keep her alive. She's a looker…" The original soldier growled, his eyes growing evil as they revealed his intentions. "Make sure you don't bloody her too much. Want her to keep her face somewhat intact…"

Her blood ran cold. Gripping her axe, she knew this wasn't going to end well.

"Aarrgrrraooohhh!"

A large, purple and yellow dragon dropped out of the sky, behind the soldiers. Spinning around, its three tails slashed three of the men that were closest to it. The remaining two whirled around, completely taken off guard from the new arrival. Lydia used this chance to swing her axe at the one that she was originally fighting, dragging the axe down the soldier's back from his shoulder, clear to the hip.

"Gaaaggghhh!" He wailed, falling onto his knees and then collapsing onto the ground.

Lasher roared as he struck the last guard with his tails like a scorpion, piercing the armor and sticking him with all three barbs. Lifting up the soldier, he then threw him away from Lydia, crashing into some nearby crates.

"Whoo…thanks boy…" Lydia whispered, walking up and stroking Lasher's head. "Second time you saved me from Thariin soldiers."

Lasher simply growled happily, enjoying her affection.

"Waaghh!"

Both their attention was directed to a single soldier flailing through the air, crashing into the ground next to them. Ukiah then dropped himself from on top, rolling with his inertia to break the landing.

Another soldier jumped out from behind some crates, charging where Ukiah had landed. Thrusting his sword forward, he aimed right for his chest.

Ukiah used his remaining inertia to spin around the blade, letting it graze his chainmail armor. Gritting his teeth, he swung his crude sword has hard as he could at the soldier who was leaping backwards. The blade nicked the soldier's arm, cutting past the leather armor and drawing some blood.

"Ukiah!" Lydia yelled, seeing him still contend with the soldier.

Not saying anything, he circled with the soldier, who was spinning his sword in his hand. Then, like one of Wasatch's lightning strikes, lunged forward to stab Ukiah's heart.

Ukiah read the attack, as he was already swinging his sword to counter the strike. Then, instead of slashing at the soldier, he swung his leg around, catching him from behind and sending him on his back. Without a moment's hesitation, he drove his knee and sword into the chest of the fallen soldier, silencing him forever.

Taking a moment to breathe, he turned to see Lydia and Lasher staring at him with surprised but satisfied expressions. Even with a missing arm, he was still lethal.

"Come on! Get that gate open!" He yelled, sheathing his bloodied sword on his back.

"Right! Help me with it! It's heavy!"

Running to large bar with her, Ukiah put his shoulder under it to help lift it. Lydia used both hands, pushing up with all her might. Though being a little bit of a struggle, the two slowly lifted the bar up and out of the latches it rested in.

"Drop it on three. One, two, three!" Ukiah grunted.

The two backed off as the board crashed onto the ground. Lydia instantly reached for the gates and pushed one of them open, with Ukiah doing the other.

"Come on!" She shouted, waving at her men that were still contending with a few defenders on the wall.

Seeing the opening, most of the men began to sprint to the gate.

Backing off and standing to the side, Ukiah, Lydia, and Lasher watched as the men began to pour through the gateway. Spears, swords, axes, all kinds of weapons rushed past. At that point, they had the village. Nothing was going to kick them out without a fight.

"Lydia! What did I tell you?!"

Both Ukiah and Lydia turned to see Bruvos march towards them, escorted by two of his men. His face was red with anger, with a very visible twitching eye.

"You're not leaving home for months after we're through with this!"

"I had to help! The gate wasn't going to open itself, and we were losing men faster than we could get onto the docks!"

Bruvos growled in anger as he turned to the Dragon Rider standing nearby. "Ukiah, thank you for the help. Before you continue the attack, take my daughter back to the ship!"

Ukiah looked at Bruvos, and then at Lydia. Seeing her stare at him with fire in her eyes, he slowly shook his head. "No. I won't."

Bruvos had a vein bulge out of his neck.

"Aside from me not being a subject to you, she's the reason the gate was opened. It was her idea and frankly, she's the reason why I'm not a pin cushion right now. She saw what needed to be done. She knew what would help your fight."

"Like when I revealed the location of all those launchers!" She argued. "I want to help! You can't just keep me…locked away all the time!"

Frowning, Bruvos stared at her, obviously having an internal debate.

Suddenly, all three were pushed over, being covered by something. Crashing onto the ground, they finally realized that Lasher had tackled them and spread his wings. As soon as he started to back off, they all saw a dozen arrows scattered on the ground around them, with a few sticking out of Lasher and the saddle.

"Lasher!" Ukiah roared, standing up to knock off the arrows that had barely pierced his hide. Making sure they didn't do that much damage, he drew his crossbow off the saddle. "Argue later! We need to push while we have momentum!"

"You're right, move!" Bruvos shouted, turning to run with his men. "Lydia, stay close. I want you nearby at all times!"

"Yeah, sure thing!" She cried out happily, glad that he at least was letting her fight alongside him.

"And don't think we're done talking about this!"

Ukiah ran with Lasher, pushing aside some of Bruvos' men. If the city's layout was the same as he remembered it by, he was heading straight for the market. The sky was blackened with the smoke. The sun that was still low in the sky, shone through the smoke, making it the color of blood red. Lightning seemed to randomly strike throughout the village, adding to the hellish sight.

"Rrreeeeeeee!"

Looking up, the two watched Toothless scream by, firing two plasma blasts up the street they were running on.

"Captain! Take most of the men to secure the market and set up a rallying point! We'll be able to push through to the Keep from there!"

"Yes, King Bruvos!" A man shouted, turning to run farther up the street.

Bruvos finally caught up with Ukiah and Lasher, who had stopped to watch Hiccup continue to fly above them.

"They really are majestic creatures…" He commented, breathing hard from the running.

Before Ukiah could respond, a large lightning bolt arced across the canopy of smoke, making it look like a massive web. A single silhouette stood in the bright weave, standing on a dragon! As if absorbing the lightning, the dragon fired a large beam like bolt directly under it, revealing a large explosion from whatever it hit.

"And powerful." Ukiah added. He couldn't shake the feeling he was getting. He saw this before.

Out of the corner of their eyes, they could see more catapults firing at the Keep! The difference from these, was the fact it was coming from behind Thariin!

"Auger…" Bruvos whispered, letting a smile grow on his face. "He's attacking from behind! We got this won…"

"Not until you're in the Keep and Zekir's head is mounted on a pike." Ukiah replied coldly. Returning his attention to Hiccup and Matt above, he continued to try to recall when he saw this scene before. As he continued to internalize the sights of the apocalyptic looking sky, a single arrow drilled itself into his shoulder of his missing arm, forcing him to stumble back. "Gragh! Rrrrr…"

"Ukiah!" Lydia screamed, seeing him get hit.

Grunting, he looked at where the arrow had hit him. The Gronckle Iron chain links had done their job. The arrow lay on the ground having failed to pierce the armor.

"I'm fine…" He growled, rotating his shoulder to feel out how sore he was going to be from the hit. Stepping out of the way, he watched as a couple of Bruvos men run past him, as if retreating.

"Why are our men falling back?" Lydia asked, seeing the crowd of soldiers run back.

"My king! The forces are all pushing back on us! They're doing a counter-offensive!" A captain shouted, running past them.

"Hold the line! We know they can't push for long! Especially with Auger attacking behind them! Set up barricades! Use your shields to make a wall!" He shouted, gathering his remaining men to form up with him.

"Lasher! The awnings!" Ukiah shouted.

Lasher instantly swept the supports of nearby awnings with his tails, crashing them down and creating temporary barricades. Bruvos' men instantly crowded behind them, raising spears out and preparing for the attack.

Sure enough, a column of men came into view, running down the streets with weapons raised and shouting war cries.

Ukiah's face darkened. Running to Lasher, he leapt onto the saddle. "Come on, friend! Let's meet them first!"

"Ukiah!" Lydia shouted, watching them launch into the air and towards the charging men.

Ignoring her, he glared at the column of men. "Send 'em to Helheim..." He whispered.

Lasher fired his fire blast, sweeping the front of the charging men.

Pulling up and away, he turned to see that the column of men were still pushing through, through the front half was severely reduced and struggling to keep up with the crowd.

Lydia stared as Lasher flattened out from his climb, to which she returned her attention to the men charging. Gripping her axe, she watched her dad do the same with his sword. The men with them slung arrows at the attackers, trying to take down as many as they could. This was what she wanted. To fight alongside those from her home.

"Stay close, Lydia. For both our sakes." Bruvos instructed quietly, glancing down at her with a worried expression.

Nodding, she braced herself as the men finally fell upon the barricades. A few men jumped on the fallen awnings, trying to bring down their weapons on those behind it. Bruvos thrust his sword forward, catching a man in the chest and stopping him cold in his tracks.

Lydia swung her axe low, catching one of the men in the legs and forcing him to fall over. One of her soldiers finished him off by driving his sword into the chest of the fallen. Lydia didn't stop there. Using her axe handle, she blocked a strike from an axe, stopping it dead from its path. Not hesitating, she pulled her axe back while swinging it to the left, slashing the hands of the attacker. With the motion of the attack, and ignoring the cry of pain she cause, she used the top of her axe to push the attacker backwards, falling off the awning. "Thank you Astrid and Heather." She whispered to herself, bracing to receive more.

Bruvos raised his sword to block an attack from a soldier that had jumped in the air. Being pushed back from the force of the hit, he parried the strike and thrust his blade forward. The man slid to the side, trying to avoid the strike. Instead of sinking into his chest, the blade sliced up the side of the attacker.

Knowing he still made contact, Bruvos grabbed the hilt of his sword with his free hand. Using all his strength with both arms, he pushed his attack to the left, digging his blade deeper into him and toppling him over. Hearing an angry roar to his right, he blindly swung at the charging soldier with both hands. The sword instantly made contact with the side of the new attacker, burying itself half way through the man. The force and surprise of the hit made the man go limp, toppling over the barricade.

Breathing heavily, his blood went cold as he saw Lydia contending with a soldier that had pushed over the barricade. He was swinging an axe wildly at her, forcing her to stay defensive. Charging the man, he roared with the sound of a bear seeing its young being endangered.

Lydia watched the man's face pale, realizing he left his flank completely exposed. Whirling around, he was able to watch the sword flash across his chest and send him flying backwards. Standing to the side of where the man had fallen, she gasped as she watched three more men leap down from the barricade.

Bruvos whirled around, striking at one of the swords thrust at him. The second man swung his mace at the side of the king, making contact with the steel plated tunic and pushing him to the side.

Lydia charged forward, roaring at the top of her lungs at seeing her dad get hit. Charging the third man that was flanking her dad with a sword and shield, she raised the axe high above her head. The man instantly forgot about flanking and focused on his own attacker. Raising his shield to take the blow, he was shocked to see it splinter into pieces under the force and fury of the axe.

"You. Won't. Touch him!" She screamed, swinging her axe with every word. The strikes were furious as she poured her anger into the attacks. Each one made a connection, slashing the soldier's chest and leaving long, red streaks.

The man couldn't do anything to stop the onslaught of attacks. Each one pushed him back until he stumbled against the barrier behind him. Raising the axe above her head, Lydia roared in a hot anger as she brought it down and sank the blade in him. Breathing heavily, she stared at the lifeless eyes of who she killed. She wasn't sorry. She knew he was going to kill her dad!

Pulling her axe out, she whirled around and gasped. Her dad was still contending with the two soldiers. Focusing on parrying the attacks, he kept on backing up. All their men were busy contending with other soldiers, essentially leaving Bruvos and Lydia alone on the battlefield. The man with the mace kept on going for his exposed side every time he countered the swordsman. Forced to block a swing from the mace, Lydia watched helplessly as the swordsman thrust his blade into Bruvos, sinking it into his side.

"No!" She screamed, watching her dad fall backwards. The nearby men watched in horror as their king fell, regretting they focused on holding the line rather than protecting him.

Lydia charged the two with her axe raised above her head. With tears of panicked anger, she brought it down with all her force at the man that stabbed her dad. The man couldn't do anything to dodge or block the strike. With a horrified expression, he stared at Lydia as the axe sank into his shoulder and buried itself further. She watched the light leave his eyes, though it did nothing to comfort her regarding her dad.

"No! I'll kill 'ya me self!" The last remaining soldier shouted, turning on her with his mace already raised.

Lydia pulled her axe back, trying to block the swing. She was just a moment too late, as she blocked the arm, but the mace kept on falling.

Whump!

Her world was spinning as the mace still hit her at a lower speed. Stumbling backwards, she fell onto her back and looked up at the sky in a daze. She could make out the blurry image of the man raising the mace over her again. Her world pulsed in and out of black. At one moment, the man was over her, and the next, he was falling backwards. Confused at what had happened, she waited for the blackness to pulse again. As her vision came to, she was shocked to see that Lasher was standing over her!

Groaning, she rolled to her knees and tried to crawl from under him. She could hear someone shouting something, though honestly she could care less.

"No! Pleas-Agk!"

The sound of steel on steel echoed in her mind. The world sounded so disoriented and almost hellish. What made it worse was that she was helpless and couldn't defend herself. Not until she recovered from her hit. And then her dad! The sight of seeing him fall had made her lose all feeling.

Suddenly a pair of hands grabbed her by the arms, pulling her away and onto her feet. She could tell that they were her men, as she could hear voices asking if she was alright. Shaking her head to get her bearings straight, she was rewarded with a warm feeling rushing down her face. Patting the warmth with her hand, she felt it get wet. Blood.

"Ugh…dad? Where's dad?" She groaned, closing her eyes to help shake the disorientation and bear with the growing pain.

The men helping her gestured to behind her. Turning around, she gasped as she saw him propped against a building, being surrounded by a couple of men.

"Dad!" She cried, stumbling after him. Falling onto her knees next to him, she then saw exactly what kind of injury he had.

Blood was everywhere, with the men trying to stop the bleeding. She could see him shallowly breathing, making her flooded with worry and fear.

"…Lydia…" He whispered. His eyes cracked open, giving her a brief sense of relief.

"Dad…" She choked out.

"Wh-where's Ukiah? Get him…"

Taken back by the question, she turned around to see Ukiah standing on the barricade, pulling his sword out of the man that hit her with the mace. Lasher roared loudly, sending whatever Thariin soldiers scurrying back up the street.

"Ukiah!" She cried out. "Come here!"

Frowning, he jogged towards her. Seeing Bruvos, he instantly knelt down on the other side of him. "I can get Lasher to take you to your ship."

"No…I'm a dead man with this wound. Even if I was back at my home…" He whispered. Moving his hand off where he was stabbed, he showed him exactly what happened.

Ukiah's face fell, seeing that the stab ran through him and cut viciously to the left. It was a fatal cut. One that he would have done; in fact, what he did do to a few of those that fought him.

"Dad? No! You'll be fine! Be strong!"

Bruvos coughed, visibly flinching in pain. "Lydia…you've grown so much. I don…don't know what happened to you…when you were taken from us, but…but you're different."

"Dad!"

"Ukiah" He continued to whisper. "You know how to fight. How to win. Help my men win this fight. Protect Lydia, since I won't be able too."

Ukiah swallowed, realizing what he was asking him.

Struggling, Bruvos gripped his sword's hilt, and gently pushed it towards him. "Get my people and family away from Thariin's shadow. Please…you Riders are the answer to our prayers…"

Slowly, almost reluctantly, he respectfully took the sword from Bruvos. Nearby men began to kneel, realizing their leader and king was about to pass on.

"Lydia…"

"Dad!" She choked, grabbing his neck and hugging him. "Please! Don't leave me! Don't leave Auger!"

"I love you…tell your brother I'm proud of him…an…and that…he…he's king…"

"Dad! Please!"

With what energy he had left, he raised one hand and wrapped it around Lydia. Hugging her tightly, he closed his eyes and held her. Then, ever so slowly, his arm dropped to the ground.

"No! Dad! Don't leave me!" She screamed, hugging him tighter.

Ukiah stared at Bruvos, wishing he had been able to do something, anything to help him. Seeing Lydia sob into her dad's shoulder, he couldn't help but feel the same feeling he had when he sent Arrow to Valhalla.

Boom!

A large, purple explosion sounded off at the market, making everyone turn to see Hiccup blast past, just above the buildings.

"Princess…what…what are your orders?" One of the men asked, seeing her continue to hold her dad.

Sniffing, she slowly let go of him. Wiping her nose and the blood that was still streaming down her face, she slowly turned to the men huddled around her. "My orders?" She whispered, looking at them with a resolute expression. "You heard your king." Slowly standing up, she beckoned Ukiah to do the same. "Ukiah's in charge. He gave him his sword. Ask him."

Realizing what happened, Ukiah gaped at her.

"Ukiah. What do you want us to do?" She repeated.

Almost all the nearby men turned to him, waiting to see what he would do and say.

Ukiah stared at the men, and those down the street. Then it hit him. Though not exactly what he saw, this was his dream. His vision he saw back at his home island. Back at Crev. He was living his vision!

Shaking slightly, he finally stood up tall. He was never supposed to bring back his tribe. He was supposed to lead an entirely different tribe! Staring at the sword Bruvos entrusted him, he slowly handed it to Lydia. "First, take this. It's your dad's. It means more to you than to me."

Lydia swallowed, trying to hold back the tears as she gripped the sword. The golden hilt and shining blade seemed to be dimmed with the passing of her dad, though she knew Ukiah was trying to comfort her in his own way.

Drawing his own, crudely made sword, Ukiah leaped onto the fallen awning that Lasher was standing on. Climbing on him, he stood atop his saddle so that most of the men could hear him. "I don't know why your king asked me to lead you, but if that's what he wanted, let me fulfill his dying wish."

A few men nodded in approval, though most simply listened.

"Your king is Auger now, not me! He is attacking the back side of Thariin with fewer men than we have here." He continued to say, getting louder as he went on. "We've lost a lot of men. You've lost a lot of brothers. Thariin even took your king. They've made it clear they'll take your lives if they can! All our lives!"

Men began to shout, raising shields and nodding in agreement.

"You do what you want. I'm not your king. I shouldn't be called your leader. I'm a Crevite for the god's sake. But what say you? Do you want to end this? With their blood and our iron?"

"Their blood, our iron!" The men repeated loudly. "Avenge us, Crevite! Avenge Bruvos!"

Taken back by the title and the request, Ukiah quickly raised his sword in the air. "Then let's make them give up their lives. On me! Captain, take the men you need to secure the market. Clean up any stragglers that might be spread throughout the village!"

"Of course, Crevite! Our forces secured the docks! We're ready to advance!"

"The rest of you! Charge the Keep with me!"

"Raaaggh!" The men shouted, all raising their weapons in support of him.

Lydia quickly jogged up to Ukiah, climbing on Lasher with him. "I'm going with you. They took my dad away from me. I want to make them pay with their lives."

Dropping down onto his saddle, Ukiah nodded in agreement. "Then let's go give your brother a helping hand."

At that, Lasher let out a deafening roar. Oddly, the roar was drowned out by the cries of the men behind him. Leaping off the awning, he charged up the street, followed by the stampeding men. And like that, Ukiah Legna became not known as The Last Crevite, but as The Crevite.

"Urgh! Hiccup!" Matt shouted, coasting alongside. "The walls for Auger's forces are down! They're already advancing through!"

"Bruvos was held up near the market, but it looks like they're pushing forward now." Hiccup repeated, looking down to see a column of men storm the road towards the Keep. In front were Ukiah and Lasher, and what looked like Lydia riding with them. "There aren't that many men left in the village, since they were all pulled back to push against Auger." Suddenly Hiccup grimaced in pain, which he quickly gripped his side.

"Your rib going to be okay? You need to stop flying?"

"No. I need to stay and help. Bruvos is counting on us!"

"If you say so…" Matt replied, looking worried at him.

Heather then showed up, hovering alongside Matt. "The twins and Snotlout are helping push to the Keep! We've almost got it! Fishlegs is helping the back at the market, helping the men secure it.

"Any word on Astrid?" Hiccup asked, looking at her with a worried expression.

She simply shook her head. "If Ukiah's helping charge the Keep, I'm sure he dropped her off at Bruvos' ship like he said he would."

"Hiccup, you go check on Astrid and get yourself patched up. Your rib is killing you. Heather, you come with me. The battle is over, and we still have the issue that Darien and Zekir aren't here." Matt began to instruct. "The others can help Bruvos while we're gone."

"No! Matt, don't change the plan!" Hiccup cried out, grimacing as he exerted his breath.

"I'm not changing the plan! The plan was to stop them! And now they're gone! The least we can do, is to go and look for them!"

"Bruvos is counting on us! Same with Auger!"

"To stop Zekir! If Zekir gets away, then all this would be for nothing! What happened to Astrid, will be for nothing!"

Hiccup's face went dark, making Matt instantly regret what he said.

Looking down, he quietly apologized. "Sorry, Hiccup. I shouldn't have said that. But the fact remains that while Darien and Zekir are still out there, the threat they possess to us is still real."

"Then help us finish it here. We'll go look for them after! I'll go with you after we finish up here! I promise!"

"Hiccup, listen to me! Snotlout and the twins can handle it from here! Even Ukiah! We need to go find them now! They're getting farther away!"

"Guys!" Heather shouted, pulling all attention to her. Pointing at the Keep, she suggested. "We could ask where they went. Since they have a decoy chief that had to be part of their plan."

Realizing what she was saying, Hiccup nodded in agreement. "He would have an idea where they were going! On top of that, we can probably talk them down! Force them to surrender! Since it's not the real Zekir anyways, why would he stick his neck out for a people he's not even in charge of?"

Matt's face darkened. "Fine." He growled. "Let's go 'talk' with them. Then we go after Zekir and Darien."

"Heather, go tell Ukiah what we're going to do! Matt, follow me!" Hiccup shouted, letting Toothless go into a steep dive.

Both Heather and Matt followed him. As the high pitch scream from the Night Fury sang through the air, the all pulled up just above Ukiah and the charging men. Heather gave Matt an assuring smile, just before she slowed up and landed ahead of Ukiah. Frowning, Matt focused on following Hiccup. Flying past the arena, now a smoldering heap of burning wood and black stone, the two pulled up to one of the turrets of the Keep.

Men instantly scrambled, grabbing bows and crossbows to shoot down the approaching dragons.

"Whoa! Whoa, whoa!" Hiccup shouted, waving his arms at them. "We only want to talk to your leader!"

The men didn't respond. They only continued to aim their weapons at Hiccup.

"Look! We won!" He shouted, gesturing to the smoking village behind him. "There doesn't need to be more death! You don't have to die!"

The men slowly began to look at each other, knowing the truth in his words. The battle was over, and it was simply surviving that mattered at this point.

"We only want to talk to your leader. Whoever he is. Please! We don't want to hurt you any more than we have!"

Slowly, the men took a step back, with the exception of one, who looked like a captain or a commander at least. "Only one of ya'. And you'll stay right there!"

Matt nodded in agreement. "I'll back off, Hiccup. I'll go get Bruvos since he's the one that'll be negotiating the peace."

Hiccup nodded in agreement with Matt. "Go for it." Turning to the captain, he shouted. "Agreed! I'll stay right here! But your men need to put down their bows."

Matt then banked to the left, staring at where Heather and Ukiah were landed and talking. He would have stayed to help talk, as he was a little better than Hiccup at that; but Hiccup was far more diplomatic than he ever would be.

Hiccup watched Matt leave, while waiting for whomever to show up. Then he saw him. The chief that tried to kill him and his friends in the arena. His face was pale, and he frankly looked terrified at seeing Hiccup. Giving him a wave, Hiccup greeted him. "Hey there."

The person simply nodded, unable to wave himself.

"Listen, I know you're not Zekir. Zekir wouldn't even want to talk with me, unless it was to set up a trap to kill me or my friends."

The chief looked down in shame, knowing whatever guise he had, it was gone completely.

"We don't want to hurt you. We want to stop the fighting. But to do that, you need to work with us. And help us."

"I understand…" The person called out.

"First off, what's your name?"

"Gabor. I'm…Zekir's half-brother."

"Why did he have you fill his position as chief?"

"So that he could escape with that girl, Darien. I was supposed to distract you and Bruvos' men from following them."

Hiccup's pulse quickened. "Where did they go?" He asked with a rushed tone.

"I...I don't know!" Gabor replied with fear in his eyes. "I promise it's the truth! They didn't tell anyone where they were going! If they did, Ugo would have known, and he's dead! All I know, is they flew on Darien's dragon last night. As to where, or what their end goal is, I have no idea! They only told me that I was going to have to stay here!"

Hiccup's heart sank. They could literally be anywhere now.

"Bu-but I'm still willing to talk peace! Or surrender!" He called out, seeing Hiccup not say anything. "I'm an artisan by trade! Not a ruler! I had no choice but to help them! They would have killed me if I said no!"

"It's not me you have to talk peace too. It's Bruvos." Hiccup replied, turning to see Matt, Heather, Ukiah, and Lydia fly up to them. To his surprise, he saw Auger riding with Matt, instead of Bruvos. "Wait, where's Bruvos?" He asked, looking at them with concern.

"Hiccup…Bruvos is…" Heather began to choke out.

Then he saw it. Everyone's eyes were red, with tear stains on their faces. All except Ukiah, whose face was set in stone. "No…" He whispered.

"I am Auger. Son of Bruvos." Auger called out in an authoritative, almost hateful tone. "I understand you're not Zekir, but you were the leader that waged a battle, tried to kill our friends, and waged a battle that ended up killing my father. Tell me why I should bargain for peace with you and your people, instead of salting the earth where Thariin stands?"

Gabor pale face went a shade whiter. "Please! Please spare me! I was only doing what I was forced to! Zekir and Darien made me when they knew you were invading us! They knew you would win!"

"Auger…talk with him." Lydia whispered. "He's a victim like we were to Zekir. You can't hold him accountable for dad's…death."

Glaring at the leader, Auger slowly and reluctantly closed his eyes. "Let's talk peace. But it will require your men to surrender the Keep to my men. Understand? Thariin is belongs to us now."

"Stand down! Open the gates!" Gabor shouted, issuing orders. "If you value your lives, and our people's lives, let them in and drop your weapons!"

With some resentment, the men did as they were ordered.

"Ukiah, Lydia. I want you to be with me." Auger ordered as Matt coasted Wasatch closer to the turret.

"Sure thing, brother." Lydia whispered.

Ukiah only nodded, though unsure why he was asked to join in on the peace talks.

"Heather, you're coming with me." Matt called out, letting Auger slide off of Wasatch. "We're going to try and find Zekir and Darien."

"I'll come too." Hiccup threw in. "I know they left last night on Banshee, they could be anywh-"

"Hiccup. I know they're gone. I don't expect to find them." Matt interrupted. His voice was filled with angst and frustration. "But you need to get your rib checked out. And you need to check on Astrid. You need to be there when she wakes up."

Hiccup stared at him, unable to argue with what he was saying.

"Go ahead, we'll be back later tonight." Matt whispered, hovering past him. "Ready, Heather?"

"Lead the way." She called out.

Giving him one last assuring expression, Matt left Hiccup and surged out to the ocean, beginning his fruitless search for Darien and Zekir.

Sighing, Hiccup turned to see Auger, Ukiah, and Lydia meeting with the real leaders and captains of Thariin's army, with Gabor standing there awkwardly.

Slowly, he guided Toothless to Bruvos' ship, hoping Astrid was at least being taken care of.

Whoo! What chapter. I hope it was enjoyable to read. And if not, let me know what you would have liked to see. It was actually a fun chapter to write, and I'm especially glad that I had some extra time to work on it! Again, I'll try to post ASAP!