Cast Out
Right now a very dangerous training exercise was going on above the forest of Berk. So dangerous the Riders' adopted younger siblings weren't allowed to be present during it.
Their siblings were back at their houses doing their chores they'd neglected the last few weeks. Between helping their adopted older siblings run drills for the Screaming Death and prepare if Axel-the Ax-Murderer eventual arrival on their shores they really hadn't had much time to do their chores.
Though their mothers had been sorta understanding at first they'd like to have a few words with the Riders about having the same sort of feelings that their friend Valka had about chores and fun that she had for her kids.
That there be some new rules between the Riders and their adopted siblings. Like at least before they'd got together that the children had completed their chores or the moms could embarrass both their children and the Riders.
After all Valka firmly believed and carried with her own family and her husband who was the chief if the chores weren't done correctly not only could no-one have any fun or do their duties to the village she thoroughly embarrass them.
But coming up with a few new rules and boundaries would have to wait for another time. Though still be an overall good idea considering what the children learned what happened during the training exercise.
They're just coming to the old arena now the Dragon Training Academy after all doing a boatload of different chores and seemed to have walked into an argument of some kind.
The room was full of anger, talk of disrespect, reckless and problems with authority and sounded like someone could've been hurt very badly and there was also some silliness going on with the twins as well.
"Hello? Did we come at a bad time? Is everything okay?" called out Bloodfire who was the youngest child in the adopted siblings. Her adopted older sibling was Astrid though she and Una were also best friends among the children.
"It's not a seriously bad time, Bloodfire, we just had a rather bad experience with your sister today and Snotlout. Though don't worry your sister is alright." Una told her best friend as she hugged her.
"Why what almost happened to our sister?" the Birger, Ria and Larkin wanted to know as Astrid was their adopted older sister too.
"That jerk Snotlout didn't obey orders during the training exercise and because of a reckless trick I nearly became a pancake. He didn't even realize he nearly killed me!" she snapped angrily causing her siblings to go very pale.
Which immediately made Brimstone and Velika who were Snotlout's adopted sibling look also pale and guilty quickly ask Hiccup. "Are we in trouble as well? Do we share the blame for our older brother's actions? Are we responsible for this accident?"
"No, No, No!" he said in shock and looked at them confused. "Why would you think that?"
"Because of the vow we took and we are considered his adopted brother and sister," Brimstone replied quickly still looking fearful.
"Yeah, don't we share part of the blame for the other action because of that Vow?" Velika said in confusion.
"Everyone is responsible for his or her own action and the consequences for their actions are theirs alone at the end of the day. You don't share any blame even if you're his siblings. You didn't do anything so you don't have anything to take responsibility for.
So don't worry about it. His actions aren't a reflection on you but a reflection on his recklessness and not thinking about how his actions could have hurt Astrid or her loved ones or might have put you two in danger if you had been there.
That he does need to think about. However, isn't at all since he ran off and only thinking of himself. Which isn't something we can approve of or tolerate in this Academy." Boden informed all the kids off.
"So what are you gonna do to Snotlout as punishment for his actions? If he's not gonna listen to you?" Alle and Lanon asked at the same time.
"Well he's supposed to be on suspension as in he's not even supposed to be flying Hookfang."
"You basically ground him? Like how our mommies ground us if we misbehave?" Creel looked at Hiccup strangely.
"You mean if you're in charge of something you can boss people around and even ground them even if you're a kid?" Gala asked for clarification.
"Suspension is a little more serious than a grounding you two. But in a sense that what it is I guess, it I have to explain it too little kids. But as for bossing people around?
Boden, Una and I are not 'bossing" people around okay?"
"Yes you are!" sang the Twins before Hiccup shot a dangerous look at them so they went back to fabric choices.
"My siblings and I are doing something serious and have a great responsibility. With a lot of power. And you have to be very responsible when give a power and authority especially when you've lives to look after," Hiccup started to explain.
"We have to make sure everyone is safe, happy and well. We are responsible for all of you and the Riders as well as the dragons. If a person gets hurt whether they be human or dragon that falls back to us and we deal with conseqneces," Boden carried on.
"It's like how Daddy must look after the whole village and all who are in it. We are responsible for everyone whose apart of this Academy and everything to do with it. That's a pretty big deal for three young kids to bear.
It worries us about the day to come when we might or might not have to take care of the village. Though knowing tradition that will only be Hiccup's burden," Una cried at that.
"Hey, Una! The three of us already decided on that subject by the time you could talk. So don't worry about it. When that day comes we'll make sure its three of us or no-one. So don't fret," Hiccup told her quickly.
Una wiped her eyes and nodded. No-one understood what that part what about or why the three of them all had this look or nodded. Though the Riders and their siblings did understand want they meant about their great power and responsibility to the Academy thing.
The children did inform the their older siblings their moms wanted to have a talk with them about something to do with rules and boundaries in their relationship so the Riders first gave their siblings a lift to the Anquetils's home to meet up with Skullette and Firefang who'd each take five of the kids.
Skullette take five kids to run practice drills for the Screaming Death and Firefang take the other half to run practice drills for Axel. Then also make sure to give them lessons in proper care of hatchling care for the day when Una's vision came true and their destined dragon were born.
Again no-one had any idea when that day would come, but they all knew Una's visions never failed to come true. Till then they'd just have to wait. After all first Stormfly, Meatlug, Hookfang and Barf and Belch would've to find their true loves and become mates before even thinking of having children. So first comes love, then marriage then babies.
In the meantime they'd just have to occupy themselves with other things and just be patience like everyone else and have faith in Una's vision which everyone did know would come true eventually. Just frustrating waiting was all.
As for Hiccup, Boden and Una? They went home and hit the ice blocks trying to make themselves feel better after feeling so lousy and not knowing how to deal with their problems.
After having ice freezing their brains for nearly eight minutes their parents came walking in laughing about something and their mother looked upset. "What are you three doing? You shouldn't be trying to freeze your brains! Or at least not having a brain freeze that way," she muttered as she took away the ice shaking her head.
"Come on you three. If you're feeling down in the dumps and want to ice your brains there a better way to do it. A lot tastier too. Get to the table I'll got get it.
Stoick did we forget to give them their meds this morning?" she called out as she went over to a box that was loaded with ice to keep things cold.
"You three didn't forget to take your medicine this morning, did you?" he asked as he got the journal they kept track of that from its hiding spot.
"No, Dad we took them with breakfast like we always do. Though they help us manage our symptoms they aren't a miracle cure you know," replied Hiccup despondently.
"Yeah, even I still get moody at times even with the medicine that Gothi and Lily make us. They just make our symptoms easier to manage and help us function better without the village suspecting we're not so right in the head at times."
"I've been wishing ever since we saved Dagur and Heather after they saved our skins from Axel that someone could've come up with something to help Dagur manage his inner problems. There got to be something to help him manage his own mental problems if there something for us."
"Yeah, it would've made Oydis happy for sure from what they told us about how much their mother helped him and Heather who had her own anger issue problems, sis."
"It still worries us all, son we don't know if Oswald and his children are alive or dead and the pain they endured by that strange long drawn out sickness that took their beautiful and kindhearted wife and mother Oydis away." Stoick said in a melancholy tone to his eldest.
"We must have faith that they're alive and okay. Here let's have some strawberry ruff-cream. My brunch club and I really loved the idea the Twins came up with when they became smart when they had eel box.
So we've been experiment with making different flavors of ruff-cream during the last few brunches. Here's my flavor. Strawberry. How does it taste to all of you?" asked Valka as the family dug in.
"Now this is beyond awesome! And Gobber thinks this is barbaric? This be perfect for hot summer days and birthdays!" squealed Una as she took a big bite.
Valka laughed tossing her braids over her shoulder before saying, "You know from what I've heard all who've tried this stuff all say the same thing. Now mind telling us what's got you all down in the dumps?"
"Well it's like this…" began Hiccup started to tell his parents what happened that morning during the training exercise.
"I see. You're mostly worried about your threes positions of power with the weight of responsibility and authority but also about being friends and not letting duty come before friendship?" Valka surmised.
"Yeah, Mom! It's a tough position to be in. We don't want to act like we just get to have our way because we are the chief's kids and we can say or do whatever to whomever we please.
Though we do have to think of everyone else and yet we still want to show we are fair and equal with everyone and that we are not above everyone. That we are friends not you know… that we ain't Odin and Frigga and everyone else is nothing more the ants to us!" Boden cried out in exasperation.
"Yeah, Mommy? How do you and Daddy do it? Still be a husband and wife as well as a mommy and daddy but still just be friends to the village without acting like you're the Lord and Lady of Asgard?" Una had to know.
"Sometimes you can't separate duty and friendship. Sometimes you've to be someone leader and not their friend. It's a fact of life kids. You'll have to learn about some harsh rules, lessons and realties for when your time comes to lead Berk.
Life never gonna be easy for any of you three as the three of you will rise and fall together. Fate is never truly kind and the fate of Berk will be yours to decide together one day." Stoick told them.
If they hadn't been depressed they might have picked up the full implications of what their father had just said, yet they didn't pick up all the words their father had been using or what he was truly saying.
And before their magnificent brains could have had time too really figure out he was speaking about all three of them there was a commotion outside that made the whole talk and the delicious ruff-cream go straight out of their minds, though they all had their mouths stained from the ruff-cream.
Rushing outside where the whole village was screaming about having a Viking Funeral only to be moaning in disappointment when someone mumbled they weren't dead the Haddocks came forward to see whom the villagers were talking about.
In the center was a comatose Snotlout. In front of him was Alvin! Which surprised the hell out of everyone who assumed he'd been murdered months ago by either lighting or poison.
"Hello, Stoick! Great to see you again," as if he was just saying hi to an old acquaintance.
"Alvin! Men arrest him…"
"Wait! Stoick don't do it! He saved Snotlout and he helped save my family! We've all come here seeking your help!" called out another voice from behind Alvin's massive bulk and then another shock as Oswald the Agreeable and his two children step out from behind Alvin's shadow.
"Oswald?!" Valka cried out in shock.
"Dagur?! Heather?!" cried Hiccup, Boden and Una.
"Nice to see you three too. Glad Axel hasn't killed you three!" the two teens replied.
"What in Thor's name is going on?! Has the whole world turned upside down?!" Stoick screamed.
"It's a long story, Stoick. Best told over some of your wife's hot chocolate," Alvin informed him but Stoick glared at him.
"You Alvin are going straight to our prison. I'll hear this from Oswald he's trustworthy. You are not! You haven't been trustworthy for 20 years!" Men take Alvin to the prison! Oswald you and your family come to our house and we'll talk about what's gone on since events on Dragon Island."
Once inside their house Valka did give Oswald and his kids both steaming hot mugs of hot chocolate and their own bowls of strawberry flavored ruff-cream. Then they spent an hour listening to Oswald tell them the story of what life on the run been like.
How they barely made it to the island where Oydis' favorite flower grew. How they'd been hunted for months, never feeling safe, going weeks at a time without eating or sleeping. Constantly having to flee and trying to avoid being murdered by Axel's henchmen.
Then a couple weeks back finding themselves on a deserted island they encountered Alvin who'd also had been attempted to be murdered by Axel and working together like today to save Snotlout they'd saved each other from the Screaming Death, though they'd also the first time they meet it was also Axel henchmen and the Screaming Death.
So they'd been traveling together trying to make it to Berk to get their help to get back what was rightfully theirs. Their own home islands and their tribes. They've a gut feeling not everyone is completely loyal to Axel without him using underhand tactics to ensure they follow him out of not wanting to be killed.
"So you expect us to believe Alvin is here because he just wants to have Outcast Island to himself again? And he won't go back to attack us again?" Stoick said in disbelief.
"Stoick the man been helping protecting my family. Not to mention we all share the same enemy. The enemy of my enemy is my friends. We both lost everything and all we want is our homes again. Losing everything you ever have makes you realize what you took for granted. We've been also talking about forming a permanent alliance with Berk if you'll help us take down Axel and help us regain our homes and tribes."
"Stoick it makes a lot of sense what Oswald saying. We all know what that little fiend is capable is. He's more of a monster then Alvin ever was. Alvin at least never tried to kill our children.
Beside remember what was said at the Ceremony? We will forgive those who have wronged us and reconcile with those we have wronged?
Stoick my beloved what is really to gain from hanging onto a 20 year grudge? Can't you let the feud die? We're talking about something more important then what happened when we're all young and foolish.
It's our families and homes we're talking about! There nothing to be gained from a past we cannot change. We can only make better choices in the present so we can build a better future. And everyone deserve the chance to change and reform themselves. Even your own mother told you that!" argued Valka to her husband.
"Some things are unforgivable, Val. Some people can never change and how can you forgive Alvin for what he did to our children?"
"Because I know there more at stake and I'm seeing the bigger picture which you're not seeing. You looking too closely. You need to take a step back and see the whole picture."
While the adults were arguing the children had all been talking about a lot of things. How Dagur had apologize for his crazy attempts to show he cared which was what all those things in the past had been. His strange way of showing he liked them and he cared.
They told him about their medicine and said if all worked out well they'd make sure he got some medicine to help him manage his symptoms. Also promised to teach some technique to Heather to deal with her anger issues.
They then compared their childhood and talked about special memories with their parents and hearing more about them on the run. Also about their secret working rescuing and training dragons which they promised they wouldn't let anyone know about if they lived through this.
Though they did whisper Alvin needed to talk to the three of them alone. Surprised they slipped off during the fighting and walked to the prison to talk to Alvin and only felt a little better because he was behind bars.
"Okay, Alvin we are here. Since Dagur and Heather said you wanted to talk. Though I warn you none of us are here to hear lies. So we will ask the questions and you'll answer us honestly."
"Fine, Hiccup. I'm sure you'll be able to tell if I'm lying. What do you wish to know?"
"Is this story about you saving Oswald and his family really true and we you all trying to come here to really seek our help?" asked Hiccup.
"Yeah, barely escaped my own murdered and after finding them we all knew it was only your family that could put an end to Axel's reign."
Hiccup turned to Una as if she knew and this wasn't a power of hers she just was really good at knowing when someone was lying. Looking deep into Alvin's eyes and like looking into his soul she turned to her oldest brother and said. "He's telling the truth Hiccup."
"Well, if you're at least telling the truth about that are you really just wanting your island back?" demanded Boden sharply.
"When you've lost everything, boy. It makes a man realize how much he took for granted and it really humbles you and changes you. I've already lost a lot in me short life, but not even having my own home, with my own bed to sleep in? Yeah I just want to go home and have my own home to go home too."
"He's still telling the truth."
"What about this alliance that Oswald mentioned? What was that about?" Hiccup wanted to know.
"If we can successfully bring down Axel and imprison those who are truly loyal to him and take back the men who are loyal to myself and Oswald what is left of the Outcasts and Berserkers will be forever allies to Berk in a permanent alliance. Not a yearly treaty signing or enemies but forever allies."
"Totally harmony? Never attack us again? Friends forever?"
"He's still telling the truth, Hiccup."
"Our sister is saying everything you've said is the truth. Then we need one more piece of information before we can relay your truth to our father."
"What's that, Hiccup?"
"We need to know what you did 20 years ago. What caused you to be banished in the first place and started this feud between you and our father and made you an enemy of Berk? Since it doesn't seem our Dad thinks you can change for some reason. Why? What did you do?"
At this Alvin looked at all three of them with hard stares and said. "You're gonna have to ask your father for that story. He'll say I'm lying if I tell my version of events.
All I can say is I'm sorry that I hurt you three and that your father truly is the luckiest man in the whole damn archipelago. He's so lucky and blessed and yet never notices when other wish they could be as lucky as he is. That's all I say on the subject."
"Wait a second, Alvin. Is the only clue you're gonna give us about what your feud with our Daddy is something to do with jealousy? I mean I can tell you are truly sorry you did hurt all three of us. That I can tell you truly sincere about us.
Though are you really trying to tell us that you're banished for being jealous of Daddy and wanting revenge because of being envies of him?" Una was asking in disbelief as were her brothers had the same looks of disbelief.
"Again ask your father and get his side. Since you'll never believe me and he'll call it lies anyway. But just remember there two sides to every story like both sides of the page have writing on it."
Going back home to ponder Alvin's words they didn't notice how late it was and didn't expect their father to exploded at them in angry. "Where did you three disappear too?!"
"Stoick! No yelling. Oswald and his kids just finally fell asleep and they've not slept properly in months. So talk softly please," begged Valka as she shepherded the kids inside and to a corner so they could explain themselves.
"We're talking with Alvin since he wanted to see us." Hiccup told his father honestly.
"You three did what?!" Stoick voicing raising till he caught Valka's gaze and lowered his voice.
"Dad everything he and Oswald said is a 100% factual. You know Una knows when someone is lying better than anyone else on the island. When we were with Alvin we asked him everything that Oswald's claimed in this story. Alvin confirmed it and Una said he wasn't lying."
"It was true, Daddy. I didn't sense any deception, no ulterior motives or any evil. Everything is true. Everyone just wants to defeat Axel, regain control of both their islands and tribes and form an alliance."
"How can you be sure you're not being deceived?"
"Sometimes you've to trust your heart and guts, Dad and we just feel this one is genuine. Beside there nothing for him to truly gain by lying at this point either. You seem to be letting a lot bitterness be clouding your judgment." Hiccup pointed out.
"Hiccup…"
"Stoick, if we can't trust our own children who can we trust? And they only are speaking the truth and you know it. You told them before anyone showed up how hard it is to be a leader and this is one of the hard decisions and difficult things they'll have to deal with when their time comes."
"Valka not the time."
"I feel it's the time whether you like it or not for a teaching moment and a reminder that you were like a yak who couldn't stand up when you tried to lead at first. May I remind you of that?" she retorted icily.
"Daddy couldn't do the job of chief at first?" Una said blinking her eyes in surprise as they all were.
"No-one believed your father had in him and Alvin was one to laugh and joke about it. Though everyone starts off wobbly and a fool. They make mistakes and learn as they go. No-one is perfect Stoick, not even Odin is. And people do change.
You did change in many ways and not in other ways but large or small people change. Sometime for the better sometimes for the worse but everyone is deserving of a second chance.
I can't understand why you won't give your childhood best friend a second chance. Not like my childhood best friend gonna get hers! The least you can do is give yours one!" Valka was practically vibrating with rage and crying.
This was really confusing the children because they'd never heard of their mother ever speak of a childhood best friend. They didn't even know their mother had a friend as a child since she never mention one before. And what did she mean she wouldn't get a second chance?
"What Alvin did is completely different then what happened to your friend Frigha, Valka!" he argued looking like he completely forgot his children were there even.
Valka shot back with tears in her blue eyes as if she'd wanted to say this for years. "No, Stoick Haddock it is not different! On this it's exactly the same! You felt hurt and betrayed by your best friend! So did I! And there nothing that hurts more than feeling like your best friend stabbed you in the back!
The only real difference is that your best friend is still alive and still make amends for his mistakes and so can you for yours! Since it takes two people to fix a friendship.
I no longer have that luxury, Stoick! And I've not had luxury since I found Frigha hanging dead from her rafters when I was sixteen years old when all I wanted to do was throw her a birthday party! And this village hasn't once ever talked about how they are partly responsible for my best friend committing suicide because of their teasing her to no end!
And you wonder why I worry about the children and their depression so much! Again at least you have the time to fix your relationship with Alvin if you choose. I can't ever try and say to Frigha I was sorry I didn't realize she was in that much pain and need help and that I couldn't save her! So be damn lucky you can still save a friendship if you choose to!" she yell at him then ignoring the shocked look on both her husband and children's faces stormed out of the house crying.
"Val! Val wait! Valka!" and Stoick went after her.
The kids looked at each other in stunned silence. They still weren't fully sure what had gone down with their father and Alvin other then it must have been thought of as a betrayal of friendship. But to know a suicide had happened on Berk? And it was their mother's best friend? She had seen it? And that no-one talked about it? And that's why she feared so much about them?!
That was a whole new can of worms and they didn't even have time to think about it as Astrid screamed at them someone had placed dragon root in the arena and now the dragons were trying to kill each other.
What happened in the next half hour no-one would ever quite be able to figure out because it was utter mayhem and so much happened in a short time so no-one really knew how it happened or what really went down for sure.
All anyone was able to piece together was somehow the Riders got trapped with the Dragon Root inside the Arena. Alvin, Oswald, Dagur and Heather joined Berk in fighting after Axel revealed himself as the one who planted the Root.
At one point Hiccup got shoved into Axel and inadvertently absorbed his memories. Stoick and Valka showed up to join their fighting and were able to save Boden and Una from being attacked by two of the deadlier men of Alvin but at the cost of them being knocked out and taken hostages.
Axel made a simple demand to all of Berk. That everyone on his hit list at till sundown the next day to show up on Outcast Island ready to die or he find the most tortures and agonizing slow death for Stoick and Valka.
Watching their parents being taken away from a high cliff made all three of them drop to their knees crying their hearts and souls out and even their dragons let out a mournful cry.
And if they needed icing on the cake of bad news in the morning they found out from Fishlegs that Screaming Death was at least coming back to Berk and with that they were ready to give up and go die. They fled to house to Hiccup room and cried.
They just wanted to give up and die. This was too much. They couldn't do it. They didn't have the strength or will to go on. They couldn't do it. There was no hope, hope was gone, and life was over. Evil had won. They're finished. Time to roll over and die.
But there were a few people not about to let them give up and throw in the towel. And one of them was someone who had made it her job to watch over their family and protect them and make sure they'd reach their destiny one day.
So as they sobbed that same golden silhouette that had shown up to save Hiccup from being killed by lightning walked into the room which filled with a faint warm golden glow.
They didn't notice the golden sparkly glow in the room but they did hear the beautiful voice speaking to them as it fill them up with such love, hope and happiness like a hug for their soul.
"You mustn't give up like this. You three are extremely important souls. You have to continue to fight even when all hope is gone because you three are the light of hope to others when there no other light for others to see.
You must always remember who you are. Remember all the gifts you were blessed with. You're keen minds, your pure hearts, and each of your blessings and your amazing talent for friendship and a family that you love and never will abandon.
Don't give up and never give in and if fall down just get back up again. Remember to keep try everything and you'll always win for the one thing evil will never understand is the love you share.
None of you are alone in your suffering even when it feels like you may die, you're not alone. You are one of many souls part of a beautiful tapestry of such a grand design the parts you've yet to play will weave into such a beautiful pattern will be greater than the pattern that already exist.
You're already part of a great legion and those who will follow you will carry on a beautiful torch of three valiant souls who will created a world of beauty and freedom from their outstanding courage, bravery and honor. So out of respect for life you have to continue to endure."
"Huh? Who there? Who said that?" they looked up for the source of the voice but the room was empty. Then they all let out a yowl of pain as Hiccup griped his head in pain and Boden and Una held their ears as is their bleeding. But they took a deep breath and slowly they seemed to stop being in pain.
"Oh my gods! He didn't! No! Hiccup did you see what I think you saw?!" demanded Boden anxiously to his older brother who looked at his little brother.
"Did the dragon souls I just see in what Axel's black heart consider golden tell you what I think they did?"
"Did you both hear and see what Oydis herself just told me her evil nephew did to her and what he's been conspiring to do since he was only six and half years old?!" cried Una in a panic as her brothers nodded.
"We need to get to Oswald, his kids and Alvin and get to Outcast Island now and save Mom/Mommy and Dad/Daddy and stop Axel once and for all!" and they bolted and got the four people and told them they needed a secret way to get into Outcast Island and to stop Axel before he murdered more people like how he murdered Oydis.
Everyone looked at them like what did they mean he MURDERED Oydis and they said they explain on the way the whole truth about how Axel came into power and the source of his power.
As they flew to Outcast they explained what the memories from Axel own black heart had revealed to Hiccup.
That Axel had felt unimportant, insignificant and neglected as a child and that he was also a bit of an outcast in a more peaceful Berserkers tribe under his uncle control. That he resent his family and he lusted for blood, death and tormented. It was all he thought and fantasized about.
That one day when he was exploring by himself after a week of terrible tsunami hit several island just missing their island. He found a small hidden lagoon and in it was these dragons that were called Slitherwings that the tsunami had unintentionally brought.
Slitherwings look like giant snakes colored red, black and yellow with wings and everything about them is poison. Their poison kills in a day. And yet somehow Axel was immune to their poison for some reason and because he was such a fiendish snake himself he was able to befriend them and he was able in his own weird way 'train' them.
That where Boden took over the narrative. The dragons may've liked having a kinder poison human brother at first and didn't attack him and then started doing his bidding and one even became his pet. One with a mutation in color where it was bright blue, crimson and red-violet. This one he named Last Breath.
But this 'friendship" between Axel and the Siltherwings came at a price over the years. He started to disrespect them and abuse them when they didn't do his bidding.
His bidding and demands over the years were too slowly help him sway the people of his tribe to ally with him with the promise of going back to the old ways. He was able to charm, manipulate and smooth talk a lot. And for those who didn't get with program he fed to the Siltherwings. He also started to experiment with their poisons which as he was immune he could collect and mix with other poison to play with as it was a toy.
And he also used it to get rid of people he simply disliked or got in his way. He used on his mother when he was eight when she had simply been discipline him for his misbehavior. He slipped the venom in his mother's evening drink and she was dead.
But it was his Aunt who got wind of his conspiracy plot when she had followed him one day when she had caught him sneaking off.
Una told this part for Oydis told her herself and for Dagur and Heather they remembered that day. They could see it in their mind's eye perfectly. Their beautiful mother who they always thought looked like a dark haired version of what Odin's wife was supposed to look like in legends.
She'd been tall with a fit curvy body long raven black hair neatly styled in two bejeweled braids that reached her fur boots. Though her battle armor been worthy of the goddess; her casual wear had been a royal purple top with a dark blue leather skirt, with golden accessories plus a pink flower in her hair, and the same green eyes of her family.
Still she'd been spending time with her children trying to help her children each with their problems and sent them home to do their chores when out of the corner of those startling green eyes she'd seen her nephew. Sensing something wasn't right she'd followed and discovered his secret and overheard speaking to Last Breath and all the Siltherwings how his plan would soon come to fruition after the next treaty signing.
She'd made her escape to go warn her husband of her nephew's plan unaware that she'd been spotted fleeing or that Axel knew a shortcut. He'd got home before she did and then had Last Breath administrate his poison to her and she became sick and couldn't speak. Then died the next day without even getting a chance to warn anyone.
Now Oswald and his family were determined to avenge Oydis, but Hiccup and his siblings finally also wanted to know Alvin story with their father so asked him what happened?
Alvin finally told them what the deal was their father is indeed a very lucky man though he never realized at times that he could be insensitive to people especially his best friend. That sometimes he put duty when friendship was needed.
After all just because he was next in line to be chief and he had the most beautiful woman on Berk in love with him and all the good things in life didn't he have to sometimes come off as arrogant or not take his friends feeling into account?
Make them feel they weren't good enough as they were? That they weren't special enough as they were? That they're merely ants to the gods? Or that maybe they weren't as lucky to have something as simple as a loving home with family things that other had? That maybe they felt taken advantage or just not appreciated at times?
"Dad does sometimes come off as insensitive or realize when he's doing it," Hiccup admitted.
"He's done that many times in our lives. And he tries to not let being the chief get in the way of the family but it comes into conflict a lot of the time. Like that's how things started for us when we revealed who we really were. Or why we felt we couldn't tell him the truth about ourselves," Boden informed Alvin.
"And Daddy did like that painting of a lie over the real us at first and he maybe sometimes he does do more duty then heart. We want everyone to be friends and he sometimes thinks all there is duty and that you can't be both a leader and friend.
But we know friendship isn't about being a leader or ruling over someone. I mean we are supposed to forgive those who wronged us. Maybe we are being unfair to Snotlout. Given our past history with him and the Twins.
Mommy as told us to it is easy to nothing but it's harder to forgive and you said it to Alvin there is two sides to each paper and maybe we should be able to see both sides."
"I rather be someone friend at the end of the day. Friendship gonna last a lot longer and be more meaningful in life and death," agreed Hiccup.
"Also what happens if you just see someone not as a friend but as whatever the village saw Mom's best friend? She'll never get her back and now no-one ever talks about her so we didn't even know about her!"
"That's a shame and no wonder Mommy worries about us so much."
"Oh you mean Frigha Grul? Pretty woman she was. Petite, dark blue eyes, hair so red it was almost black. Though she was pretty shy. She was the best dancer in the village at parties though. However still. She and your mother got along well," Alvin spoke fondly.
"You knew this girl?" they asked surprised.
"Well you don't forget your childhood crush even when the meet a bad end. She was a pacifist. Hated anything to do with killing human or dragon. Blood made her queasy. She loved books and wrote beautiful poetry. She was an artist, lover and dancer."
"What happened to her?" they wanted to know.
"Well, opposite attracted in my case. I thought she was the most beautiful and wonderful person on Berk despite me being who I am. Still I did try and defend her from those who called her crazy. For whoever heard of a Viking who didn't want to be a warrior? Vikings are warriors born!"
"Still she was teased and tormented like your own mother was and I told your father many times to do something about it and he never did. And then on Frigha's sixteen birthday Valka wanted to throw a surprise birthday party and went to get her only to find her hanging from rafters with a poem about a black rose to tell her why she did it."
"That's horrible. None of us can imagine what that must have been like for our mother." Hiccup said for all of them.
"That wasn't the worst of it. I wasn't the only one who put part of the blame on both the village and chief for not doing his part to stop the teasing. I told Stoick if he'd done part of his job of future chief then she wouldn't have died either or agree with his father that it never be mention again.
That's one reason I've a feud with your father the other was because determine to prove myself just as important as him and still angry about Frigha's death I defied orders on a dragon raid and people got hurt."
"So Daddy banished when he became chief instead of seeing it from your point of few and admitting his own mistakes or our grandfather's mistakes and choosing duty over heart and friendship?" Una finally conclude.
"Yep. Now if we dive under this water here we'll get to a secret tunnel that Axel doesn't know about that is clean from my man inside and hopefully we can defeat him."
The Tunnel was actually cave where Mildew kept watch over Alvin's Whispering Death who they quickly deduced laid the eggs that the other Whispering Death that tore up Berk came from. Quickly they asked did that included the Screaming Death's egg as well?
Nodding all the eggs brought to Berk came from here. Writing a note home they start formulating a plan to get rid of the Screaming Death and take down Axel in one swoop.
Getting the Screaming Death to Outcast Island would be dangerous as they had to lure it there with the Dragon Root with the others following close behind. The rest of the plan had to hopefully play out accordingly and the others had to arrive on time to make it a success.
The first part of their plan seemed to play out well. Which was pretending to use Toothless, Stardust and Nightrainbow in a 'failed' rescue attempt to save Stoick and Valka.
Everyone was rounded up instead and allowed to say their goodbyes and the dragons locked in cages. Then Axel as they expected was looking at the sunset and about to start a long monologue about how he'd waited so long for this day when Hiccup cut him off.
"You know before you start on a long winded speech about how you've been planning this since you're six and half year old about we tell the story for you, Axel?"
"What?!"
"Yeah we know all about how you found that hidden lagoon that the tsunami brought a whole pack of Slitherwings and how you befriend them and you have a natural immunity to poison.
And that you've been plotting and planning for years to take over your uncle tribe and also seize control over the entire archipelago," Hiccup said in a matter of fact tone.
"We know how you used and abused these dragons who thought you were their friend till you became a slave master. But they're trapped and just your puppet master pulling their strings. Even the one with the skin mutation you call Last Breath," Boden carried on in a nonchalant way.
"We also know you are responsible for both the murder of your own mother and your aunt. You killed your mother who was displacing you for misbehaving which was your first murder and you killed your aunt so she wouldn't tell your uncle she'd uncovered you conspiracy plot," spat at the ground with disgust.
"You?! How did you?! You're lying?! You don't know anything! You don't know what you're talking about!"
"Oh so if we don't check your private chambers which you don't allow anyone into we won't find hidden behind the wall in a pool a bright blue, crimson and red-violet Siltherwings with a collar on it?" laughed Hiccup.
"You're bluffing!"
"And you're a vile fiend and you're a murderer! You took our mother from us! And you'll die for that Axel!" Dagur seethed getting a look of crazy on him.
"You never could stand we were important and you were nothing could you?" goaded Heather. "That you were just the cousin and we were heir apparent. Even if Dagur was called Deranged he was more important than you! Come on admit it! You've wanted to say it for 15 years just say it!"
"You pretty little bitch! You! Your mother! My mother! You all think and look alike! Why should that crazy lunatic be next in line to be chief! He's a nutcase! He doesn't need to be chief he needs to be shoved into an abyss! I've got all the traits of a leader and I'm a true Berserker!
You're family and my mother were fools! Traitors! I deserve to lead! I'm not gonna be neglect and shoved into the background again! You about to get what your slut of a mother deserved. She and my foul mother all go what they deserved.
I'm lord and master of life and death! I alone am special! And I alone deserve the power to lead! And I will kill all who get in my way! Yes I murdered your mother!"
While getting his confession he didn't realize they'd been getting out of their binds thanks to Boden teaching them his escape artist tricks nor had he notices the Whispering Death taking out his men, or that Mildew had unlocked the three cages.
And that's when chaos became chaos on level never seen. Because then the Riders and the Screaming Death joined in as the fighting was out of control. It was a wild mixt of Outcast, Berserks, dragons, Riders and throw in some Gronckle Iron weapons and a lot of recklessness it was so much chaos.
Still in the end everyone got what they wanted. The Screaming Death's mother was saved and the Screaming Death thanked everyone its own way being reunited with his mommy and then went with its family to find a home of its own.
All the traitors were rounded up in cages and going to be locked in a highly improved and better secured prison on Outcast Island.
Both Alvin and Oswald were both back to being Chiefs of their respective island with people who were truly loyal to them and that they could come home again.
Dagur and Heather had avenged their mother by beating Axel. They didn't kill him but he was locked up and they'd gotten rid of the Siltherwings which were glad to make their way home to their island tired of being Axel's murder weapons.
Stoick and Alvin finally made peace and forgave each other after 20 years and it was the beginning of what would become known as the Dragon Harmony Alliance.
All in all a great way for a bright new beginning.
Back home on Berk Stoick and Valka were hugging their kids to death after they'd told them what happened after they'd been kidnapped and how proud they're of them. Again telling them they'd all be fine leaders one day to which they replied they'd as soon leave it to them.
Then they turned to see Gobber coming up the path yelling news that Valka knew Ewe been dreading. Her husband had broken his silence and was rolling her eyes. "Oh dear, Ewe gonna be complaining at our next brunch about this."
"Yes, I'll have a lot to deal with a new talking Sven!"
"Yeah I can imagine for Fishlegs and Snotlout their sisters aren't gonna like their father is talking either. How are the Riders doing after your friends talk to them about the new rules, Mom?"
"Oh, we'll worry about that another time, sweetheart. Now please make sure you three are back home in time for dinner. You all three still have some chores too do. I also like to know your own schoolwork down as well. Please remember to take an extra dose of the potion tonight with all this extra anxiety we've had you'll need it!"
"Yes, Mom/Mommy we promise. You promise tonight to tell us all about your friend Frigha Grul?"
"Yes, I do. It's about time she's remembered."
"And also before you three take off to fly off to who knows where next please remember…"
"We know Dad/Daddy! Stay together at all times! Don't do any stupid stunts in the air. Geez! We're just racing once around island then going to spend the rest of the day chilling at our tree house!"
"Okay! Well, see you at dinner!" called their parents as they took off.
Laughing as they started to race a big smile lit up all three of their faces as they caught sight of all their friends who made up the incredible family on Berk and just thought they had a great home, a loving family and everything was perfect.
So who could ask for more right now? All they could do for now was wait till their next big adventure came along. Right now they wouldn't trade what they had for anything in the world!
