Chapter 41

Night snuck up on the ship. By which I mean you got bored waiting for it, so when it did arrive, it came as a complete shock. In that time, a thick fog had settled over the water; it felt like I was flying into the Red Death's nest all over again. Even without a breeze to jiggle the sail, Drago's flagship kept gliding forward, pulled from below by the tyrant. The rest of the fleet struggled to keep up, but Drago – apparently in a hurry – gave the order to keep sailing and let the fog swallow us up.

The fog was everywhere. It hid most of the ocean, and the top of the mast from view. The sky was pure white; if it hadn't been for my body telling me it was time to sleep, I would have doubted my assertion that it was night. It was like we were in our own little world, and nothing at all existed outside this ship.

I staggered to the center of the deck, sniffing, searching for friends I knew wouldn't be there. Just me, tonight. Drago and his men were sleeping. There wasn't even anyone at the wheel, although with the Bewilderbeast steering the ship, I knew that wasn't anything to be concerned about.

Hiccup?

Oh, joy. Another message from my favourite dragon in the world.

I know you are awake, the tyrant said.

What is it? I tried – tried – to keep civil. I may be untouchable, but as the tyrant had reminded me earlier, Toothless was not. I didn't think that Drago would be so keen to carelessly discard what may have been the world's last Night Fury, but he was crazy. They both were crazy. No telling what they would do if I pushed them far enough.

What is it you intend to do right now?

Nothing. Stare into space, I guess. See for yourself. I'm not planning anything, so you can stop threatening me. I sent him a picture of my exhilarating view of the damp mast.

I got something akin to a chuckle from him. I am not threatening you.

Not yet. You sure like to.

Because you keep fighting me! I felt the great weight of his mind press down on mine again as he tried to force me into submission. If you would cease this meaningless struggle, there would be no need.

Fine. Whatever. You win! I get that. Can't you just let Toothless go? I won't run. I swear it. Please! None of this has anything to do with him. Just let him go, and I promise I'll cooperate!

No.

Should have expected that. Still had to bite down on my tongue so I didn't scream. My tail wrapped around a coil of rope on the deck and squeezed, trying to crush it.

. . . We don't have to be enemies, Hiccup. I don't wish to destroy you. Not a child who brought a Night Fury to its knees. How could I, when you have such potential?

My stomach flipped over itself, as if trying to fun away. I brought my wings and tails close, shivering. What are you talking about?

I sense it in you, Hiccup. The blood of alphas runs in your veins. You are not like the other rabble. Don't you understand? You are not one of them. You are one of us – like Drago and I. You could join us and have this world within your control. I can feel that potential within you. You could be great!

His voice was a roar within my head, like a rushing river. The ship jolted to a sudden stop and mere feet away from the bowsprit, a huge shadow rose from the water. Chains rattled as a torrent of saltwater ran down their length. The tyrant sprouted up like a mountain, the tips of those curved tusks piercing through the wall of fog. There was no colour, just a clump of black where his body laid, and a glimmer of light from his eyes.

I can make you great, the tyrant hissed.

You're crazy. You've got to be if you think I would ever be like you!

You cannot deny your destiny. A swish of his tail, and the tyrant was close enough that his leering face protruded out of the fog. You are meant to rule.

That doesn't mean I have to be like you.

Like your king, then? And his voice was full of rage and scorn (was that jealously?). Then you are both fools!

I'd rather be a fool than a monster.

It is our right! The tyrant thrashed from side to side in his ranting; waves slopped over the rail. We are alpha! We are the strongest! It is my right to rule!
Mine!

I don't know how else to put it. He sounded like a child. He was like a little kid throwing a tantrum because he wasn't allowed to take another kid's toy. There was no thought behind his words, just blind greed and stubbornness.

And with that line of thinking, I couldn't help but slip. Grow up.

In a split second, my instincts took over. I hurtled backwards, and dove behind the mast. Ice bloomed on either side of the wood, jagged, cracking with horrible shrieks. It rolled up the rails and grasped at the sky. The chains snapped tight; the ship jumped as the tyrant cut off his icy breath, tossed his head skyward and roared.

Come out, Hiccup. Stand against me! I command you!

The tyrant howled, and it was like a beast had ascended from Hel to devour us all.

"Hey!"

Somehow, even though he wasn't on the deck yet, Drago's shout was easily heard over the tyrant's tantrum. He couldn't get through the first time, but the second time Drago threw himself against the door, the ice blocking it shattered. He swiped his unkempt braids out of his face and took one massive step forward, scowling at the ice under his foot. I pressed myself against the mast, trying to be invisible.

"What do you think you're doing?" Drago hollered at the tyrant. He drove the point of his bullhook into the ice covering the deck, as if to steady himself. "You idiot! What's the matter with you?"

The tyrant roared in frustration. He tossed his head like an angry bull; one of his tusks threatened to impale the sail. His growl shook the earth –

"That's ENOUGH!"

Drago suddenly jabbed his bullhook forward. I stared at him. The smallest trickle of disbelief found its way into my mind. Drago was insane. There was no way –

The tyrant flinched and fell silent. Drago took menacing steps, jabbing his bullhook forward each time. Every time, the tyrant retreated more and more, until he had slid under the water completely. Mere moments later, the ship started to move again.

No way. There was no way that had just happened.

Drago didn't even looked surprised. Or relieved, or even smug. He just looked irritated, like he had swatted a fly buzzing around his head. It didn't make sense. None of this made sense! How could a . . . a humongous creature like that be scared of Drago? It was unbelievable.

With a disdainful snort, Drago left the way he came. The door slammed shut behind him. The tyrant didn't surface again.

I pried myself off the mast. Swatted myself in the face. What I had seen . . . did that really just happen? Was it even possible? The king wouldn't have quailed under any human, even my mother. It just wouldn't happen.

I scampered over to the side of the ship, put my front paws on the rail, and peered downward at the ocean. A cushion of fog greeted me.

Hello? My mental voice seemed to echo within the chamber of my mind. Hey, are you there?

There was no response. My tendrils stuck out like whiskers, even wiggling up and down as I searched for the tyrant's presence. I must have been missing something. This wasn't right.

I felt him then. There were no words, just a twitch like a beast stirring in its sleep. Not a lot to go on, but I followed the tendril as best as I could. I hit a solid wall quickly. It was made of hidden emotions, radiating cold that hurt if I got too close. But what I did taste . . . it gave me the image of a small boy huddled in a corner.

I looked at my paws. My claws had dug into the ship. I pulled them loose, and landed back on all fours. I didn't know what to think anymore.

We reached land. The craggy, frosted island loomed before me menacingly. The whole island seemed to be covered in rock arches and caves with tunnels big enough that even a Bewilderbeast could walk through. But those arches weren't the main feature of the island; that would be all the wooden constructions. Guard towers haunted the shoreline (although who would want to attack this place was beyond me), with shuttered windows, and dark figures patrolling the top. They were connected by wooden walkways stacked with weaponry and assorted junk. From some of these walkway extended giant piers. I couldn't remember just how big the fleet I had seen had been, but if the pure space allotted to the ships was anything to go by . . . it was much bigger than any fleet Berk had to offer.

The chains connecting the ship and the tyrant went taut, and the ship stopped next to a pier. Men scuttled down the dock, holding spears and bullhooks of their own. They were all dressed for the cold with thick, heavy jackets. Most of them wore regular hats, but some of them wore a butchered polar bear head instead. The bottom jaws had been removed from these so that there was space for their face, but otherwise were mostly intact.

Someone carried a plank to the ship and bridged the gap between it and the pier. Drago, followed by a nervous-looking Ragnok, took their leave. A moment later, the tyrant surfaced and laid his tusks on the pier, demanding that the chains be removed. Several of Drago's men set to work on those as more scurried up the plank and onto the ship.

The ship's trapdoor opened. The first of the sailors scrambled above deck, shouting and tugging at something –

Although it was uphill, the dragon seemed to tumble and roll onto the deck. She was a blazing red Hobblegrunt with a rope leash around her neck, but her skin swiftly turned grey when some of the new arrivals poked at her with their bullhooks. She practically had to be lifted onto her feet, and then she followed along quietly as they led her off-ship. One by one, more dragons were released from the hold. I watched from the corner as the procession of prisoners marched deeper into the island.

There was a sudden delay in the proceedings. Drago's men struggled and shouted. Finally, they managed to fit Cloudjumper through the doorway. The Stormcutter couldn't resist growling at them, even as he obediently followed the rope's tugging.

Wait. He shouldn't be able to do that.

"Cloudjumper? Hey, it's me!"

Cloudjumper turned his head and looked at me. There was no other way to describe him other than defeated, and he knew it. His pupils weren't slits; the tyrant wasn't controlling him anymore. But it didn't matter. The tyrant didn't need to, because we all knew that any of us could have our minds taken over in an instance. Except me, but it's not like I was any help.

Cloudjumper hooted goodbye, and then set his eyes forward, accepting his fate. I couldn't do anything but watch.

Toothless, my mind whispered. Where was Toothless?

I called out for him. He hadn't been led out. Actually, I don't recall ever smelling him in the interior of the ship. Where was - ? My heart pounded once, and stopped working. The tyrant wouldn't have done anything to him, right? He knew what I would do. Toothless was okay. He had to be okay –

Okay, calm down. Just calm down. Breathe. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and was immediately assaulted by a miasma of confusion and terror. Using every bit of my strength, I shoved it aside. None of it mattered. I needed Toothless's scent.

And I found it. I tilted my chin skyward. Toothless was there, in the crow's nest. The moment our eyes met, he ducked inside it.

"Toothless? Hey, buddy. You see me, right?" I flew up to the sail's boom and perched there. "Look, we need to stay together, okay? I kn-know you're mad, but please. Just until we get out of this, and then . . ."

In a flutter of black, Toothless leapt out of the crow's nest and soared inland.

"Toothless!" I opened my own wings, and crouched –

I wouldn't do that, if I were you. The tyrant didn't even look at me when he spoke. Freed from his chains, he shook himself in relief, nearly impaling a few hapless souls who had been too close.

Yeah, I get it. I'm a prisoner, too, right?

You are the one who is insisting that. This is an opportunity, Hiccup.

Not for me.

I wasn't stupid. I flew inland, but I didn't seek out Toothless (if I had caught his scent and instantly turned myself in that direction, that was just my wishful thinking speaking). I circled one of the guard towers instead, dug my claws in and hung just beneath the lip where Drago's men stood. The view was great from here. That's what I needed. I needed to find out what was going on, and then . . . and then what? I didn't know. But maybe, just maybe, I would be able to pass my knowledge onto somebody or discover something that could help me.

This settlement, war camp – whatever it was – was a busy one. Dragon-drawn wagons hauled supplies back and forth. From the docks came mostly raw supplies - fish, wood, ore - that were ferried deeper into the island to be processed. From the island came weaponry, which were either stockpiled and stored near the docks, or were given to others to test. Fishlegs had said Drago wanted to build an army; this in front of me was proof that Fishlegs was correct.

What are you planning? I asked the tyrant.

Can't you tell? The tyrant stepped over the pier to get closer to me. With my dark scales and the shadow of the guard tower covering, I should have been invisible. Yet the tyrant's eyes were fixed on me. Soon, we will rule all.

Why? Why do you even want this?

It is my right, the tyrant said. There is no one who can stop us.

Don't think, don't think! I knew he was baiting me because he wanted to see. . . Yep. Couldn't help myself. Just showed him Berk's dragon riders. Of course, he knew just as well as I that they would be helpless against his mind-control. Lifting his chin to the sky, the tyrant purred in fierce victory. A cloud of hot air rose from his nostrils.

Then, I remembered.

The king will stop you.

In a flash, the tyrant's chin snapped down. He will not! He cannot! If he tries, I will strike him down. I am alpha. I am the only alpha! They will follow me!

You're –

I am superior! the tyrant snarled. I am stronger. I am alpha!

Yeah, this was reminding too much of how our last conversation ended. In a split second, I dropped from the guard tower and navigated the tight corners of the settlement. Hopefully, the tyrant was too big to follow me here. I could see him in the distance, stomping about in the water.

There was a flash of black in the corner of my vision. I stared at the spot I saw it so long that I flew straight into a pole. I ignored the pain. That had been real; I knew what had I seen.

"Toothless? Bud, you there?"

But if Toothless was listening, he didn't reveal himself. I sulked for a while. Then I had to leap out of the way, or be crushed by a wheel. I followed the wagon aimlessly.

I encountered a clump of the Nest's dragons. They pressed against each other, fearfully eyeing any who even glanced in their direction. Cloudjumper was at the fore, wings spread open to hide those behind him. His tail ran over the paws of the others, almost as if he wanted to hold their hands. Yet for all his efforts, the Stormcutter could do naught when the men came forward and dragged a fellow dragon out from his protection. He stared after his flock mate, literally vibrating with frustration. Then, he seemed to expel all his emotions with one great sigh, and bowed his head.

Suddenly feeling very small, I tiptoed up to him.

Cloudjumper didn't notice me right away, but a Nadder did and pointed him my way. He cocked his head, as if surprised to see me again. I moved slowly, trained my eyes on the ground; humbled myself before him. He barked, and curled in one of his forewings. Come here.

I stumbled toward him like a newborn, nearly collapsing against his body. Cloudjumper's croon was like parent singing to their child, and his wing fell over me in imitation of a comforting arm. I closed my eyes, and breathed in his scent. Anxious, yes. Frightened, of course, but a muted scent that told me he was doing his best to stay strong for the others. I should have helped him, I know. That was my job, too. But even if it was just pretend, it felt so good to be protected for once. It felt so good to be a child, and not me.

I buried my face in his scales, and cried.

Review Responses:

Jazz: I would agree with them that Drago is bloodthirsty, but I can't see him as a berserker. He doesn't feel like he enjoys the actual fighting, more like he enjoys having people fight for him.

Mini!Alpha!Hiccup anyone?

Anger and frustration. Hiccup has a lot of repressed feelings right now.

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Snowflake: Go Hiccup!