Author's Note: Whoo, longest chapter so far! :) Sorry for the wait! :)
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Chapter 6: Reunited At Last
Hiccup,
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"AHHH! OH THOR! OH THOR!"
"THIS IS THE WORST WAY TO WAKE UP!"
"THIS IS AWESOME AND SCARY!"
"I. HATE. YOU!"
"AHHHHHH!"
"Good madam!" I exclaim and look back at Astrid with an irritated expression as she lets out another long scream gripping my shoulders tightly. Stormfly banks right slightly and her bone shattering grip tightens. "Are you trying to break every ear drum I posses?" I demand rather calmly compared to the other teens screams of panic.
First flight.
Such a memorable moment.
Rest in peace my ears.
Astrid buries her head into my back finally silencing her screams, I am slightly impressed, she has a good set of lungs, I would have, however, liked to have discovered that a different way. Maybe being halfway across an island where it's a faint noise rather than my ear being a few feet from her screaming. The other riders let out a few more yelps as their dragons shift but for the most part remain silent.
After more than two hours after taking flight from Dragon Island, Astrid finally breaks the silence: "What's the plan?"
I let out a dry laugh, "Plan?" I repeat and look back at her from where I'm sitting in front of her on Stormfly. "I never have a plan, milady, let us go with 'winging it'." I say and her jaw falls slightly.
"Uh, you're kidding right?" Fishlegs asks with slight wariness. I shrug slightly tensing at the movment. Did I even think about the results on what would happen if I didn't follow Alvins stupid….Breathe, breathe. I'm pretty sure everyone here would prefer it if you didn't take their head's off. "So, I'm assuming you don't actually have a plan to get into Outcast Island." Fishlegs concludes.
I snicker softly, "Well if you have one, I'm open." I assure. A slightly awkward silence follows the comment.
"Ah! We could set ourselves on fire." Tuffnut declares cheerily.
"How would that help the situation?" Astrid asks drlyly.
"They will never see it coming, even I won't!" Tuffnut says chuckling.
"That is the worst plan I have heard all day." Ruffnut retorts.
"Oh, like you have a better one!" Her brother argues.
"I do." Ruffnut says and I look back at her, Snotlout, Fishlegs and Astrid doing the same all our expressions equally unimpressed. Even though I've known her for only a little less than a week, I do know that a plan doesn't actually exist. Seeing our looks Ruffnut folds her arms across her chest, "Alright, fine. I don't actually have a plan."
"Told you!" Tuffnut shouts and Ruffnut immediately punches his arm. Tuffnut rubs the limb and scowls before shoving back at her. I turn my attention away from the bickering siblings. I almost want to say that those two are close enemies trying to take each other out rather than siblings showing affection-in a weirder way than normal.
Stormfly jerks suddenly and Astrid lets out a yelp her death grip's death grip tightening. My ribs heavily protest and I give a small grunt through clenched teeth. "Steady, girl." I murmur to her. Or I fear the loss of my in one piece bones. "Astrid." I gasp and look back at her, "You're killing my lungs, mate. Loosen your grip, savvy?"
Astrid releases her grip slightly and my ribs and back sigh in relief. "Thank you."
She cringes slightly, "Sorry."
After nearly another half an hour we pass the markers for Outcast Island water. I release a steady breath trying to calm my jumping nerves, last time I came here, I almost died. This time will probably be the same results. Astrid shifts her grip to solely my shoulders instead of any part of me she can grab and I tense slightly but force myself to remain slightly calm even though I'm sure the tension on my neck tells the whole story.
"So, what is the plan?" Fishlegs asks almost carefully as if saying it just right will get him banished from the group. Get Toothless back and the Night Fury and then...I don't know from there. The other teens can't exactly bring their dragons back to Berk, they and the dragons would be killed on the spot, then properly trampled a little bit.
"So can I ask a stupid question?" Tuffnut asks after I don't answer.
"You sure can!" Ruffnut assures and I resist the urge to snort but hear Astrid give a small amused huff behind me.
"Thank you sister!" Tuffnut calls cheerily before pulling their Zippleback, Barf and Belch next to us. "Alright, so when we get Toothless back, what then?"
"What do you mean?" Astrid asks twisting around to look back at him, eyebrows arched in confusion.
"Well, call me crazy, but I don't think Stoick is just going to let us waltz onto Berk with dragons and then bing, we're all friends."
"He has a point." Snotlout notes.
Yeah, and just voiced my earlier thoughts. Creepy how that works.
Everyone is silent.
"You know what?" I ask and they all look at me, "Just use the two words I live by: Wing it." Almost works every time, I mean, I am still alive and have most my limbs, I haven't killed anyone yet. Well I don't know anyone unless you count those who want to kill me, or those I've stolen from then wanted to kill me, especially that crazy tall black dreadlocked Dargo Bootfist or something like that. He was not pleased when I raided him of dragons.
"Eh em! Earth to captain Freebird." Snotlout calls and I shake my head slightly snapping back into focus. "We're you even paying slight attention to what we just said?"
Ha, ha, no.
"Uh, sure. But just to make sure you understand, repeat it all I wasn't listening." I say and Snotlout gives an irritated breath before something rings through the air. My stomach twists in horrible knots; I pull up on the rope we managed to salvage from the wrecked ship wrapped around Stormfly for grip and she pulls to a halt the other dragons following.
"What are you doing?" Astrid hisses.
"Wait." I mutter.
"What are we waiting for!?" Tuffnut says but the sudden voice in the dead silent night is equivalent to grabbing a large horn and blowing in it, hoping that your close by enemies won't hear it.
I lift up a hand to silence anyone else before they decide to speak and look down at the island, less than twenty feet away. The setting sun in the distance does little for helping the seeing problem and I squint looking at the grey black island before a net and several bola's come rushing through the air. "LOOK OUT!" I yell and Stormfly jerks upwards at my shout but not quick enough.
Oh joy.
A net smacks into me, Astrid and the dragon below us as shouts start to ring through the air. "BRING THEM DOWN!" A voice roars and I let out a long yell as Stormfly starts to crash into the island, smacking trees, branches and other plant life.
Stormfly comes to a skidding halt and I'm thrown off her back, through the large net, hitting the forest floor sliding across it several feet. Oh, ow. That hurt a lot.
"That hurt." I groan and lift my head up staring at the other teens as they start to battle the Outcast ships and defenses and another fleet I can't place, Alvin was waiting for me. How did I miss that!? Stupid, stupid, idiot, vapid- focus now, insult yourself later.
I scramble to my feet and grab Inferno snapping the blade out and slice the flames down on the net, ripping it off of Astrid and Stormfly the twine still sparking slightly. "Go help the others!" I command and she nods staggering to her feet and climbs onto Stormfly's back.
"Come on, Stormfly!" She yells and looks back at me, "We'll wait for you!"
I take off running through the forest but twist around long enough to look back at her, "I know!"
I quickly tear across the dead trees with a skip in my step to prevent falling flat on my face, if I do, I'm not sure I can get up again.
I'm actually going to see Toothless. My brain just can't grasp this concept, it's been four months, four months. My soul aches to see him again, to hear his growl, feel his scales beneath my skin. Just to see him- if he isn't already dead. Stop it.
I move forward across the ground through the weeds and dead plants sticking up through the ground trying their best to trip me. It's almost amusing on how half of Outcast Island has life and plants the other half is very, very dead. Wonders of living on a volcano. An arrow whizzes next to my head and instinct takes over before my thoughts do. I leap left towards a tree, my shoulder ramming into the wood.
Ow. I hate wildlife!
I turn my head looking behind me as the several Outcasts there, lift their crossbows up preparing to fire. My eyes I'm sure pop slightly and I dive behind the tree hearing the five separate thumps as the arrow heads dig into the wood bark. I take it back, wildlife is amazing.
After waiting another endless second, I break away from the tree towards the cliffside the arena is under. The village is north of the arena, the mountains surrounding the small isle, dipping over the kill ring where most of the dragons are kept chained and muzzled, and unless Alvin was really thinking, I doubt he moved Toothless anywhere else.
"GET 'IM!" The Outcasts roar behind me and I glance back at them watching the large figures barrel after me.
Great.
I pick up the pace, the edge of the trees coming within sight. A few more arrows land behind me with thick, heavy thumps causing my quickened pace to move faster. I break through the trees in a full sprint, nearly tripping head over heal as I skid to stop looking at the men in front of me. Armed to the teeth with large weapons I watch them wide eyed for a second as my lungs plead for air. Right, breathing, it's a thing.
"Who are you?" I blurt watching them for several more seconds. They are not Outcasts, wearing dragon skin on several parts of their large figures looking between a mixture of Berserkers and Outcasts lacking beards. I've never even seen anything like these men before. Ever.
The seven men laugh and I shake my head forcing myself to remain focused. Plan. I need a plan, winging it is great but I'd prefer not to die when I'm so close to Toothless. "Never mind." I say after a second.
"You should give up now, boy. Put your arms up and maybe we'll go easy on ya'." One of the foreign men says. Heavy footsteps behind me declare the presences of the Outcasts soldiers who had started the chase.
Slipping my hand into my coat pocket, I withdraw Inferno keeping the sword covered by the edge of the sleeve as I slowly raise my hands into the air. "Right." I agree and pull down on the latch releasing the Zippleback gas into the air. Ha, ha, ha.
Smirking slightly to myself, I duck as I click the latch the explosive gas lighting instantly. Rolling forward between two men then to my feet I look back at the Outcasts and their allies I would guess giving a salute as they cough. "Good day, mates." I say and race forward towards the edge of the cliff leaping off the side towards the overhang.
My fingers scramble for grip to the long metal chain extending over the top of the ring, used for pulling it up when and if they ever do. My fingers miss it and my stomach plummets to my feet.
This was a bad idea.
My hands grasp the metal abruptly and I take in sharp breath wrapping my hands around the chain stiffly as I slide down the linked iron hitting the top of the metal enclosure with a soft ting from my peg leg.
"There 'e is!" A Outcast yells and I look up at them my posture dropping in annoyance. The Outcasts stare at me for a second and some of the other men turn racing down the mountain. Good plan, less likely chance of death. I mean, I barely made it. The other men turn chasing after their comrades as I stare down at the chain releasing a breath.
Battle sounds ring up around me distant but close, shouts of fury echo around the isle, light dancing across the sky like the sun. I owe my life to those Berkian's whether I want to admit it or not.
I stare down at the twenty foot plus drop maybe more my heart leaping into my chest as I hear a soft humming happy purr. Only one dragon can make that sound. A Night Fury.
Toothless.
I snap my head down to the arena and see it's been redecorated, the dragons stand on the outer edges of the concrete prison, chained to the walls with thick bindings, muzzles wrapped around every jaw. I hardly pay attention to the other dragons my eyes focused and trained for finding one thing. Changewings, a Scauldron, Speedstinger, Whispering Death and- "Toothless!" I whisper my voice barely above a croak.
The Night Fury meets eyes with me, the toxic green full of so much life. I feel like crying out for joy and a small sob of relief chokes me slightly. I move across the chains like a tight rope throwing my hands out for balance, walking, slipping, sliding and nearly falling down towards a heavy splat of a death until I reach above Toothless.
He watches me with precise eyes and I can feel his gaze on me even when I'm not looking at him. I slide through the chains and grip them with my upper body before looking down at my best friend, "Catch me."
I release the chain and Toothless scrambles forward towards me with a small roar of panic. I land on the top of his head with a soft thump and slide off of it throwing myself forward and hugging Toothless's neck tightly. He returns the hug nuzzling my back. He's here. He's alive! Everything is okay now.
Mostly.
I squeeze my eyes shut gripping Toothless's scales with all the strength I possess before pulling back. Toothless rubs against my chest and I laugh softly before getting to my feet. "I'm happy to see you too, bud." I assure quietly. Too long, far to long have we been apart, it's like someone finally clicked my broken pieces together.
I grab the muzzle wrapped tightly around his jaw and tug down on it the leather sliding from his scales slightly. I tug harder and after a second it jerks off, the force causing me to stumble back slightly.
I manage to regain my footing and move forward towards the other chains keeping Toothless bound to the wall. I scan around myself for a second before I grab inferno and pull the cylinder open, removing a thinner rod from the outward edges. I shove it into the locks and jiggle it around for a second. Come on, come on, the lock snaps the chain falling to the ground with a thick, heavy, thud.
YES!
After repeating the process a few more times, moving quicker, as I hear shouts in the distance, if I'm right, the run from the cliffside to here should only take about five minutes, I've wasted roughly four. The final chain lands on the ground with a thump and I release a breath I wasn't aware I'd been holding shoving the rod into Inferno and turning back to Toothless.
The door to the arena floods open at that moment, Outcasts and the other soldiers pouring into the room like a flood. I bite my tongue heavily to keep back a thick groan.
Toothless moves in front of me, growling lowly, teeth barred, posture tense.
I shove the small latch down on Inferno and the burning blade leaks through the hilt happily rising towards the air.
I grip the weapon with both hands and move next to Toothless pointing it out threatenly. Can't we just have one stupid streak of good luck!? Why is it every time we take one step forward, we have to leap ten steps back?
"I wouldn't do that if I we're ya' 'Iccup." A nasally voice says bringing up a flood of buried memories I wanted to keep properly at the back of my head to never, ever think about again. I bite my lip as Toothless tenses beside us, panic radiating off of him. It's terrifying, when Toothless is afraid, he'll leap forward and tackle it head on, teeth barred.
Alvin walks through the men, a svelte man following after him. I take Inferno into my left hand and point it out at Alvin as he walks forward, "I-I wouldn't do that if I were you." I warn inwardly cursing at how small and pathetic my voice sounds.
"'Iccup, 'iccup, 'iccup." Alvin chants, Toothless hissing lowly as he takes another step. Alvin pauses at it, but carries forward until he's less than five feet from the edge of Inferno. "Give up now and I'll go easy on ya'; How does that sound?" Alvin asks and I snort, Toothless beginning to pace his agitation out behind me, close enough to almost be walking on me. The last thing Alvin will do is 'go easy'. I don't believe that is in the man's vocabulary. If he has one.
"Insane?" I offer after a second to his earlier question, "Demented, delusional, stupid?" I offer with a small shrug. Alvin's eyebrows meet, an angrier expression playing across his face the man behind him watching me nearly impressed. "Really mate, I thought you would know me better." I add.
Alvin moves to take another step forward and I lift Inferno up threatening, silently challenging him. He knows I will and can defend myself with it, he's both seen and tasted the weapon.
With a move so fast it's blurry, Alvin knocks Inferno from my hand with a firm meeting of his axe and snatches my forearm dragging me towards him. I yelp slightly and Toothless's eyes narrow to thin slits, his breaths coming out as small puffs of smoke through his nose. Alvin lifts a dagger to my throat the blade digging into my lower jaw. "Tell your animal to calm down." Alvin snarls into my earth his hot breath pouring down on my face. I flinch slightly and watch Toothless for a second.
Calm down so they can chain him again? Ha I don't think so. Even if I did tell Toothless to, he wouldn't listen to me. He isn't an idiot.
I give no reply and Alvin shoves the blade deeper the metal stinging. With a roar of fury, back arched, Toothless leaps forward and tackles Alvin to the ground me and the man tumbling backwards. Toothless fires several small plasma blasts at the Outcasts and their allies as I dive forward towards Inferno grabbing the hilt of the weapon and stagger to my feet.
"Toothless!" I call and race towards him, practically throwing myself onto his bare neck, "Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!" I chant and Toothless fires upwards at the top of the arena's ceiling before with a powerful leap, jumps off a Outcast's shoulders towards the newly created hole and through it. I duck into his neck gripping what I can of his scales, my fingers sliding back.
"STOP THEM!" Alvin roars.
Toothless's talons hardly touch the ground as he tears across Outcast Island, "Head for the Night Fury." I manage to voice through the heavy pounding of my heart. Toothless gives a brisk nod and if I hadn't been looking for it, or been so intune with him, I would have missed it. Arrows, spears and bola's are thrown our way but Toothless is a blur; the bola's even when thrown at a close distance miss by a good ten feet, the spears and arrows acting the same way.
I chance a glance upwards towards the Berkian teens battling the Outcasts and looking in dire need of assistance. After nearly two minutes I spot the dock in the distance, the wooden planks and boats next to them have never looked more welcoming.
So close, so close.
Toothless leaps onto the dock, spreading his wings and glides down towards the ship he and I know by heart.
000o000
Astrid,
Exhilarating with a side of terror.
The best way to explain my predicament. The battle has been ongoing for about half an hour now and so far, we are losing, terribly. I'm amazed we've lasted this long at all. Stormfly banks right, pulling away from another round of arrows and I grip the rope wound around her middle tighter my fingers starting to turn a pale shade of white.
"Ruff, Tuff!" I shout in warning as a boulder flies up towards the bickering siblings.
"AH!" Tuffnut shouts in panic pulling Belch's head left, they'd named their dragon in the middle of the battle after a Dragon Hunter made fun of them for it. Barf and Belch barely miss the large rock and I give a satisfied smirk looking down at the fleet of ships my satisfaction falling as quickly as my smirk.
Come on Hiccup, where are you?
"ASTRID!" Snotlout yells towards me and I twist around watching a small valley of arrows heading towards me and my dragon. I give a choked yell of surprise and Stormfly twists around spinning to avoid the sharpened wood in metal, flipping upside down.
My death grip on the rope falters and I fall from her back heading towards the ocean below. My stomach leaps into my chest my eyes widening as my bangs fly away from my face a scream escaping my lips.
This is it.
After everything we've been through the last few days, I'm going to fall to my death. Funny Hiccup said that's how this entire mess started and how it ends for me.
A piercing scream like something battling heavily against the wind rings through my ears and I hardly have time to process what it is before a claw wraps around my foot jerking me from my descent. I twist my body upwards looking at the jet black dragon, "Did you get her?" A voice asks the sound of it causing relief to flood through me.
Hiccup.
Toothless pokes his head down looking at me and my face breaks into a smile as I stare at the gummy one he gives me. Toothless tosses me slightly switching his position so his talon's are wrapped around my shoulders and tosses me onto Stormfly's back before carrying forward, rider leaning into his saddle.
Hiccup and Toothless spin through the air as if it was made for them firing plasma blasts down at the boats with ease. It's obvious they've done this before, several times. Toothless barrel rolls and blasts on several ships before diving down and landing on one.
Hiccup looks up at us, a smaller dot from where he's on the Night Fury's back, he waves his hand for us to come down towards the ship; the way he's moving his limb seems to say that if we don't something very bad will happen. "Come on guys!" I shout and direct Stormfly towards the wooden vessel, the other riders chasing after me.
Stormfly lands on the boat as it makes it out to sea quickly getting from the range of the bola's, arrows, and other weapons the Outcasts and Dragon Hunter's have. Dragon Hunters, the thought is weird to me. Berk is an island that kills dragons for sport but hunting them, that just makes my brain spin.
Stormfly lands on the deck, followed by the three other dragons and I look at Hiccup. "What now?" I demand breathlessly.
"We head for Berk." He answers without missing a beat. "Once we're there, I'm not sure." He admits with a small smirk looking back at me, green eyes alight. The sudden life almost startles me, had they really been so dead before?
Hiccup climbs off of Toothless's back lifting his hands up almost to calm him before climbing up the bowsprit and salutes the Outcasts close enough to us, one of the which I can see is Alvin. Hiccup's gaze lingers on the man before saying, "May you all remember this day, you almost caught the captain of the Night Fury."
Author's Note: Make mock Pirates Of The Caribbean qoute check. *Checks off imaginary list*. :) :D this is currently at about 17,000 words which is almost long as the original was...it just barely hit the half way mark in this one. :)
Okay next chapter, "If he dies, I die too" will be out as soon as I get it done
Please review!