So. Three months. I'm sorry I don't have an original excuse for why this took so long. As with most people on this site, Life just got in the way and also I found it incredibly hard to write the first half of this chapter as it slows down the pace from the last few. So now for the people who where waiting for this story I want to give you an idea of how long you could be waiting for the end of the story. This chapter pretty much wraps up act one of three acts I am planning (at some point) to write. The other two acts might not be as long due to the fact that I had to establish four new characters in this one. (Possible spoiler alert) You may notice some thing new brought into this chapter. It is a minor plot point/visual effect from HTTYD2 but if you still haven't seen it here is your heads up. The reason I added this is because I would like to, one day, update this story for a post-HTTYD2 universe and the less I have to rewrite the better, also its pretty cool. Anyways I hope this mega 5000+ word chapter makes up in some way for the 3 month delay.
When I awoke my body ached. I discovered bruises and scabs all over my body. The Great Hall was nearly empty now as all of those who were blinded by Arbiters last assault would have regained their sight by now. I grabbed a plate and found some breakfast, or I guess lunch, as I had slept until midday. As soon as I took my first bite I realized just how hungry I was. I didn't have time to recall just how many meals I had missed the previous day as I scarfed down the contents of my plate and went back for seconds. I exited the Great Hall and I saw that Berk was mostly deserted. I walked over to Hiccups house and entered to try to find Starfire. Where was everyone? I decided not to go to Hiccups room to ask him where she was as he would either be gone or still sleeping and not know where she was either. I exited the house and focussed my dulled senses. There was a faint intermittent thudding sound coming from the beach so I decided to investigate.
I found the rest of the town. The villagers and dragons were all aiding in the efforts to prepare the beach for the raiders. Catapults were being placed into position and boulders were being cut for use as ammunition. Tree trunks with sharpened tips were being sunk into the sand and pointed out towards the sea. Starfire was not among the dragons helping the construction effort.
"It's not much but it 'ill help" Stoick said from behind me, surprising me.
"But it wont stop them." I said blankly.
The chief sighed and settled his posture next to me and said "No there ships outnumber ours and Alvin's combined and i've got a feeling that they are better equipped too.".
"Alvin should have extra weapons ..." I started but then I was cut off by Stoick.
"Aye but the ones he is willing to share will only arm a few dozen of us" Stoick said with a defeated scowl.
"If I could find Starfire I could see if his perspective on sharing would change above the clouds." I offered.
There was a small chuckle in his throat but he still spoke with the same defeated tone "No I will talk to him again but either way a few dozen more armed vikings wont change the end result.".
"Which will be?" I asked unnerved by this hulking warriors lack of optimism.
"We may win the fight but with the losses we will undoubtedly suffer it would be likely that the survivors would find no reason to stay. Win or lose this may be the end of Berk." The chief stated with hurt in his voice. I remained silent, unable to come up with any reasonable argument against him; The worst part was that there probably wasn't one. "One thing that Hiccup told me that I never understood was what you said after you woke up. 'I won't run away but I am not staying on this island'. That was some time ago and now you have your dragon so why haven't you left to find your tribe?" the chief asked.
"The only reason I found Starfire and am alive today was because of Berk. I ..." I stated but was cut off by the chief again.
"You ... have done more than enough. You have given us new strategies and protected us from countless threats and most of all you protected my son. Gobber even tells me that you 'elped out more in the forge than Hiccup. You have no debts to us." Stoick stated. I remained silent. "With the odds we are facing I would tell my own people to flee if it didn't mean some would be left to die. Whatever you decide make sure your acting for no one but your own 'eart." Stoick said and then left to oversee the rest of the preparations.
I watched the preparations as I contemplated my options. I didn't help because I knew that I would either need my strength for the battle or for my departure.
"Hey Freya" Hiccup said from behind me landing with Toothless and startling me.
"Oh ... Hi Hiccup ... hey." I said nervously. We shared and awkward moment of silence before I broke it. "Have ... you seen Starfire at all?" I asked.
"No. That was why I was out flying. I woke up and noticed that she wasn't in my house so I went out looking for both of you. I made a whole loop of the island before we spotted you here. Wherever she is she is not on the island." Hiccup stated with a concerned tone.
"What!? Where would she go?" I asked desperately.
"I don't know. I'm sure she will be back though. I was going to try to get the group together so we can practice our defensive strategy. I could give you lift to the academy if you want." Hiccup said.
"No ... I'm not going to be able to practice any strategy without Starfire anyways ... if she comes to the academy let me know." I said. Hiccup nodded and then left without another word.
Where would she go? The impossible and improbable answers started flooding into my head. Did she try to attack the approaching armada by herself? No she was smart enough to not try that. Did Arbiter and Helios come back in the night and take control of her? No someone would have spotted them and raised the alarm. I made my way back to the great hall and sat on the approaching steps. Hours past as I sat and pondered where my dragon had gone.
Finally I heard the sound of wings as a dragon landed behind me. I turned around to see Starfire. I should have been mad at her for leaving the island and scaring me but my relief at the sight of her was overwhelming. I walked up to her and greeted her by scratching her chin and getting on my knees so that I was eye level with her.
"Hey girl. Where have you been? I kind of got lonely without you around." I said softly. Without warning she let something round, colorful, and covered in saliva out of her mouth.
"Ugh! What is that?" I said in disgust.
Starfire nudged it forward towards me. Since I was on Berk I had learned that this behavior was common with dragons and they expected people, other dragons, and mates to eat whatever came out of their mouth, as a kind of peace offering.
"Fruit of some kind. You know I would love to eat this ... but ... I have never seen it before and I don't know if it is edible." I embellished, trying anything that would allow me not to eat the saliva covered fruit and still not offend Starfire. Unfortunately, Starfire nodded her head and gulped saying that she had already tested the fruit.
"You know what, I'm not really hungry and if you say you have already tested it I believe you ... so I will just ... save it for later." I said worming my way out of a potentially disgusting situation.
"Why did you leave the island to bring me this?" I asked. I was answered by Starfire looking over to the beach where the battle preparations were being made. She also gave a low hum that an indicator that she was concerned.
"You were scouting for a good place to retreat to." I said in a low, unenthusiastic voice. Starfire looked back to me and nudged me softly with her snout and her concerned hum grew even louder.
"I know it looks bad. I have thought about it too. The thing is are you willing to leave Toothless behind because I don't think he will be leaving without Hiccup and Hiccup is definitely staying to fight." I laid it out for her. Her concerned hum turned into a more mournful one and I could even hear small whimpers as she lay her head down next to me in both frustration and sadness. I petted her in an attempt to comfort her. After a while her expression hardened and her hum stopped. She got up and lowered her wing to allow me to climb on her back. Her decision was clear but I had yet to make mine. I Looked back over the town. I wished I could call this place home. Sometimes when I was in Hiccups home I fantasized that I was home, living with my brother and father. That would be so much simpler. To just know and accept your life. But I couldn't stay happy like that for long. I was like a puzzle piece that wasn't meant for this board. The more I examined the edges of my piece I saw how the once completed puzzle now looked unfinished and awkward with an unneeded piece. Finally I would think of my own family, my own puzzle. How incomplete it must look with a whole piece missing.
"Okay. Show me this island." I said as I mounted Starfire and we took off.
It was nighttime before we started flying over land again. The attack would be underway or just starting now. My guilt weighed heavily in my stomach. I had left without even a goodbye. Hiccup might still be expecting me to show up at the academy to go over defensive tactics. Hopefully Stoick could explain where I might have gone and eased everyones doubts. I looked down at the dark island below me. This was my home until I could find my real one. After seeing how barren and lifeless the other island was I knew Berk was the best place to be. I dived down to the cliffs and was immediately greeted by Hiccup.
"Freya! I thought ... my dad said that you might have..." he stammered.
"Yeah ... I thought about it ... well ... more than thought about it ... but the truth is that I haven't made any progress in finding where I belong. I meant what I said when I first got here ... I am not going to stay here forever. But ... I'm not going to leave until I'm sure there is a better place for me to go." I explained.
"I'm glad your here." Hiccup said with a warm smile.
"No just listen, before I risk my life you have got to make me a promise ... if we survive this ... you have to find some excuse to take me to all the tribes that you know of. Even the ones your not on good terms with." I said.
Hiccup looked skeptical at first but then said "I think we kept our dragons a secret from the other tribes for long enough.".
"Great Freya's back. Now I don't have to hunt you down if anything bad happens because you weren't here." said Astrid, obviously feeling betrayed that I had left.
"Nice to see you too Astrid." I replied.
"Your hunting days are over, young lady. The commanding Guardian of Berk simply won't have time for any hunting." Hiccup said with a sly smile. A smile grew on Astrid's face despite her attempts to suppress it.
"Do you even have the authority to give me that rank?" Astrid asked.
"Of course ... and even if I don't, I don't think my dad will object" Hiccup said.
"Not bad" Astrid said to herself as she continued to try to suppress her smile. I followed Hiccup and the rest of the group to the cliffs near the docks. There were several dark shapes on the water sailing around from the far side of the island. They were already very close to the bay that had been prepared for their landing.
"So dose someone want to give me the gist of what strategy you were practicing today." I said warily with my eye on the dark shapes that continued to spawn from the dark outline of the island.
"Alvin's and our fleet will attack from the sea and contain them to the bay. My dad will lead the forces on the beach and they don't have many weapons so most of there contribution will be firing the catapults. Our job is to cripple any ships that get too close to shore. Do not sink them. Hopefully the crippled ships will make it hard for the rest to land and it will keep them in range of the catapults and not fighting on the beach." Hiccup explained.
"Now thats a plan." I complemented Hiccup and he smiled. We were all silent once again as we saw mortars being lit on the beach. Someone fired one far out into the ocean when the ships were still out of range. What I thought was a misfire turned out to be a signal. The combined Outcast an Berk fleet rounded the opposite end of the island. It only took a few minutes for all the ships to make a curved line extending out to sea and funneling the raider fleet. The ships were the first to engage each other as somewhere around ten of the much larger raider ships broke off and attacked the fleet. Boulders flew from one ship to another. Ships collided and the crunch of wood could be heard and immediately followed by war-cries mixed with the clang of swords and axes. The twins inched forward on their Zippleback but were halted by Hiccup.
"No we attack the ships that get close to the shore." He commanded and the twins waited. As we watched the ships come closer to the shore I couldn't help but notice the raider ships were still rounding the island. I don't know if it was just the darkness playing tricks on me but that definitely looked like more than thirty ships. The catapults on shore started firing. The whole first volley landed in the ocean and didn't hit any ships. The second volley was fired surprisingly quick after the first due to the amount of unarmed Vikings with nothing to do other than help fire the catapults. The fiery boulders arced over the ocean and two made contact with the first ship. The damage was significant but did nothing to slow the ship down.
"Get ready." Hiccup warned "Fly in a line with a few seconds delay between us. If the ship gets crippled before you fly by it don't waste your shots.". At that Hiccup and Toothless launched off the side of the cliff. After a few seconds Astrid and Stormfly did the same. I had Starfire step up to the cliff next. I counted the delay and then signaled for Starfire to fly. We picked up speed in a dive and as I leveled out I saw Toothless take the first shot at the foremost ship's mast. The wood splinted and creaked but did not break. After Toothless flew over the ship several nets and arrows flew up from the ships deck. Unfortunately for them Toothless was far too fast to be hit by an arrow or net fired after him. Astrid hit the mast next and set it on fire. No nets or arrows accompanied her as they did not have time to reload. Starfire proceeded to the ship at a rapid pace.
"Right there. Hit the mast again." I directed to Starfire. After a second, Starfire shot and another purple explosion hit the mast. It was going to fall now. I could hear the wood groan as I flew over the ship. Arrows were loosed after us but we dodged them all. I was surprised that there was no net loosed after me. The mast started to lean and, after a loud crack, fell on the ship. It stopped dead in the water with no way to move. Snotlout and Hookfang, who I now saw were behind me in the formation, disengaged and started climbing. Without a sound a net was fired directly at them. It wrapped around Hookfang and forced his wings to close. Almost immediately after they were caught the Monstrous Nightmare set itself on fire and burned the ropes off. Hookfang caught the burning remnants of the net in his talons. They looped around and dropped the burning ropes on the now horizontal ships sail. The sail set on fire quickly and soon the whole deck was enveloped in flames. As the rest of the riders pulled up the catapult's from the beach fired again. The two ships that were following the lead one were hit. The force of the boulders hitting the ships forced them into each other and the were halted as they tried to push off of one another. Hiccup signaled for us to go back to the cliffs and we all landed.
"Jeez Snotlout what part of don't sink the ships didn't you understand." Astrid scolded.
"I didn't sink the ship!" Snotlout protested.
"How long do you think that ship is going to stay afloat with the entire deck on fire!" Astrid explained.
"Hey there was no way anyone could have dodged a net fired right at them. It's not my fault." Snotlout exclaimed.
"Astrid he is right. It's not his fault, it's mine. If we attack in one line they will be able to anticipate where the next dragon will come from. We were lucky that it was Snotlout that was hit, anyone else might not have been able to get free of the net." Hiccup explained. "Ok ... everyone attack at random, stay above the ships and out of sight and out of range and when a ship gets too close dive down and attack.".
With the new plan we took off and stayed high in the air. I could see the ship we attacked first was now a blazing light in the dark ocean below. The outcast and Berk fleets were engaging more and more ships as the raider ships continued coming around the bend of the island. However, they seemed to be holding their own very well as not a single ally ship had been sunk yet. The two raider ships that had crashed into each other were now pushing off of one another. One joined a group of two other ships that were headed to the beach. The other ship wasn't moving and it seemed like it was crippled. The damaged ship in the group of three sailed wide and split away from the other two ships.
"Attack the two ships but stay clear of the loner. Lets hope the catapults can deal with that one." Hiccup ordered. Hiccup dived to attack one of the two ships and as soon as the purple ball of flame appeared on the ship the catapults on the beach stopped firing. Astrid dove and then the twins and finally Starfire and I made our attack. After my shot hit the mast there were no arrows or nets fired at me. It seemed that the new plan was working. After Fishlegs and Meatlug fired at the ship the mast toppled and fell on the other ship in the group. Astrid and Snotlout had chosen to fire on that ship so the mast was partially weakened. The weight of the other sail hitting it was enough to topple it too. I immediately turned my attention to the loner ship. It had made significant progress and was very close to the beach. The catapults on shore were firing at it now as we were nowhere in its vicinity. A volley of flaming boulders reached towards the ship. Two hits. The ship continued moving. Another volley. One hit. The ship limped onwards. It was only feet from the shore now. Another volley hit and I breathed a sigh of relief. The ship keeled and sunk before it could reach land. I was about to turn back to the cliffs to give some rest to Starfire but I glanced back over towards the raiders incoming fleet. five ships were approaching the burning ship in a tight formation. I looked to Hiccup. We would either attack them or let the catapults attack them but we couldn't do both. Hiccup signaled the dive and we all attacked.
I dived, hit the mast, and climbed to the clouds again. I looked at the damage we were causing and no masts had fallen. I dived again and again and the masts were standing strong. I leveled out and surveyed the ships yet again. Hiccup was giving Astrid cover fire as she attempted to grab something out of the ocean. As she pulled it out I realized that it was Fishlegs and Meatlug caught in a net. All three of them retreated to the cliffs. Snotlout and Hookfang fired once more at a mast and retreated with them as I assumed Hookfang was out of shots. The catapults started firing again and the twins stopped their attack and retreated. The catapults weren't doing anywhere near enough damage to the ships and, what damage the did cause was all in the wrong places. These ships would definitely make it to the beach.
"Think, come on think!" I prompted myself, desperately for any plan that could stop the ships. An idea popped into my head but then I immediately scolded myself for thinking of it. I needed to think of other plans that didn't involve me jumping off of Starfire with no plan to get back on. Not to mention I would be stranded in a dark ocean and I still hadn't gotten over that fear. I tried thinking of any other means to fight but nothing came to me and the ships got closer to the shore. I finally gave up and went with the plan. I had Starfire fly over the beach and I waited for the next volley of catapults. The volley was released and we went into a dive. I stood up in the saddle and moved my hand to the back of Stafire's neck. I pressed down and black plates spiked upwards all along her spine.
"Okay I want you to charge up your spikes and plasma blast outwards." I directed Starfire. My orders were met with a concerned roar from Starfire. "Don't worry about me just fire it right when your in the middle of the ships." I commanded. We leveled out close to the ground and the plates began to glow blue and purple. I stood up further in the saddle and said "Oh yeah one more thing. Please come and pick me up after.". At that I jumped off her back and prepared for the icy, dark ocean waters below. As I was falling I saw Starfire spinal plate glow brighter. The sound of a plasma shot being built up whistled in the air. I hit the water feet first and my body clenched up in response to the icy fluid. When I finally stopped moving downwards into the icy waters I opened my eyes just in time to see a brilliant purple ball of light expanding above the water. It grew and grew and then, as suddenly as it was born it faded. I swam to the surface and caught my breath. All I could see in place of the ships was an inferno that was too bright to distinguish the ships caught in it.
"STARFIRE! STARFIRE!" I yelled between the waves. There was no sign of her after the explosion. I continued screaming her name from the icy waters. Finally I heard a Nightfury's roar and Starfire dived down and started hovering above me. Her saddle was all but obliterated with some straps of leather dangling off of her.
"Yes! That was amazing! We are doing that more often." I yelled as I motioned her to come lower so I could get back on. That would definitely block other ships from approaching as long as those ships kept burning. As she got lower, I caught something moving in the corner of my eye. Before I could turn my head to see what it was, Starfire and I were crushed together as a net wrapped around us. We sunk below the waters surface and Starfire started to squirm. Then pain. Blinding pain coming from my left shoulder-blade. I couldn't think as the icy salt water bit at my wound. Starfire had stopped struggling but the beat of her heart let me know she was still alive. My thoughts broke through the pain and I realized what must have happened. Starfire must had clawed me trying to struggle free from the net. She stopped moving once she realized this. Pain sprung from my shoulder laceration again as I felt the full weight of my body. We were pulled out of the water and being dragged up onto a ship. It didn't matter whether it was the ship that was crippled by catapults or simply that one of the five ships were not caught in the blast. We were in too close for a rescue. The net was finally lifted on deck and metal weapons glinted all around me. Fear was greater than pain at this moment. I was at peace with who I was fighting for and why, but that hardly gave me any comfort. I was afraid of death. More than others would be, I think. If I leave this world I would not only be losing my future but I would also never find my past.
The harsh voice of what I assumed would be the captan ordered "Keep them alive and under guard. The others won't attack us if we have one of their own. Keep us in the bay so we can cover the other ships.". It felt like an eternity passing caught in the net on the ship. I didn't bother trying to talk my way out of this as these men had come too far for a negotiation and I couldn't think strait with the pain pulsing from my left shoulder. I saw that a ship was passing this one and, as the captain predicted, it wasn't attacked by a dragon or catapult. I felt like I was going to pass out. My eyes started closing but then a glint from a metal weapon kept me awake. Why was that glint so bright? I opened my eyes fully and saw that the entire deck was brighter. It couldn't be morning yet. I turned onto my back and I saw that the clouds looked like they were turning into gold. Every second that past the clouds glowed brighter, burning with intensity. The crew on my ship stopped working to survey this strange occurrence. For the first time since I heard it I was relieved when I heard that screeching roar again.
One of the golden clouds bursted and revealed Helios descending rapidly. The massive dragon outstretched it's hind legs. Within seconds the ship that was passing us was crushed between the ocean and the full weight of Helios. Helios's front paws landed, more gently, on my ship. The dragon paused and then flapped it's enormous wings which caused the ship to keel to one side. When we stopped rocking from side to side I realized we were in the perfect position to see Helios and the Arbiter fly into the inferno Starfire had created. Helios reached down with his hind legs again and picked up a burning ship. They then raised up higher in the air and accelerated forward. Suddenly the burning ship was dropped on top of another approaching ship. Helios inhaled and held his breath for some time before letting loose a torrent of breath. Ship by ship the flames jumped from one to another and each of the ships burned as if they were filled with oil.
I was incredibly grateful that he had spared my ship as the fiery display looked horrifying. This thought also confused me a little as I remember Arbiter saying, just a day ago, that mercy was a quality that was only to be used when a victory was assured. I began to panic as I realized that I would have a limited time to get off this ship before it became the last one standing and 'restraint' wouldn't be an option in his eyes anymore. I looked out to Helios again and saw that he was no longer glowing. I closed my eyes and tried to cover Starfire's but the net was too tight. The flash blinded Starfire and many of the onlookers onboard. Some of them fell off and some of them thrashed around wildly. In all the commotion several weapons were dropped on the deck. I reached out of the net and grabbed a dropped sword. I began cutting the net and I glanced over at Helios. There was nothing but a trail of burning driftwood reaching around the island and Helios was now picking off the ships that had engaged Alvin. I started cutting the ropes faster.
I had cut a hole big enough for me and Starfire to squeeze through without being seen. I started hearing loud thumps that resembled the beating of wings. The ship started to rock as the sail inexplicably got sudden bursts of wind.
"We have got to go now!" I yelled as I got on Starfire's back. She shook her head as she was still blinded and couldn't see where to fly too.
"Strait ahead is fine! Go!" I yelled. At that Starfire burst out from the net and clumsily took off the side of the ship.
"Left!" I yelled as I pulled on her head. Starfire turned left and we very narrowly missed a burning ship.
"Ok just strait now" I instructed as we were headed towards the beach. I didn't even care to look back as Arbiter and Helios crushed the last ship. Come to think of it I didn't even care to know why he had come back to fight for us in the first place. I was alive. Starfire was alive. Now I had hope for my future and finding my past.
"Ok we are over the beach now. You can land." I informed Starfire. She seemed to think she was higher than she was as she came in for a hard landing. I was thrown from her back as she tumbled in the sand. I landed on my back and the sand rubbed into my shoulder wound. The pain was excruciating and as my body clenched from the original pain the sand ground together inside the laceration. It was too much. I saw red in the corners of my vision and it grew inwards until my mind gave up and everything turned black.