Hiccup stood in a defensive position, ready to protect the King of Dragons' egg. He glared at Krogan and Johann, waiting for one of them to make a move. He knew the odds were against him, but that didn't matter. He'd been fighting the odds since he was born.
Krogan began to run, probably hoping to get him from behind. Not going to happen. The future chief aimed his shield at the man and launched a bola from it. The bola wrapped around Krogan's legs causing him to fall over.
With Krogan out of the way, Hiccup turned all his attention to Johann. He was the bigger threat. He needed to be taken out now. But first, he had to get the egg to safety. As he bent to pick up the egg, Johann charged and knocked him over. Together they rolled away from the egg. Johann landed on top of Hiccup, pinning him to the ground.
Hiccup struggled to get free, but it was no use. Johann had the upper hand. The former tradesman began punching Hiccup in the chest and face. He laughed gleefully at the damage he was inflicting. This beatdown was a long time coming. He'd been waiting years to kill this hiccup of a boy. From the minute he laid eyes on him, he knew the child would be a thorn in his side.
Johann drew his hidden dagger, ready to stab the boy, only to end up grazing his cheek before hitting the ice. This caused more anger to boil to the surface as he screamed. He grabbed Hiccup by the shoulders and began slamming his head into the ground until blood began to cover the surface.
With Hiccup nearing unconsciousness, Johann picked up the dagger and thrust it into the boy's shoulder. He was going to take his time killing this pest. Hiccup let out a scream as his left side exploded in pain. Pain radiated throughout his arm. Johann yanked the dagger out, causing Hiccup to let out another scream as the pain was intensified tenfold.
The madman raised the dagger again to deliver another blow, only to be interrupted by a familiar roar and the sound of a plasma blast being fired. The blast knocked the blade from his hands, and his position on top of Hiccup became compromised, giving the young man a chance to get away.
Using his knee, Hiccup managed to kick Johann off of him, allowing him the space to crawl away. Using his right hand to apply pressure to his shoulder wound, he managed to pick up his sword with his bad arm and point it at Johann. Toothless quickly moved to protect his rider from any more harm.
In all the excitement, Krogan had managed to free himself. He watched as Hiccup and the Night Fury moved to collect the egg. He watched the boy stumbled with every step, finding glee in the knowledge that he wasn't indestructible after all. He picked up the bola that had been around his legs and waited for the right moment to knock the egg away from the hero.
Just as Hiccup was carefully bending over to get the egg, the bola knocked the egg away, causing it to roll over the edge. Without thinking and despite the pain he was in, Hiccup managed to chase after it, igniting his sword and plunging it into the ice as he jumped in after the egg. Toothless stood as close to the ledge as he could, ensuring Krogan and Johann couldn't get Hiccup or the egg.
Hiccup looked at the egg he had managed to catch with his legs. He then looked up and saw Toothless standing guard. He needed to figure a way out and quickly. He couldn't hold on much longer as his vision blurred, and the blood loss weakened him. The adrenaline rush was fading quickly.
He looked back down at the egg and got an idea. Working as fast as he could, he managed to position the egg between his head and the wall of the cliff. He untied his leg to use as a climbing tool. He made a mental note to thank Gobber again for the leg and its many uses. Holding the peg leg in his left hand and the sword in his right, Hiccup began the painful task of climbing back up. The further he climbed, the more he fought the urge to scream. He just had to get high enough so that Toothless get hold of the egg and take it to safety.
Johann listened as Hiccup climbed back up with the egg. Soon he'd have his King of Dragons. He just had to get rid of the pesky Night Fury first. He looked over at Krogan, who hadn't moved since he tossed the bola. He was certain the man was thinking the same thing as him but for different reasons. Both of them wanted the egg and were going to keep the other from getting it.
Hiccup knew he'd reached the top when he felt the egg roll away, and he could look up. He saw a black mass blocking his view, Toothless. Toothless glanced down at the egg that had rolled between his legs and then back up at the two men that were trying to steal it. He knew the egg was important as he could feel the power that radiated from it. Only a truly powerful dragon could make him feel the way he did, and it wasn't even hatched yet.
Johann got tired of waiting and lunged for the egg, hoping his sudden action would catch the dragon off guard, but Toothless was quicker though he shot a plasma blast at the traitor. The power of the blast shook the cavern, causing the egg to roll away. Johann was forced back by the blast but was not killed by it, merely stunned.
The egg rolled toward Krogan, who saw an opportunity and took it. He grabbed the egg and ran. Instead of giving chase, Toothless turned to help Hiccup, who was struggling to finish the climb back up in his weakened state.
"No, Toothless," Hiccup urged. "Go after the egg. I'll be fine. I promise."
Toothless was hesitant but listened to his rider to get the egg back. As soon as Toothless left the cavern, Johann managed to get up and compose himself. He limped toward the ledge, picking up a dragonroot spear as he went. He watched gleefully as Hiccup finally managed to climb back over the ledge. The young pest was feebly trying to apply pressure to his still-bleeding shoulder.
"Such heroism, Hiccup," Johann stated, checking the tip of the spear. "And for what? Glory? Fame? Acknowledgment from that worthless father of yours."
Hiccup said nothing as he stared at Johann, a man he once considered family. The crazy uncle of the family, but still family. He had hoped it was all just act, despite being proven wrong time and time again. He believed there to be good in everyone. But that remaining flame of hope was gone. There was no saving Johann. There had never been anything to save.
"Such a fitting end," Johann pointed out. "The final resting place for the champion of dragons will reside in the King of Dragons' birth nest." He kicked Hiccup back over the ledge.
Hiccup managed to grab onto his sword and leg, sliding a few feet down the cliff. After taking a quick second to catch his breath, he looked up at Johann as he readied the spear. "You don't have to do this, Johann."
Johann raised the spear. "Oh yes. Yes, I do, Hiccup"
Hiccup braced himself for the final blow, hoping it would be quick and painless. Johann let out a guttural scream as he raised the spear. But before he could deliver the blow, the King of Dragons emerged, letting out a massive blast of ice. Hiccup did his best to hang on as ice and wind rushed past him.
As the ice and wind cleared, Hiccup looked down as shards of ice fell from his back and saw nothing. He looked up and saw Johann frozen in place, his face permanently etched with the fury and hatred he'd carried all his life.
Hiccup took a deep breath and began his climb back up, but as soon as he stabbed his sword into the ice, what had remained snapped in half, leaving only the handle. He dropped the handle and grabbed onto his leg, knowing his efforts were meaningless. He was all alone and had no strength left.
"I had a pretty good run," Hiccup told himself, making peace with all that had transpired. Sure, his life didn't start out so good, but everything changed with Toothless. That useless reptile changed his life and the lives of everyone on Berk. That dragon gave him the life he needed. And it had been a good five years. So many discoveries and friends were made. Sure there had been some bumps along the way, but peace doesn't come easy.
Hiccup looked down into the abyss before him as his grip slipped from his peg leg. Just as he was about to let go, he heard a familiar roar. "Toothless"
The Night Fury let out a concerned roar set the egg down, and lowered his tail for Hiccup to grab onto. Hiccup used his good hand to try and grab the tail, only to miss and fall into deep depths below. Toothless quickly jumped in after him, flapping hard to catch up to his best friend.