Chapter 216
Unknown location
Nobodies POV:
In a small rundown bar in a small trading village where men who'd been out at sea for weeks came by for drink to forget the smell of saltwater and taste of dried food that'd filled their bodies, there was a dark corner where an elderly man was sitting. This elderly man was wearing an old hat covering his bald head, an old beaten up brown leather coat over his body covering a dirty dark blue shirt and brown pants. He gently shook the goblet in his left hand as he looked at the contents swirl around while he waited patiently for someone to come and kept his eyes on the entrance. He took a small sip of his drink before the doors pushed open and figure wearing a brown cloak that covered his body and partially hid his face walked in holding a walking stick with a palm-sized crystal orb at the top. The figure looked around until his eyes landed on the elder and he smiled before walking up and sitting across from the old man as he dropped a small leather bag onto the table. The elderly man smirked and took the bag before opening it to reveal multiple gold coins as he said.
"I take it the information I gave you was right." The figure nodded.
"Indeed, the beauty of the majestic creature your contacts showed me is now mine alone to enjoy."
"Well I'm always happy to help for the right price." The hooded figure just nodded.
"And with this our business is done for now." The hooded figure began to stand up until the elder said.
"I wouldn't be too sure about that." The figure looked at him. "You see I've been holding back a piece of information until I could figure if it were true since I didn't want to give you false information and what I'd learned did seem a little farfetched as it is." The hooded figure gestured for him to go on. "There's a man called Hiccup Haddock, heir of the Hairy Hooligan tribe of Berk." The cloaked figure nodded. "Now I've heard a lot of talk about him from all my sources claiming him to be a truly skilled warrior with mystic weapons but with how gossip is I can never tell what the truth is and what is lies."
"So, what have you confirmed to be truth that would interest me?" The elderly man just smiled and rubbed his fingers together before the cloak figure dropped another leather bag onto the table which the elder quickly took and checked before nodding his head.
"This I know to be true and that is the man rides a nightfury dragon and with it he's been able to travel the world, collecting exotic animals, many of which are mystic beasts that are rarely ever seen by man." He then smirked. "Just the kind of creatures you like to collect and from what I've heard, his wives aren't exactly normal people either so you might wish to try and add them to your collection."
"Where can I find this man and his beasts."
"He lives on an island off the coast of Berk but there's some sort of magic that keeps it hidden from the outside world so you'll have a hard time getting to it." The elder then gave a smile showing his remaining crooked teeth. "If you are able to succeed though, you'll have to be careful since Hiccup Haddock won't take the theft of his pets lying down." The hooded figure smirked.
"I can just speak to him using the same language we use, and he'll give me the animals." The old man smirked.
"I wouldn't be too sure about that; he's travelled the world, and, in that time, I've heard that he's amassed quite a fortune."
"There are other ways to convince a man to sell." With that said he stood up. "Should what you told me be true you'll get your money." With that said he walked away from the table and out the building.
Hiccups Island
Morning
Hiccups POV:
It's been five days since our picnic in which I had to deal with Drago's former men and in that time not much has happened as things have been quiet with me being able to relax a bit. This was good since I needed to help Garff settle in which is something Brant and Chara were happy to do since they enjoyed playing with him and he adored the games they played. I was alright with this since it meant I had someone keeping an eye on him and preventing him from going after any of the other dragons. I had a feeling that he might be taking one of them as his rider when they're older but which one of my kids is not something I can tell at the moment since they were all pretty close.
Now I was at the pool, lying down on a lounger wearing nothing but my pants, eye patch and my prosthetic while the girls were in the water wearing their own swimwear with Blanca wearing white cloth wrapped around her top and a matching long skirt while Astrid wore a light blue form of the swimsuit. They were both soaking in the water while the kids were busy swimming around the pool, trying to catch Twilight who was swimming with them while Garff laid on the side of the pool with his tail in the water. All under the watchful eyes of Blanca and Astrid making me smile since it was nice to enjoy these quiet moments since with my life, something crazy always happened. It was then Toothless walked up and placed his head in my lap crooning making me smile as I placed my hand on it before rubbing it as I said.
"Enjoy the peace while it lasts bud because chances are something's going to ruin it for us sometime." It was then a purple terror I recognized as the one my dad uses to send messages flew in and landed on the table next to me as I sat up. "Wonder what my dad wants." I took the letter off the terror that was eating from the bowl of dried meat strips I kept on the table for a snack before I unrolled the scroll. "Now let's see what's going on with Berk." I skimmed through the letter and sighed before pushing Toothless' head off my lap. "Well bud, looks like our quiet day by the pool has come to an end." I stood up and began getting my gear back on until Astrid swam up to the side.
"Going somewhere Hiccup?" I turned to her.
"My dad wants me back on Berk." I pulled my grootslang coat on. "Apparently someone's come to Berk looking for me, claiming he wants to talk about something." She climbed out of the pool.
"Alright, give me and Blanca a few minutes to change and dry off before we head out." I shook my head.
"No, I'll handle this on my own since chances are it's just a trader wanting to discuss possible trade routes between them and the bizarre when it comes around." I then gestured to the kids. "Besides, I don't want to ruin their fun time in the pool." She nodded.
"I'll let Blanca know and you call us if there's any issues." I smiled.
"You know I will." With that said I made my way out with Toothless at my side.
10 minutes later
We were making our way up the steps of the Great Hall where I knew my father could be found since in the letter, he claimed that it was where he was waiting with the guest who wanted to speak with me. When we reached the door, I took a breath and turned to Toothless as he crooned making me smile before I gave his head a gentle rub and then turned back to the door. I took one last breath having a feeling that something I wasn't going to like was coming before I pushed the doors open and found it full of people going about their own business. It was then I spotted my parents, sitting at their table talking to a man holding walking stick with a strange crystal orb on the top of it which was being held by the man. From the side I saw he had brown hair, green eyes and a thick beard that sits around his chin and no moustache while the rest of his body was covered by a long brown cloak. I made my way up to them with Toothless at my side before my father turned to me and smiled as he said.
"There's my boy." All attention at the table turned to me and the guy gave me a smile I didn't like since it felt like there was something hidden behind it as my dad stood up and gestured to the man. "Hiccup, this is Edward, a trader who came to Berk who recently heard about your adventures and would like to discuss some things with you." The man now known as Edward walked up to me.
"So, you're the famous Hiccup Haddock." I nodded as he turned to Toothless. "And the noble nightfury mount, Toothless." Toothless growled when he reached out towards him, but I put a calming hand on his head.
"Yeah, that's me but Toothless doesn't take well to strangers trying to touch him." Edward nodded.
"Understandable!"
"So, what exactly brings you to Berk?"
"Well you see Hiccup; I've heard you're a bit of a collector." I shrugged.
"Yeah, I've collected some things in my travels."
"I was hoping to ask about a collection I've heard you possess." I raised an eyebrow.
"Which collection are you talking about?"
"Your collection of mystic beasts." I didn't like where this was going. "You see in my travels I have seen my own fair share of creatures that have been considered mythical and nonexistent by many of the people who call the land home." I nodded. "I was hoping you would allow me to visit your island and see them for myself." I shook my head.
"I'm sorry but my island is off limits to everyone except for my dragons, wives and kids." I then gestured to my parents. "I barely let my own parents on my island." Edward nodded.
"I understand your desire for privacy and it is also something I can respect but if I am not able to see them in real life then may I request you use your abilities of illusion to show them to me right here." I raised an eyebrow.
"How did you find out about my illusion ability?"
"Your father told me while we waited for you." I glared at my dad who gave an apologetic look before I sighed and turned back to Edward.
"Alright, I suppose it couldn't hurt to show you what animals I've gathered in my travels." With that said I sat down and began creating the illusions.
2 hours later
It's been two hours since I arrived and met Edward who requested me to make illusions of each of my mythical creatures with each illusion being followed by multiple questions about each of the creatures. Normally I didn't mind answering a few questions from people, but the problem is I didn't like the look he was giving each of my illusions since it reminded me of the looks, nobles give before they try to buy them from me. Now I'd finished showing him the illusions while giving a small explanation about each of my mystic animals and a bit of information about each of them. He smiled and nodded his head before he said.
"Quite an impressive collection Hiccup." I nodded.
"Thanks."
"You seem to have quite an interesting collection of unique creatures Hiccup but then again I've heard that your interest in unique things does not just extend to beasts if what I've heard about your wives is true." I didn't like the way he said that about my wives.
"And what is it you've heard about my wives exactly?"
"Nothing much, just that your first wife is something called a snake guardian while your second wife Astrid possesses some strange form of magic that enhances her skills." I nodded.
"And what if it's true?" He shrugged.
"Then nothing, I'm just a bit curious is all."
"Too much curiosity can be dangerous."
"Speaking from experience I take it." I nodded before I stood up.
"Now if you'll excuse me, it's getting close to sundown and my family will be wondering where I am." He nodded.
"Then until next we meet Hiccup as I would love to hear more about your adventures." I just nodded and made my way out of the great hall with Toothless at my side and once we were out, I mounted him. "Let's go bud." With that said we took off but as we flew over the docks I looked down at the ships until my eyes landed on one large ship. "Well at least we now know who owns that large ship."
Toothless growled and nodded in agreement and although I didn't know what was going on with that Edward guy, I figured it best I keep my guard up around him since my gut was telling me to keep my guard up and that's exactly what I intended to do. I also intended to tell my snake guardians to double patrols at night around the areas where my mystic animals roam and order my animals to keep their guard up. I know I was most likely just being paranoid, but something didn't seem right about that guy and not just the bizarre way his ship was designed. I shook my head, bringing me out of the train of thought I was in since I'd been looking at the ship before I shrugged and said.
"Let's head home bud, the girls are probably wondering what's taking us so long and what we'd like for dinner." I looked at my island. "Don't why but I'm craving shellfish for dinner tonight." He crooned as we took off. "I'll have to see if we've got any crabs left over in cold storage." With this in mind we returned home.
Nightfall
Edwards ship
Nobodies POV:
Edward was on his ships top deck looking out at the spot where Hiccups island should be but hidden by the magic, granted to his island by the gods. Edward knew it was there though having seen the island when he first arrived in the waters earlier in the day but knew docking there immediately would be a mistake as he knew Hiccup would not be happy to have him come to his island, unannounced. It was because of this that he settled for docking on Berk and acting as a trader, forcing him to trade away some of his supplies as items he wanted to sell. It was no big loss though as they were just some old furs, foods and small souvenirs he'd gathered from some of his trips around the world. It was then he was brought out of his thoughts when a black hooded figure walked up behind him but before the figure could say anything Edward said.
"He has multiple creatures that I must add to my collection so that their beauty may be preserved." He then sighed. "Won't be easy though as the man has sealed off his island." He smirked. "As if I would allow that to stop me but it will take me time to get there but the bigger the challenge, the more satisfying the victory." He turned to the hooded figure. "Let's begin planning the attack." The figure nodded and joined him in walking to the door leading into the ship's inner cabins.
4 days later
Hiccups POV:
It's been four days since I met Edward and those days had been spent on my island, constantly spending time with my family and animals when I wasn't keeping an eye on Edward who'd yet to leave. Both Blanca and Astrid claimed I was just being paranoid and should relax a bit, but I would not let my guard down until Edward's ship was no longer in the dock and that man was off Berk. The only good thing about this is the girls had been trying to relax me a bit by massaging me when I was in the bath, making my favorite meals, trying to talk me into going on flights for fun and other such things including private time in the bedroom. I turned them down when it came to the last thing since I was in no mood to be kept up late as I wanted to be at full alert during the day in case something came up. This did not go well with the girls the first time I turned them down and the result was me spending my night, sleeping on the couch in the library but fortunately I was allowed back into bed the following night.
Now it was nightfall and I was in bed with my wives using my arms as pillows while I tried to enjoy the sweet embrace of slumber but like the past few nights my slumber had been anything but peaceful with my fears filling my mind. It was at that moment the house was filled by the sound of multiple doors slamming open waking me and the girls up before I rushed out to see what was happening. I immediately jumped out of bed while releasing my star sword and ran to the door but when I opened it I found myself looking into the face of a bald snake guardian who immediately bowed to me as he said.
"My sincerest apologies for disturbing you master but we have a situation."
"What's going on?"
"We were checking on the squad that was patrolling the desert after they failed to report in and have just found they have each been completely frozen in crystal while the Serpopard, Sha, Sphinx and your sand phantom dragons have gone missing, but it looks like they were trying to fight something." Hearing this my blood ran cold as I turned to the girls who were already out of bed and getting their own weapons with Astrid getting her leopard claw bands and Blanca her hairpin. "Girls we need to check on the kids and make sure they're alright." They both nodded before I ran out of the room and ran towards the door to Chara's room since it was closest but before I could open it, the door opened itself to reveal Chara standing there with her bunny in her right hand while her left hand was being used to rub her eyes as she asked.
"Daddy, what's going on?" I immediately dropped to my knees and picked her up.
"I'll tell you later sweetheart but for now, I need to get you and your brother to your mothers." She looked at me confused until Brant walked out of his room yawning before he asked.
"What's happening?" I ran up to him.
"Come on, we need to get you both to your mothers."
He looked up at me confused but didn't hesitate to follow me as I lead them to the room where both Astrid and Blanca were waiting in full gear while the snake guardian stood at the door as a guard. I quickly handed Chara over to Blanca before I looked at my family and said.
"The island is under attack, so we need to keep our guard up since whoever it is was able to take out my mystic Egyptian animals, sand phantoms and the snake guardians patrolling the area." I then began getting my own gear on as Astrid asked.
"So, what's the plan." I got my lion arm guards on as I replied.
"I'm going to use my automatons to do a sweep of the entire island to find out if anyone else was attacked and see if I can find out who's attacking us."
I then began looking through the various automatons I had on my island and when I did my blood ran cold at what I was seeing, and I knew the girls would feel the same. Every snake guardian who was on patrol along with my animals had been trapped in crystal while my mystic animals and exotic dragons were gone meaning something has happened to them. As for the ones who weren't on patrol but in their cave, they were currently under attack by some sort of creatures that were human in shape but were made completely out of crystal with their heads being just oval shaped crystals while their hands were crystal spheres ore lances. It was then the sound of Toothless' screech echoed into the house and I knew something was happening with him, so I used my automatons to check and found the stables being attacked by the crystal creatures alongside a hooded figure so I turned to the girls and said.
"Girls, we're being attacked by some sort of crystal creatures that seem to be able to give even the snake guardians a tough time." They both gasped while Chara buried her head into Blanca's shoulder and Brant fully woke up. "You and the kids stay here until its safe, I'm going to handle this threat to our home." They both nodded as I turned to the snake guardian. "You stay with my family and guard them with your life." He nodded as I checked the automatons outside and saw a few of the crystal beings making their way up the stairs so I turned to the girls. "A few of the crystal creatures are coming up towards the house, I'll handle them but the second you get a chance, get out of the house and to one of the dragons' nests where you can mount up and get to Berk." Blanca replied.
"But what about the dragon stables."
"They're being attacked by those crystal things and right now they're making their way up the steps to the front door."
"Be careful." Astrid then said.
"Destroy a few of those things for us." I nodded before I walked over to Brant and kneeled down, so we were eye to eye.
"Take care of them for me." He nodded.
"I've already lost one family; I'm not losing another without a fight."
I smiled at him in pride before I made my way out of the room and rushed down the hall to deal with the creatures coming up the steps while switching my prosthetic into its dragon claw form and releasing my lion gauntlets. I slid down the railing of the staircase and rushed to the front door that was fortunately closed since it gave me the small opportunity to surprise the creatures. When I reached the door, it began to open so I pulled my right gauntlet back and when the crystal creature fully opened the door I said.
"You should've knocked first." As soon as the last word left my mouth I swung my gauntlet forward, striking the human sized creature in the chest causing a large crack in it before it went flying back and shattered when it hit the ground as I looked at the remaining creatures on the stairway. "If you want to get into my house, you'll have to get through me first." The creatures just stood there for a moment before they continued to walk up towards me making me smile.
Nobodies POV:
Hiccup held up his gauntlets while channeling a white crystal into each of them before he slammed them together while pointing them at the crystal creatures. A loud sonic blast that sounded like a lion's roar blasted down at the crystal creatures throwing those near Hiccup back, down the stairs which succeeded in breaking a few of them and damaging the others. Knowing that it wouldn't keep them down for long and the ones that were still standing didn't stop walking he switched out his lion gauntlets for his crystal spear while releasing my sentinel gold needles and tail joints before having the joints form the tail while the needles hovered in front of him. Hiccup sent them shooting down at the crystal creatures that had the damaged ones leading the charge resulting in the ones at the front being destroyed while the ones behind were slightly slowed down. Seeing there were more Hiccup summoned the needles back and released his African club instead before he charged down at the remaining creatures.
Inside the house
The cloaked figure with six crystal creatures walked into the house through the entrance that leads to the wolves' cave after dealing with the wolves themselves and smiled when he saw nobody present. He made his way down the hall, eventually finding himself in the entrance hall with a single snake guardian looking down at him from on top of the banister. The guardian glared down at the figure before he launched himself from his place above and down towards the hooded figure who simply stood there unmoving. When the guardian was only three feet away the figure raised his staff, pointing the crystal end at the guardian before a transparent liquid burst from it. The liquid struck the snake guardian and like that he fell from the air like a rock, but the liquid didn't stop flowing out of the crystal for a few more seconds until the guardian was completely covered in it. The liquid then began to rise and harden forming a large crystal with the snake guardian trapped in it as the figure walked past the now imprisoned snake guardian with the creatures following.
The figure made its way up the steps and down the hall until he reached the door and pushed it open to find both the kids on the bed with their mothers in front of it. Blanca was in her half snake form while Astrid had her claws unsheathed as they glared at the man who simply tapped the bottom of his staff against the ground. The crystal creatures rushed in past him with three charging at Blanca and three at Astrid, with all their hands in the form of balls instead of hands or lances.
Blanca whipped her tail forward at the first crystal slamming the blade at the end of it into the creature's torso shattering it before she pulled it back. She then slithered forward as quickly as she could getting between the two remaining ones before slamming her hands right into their chests while channeling her magic. This in turn threw the two crystal creatures into the walls destroying them before she slithered back to the front of the bed with her hands covered in magic to form a cone, ready to protect her children. While Blanca did this Astrid rushed at her own three opponents with her claws held out before she slammed her claws into the heads of the two crystal creatures, shattering their heads. This was followed by her doing a backflip kick, striking the chin of the last crystal creature, smashing its head as she summersaulted back to the front of the bed. She then got into her fighting stance while glaring at the hooded figure as she said.
"If you want to touch our children then it's not going to be that easy." Blanca hissed in agreement as the figure gently chuckled as he clapped.
"I have to say ladies, that was a truly majestic performance, but you are mistaken if you think I am here for the children." Blanca glared and asked.
"If you are here for our children then why are you here?" Astrid then asked.
"Are you here for our husband or to rob us." He shook his head.
"No, I am here because your husband collected some beasts I wished to add to my collection and after that performance I believe you both will make fine additions." Before they could reply he pointed the head of his staff at the girls and once again released a large blast of the liquid right at the girls, trapping them both in crystal. "Now let's get you both ready to be transported to the ship." He slammed his staffs end onto the ground and the orb glowed before the crystals glowed as well as they floated up while the crystal slowly reshaped themselves into orb shapes as shrinking down to palm sized orbs with both Astrid and Blanca still in them. "Excellent!" The orbs then floated up to the man before he put them in his cloak and then turned to the children with Brant standing in front of his now crying sister. "My apologies for the disruption of your lives little ones but their beauty needs to be preserved and I cannot allow it to wither away with time like a simple flower gives way to time." Brant just glared at him before he launched himself at the figure.
"GIVE US BACK OUR MOMS!" He quickly pushed his leg out hoping to deliver a flying kick, but the man just stepped to the side and grabbed Brant's outstretched leg as he passed leaving Brant hanging upside down by his leg.
"I admire your courage young man, but I am afraid you are still too young and lack the experience to truly be considered any sort of threat to me." He tossed Brant back onto the bed. "Never lose that fire in your soul though as it shall serve you well in the future and make you a great warrior." With that said he turned to the door and made his way out of the room.
Outside
Hiccups POV:
I took a breath as I looked around and the shattered crystal shards all over the stairs and knew this wasn't over yet since the hooded figure was still out there but for now, I needed to check on my family and help them evacuate. I rushed back into the house and my blood ran cold seeing the snake guardian who I ordered to guard them, trapped in crystal meaning my family was in trouble. I activated my ox flame boots speed mode and rushed up the stairs to my bedroom where I left them and what I saw made my heart beat faster than a gronkles wings. Sitting there on the bed was Brant with tears coming down his eyes as he embraced Chara who was sobbing so hard I was worried she'd be dehydrated in seconds while their mothers were nowhere to be found. I ran up to the bed and asked.
"What happened?" Chara looked up at me before she ran up and hugged my waist.
"The bad crystal man took Mama Blanca and Mama Astrid." I looked at Brant while gently hugging her and stroking her hair before he answered.
"A hooded guy came in and trapped Mama Blanca and Astrid in crystal before shrinking them and walking out." Hearing this my blood boiled as I gently pushed Chara off me.
"Brant, stay with your sister in this room and keep the door closed and if I don't come back wait until morning and then get to one of the nests and send out a terror mail to your grandparents, letting them know what's happened and to come get the both of you." He nodded before Chara grabbed onto me again.
"Please don't go." I gently hugged her.
"I have to Chara, if we want even a small chance of getting your mothers back." She nodded and let go hesitantly before I looked into her eyes. "I promise, I will come back to the both of you." She nodded as I turned to Brant. "Take care of your sister Brant."
He nodded before I ran out of the room while using my automatons to find out where the hooded man was and found him to be in the Great Planes. I rushed out of the house and into the garden while switching my prosthetic into its plant form before grabbing onto one of the trees the nearest tree and pulling myself into it. I quickly used the connection to leave through a tree on the edge of the Great Planes before I rushed up towards the cliff where I saw the hooded figure heading. When I got near it though I stopped in shock since I was looking at a ship that was shaped like a crab's claw with the sails facing down as the ship floated in the air.
The lower part of the boat the bottom looks like an oval kind of curve for its shape but with a triangular point sticking out at the front. At the back going up was a large part sticking out, forming what I assume was the upper cabins of the ship but coming out of the top going forward was a large roof that had a pointed end. This roof reached the end of the deck and built on top of it at the back looked to be more rooms, but this gave it the appearance of a crab's claw. Along with this, on the top of the roof was a three-piece sail with one sail looking like a fish fin with multiple metal pieces between the material and at its bottom were two more triangle shaped sails that were facing down. Behind the roof at the back of the ship were the sails that were crimson red in color and were a total of three with four poles holding them with the bottom of the poles being held at the base of the cabins. In size I'd roughly say the length from the pointy end of the lower part of the ship to the back end would be two hundred feet long and fifty feet wide and the height would be sixty feet, not counting the sails. All in all this was one very large and very strangely shaped ship but what was more worrying was how it was slowly is floating away.
Knowing I needed to be quick I switched my prosthetic to its dragon claw form and activated my ox flame boots before I rushed towards the cliff and jumped towards the ship. Sadly, the ship had already gotten too far for me to reach in a jump, so I began free falling but I quickly brought out my mystic hook and launched it towards the ship. I smiled when it hooked onto the ships railing before I quickly began pulling the rope back into my prosthetic, pulling me towards the ship. When I reached the railing, I was thrown up into the air and landed on the deck smiling as I switched my hook out and instead brought out my star sword while I looked around at the deck but only saw wooden flooring.
I was brought out of my examination by the sound of doors opening and turned to see the red wood double doors being opened up by two crystal creatures. I glared at them before they rushed at me and I ran at them with my sword ready as I released my eagle shield and brought out my sentinel gold discs. One of the crystal creatures swung its orb shaped fists down on me but the discs blocked the blow before I slammed my sword into the creatures' gut and then pulled the blade up with my blade cutting the crystal like a hot knife through butter until I'd cut the creature in two. I then brought my sword down in a vertical slash cutting right through the body of the second creature making the top of it fall while the bottom half fell to the ground.
I took a breath and rushed through the door and found myself in a large hall, with golden pillars holding the ceiling which had stained glass windows that shone with the light of the full moon in the sky outside and although the floor was mostly wood there was a crystal path leading down the hall. Against the walls I saw multiple Crystal statues of various beasts, on Golden pedestals and at the very back there was a stained glass window above a short stairway leading up to it with two stairways splitting at the top, one going right and one going left with each going to balconies that lined the walls with doors against the walls. I also noticed that between each of the statues there were also crystal mirrors embedded into the walls but there was something off about them that I didn't like.
I shook my head and rushed in while willing the discs back into my coat and folding my eagle shield up as I ran down the crystal path towards the steps but as I did, I heard the sound of glass breaking. I looked around and was shocked to see crystal creatures forming from the mirrors before they began heading towards me me making me growl and speed up to try and escape some of them. When I reached the stairs though I took out a handful of my silver Loki balls before tossing them back before they multiplied but I didn't stay to see what was happening as I knew it wouldn't hold the creatures back for long and only buy me a few seconds at most. I did smile a little when I heard a few falls and the sounds of tumbling, followed by multiple shattering sounds as I continued to make my way up. Towards where I the stairs, hoping I could find the door to the room where the ones who took my wives so I could make them pay for what they've done.
When I reached the top of the stairs, I found a large crystal disc imbedded on the floor and taking up most of the platform and figuring it must be important I kept my guard up and stepped onto it. I turned around to see if the crystal creatures were close but surprisingly the remaining ones were just standing there and looking up at me. Before I could react though the platform glowed as and a large crystal bubble formed around it, meaning I was stuck in it and this made me worry. I raised my sword to try and break through the crystal but before I could the platform began raising itself from the platform and towards the ceiling which is when I noticed that a hole had opened in the ceiling to allow the bubble to go through. When the platform was through the ceiling, the bubble collapsed and I found myself in a large room and when I looked around I saw multiple crystal shelves, built into the walls and circling the entire room and even built into the large window that made up the back wall. On these shelves were rows of crystal orbs, each holding some sort of creature or person meaning these were obviously others who'd suffered the same fate as my wives. It was then a voice asked.
"Admiring my collection Hiccup?" I immediately turned to see none other than the hooded figure, sitting in a throne made of light purple crystal with shards sticking out from the top of the back, with his hands resting on the top of his walking stick in front of him and at his side was a black hooded figure.
"Why don't you remove the hood Edward, I know it's you." The figure smirked and removed his hood to reveal the smiling face of Edward.
"Very clever Hiccup but might I ask what gave me away?"
"I always had a bad feeling about you in the pit of my stomach Edward but what gave you away this time is the stick you're holding." He looked down at his walking stick and nodded.
"You are an observant man Hiccup."
"Yet, I cannot figure out why you're doing all this." I gestured to the orbs around us. "Why did you imprison all these creatures and people." I then glared. "Including my wives, animals and I'm pretty sure you also captured some of my dragons."
"Why, to preserve their beauty Hiccup and to protect them from the enemy that is time." I raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
"Hiccup, with time things age and beauty withers away but within the crystals, time cannot reach them, and the beauty is preserved for all eternity." He stood up and held his hands out while grasping his stick in his left hand. "Every person and creature in my collection possessed a beauty that I could not allow time to ruin so I preserved them." He lowered his hands. "I am sorry for the inconvenience I have caused you Hiccup but I could not stand by and allow the beauty of the creatures your island held to be ruined nor could I allow age to destroy the beauty of your wives after the display they performed against the weak crystal beings I sent to test them." I raised an eyebrow since the ones I faced were not weak. "I can see your confusion and I cannot blame you for that seeing how you took down so many of my forces." He sat back down. "You see I did not wish to harm them but still test their abilities so I sent in some newly created crystal being who were less than a day old while the ones you were facing outside were at least a year old."
"So, the older they are the stronger they are?" He nodded. "And you think I'd let you get away with all the damage they caused to my home and kidnapping my wives, dragons and animals?" He smiled.
"Hiccup I do not wish to fight you nor did I wish to anger you." He tapped his staff against the ground and five trap doors in the floor opened up before five large chests rose up and opened to reveal each of them filled with gold and jewels. "All his is to pay for what I have taken from your island and for the damages done."
"If you think I'm going to accept gold and jewels for those I consider members of my precious family then you're a bigger idiot than I originally though." He just chuckled.
"Now is that anyway to speak to your predecessor?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Predecessor?" He smiled.
"Come now Hiccup, surely you don't think I just found this ship and my powers lying, around did you?"
"You're a former champion of the gods." He nodded.
"Indeed, I am and you see like you I travelled the world facing evils to protect the beauty of this world, trapping them in crystal with my staff and handing them over to the gods for judgement." He smiled and looked up. "Those were good times." He then frowned. "One day though I came to realize that the true enemy of beauty was time that ages things and slowly withers away the beauty of the things I loved." He sighed. "So much beauty has been destroyed by time and although I brought this to the attention of the gods, they told me there was no way to preserve the beauty as time was something that needed to remain in motion." He tightened his grip on the stick. "Knowing they would not help me I turned my back on my masters and began my own quest to preserve the beauty of the worlds creatures." I glared at him.
"So, in other words you began imprisoning those you believed to have beauty and kept them to yourself." Before he could reply I pointed my sword at him. "If you think I'm going to allow this to go on then you've got another thing coming." He sighed and shook his head.
"Very well Hiccup, if it a fight you wish to have then it is a fight you shall get." He turned to the hooded figure next to him. "Demona, take him down." The figure replied in a feminine voice revealing themselves to be a woman.
"With pleasure!"
The woman grabbed the front of her cloak and pulled it off to reveal her form and when she did, I thought my eyes were going to pop out of my skull since she was drop dead gorgeous. She had black midnight hair with silver streaks in it but her skin was pale as the moon but she also had two large black horns on her forehead, a short black devilish tail and bat-like wings and her nails were also black while her the whites of her eyes were yellow with cat like slits for pupils. What was most shocking was how she was wearing an outfit that was very revealing and reminded me of something the girls wore to bed when they were in the mood for some fun. This outfit consisted of a leather wrapping around her chest which has tears on the side, exposing her skin, what I recognized as a black leather corset, a very short black leather skirt, dark iron shin guards on her legs and iron armbands with carvings of bats and runes carved onto them. Edward then said.
"My companion here is a succubus and she has helped me numerous times when it came to adding women to my collection by charming the men who guarded them away, leaving the women unguarded and easy targets for me to claim." Demona smiled.
"And while you collected the women, I made a meal of the men who guarded them." She then looked at me. "And you're lifeforce will make a more delicious meal than the others knowing that I will succeed where others have failed."
She then flew at me at speeds that would match Toothless' top speeds but before she reached me, I activated my leather chest plate armor and when she slammed into me the chains lashed out stopping me from flying back. She recoiled in both pain and shock, but I couldn't blame her since she slammed into my armor headfirst but before she could recover, I held out my prosthetic and launched a bola disc at her. Her arms were pinned to her sides before she looked at me, smirking as she said.
"Do you really think this'll hold me?" I smiled.
"Long enough for me to do this." I quickly launched four sand discs at her, latching them onto her body.
"Your weapons are useless." I smirked.
"Wait for it!" Before she could reply sand began pouring out of the discs, burying her as she looked down in shock before glaring at me.
"YOU SNEAKY LITTLE-" I quickly shot another disc covering her mouth as I said.
"I'd rather not hear what a man eating she beast like you would call me." She gave me one last glare as her body was completely covered in sand that then turned to glass before I walked past her and pointed my sword at Edward. "Just you and me now Edward." He smiled and stood up.
"It's been a while since I last enjoyed a good fight Hiccup." He tore off his cloak to reveal that underneath he was wearing a blue leather chest plate with black pants and black armored boots before he twisted the top of his staff and pulled it up to reveal it was a sheathed crystal sword. "Let's see if you can give me one." With that said we charged at each other.
Nobodies POV:
Hiccup and Edwards blades slammed against each other causing the sound of metal hitting metal to echo through the entire room while the two men pushed against each other, with either one trying to get the upper hand. Edward slid his blade upwards and shoved Hiccup back before slashing at Hiccups head but he leaned back avoiding the blade and falling back to turn it into a backflip kick, hitting Edward in the chin. Edward stumbled back slightly and rubbed his chin before he smiled and chuckled as Hiccup stood back up straight and lunged at him with his sword out but Edward sidestepped. Hiccup quickly stopped and swung the sword at Edward who raised his sword and blocked the strike before trying to Hiccup in the face with his elbow but Hiccup dodged the blow and stepped back as Edward said.
"Your skills with the sword aren't bad Hiccup but if you think it'll be that easy to beat me then you're sorely mistaken as I have a few tricks up my sleeve."
He jumped back and swung his sword releasing five crystal shards at Hiccup who was surprised by this but his reflexes from training under his ninja and Master Shen immediately kicked in. Hiccup dodged the first three crystals, blocked one with his sword and caught the last one in his hand before looking at Edward with a glare and then throwing the crystal aside. He then held his sword in front of him as he said.
"Nice try but you're not the only one who has a few surprises."
Hiccup twisted his grip so the light of the full moon shone on his blade, reflecting the light right into Edwards eyes stunning him for a moment which Hiccup used to lunge at him. Edward recovered when Hiccups blade was half a foot away from and he immediately jumped back, barely avoiding the blade shocking Hiccup. Edward just smirked and swung his blade at Hiccup who swung his own to meet the crystal blade before they met and once again the two blades were locked together as their wielders fought each other for the upper hand. As they did this though Hiccup was using the eye of the dragon to try and find a single weak spot on Edward that he could use to his advantage but saw none on Edward until he looked at the sword and saw the key to ending this fight was the orb that made the pommel of the sword.
Hiccup smirked and shoved Edward back and raised his sword before he quickly brought it down towards Edward who raised his sword to block it but halfway through the swing Hiccup changed the direction, so the blade was now heading towards the pommel. Not expecting this, Edward didn't have time to react and Hiccups blade contacted the pommel and the crystal ball that was the pommel, shattered. Edward backed up in shock as he stared at his destroyed pommel and asked.
"What have you done?"
Before Hiccup could reply bolts of crystal blue magic that looked like lightning shot out of the pommel making Edward yelp in pain and open his palm to drop the sword, but it remained in his palm. Edward stared at the weapon in shock before the crystal of the sword began to spread from the sword and onto Edward, turning his body into crystal as he screamed in pain, dropping to the ground as his body slowly turned to stone. All Hiccup could do was watch as the man screamed before his body fully turned to crystal leaving a light blue crystal statue that was lightly glowing. Hiccup took a breath and looked around wondering who and what was trapped in the orbs, but his investigation was ruined by the sound of an unearthly roar.
He turned to the source of the roar and found the crystal statue that was once Edward now moving and glaring at Hiccup with glowing red eyes and Hiccup knew any remains of the man who Edward once was is gone leaving only a monster who only wanted destruction. Hiccup growled, not liking what he was seeing in the least as Edward raised the hand that held the sword before the remains of the sword merged turning his hand into the sword. When it was fully merged, he charged at Hiccup and swung it at him, but Hiccup jumped back avoiding the blow before Edward lunged forward, thrusting his blade forward to stab Hiccup. Hiccup turned to the side in order to avoid the blow before he used the eye of the dragon again to try and find a weakness in Edwards new form and saw the weak spot was a small crack in his chest. Thinking fast Hiccup activated his ox flame boots speed mode and rushed at Edward as he said.
"THIS ENDS NOW!"
He slammed into Edward thrusting the blade of his sword into the crack that was his weak spot before Edward let out a roar of pain as glowing cracks spread across his body, from where Hiccup stabbed him. For a few seconds the cracks spread as Hiccup tried to pull out his sword from the chest of his foe but found it to be stuck and he was unable to remove it. Before he could give it another yank though Edwards crystal body exploded, sending shards of crystal everywhere and throwing Hiccup back into the wall, knocking him out cold.
When Hiccups body landed on the ground unconscious the ship began shaking as it descended towards the ground of a nearby island and crashing onto a beach. As the body of the ship scraped on the sand of the beach it began to glow before there was a bright flash that was so bright it lit up the entire area. As quickly as the light shone though it just as quickly died and then the night returned to the darkness, with the only source of light being on the light of the full moon and the stars, gently shining their light onto Hiccups unconscious form laying on his stomach on the sands of the beach. It was then a glowing orange orb gently floated down towards the ground landing gently on the sands near Hiccup, allowing its glow to join the light of the full moon on his body as the sound of the waves crashing filled the night.
AN: Hey guys I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and if your wondering, yes I got the whole turning to crystal thing from that old movie 'Atlantis: The Lost Empire' and I will have a picture of what the ship looks like on my Pinterest page soon. Have to say I was very disappointed with last chapter only getting two reviews for it despite the fact that I know it wasn't great but I still worked hard to write it. This is one of the reasons why I'm leaving you guys on a cliffhanger with the other reason being I need something to kick off my next chapter. Anyway, please review this chapter kindly and have a nice day.