A/N: I'm going to take a break from the smut this chapter and focus on what'll happen story-wise. So, this chapter will focus mainly on the Vikings torturing Mulan and they'll discover that not all of the Northern Alliance was destroyed in the armada battle in Httyd 3 but they'll also find out who's leading the junta. Harald Haraldson, Hiccup's contender is going to stir up some trouble, especially among the people who believe Viggo and his remaining tribesmen should die. And finally, Hiccup and Viggo are going to play Maces and Talons for two to pick at each other's mindsets so that Hiccup can determine whether he could trust Viggo because let's be honest, the man has played Hiccup like a fiddle many times. With all that said, let's get started.
(Normal pov— York)
Mulan was brought back to consciousness when she was hit by icy cold water, leaving her gasping and sputtering. Standing in front of her were Camicazi and Thuggory, two of Hiccup's oldest childhood friends who were rising quickly through the ranks of the Vikings. Quickly taking in her surroundings, Mulan noted how she was in a dungeon, she was naked save for her breast wraps and undergarments, and her shackled form was that of an "X."
"Oops, sorry about that," Thuggory grinned while discarding the bucket of water he had struck Mulan with. He then pulled away so that he was standing behind Camicazi, who was determined to break the fierce, shackled warrior.
"Now that you're awake, I have one thing to ask you," Camicazi drew one of her throwing knives and pressed the tip against Mulan's toned stomach. "Who hired you to abduct our king?"
Silence.
Looking over her shoulder, Camicazi nodded at Thuggory. Grunting, the heir to the Meathead Vikings landed a series of heavy blows to Mulan's middle, knocking the air out of her lungs. Grabbing a fistful of her ebony hair, Thuggory bore his teeth. "Answer her," instead of words, Mulan spat in his face. Growling in both annoyance and disgust, Thruggory wiped the spit off of his face and then bashed his head against hers, three times. Each blow felt as though she had been hit by a rock, and each blow made Mulan's vision foggy and her ears ring.
"I can assure you, Thuggory has the strength to make things hurt with his bare hands, but if you tell us what we want to know, then your stay here will be far less painful," Camicazi twirled her throwing knife expertly before she hurled the knife at Mulan's side, causing the Chinese warrior to inhale sharply. "Thuggory will hurt you with his hands, but I'll hurt you with these, and I can hit you in spots that won't kill you, but they will sap your strength faster..." drawing another throwing knife, Camicazi whirled the blade before repeating herself firmly. "Who hired you to abduct our king?"
Silence.
"Alright. Get comfortable, you're going to be here for a while," turning to Thuggory, the small, yet fierce blond gave him a nod. Smirking, the Meathead heir began to land bone-crushing blows until Mulan screamed in agony.
"This is your last chance, and by the way, that was me holding back," Thuggory inspected his knuckles before cracking them. "Tell us what we want to know, or else I won't just use my hands to break your body."
After catching her breath, Mulan glared at the two Vikings interrogating her. "You have no idea who's coming for you..." laughing, she shook her head before continuing, "...h-he's a man to be feared if crossed, and I have no intentions of crossing him—"
"Tell us who he is!" Camicazi demanded, she took up a stance, ready to hurl her knife.
Silence.
Hurling her knife into Mulan's upper arm, she cried out in pain. Blood trickled down her skin and she saw the feisty blond pull out another knife. "I-I can't tell you—"
"If you don't, you'll be beaten to within an inch of your life," Thuggory promised, landing a ferocious back fist across her face, the force of the blow sent blood and spittle flying out of Mulan's mouth.
Shaking her head, Mulan repeated herself. "I can't," before Thuggory could land another blow, the Chinese woman spoke up. "He has people embedded in your ranks, under the guise of slaves, traders, or common rabble."
That piqued both Viking heir's interest, Camicazi approached and gripped the knife embedded in her side and twisted it, causing Mulan to groan in agony, she could feel the blade scraping her bones, and it was excruciating. Narrowing her eyes at their victim, Camicazi hissed. "The only outsiders that enter York's walls are those who seek to conduct business with its warlord, Thormod, none of them sought to do business with our king—"
"Th-They don't need to," Mulan inhaled sharply as Camicazi's grip on her knife tightened. "All they need to do is stay within the walls of this place and confirm that I've apprehended your king before taking their leave of this place and regrouping with the one we serve."
Gripping the knife harder, Camicazi twisted sharply, causing Mulan to scream in agony. "If you don't tell us who you serve, I promise you, we will beat you until you're at the gates of Hel and then we'll wait to repeat the process again and again until you tell us what we want to know," Mulan began to laugh at Camicazi's words, causing the Bog heir to snort. "Oh, you find humor in my words, do you?" Nodding, she then turned to Thuggory. "Choose a blunt instrument to beat her with it. Let's see if she'll be laughing once we show her how ruthless Vikings can be," she then backed away from the Chinese woman while readying to throw another knife. "I'm gonna enjoy this." With a smirk, Camicazi hurled her next knife at the prisoner's upper chest, as the blade pierced flesh and bone, Mulan cried out in agony.
Thuggory picked up a war hammer, lifting the heavy weapon with ease, and approached the writhing woman who inhaled sharply at the sight of the hammer. "Such a shame that I have to beat such a beautiful woman to a pulp," sighing, the Meathead heir lifted the hammer before shrugging. "When you want this to end, tell us what we want. Until then, let's see if this will make you laugh." With a fierce grunt, Thuggory swung the hammer until it made contact with Mulan's right side.
The sickening crunch of ribs breaking and agonizing screams from Mulan echoed throughout the dungeon as Thuggory and Camicazi continued to inflict Viking fury upon her.
(England— Unknown location)
Savage had been looked down upon and had sworn oaths to both Alvin the Treacherous and Dagur the Deranged, though his loyalty was unquestionable, it would seem that fate had other plans for him. Rather than be an obedient lapdog, he was meant to lead his own tribe of Vikings. The prospect of striking out on his own and leading his own band of Vikings seemed impossible in the past, but now, he was determined to create a strong group that would seek to destabilize those who had wronged them. Ever since his failed coup on Berserker Island, Savage was imprisoned, and he was meant to be executed, however, men that were loyal to him managed to free him before his death sentence could be carried out.
By not being hung for breaking his oath to Dagur and attempting to overthrow him, Savage saw his rescue as a sign from the gods, they must've had a plan for him. And who was he to question the will of the gods?
Though his band of men consisted mainly of Outcasts and Bersekrers, Savage had been watering the seed of his tribe— The Deviants, for quite some time. Many more men and women who stood as outlaws or disgraced warriors joined Savage, seeing this as an opportunity to re-earn their favor in the eyes of Odin and the Æsir and reach Valhalla. What was once a band of thirty men was now an army of eight hundred men and women who had no allegiance to Hiccup Haddock, the supposed "King of Vikings," they were free to choose their own path and were determined to see those that followed the young Haddock suffer or die by their hands or by the hands of their enemies.
The Deviants and the Zealots accompanying them marched through the English forests and made their way to York, the tension between these two forces was thick, because both parties were expecting the other to betray them, but spilling Zealot blood would do Savage and his men no good, especially when Prince Heahmund could deploy a large force to crush his own forces.
"So, just how well are you acquainted with the King of Vikings, Savage?"
Turning to one of Heahmund's lieutenants, Euclio, the man snorted. "I've known the welp since he was a boy! However, I made the mistake of underestimating the boy many times, and every time I did, Hiccup Haddock made me look like an even bigger fool than before!" Growling in recollection at the numerous times he was bested by him and his friends, Savage ran a hand through his long, braided hair before taking a deep breath to calm himself. "But to answer your question, Christian, I know him, much better than you or your prince."
"Do not overestimate your worth to the Zealot Order, heathen," Euclio sneered. "My men and I will not hesitate to cut you and your men down like the year's harvest if you forget your place."
Rolling his eyes, Savage nodded. "Yes yes, I'm well aware of what will happen if I dare to do anything stupid. You don't need to worry about me or my men—"
"Nevertheless, we will be wary of you, and kill you if the need arises," shrugging, Euclio continued, "just keep yourself and your men in line, and we'll have nothing to worry about." He then cocked his head curiously while changing the subject. "How do you plan on luring Hiccup Haddock out of York's walls? From what I've heard, the man is no fool."
"He isn't," Savage agreed before grinning maliciously. "But his weakness is that he has too many loved ones, among them is Heather the Unhinged, sister of the Berserker Tribe's late chief, Dagur the Deranged, and my previous sworn lord. Before we Vikings fled our homes, I had dispatched a clutch of my men who stood as Berserkers to reap anarchy among the Berserker people. One thing led to another and one of my most trusted men killed Dagur, inflicting a grievous wound on Heather and her brother's wife, Queen Mala of the Defenders of the Wing, leader of a tribe of dragon sympathizers. The point is, I will provoke Heather out of York's walls and have her challenge my second-in-command— Hauk Dreyrugr or Hauk Blood-Stained, a title he bestowed upon himself after his ritualistic penchant for painting his face with the blood of his enemies." Noting the disgust forming on Euclio's face, Savage flashed a teasing grin. "What's the matter, Christian? Weak stomach?" The Zealot merely sneered at the leader of The Deviants, causing Savage to chuckle.
"You're certain this will work?"
Smirking to himself, Savage nodded. "Heather is about to meet the man who killed her brother, despite words of restraint and caution from Hiccup Haddock, in the end, Heather is a Berserker and a Viking, revenge is part of our way," he then looked to the Zealot leader before adding. "Hauk will only fan the flames of vengeance and provoke her to the point where she'll go... berserk. Forcing her out and ultimately Hiccup Haddock. Once our combined forces are laying in wait to spring our trap, Heather the Unhinged and Hiccup Haddock will die, and the Scandinavian migrants will be leaderless and scattered, making them vulnerable."
"I see," Euclio grunted before shrugging. "We shall soon see if your plan comes to fruition or not, won't we?"
A firm nod was the only response Savage gave. While steering his horse forward, he knew that his plan was a good one, however, not everything goes according to plan. He silently begged the gods that this wouldn't go sideways and that the Zealot Order wouldn't just execute him and his tribe should the plan fail. If the plan did fail, Savage needed to be prepared to lead his men away from England and move on, but also to make sure they were a good distance away from Hiccup and his forces.
As he said before, revenge is part of the Viking way, and Savage had several scores to settle with those who followed Hiccup. He would show those who thought of him as nothing more than an incompetent fool that he had flourished and that he was not so easy to put down. Not only would he do this, but he knew several Viking factions that followed Hiccup were ripe for betrayal, with the right persuasion, Savage could see his tribe's numbers swell, and he would laugh from afar as Hiccup's kingdom tore each other apart.
All Savage needed to do was wait.
Good things happen to people who wait, after all.
(York— Kingdom of Northumbria)
Olaf Beigrøs was putting his skills as a baker to use, as he, and those whose profession wasn't that of a warrior, but of a commoner went to work preparing bread and other baked goods for the Scandinavian people within York's walls. The morning had been busy as many came to receive food from the bakers so that their families and people were fed or otherwise stocked for when the need came to have bread on hand.
Whilst handing out baskets full of bread loaves to a family, Olaf spotted Viggo Grimborn while in the custody of two Kingsguards' who were making their way to the Great Hall. The Hooligan baker felt his blood burn and his vision turns red at the sight of the man who killed his daughter. Although his loyalty towards Stoick's son was unquestionable, he resented the young king for sparing Viggo Grimborn, his death would've been justified.
"Olaf? What is it?"
His wife, Grünhild placed a hand on his shoulder, a look of concern on her face. Taking a deep breath, Olaf shook his head. "It's nothing, my love," he leaned in to kiss her before spotting Prince Harald Haraldson and his sister, Princess Aud speaking with a handful of people outside a nearby tavern. Locking eyes with the descendant of Harald Fairhair, Olaf saw the prince make a gesture with his head, urging him to join them.
"Olaf?"
"Grünhild, would you take over for me? It would seem Prince Harald Haraldson would like to have a word," looking over at the leader of the Fairhair dynasty, Grünhild looked back at her husband and nodded. "I'll make this quick," Olaf promised as he made his way outside of the bakery and approached the Fairhair rulers and those they were speaking with.
"Olaf Beigrøs!" Harald extended his arms out before patting the man's broad shoulder. "Please, join us--"
"I'm in the middle providing food for our people, Prince Harald. Whatever it is that you have to say, best you make it quick and speak plainly," Olaf said firmly.
Chuckling, Harald nodded. "Of course, you're a busy man, I'll get to the point. Those gathered here resent Hiccup Haddock for sparing the life of Viggo Grimborn, a man who inflicted great suffering on Norway and its Viking population. I take it you too harbor feelings of resentment towards our king, hmm?"
Olaf was reluctant to reply, obviously, he was resentful towards Stoick's son, however, Hiccup has proven to be a strong and fair leader; he distributed wealth to those who needed it the most, and he made sure both the people and the dragons were provided for, and he isn't determined to pick a fight with England's kings even though they outnumber them.
"So what if I do?"
"Then what's to stop our young king from making decisions that don't sit well with the people?" Harald challenged. "If he spared an enemy the likes of Viggo Grimborn, what's to say he won't make the same mistake if another villain challenges us? What then?" The Vikings gathered and murmured in agreement with Harald's words, Olaf, however, was silent.
Aud decided to speak up as she nudged her brother. "From what I've seen, Hiccup Haddock is a fair and decent ruler, why are you riling up those that Grimborn has wronged? May I remind you that we need Hiccup's support for the invasion of Paris and to see our brother's murder avenged, as well as the Vikings that resided in Frankia."
"Strong leaders do what's best for their people. What purpose do Viggo Grimborn and his collection of weak, pathetic former Dragon Hunters serve? They have no purpose here," Harald then looked into Olaf's eyes. "Do you want a leader who serves in your best interest, including seeing the man who was the cause of your daughter's death face the end he so righhtly deserves?" He then looked to those gathered. "Do any of you do?" When they grunted in confirmation, Harald nodded before grinning deviously. "Then we challenge Hiccup Haddock's leadership whenever he doesn't act in the interest of the Scandinavian people or if he makes descions based on weakness such as sparing an old foe that deserves to die for killing Viking people."
Grasping her brother's arm, Aud spoke through gritted teeth. "Brother, please! Don't do this. I know you have ambitions to become king, but not like this!"
Ripping his arm free, Harald leaned into his sister's face and spoke lowly. "This has nothing to do with my desires to become a king. I act in the interest of the Scandinavian people," he then added in a firm tone, "and if Hiccup Haddock won't do what's necessary, then I will." After taking a deep breath, Harald looked at Olaf who looked uncomfortable, being in the midst of talks of overthrowing Stoick's son in time. To reassure the baker's fears, the prince patted the older man's arm and smiled. "Think about what you just heard, Olaf Beigrøs. In time, Hiccup Haddock may prove himself unworthy of being the King of Vikings. And should a change in leadership arise, I hope you consider electing me as the next king of our people." He then gestured to the bakery. "I've kept you from your responsibilities long enough. Your fellow bakers need your expertice in providing our people with food."
As Olaf took his leave, he released a shaky breath, he did resent Hiccup for sparring Viggo and allowing his people to merge with their own, however, he had no desire to see Hiccup usurped and overthrown. Hiccup, although young, is a fair and decent ruler with a good heart, and Olaf believes that the future of their people is secured in Hiccup's hands. Prince Harald's thirst for power and desire to be king, however, is a threat, and if the ambitious prince isn't kept in line, he could very well be what drives the Viking people to the brink of extinction.
Once he was back inside the bakery, assisting his wife and fellow bakers, Olad decided he would tell Hiccup of Harald's plans, as a show of his loyalty to him.
As Viggo was brought into the Great Hall, he saw Hiccup seated at one of the tables with a vase of freshly brewed ale, two mugs, and a board of Maces and Talons. Looking at the guards who had escorted the former Dragon Hunter, the King of Vikings gave them a dismissive wave. As the guards left, the older man noticed how there were a dozen of Hiccup's personal guards throughout the Great Hall, watching him closely. Viggo knew if he made an attempt on the young king's life, he and his people would die. As he approached the young king and sat across from him, Hiccup poured himself and Viggo a mug of ale before taking one of the game pieces off the board and inspecting it.
"Do you know why I called you here to play, Viggo?" When the older man gave no response, he did, however, give the king a curious gaze, causing Hiccup to hum softly. "I wanted you here because I need to look you in the eyes and determine whether or not I can truly trust you and contemplate how you and your people can be of use to me. There's too much bad blood between you and those under my rule, at the moment. After all, you destroyed much and killed many people when your Shellfire dragon bombarded the Defenders of the Wing and Berserkers and when you used the Submaripper to choke off the trade routes leading to Berk. " Placing the piece he was toying with back on the board, Hiccup continued, "I spared you from being hung because I believe you deserve a chance to show my followers that your intentions are pure and not a deceptive ruse."
"Of course," the older man took one of the Dragon Hunter King pieces and inspected it before raising a curious eyebrow. "Do you believe my intentions are pure, Hiccup?"
Narrowing his eyes, the young king remarked nonchalantly. "Consider me optimistic," taking one of his game pieces, Hiccup made the first move, a challenge to begin their sparring match of intellect. "It's been years since we last saw each other, Viggo, and you're nothing but a stranger to me now. If you want to earn my trust, I need to know you and your keen mind, so that I determine your future among my people."
Moving one of his own pieces, Viggo hummed in understanding before smiling. "Very well. And how can I take that necessary step in earning your trust?"
Where would he even begin?
Hiccup placed his pawn in front of his Viking Queen before choosing a subject to discuss. "The last time you were colluding with Johann and Krogan, you three were going to sell a King of Dragons to the "mysterious buyer from the North," you claimed that you didn't know the buyer?" While Viggo moved another piece into place, he shook his head. "Well, two years after we defeated your former allies, we faced Krogan's employer— Drago Bludvist. Have you heard of him? And don't even think about lying, I remember almost being branded by your men, the brand bore the very same emblem Krogan and his Dragon Flyers bore on their belt buckles."
After placing yet another piece into place, Viggo spoke plainly and honestly. "Yes, I have done business with the man in the past. As I told you back when we were enemies, I have no desire to rule the world," taking his Dragon Hunter Queen, Viggo moved it next to one of his lone Hunters. "The man needed dragons, the rarer the better, but so long as the various Dragon Hunter factions provided Drago Bludvist with dragons, business was good, for both parties."
"Yeah, but you sentenced innocent, magnificent creatures to a fate worse than death by selling dragons to that madman," Hiccup moved a Kingsguard piece to defend his king, countering Viggo's Hunter from taking it out of the game. "I witnessed firsthand how he used his Bewilderbeast to control Toothless and then used my dragon to murder me, but... my father sacrificed himself to save me."
Noting a hint of regret and self-loathing etched in Hiccup's facial features, Viggo had an inkling that there was more to what Hiccup was telling and thought it was wise not to press for details. After all, to lose a family member cuts deep. "You have my condolences, Hiccup," Viggo's sympathy was genuine and heartfelt, causing Hiccup to look up from the board and up at his former enemy. "The loss of Ryker still weighs heavily on me. Despite our... disagreements and fights, he was still my brother. Even though he had usurped me of my position as leader of the Grimborn Dragon Hunters, took control of the Shellfire dragon to conduct coordinated attacks on your allies, and used my men to see you all wiped out, in the end, he was still my brother." Moving a Hunter piece to come to face one of Hiccup's Kingsguard pieces, Viggo sighed heavily. "We have both lost much, and I don't need to tell you how loss can be a strong motivator to be better so that we honor those that fell because of our actions and mistakes. I no longer wish for what remains of my people and my daughter to hunt and kill dragons, they are part of this world, just as we are, and they deserve to be protected and free."
Moving one of his Viking pieces, Hiccup was on the attack, intent on killing Viggo's Dragon Hunter King. "Aside from solidifying my trust, Viggo, it's my people you'll need to truly win over. We Vikings don't let go of grudges so easily, and your list of grievances is a long one," Viggo moved one of his lone Hunters to stop Hiccup's Viking piece from gaining any more ground to his Hunter King. "How do you plan on winning over the masses that wish to see you strung up and become a feast for the crows?"
"I have been pondering that question myself, and the truth is... I don't know," Viggo hummed as Hiccup used another of his Viking pieces to take one of his lone Hunters off of the board, leaving his Hunter King vulnerable.
"Well, I suggest you think of how you can make yourself useful in my kingdom, otherwise..." taking one of the mace pieces in his hand, Hiccup knocked down the Hunter King before looking into Viggo's eyes, "...you'll face retribution from those you've wronged, regardless if you mean well or not." Nodding in understanding, Viggo watched as Hiccup reset their pieces and gave him a daring look. "Your move."
As Viggo made his next move, he knew that he needed to think of something to not only prove himself useful to Hiccup but also attempt to momentarily slake the people's bloodlust. Both tasks would be a great challenge, but for the sake of his daughter's future and for the future of his tribe, Viggo was up to the challenge.
Mulan was no stranger to facing death, she had been in many life-and-death situations throughout her life as a warrior, but now as she was at the very edge of life, she could see those she held close to her heart that was no longer in this world: her parents, her grandmother, her friends, and her husband. All of them beckoned her to join them in the next life, to let go of the miserable existence that was her mortal life, and to finally find peace in the afterlife with them.
Once again, the near-dead Chinese warrior was splashed with freezing water, causing her to gasp sharply and sputter violently. Looking up at her torturers through the veil of hair covering her face, Mulan wheezed weakly as she tried to breathe, but the blows she had received from Thuggory's hammer had broken several of her ribs, she could feel the bones scraping against her lungs, forcing her to breathe through the mouth.
Seeing as though she was going to die anyway, there was no point in remaining loyal to the man who robbed her of her happiness and life in China.
"T-The... Gr-Gracious One,"
Camicazi and Thuggory barely heard her, but when the Bog heir approached the shackled warrior, she leaned. "What did you say?"
"T-The Gracious O-One is after your king," Mulan wheezed out. "H-He... seeks to make y-your king suffer—"
"Who is he?" Thuggory interrupted, his firm tone implying he was more than willing to continue beating her.
Desperate for respite, Mulan looked at the Meathead heir and exhaled softly. "J-Johann," when Thuggory moved closer, the Chinese warrior repeated herself. "Johann, the Gracious One."
Camicazi once again gripped one of the knives embedded in Mulan's flesh, causing her to whimper in pain. "Johann has been dead for years. He was flash-frozen beneath Berserker Island in Norway, the land many of us Vikings once hailed."
"H-He survived, the ice preserved him, even though he should've died," Mulan groaned as Camicazi's grip on the knife tightened. "Sometime after your king's victory against him, J-Johann was recovered by the warrior heirs of the Mongrel Tribe— Nikora and Eir Stormheart. Since then, J-Johann has operated in the shadows, he has recollected his secret caches of wealth and resources throughout Scandinavia, and... he's been building his own force of Dragon Hunters and warriors that are mainly Arabic, Ottoman, and Persian." Both Viking heirs shared a look of deep concern, but Mulan continued. "That's... not all. Although the Stormheart heirs work for Johann, they serve another, the one who destroyed my home and my people."
"And who might that be?" Camicazi asked in a low tone.
Recalling his brute strength, his ferocity in battle, and the mountain of a dragon he rode into conflict like a war elephant, Mulan exhaled. "D-Drago Bludvist. After your king and his people dealt his Northern Alliance a fatal blow, what remained of the junta and its leaders fled Scandinavia to recoup their losses. It was out there in the world, they found their master and his alpha, alive and well, they submitted to Drago once again and he led them on a campaign throughout Asia. They had not only taken a vast amount of dragons that reside in that part of the world, but their numbers have grown tenfold after Drago had convinced a power-hungry and corrupt Samurai shogun and his vast army to join the Northern Alliance."
Turning to the Meathead heir, Camicazi gave her friend a stern look. "We need to inform Hiccup of this, we're all in danger if Drago and Johann are colluding together," nodding in agreement, Thuggory made his way out of the dungeon with Camicazi behind him. Turning to the guards outside the cell doors, the Bog heir gestured to Mulan. "One of you go and fetch a healer and see that her wounds are tended to. Our king may have use for her in the future." The guards nodded before one of them left the dungeon to fetch a healer and tend to Mulan. Camicazi and Thuggory too left the jail to find their dear friend and the king and inform him of what they had learned.
While sprinting to the Great Hall, Camicazi knew that this news would only increase the burden Hiccup bore on his shoulders. She hoped that she could help ease her friend's burden in any way possible. However, she had an idea of how she could do that, and it involved getting... up close and personal. She just hoped when she brought this suggestion to Hiccup he wouldn't freak out or reject her, after all, she was there for a long before he became the man he was today.
Eventually, both Viking heirs saw Hiccup and Viggo walking down the steps of the Great Hall, sharing final words before taking their separate ways. Turning to his childhood friends, Hiccup grinned. "Ah! There you two are," he then raised a questioning eyebrow. "So, what did you learn from our guest?"
Sharing a look, Thuggory spoke first. "Hiccup, we want you to prepare yourself. What we learned is going to be... difficult for you to hear, even more so on our people once you tell them. Are you sure you're ready to hear what we have to say?"
Although reluctant, Hiccup nodded, his curiosity was now piqued. "Out with it, you two. Who are we dealing with?"
Camicazi shook her head and replied. "Johann, "The Gracious One," our guest claims that he not only survived being frozen by the Bewilderbeast underneath Berserker Island but that he was rescued by Nikora and Eir Stormheart, heirs of the Mongrel Tribe. Our guest also claims that he's uncovered all of his secret caches of wealth and resources he hid throughout Scandinavia and that he's amassed his own force of Dragon Hunters and warriors in lands far away from here," before Hiccup could absorb this revelation, Camicazi continued. "That's not the worst news, though. These Stormheart heirs seem to be loyal to Johann out of necessity, their true master is one who you've encountered and fought before— Drago Bludvist."
Hiccup ran a hand through his hair, disbelief, and shock gripped him as he entered a state of denial. He saw Johann frozen solid the last time he saw him and the last time he saw Drago, the madman didn't appear to have gills when he and his Bewilderbeast were expelled from Berk by Toothless and the other dragons.
"Spread word to the people, we need to have an emergency meeting. Now."
Both Viking heirs bowed their heads and went out to spread the word. Looking to the heavens, Hiccup knew that both these old enemies had dangerous problems in and of themselves, but if they were conspiring together, that could spell nothing but doom for him and his people. Hiccup looked to the heavens and exhaled.
"Odin, help me. Help us all."
A/N: Yeah, I know Johann died, and if Race to the Edge was more graphic or mature, the Bewilderbeast ice that made Johann a human popsicle would've torn him to pieces, but in this story, he miraculously survived and he's gonna play a significant role in this story. As for Drago, if you guys didn't know, his past and his ultimate fate would've been depicted in an unreleased graphic comic called "The Fire Tides," look it up on YouTube, there's a Httyd fan speaking with one of the comic's creators who worked closely with Dean Deblois, and everything discussed in the video is technically canon because it explains things that happened in Hidden World and some other juicy details. But anyway, Drago and his Bewilderbeast are spearheading the remnants of his Northern Alliance and rebuilding his junta's numbers in both man and dragon and will ultimately challenge Hiccup and his kingdom at some point. Until then, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and I'll see you in the next update!