Author's Note: Hello all and welcome to the new and improved Beating In Stride, Part 2 in my Seizure Procedure series. Not a lot has changed. Just added some more detail, a bit more dialogue here and there. If you've read this before, the storyline is pretty much the same. If you are new to this story, read The Secrets We Keep first then come back. I recommend you bring a box of tissues with you because you feels will be attacked.
This story was Beta Read by DraconicBeing2.0 back in 2018. She helped correct a lot of errors and whatnot and helped make a story a success by my standards (which are quite low). I don't think she is on here anymore, but I am still obligated to credit her.
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 down 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.
Johann had waited years to do this. He wanted to do it from the minute he met the spoiled brat. Always having to be so smart and smug. He was as prideful as that father of his. All those trinkets that Hiccup had made for trade, tossed into the ocean as soon as Berk was out of sight. He had lied to this stick of a boy when he told him he'd been playing them since Breakneck Bog. Oh no, he'd been doing since Stoick first became chief 30 years ago. He initiated most of the attacks on Berk. It wasn't always the Red Death. He had sent the dragons the night Valka was taken and eaten.
He enjoyed showing up the next day and playing the sympathetic friend. Johann had silently laughed as Stoick set off to find his dead wife. The eight-month-old baby had been left in the hands, well hand, of the moronic blacksmith.
Johann laughed at this memory. His joy compelled him to punch harder. He punched until he drew blood from several places on the young man's face. He stopped momentarily to get a good look at the Haddock boy.
Hiccup stared him down, daring him to do more. He hid his pain behind a face of steel and anger. He wasn't going to give this sick twist the pleasure of seeing him cry in pain and beg him to stop. Hiccup had endured worse.
Johann roared in anger. He grabbed Hiccup by the shoulders and began slamming his body into the ground. How dare this child pretend to be a man, denying him the pleasure of seeing him react to the pain. He then pulled out a knife and stabbed Dragon Master in the left arm. He ensured the blade went all the way through until it hit the ice.
Hiccup let out a scream as his left arm exploded in pain. Pain radiating down to the tips of his fingers 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 wounded arm, he managed to pick up his sword 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 as 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 didn't have the strength to stay like this indefinitely 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 who 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, pulling out another dagger. 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 arm.
"Such heroism, Hiccup," Johann stated. "And for what? Glory? Fame? Acknowledgement 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 an 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, as he kneeled down next to Hiccup. "The final resting place for the champion of dragons will reside in the King of Dragons' birth nest. But fear not, we're going to have some fun first."
He slammed the blade into the Dragon Rider's left thigh. Hiccup bit back the urge to scream, not wanting to waste his energy reserves. Johann left the dagger in as he stood up. With all his strength he lifted his left and stomped down onto Hiccup's chest. He repeated the process again, but this time aiming for the pest's shoulder, feeling something snap beneath his foot.
This time Hiccup screamed, unable to hold back the tears that now flowed freely. Johann laughed with glee at the sight of his toy crying from the pain he was inflicting. He bent down and pulled the dagger out.
Hiccup curled up into a ball, hoping to minimize whatever other injuries he was about to receive "You don't have to do this, Johann."
Johann picked up a nearby spear and raised it above his head. "Oh yes. Yes, I do, Hiccup."
Hiccup braced himself for what he hoped was the final blow. 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 felt himself being blown several feet away from the ledge.
As the ice and wind cleared, Hiccup managed to turn over to see what had happened. He was greeted by the sight of Johann frozen in place, his face permanently etched with the fury and hatred he'd carried all his life.
It didn't have to end like this. Hiccup thought. It didn't have to be like this, period. Johann had always been so kind and quirky. Learning about how evil he truly was all those months ago had been a mighty blow to the entire Archipelago. He had been a fool, hoping he could save the older man. He was evil through and through. This final battle was proof of that.