Astrid's sudden attack on Smoker stunned the Marines, especially when she claimed she could take on Smoker herself. Then suddenly, Atali came swooping in and attacked Hiccup, though he quickly dodged the attack.
"We have to make convincing," she whispered.
Hiccup nodded and began swinging his fists.
The Marines just looked on.
"The Pirate Empress is attacking Dragon now!"
"She's gonna turn into stone."
As Hiccup and Atali fought, they began to talk in a harsh whisper so no one could hear.
"I admit I was concerned when Ace arrived here, but I'm pleased to see that both you and Astrid managed to escape Impel Down," said Atali.
"Doesn't mean much if I don't rescue Ace," said Hiccup.
"And I may have something that might just help you," she said.
She then swung her fist at Hiccup, but it was faint, which allowed her to drop something in his hand. Hiccup looked at it and realised that it was a key.
"That is the key to your brother's handcuffs," she said.
Hiccup nodded. "Thanks."
Astrid had been the only other person to see Atali drop something in Hiccup's hand and then quickly spun around, unleashing a powerful tornado. Atali promptly jumped back to avoid it, giving Hiccup your opportunity to make a getaway.
"He's getting away!"
"I'll stop him!" Smoker yelled and launched himself.
Astrid, however, had just spun around, unleashing another tornado, which blew Smoker back.
"Sorry, but you fight with me," said Astrid.
The other Marines looked at Atali.
"Aren't you going to help?"
"Yeah, you're supposed to stop these pirates."
Atali gave them a fearsome glare. "Do not tell me what to do; I take no orders from men. Dragon is just another pitiful man like any other, and I have no desire to fight with the War Maiden."
She then upped and left.
"Guess this is what we should expect from a pirate," Smoker grumbled. He then turned his attention to Astrid. "Never mind, I will make quick work of you."
He then swung his weapon directly at Astrid, but he quickly blocked it with her impact dial and the Marines were stunned that she was able to stop the attack head-on.
"She just stopped Commodore Smoker in her tracks!"
"With only her hand?"
Smoker looked at Astrid, equally stunned. "How are you doing this?"
"Like I'm going to tell you," Astrid smirked. She quickly spun around, swinging her axe and deflected Smoker's weapon. She then quickly placed her palm against his chest. "Valkyrie Impact!"
Smoker was then hit by a massive force into his chest; it was like he was just struck by a cannonball. He was not backwards and spat out some blood.
Stormfly quickly rushed to his side. "How did she injure you? What was that?"
"I don't know what that attack was, but I suspect that gauntlet she's wearing is laced with Sea Prison Stone," Smoker assumed.
Astrid smiled at her gauntlet. 'Good thing Hiccup laced the palm with Sea Prison Stone.'
She then looked back at Smoker and the Marines. "Still think you can take me on?"
Hiccup had a good head start now and was looking at the key that Atali had given him.
"This is exactly what I needed," said Hiccup, clenching his hand firmly. "Hold on, Ace; I'm coming."
Mala was still rather confused with what Johann had just revealed.
"That's impossible," said Mala. "Kuma Bartholomew is dead? Then who is that behind you? Stop spouting nonsense! You cannot deceive me!"
Hiccup was fighting through the Marines when he spotted Mala and Kuma.
"It's Mala and Kuma," said Hiccup. "Mala, be careful! Do not let him get his paws on you. They're dangerous!"
"I'm all right," said Mala assured him. "Kuma Bartholomew, get out of my way."
Hiccup stared at her, and it became apparent that she knew Kuma personally.
"You two know each other?" Hiccup asked.
"We were, but he's not acting like himself," she said gravely.
"I'm sure that this is a lovely trip down memory lane for you, but I am afraid that the Kuma you know is no longer with us," said Johann. "This is the new model."
"New model?" Hiccup frowned. He then looked at Mala. "What in the world is he talking about?"
"I do not know, but I will admit that Kuma Bartholomew is acting different than usual right now," said Mala. "However, I know that the Kuma Bartholomew I know is still inside. So would you please wake up?"
Kuma, however, simply stood there in silence, not showing emotion.
"There again, he has always been the strong, silent type," Mala admitted.
"Are you just deaf, or are you just stupid?" Johann asked. "Trust me, it is no use trying to talk to him. It happened just a few days ago. Doctor Vegapunk, the government scientist, finally finished his modifications to Kuma. Now, he is the ruthless weapon of depth he should have been from the start. Ladies and gentlemen, the former Kuma Bartholomew."
"Doctor Vegapunk? Mods?" Mala frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"Kuma here volunteered to be a guinea pig in a study to become the ultimate human weapon run by the Government, of course. First, they modified his hands, then his legs, and although his mind was still intact, they modified his body piece by piece until he was no longer the same Kuma you know and love."
"But that is nonsense," said Mala. "Kuma Bartholomew always hated the Government! As if he would ever sacrifice himself for their stupid plan! Kuma Bartholomew, snap out of it! It is I!"
Johann rolled his eyes and walked off. "Stop yelling. Starting to get on my nerves. I do not know what kind of deal he had with the Government. He was fine a few days ago. It is funny but tragic; before you know it, someone is gone." He then sat down on the bodies of several pirates. "In Kuma's case, he doesn't even realise that he is every human, so the poor sap might as well be dead. Now he is just the monster the Government has done their dirty work. It is the latest, the greatest, Pacifier PX-0! Your new old friend!"
Kuma then fired a laser out of his mouth at the two of them, which they were barely able to dodge.
"Kuma Bartholomew! What is the big idea?" Mala demanded. "You had better stop shooting a laser at me right now."
Hiccup rose to his feet and looked at Kuma. "Yeah, I remember."
He remembered Kuma claiming that they would never see each other again. At first, Hiccup thought that meant he was about to kill him, but now he understood what he meant.
"Even back then, he knew," said Hiccup.
"Surely recognise me, Kuma Bartholomew," said Mala stubbornly.
Kuma then suddenly vanished without a trace.
"Where did he go?" Mala asked, looking around.
They heard yelling behind them and quickly spun around to see Kuma, who appeared behind several New Kama people. They watched as he began to remove his gloves.
"Everyone, watch out!" Hiccup yelled, realising what was about to happen. "Get away!"
"Pad Cannon!" said Kuma.
He then slammed them with a powerful shockwave attack, blowing them away instantly.
Mala was now furious. "Damnit Kuma Bartholomew! That is enough! If you forgot about me, then here's a helpful reminder! Face Spectrum!"
Mala suddenly moved so fast that it looked like she had multiple faces. Kuma began scanning her, but he could not tell which was the real Mala.
"Galaxy Wink!" said Mala.
Every one of the faces then winked, and each one fired a shockwave attack, hitting him head-on. The attack was so powerful that Kuma was blown away, and Mala landed on the ground with a smile on her face.
"How dare you attack my people!" Mala glared as Kuma rose to his feet. She then charged at him. "He would seem as if I have to knock you to your senses the hard way. Vengeful Kick!"
She then performed a powerful dropkick that sent him flying, and he crashed into a large chunk of ice.
"Nice one, boss."
"I do not care if they are friend or foe. No one attacks my people!" Mala yelled furiously. "I know you may have forgotten who you are or who your friends are, but that does not excuse you for assaulting my people. If fighting you is the only way for you to remember, then so be it, so you better prepare yourself."
The New Kama people stared blankly at her; none had seen her this furious.
"She is pissed," they said.
Mala looked at her people. "Leave Kama Bartholomew to me. The rest of you continue to back up Hiccup Haddock."
"Roger!" they said.
They began charging towards the wall, running past Hiccup, who stared at Mala.
"Let's go and get them, Dragon."
Hiccup nodded and looked at Mala. "Thanks, and good luck."
Hiccup and the people of New Kama began to make their way to the wall.
Meanwhile, a group of Marines went to attack Buggy and his followers, but now they had disappeared entirely. Even more strangely, a big chunk of ice had been there a few moments before.
"All of a sudden, they just disappeared into the ice."
"That doesn't make any sense unless Admiral Asmund used Ice Age again, and I don't remember seeing him do that. Did you guys?"
"Where did they go?"
One of the Marines then noticed the strange block of ice was surprisingly warm. "That's weird; this is more."
"The ice?"
That ice was a large chunk of wax that Mr 3 had made, and inside it was Buggy and his followers.
"Okay, men, listen up," said Buggy. "Blah blah, Buggy is the greatest, yada yada, Buggy is amazing. This is something you guys have heard plenty of times."
"Totally!"
Buggy then rose to his feet. "But I want to get the entire world chanting those words when the new pirate saviour makes his appearance."
His followers then looked at him in awe. "Excellent plan, your Buddyness!"
Mr 3 just sat there in the corner, rolling his eyes. "Really?"
"Let's go, men!" Buggy yelled.
They then flipped the wax camo, surprising the Marines. Buggy saw Hiccup charging towards the wall.
"Ahhh! Dragon is going to steal all my thunder!" he yelled, immediately leading his followers into a charge. "Now commence Operation: Make Captain Buggy the King of the Pirates! Anything is possible with me at the helm."
His followers then cheered.
"The whole world will be taken aback by my onslaught of awesomeness! All of you follow my lead, and don't mess anything up! Charge you fools!"
Mr 3 was lagging behind, desperately trying to keep up with them. "I question the efficacy of your strategy!"
Viggo and Ryker were causing a little chaos on the battlefield, cutting down Stoick's men. Viggo had managed to free himself from Stoick's men, but now he was even far away from the man himself and was still desperate to kill him.
"Viggo!" they yelled.
"There are too many," said Viggo, unleashing a powerful sandstorm to blow them away. "I won't reach him like this."
"Don't even think about touching our captain!"
Viggo glared at them. "Get out of my way, fools!"
He then once again blew them away with a powerful sandstorm.
"What a pain in the ass," Stoick grumbled. "He's going to mess up our rescue mission."
"Leave him to me," said Sven as he covered himself in diamonds.
Then, before Viggo could react, Sven landed a massive hit on him, sending him flying over to Johann.
"He's fast, too fast and strong," said Viggo. "Quite the combination for someone that size."
Sven came in for another blow but suddenly stopped in his tracks. It didn't take long for the two of them to figure out what happened, and sure enough, standing on Sven's back was Johann.
"Congrats on your escape from prison, Viggo," said Johann. "So, did you enjoy the pool of blood during your stay?"
Viggo narrowed his eyes. "Johann Tradesman, keep out of my business or else. It is not your concern."
"Just making small talk. Listen, I think we might make a good team."
Meanwhile, Hiccup was still charging towards the wall with the people of New Kama, but the Marines kept standing in their way.
"Stop right there!" the Marines said.
"Yeah, you wish!" Two members of New Kama quickly struck them down with their swords. "Path is Dragon!"
"Thanks," said Hiccup as he ran past them. He then looked up at Ace. "Ace!"
He then saw someone hiding amongst the smoke, and whoever it was, they managed to cut through a good number of the people of New Kama. When the smoke faded away, Hawkeye stood before Hiccup with sword in hand.
"Hawkeye?" Hiccup stared.
"I wonder what is written," said Hawkeye to himself. "Will my hand wipe his name from history? Or perhaps his fortune will spare the fury of this Black Blade."