Freya's POV
I frowned, thinking it through. While Hiccup's logic made sense, I wasn't sure if his approach would work. He wouldn't find me enough of a threat.
Glancing down, I observed the dragons attacking each other and soliders unconscious on the floor. If this had a shot to work, I had to take it. I took a breath.
"Okay. I'll do it. But I can't intimidate him enough alone."
Hiccup nodded. "I'll send as many people over as possible, but I'm not sure anyone will be able to. We need to focus on protecting Swiftstrike."
He returned to the battle, weilding Inferno.
Throwing my cloak over my head, I vanished. Swiftstrike mimicked my motion. With only a few shots left, she dived down towards the captain's quarters.
I squinted. I spotted Ryker as he slashed, humming, at several dragons that had been released from the hypnosis. Scowling, I urged Swiftstrike to speed up.
A monstrous nightmare howled as blood fell from the open gash. The thick liquid pooled beneath it. Smirking, Ryker approached the dragon. It thrashed irregularly, suffering the effects of dragon root.
I was close. Swiftstrike slowed as a thunderdrum attacked Ryker. We began to hover. I could hear my heart beat. My vision blurred and I fought back the memories.
I can't. He'll get me. He'll find me. This won't work -
BANG! The thunderdrum fell, disprientated from the head injury. I clenched my fists.
I have to.
Invisible, I slid off of Swiftstrike and towards Ryker. He cracked his knuckles and that was all I could hear. Behind me, Swiftstrike took off towards the exit - if the plan succeeded, the top priority was for her to escape.
Now I just had to win.
Ryker scratched at his chin as the downed dragons whimpered. I crouched beside them, only a small sliver of my face exposed. He bent over, clasped the handle of an axe and lifted it up.
My breathing quickened. I gripped tighter at the spear I'd found. I took a small step forwards.
Ryker grinned, searching the sky for other victims. He watched as the Dragon Riders fought furiously, only to make no progress. I took another slow step forwards.
My eyes were at his knee height. I was close. Maybe a metre away. A small step.
He turned, facing towards me. My eyes widened and I took a sharp breath. I shuffled backwards clumsily, nudging a sword. He paused at the sound.
I froze.
Ryker glanced beside him, brow furrowing as the defeated dragons lay still.
There was a pause where no one moved. I didn't wait for him to figure it out.
I pounced forwards. I stabbed at his leg and he screamed. I vanished.
It clicked.
"I will find you!" Ryker howled, gritting his teeth. He grabbed his axe and spun, the wooden side hitting me.
I fell with a yelp, but scrambled back up.
"I will beat you. I will find you and I will crush you and I will watch you burn," he spat. I pulled the cloak over my face and leapt back, getting close again. I sprung forwards, aiming for his chest, but his armour dislodged the blade.
I gripped the spear tightly and circled him. I stood directly behind him. I took a small step forwards.
He threw a dagger. The cold metal stroked my cheek. I yelped, but didn't back down. I jumped and threw the spear down. He rolled to the side and grabbed a sword.
I picked up the dagger and vanished.
This isn't going to work!
Ryker growled, glaring into the empty space where I had been.
"Reveal yourself, you coward!"
I grit my teeth and tightened my grip on the dagger. In a quick movement, I threw. Ryker screamed as it pierced his arm.
He grabbed at an axe, swinging it towards me. I ducked but it hooked on my cloak, leaving me fully visible. My eyes widened. I took a step back. He took one forwards. Gulping, I raised my fists. He smirked but winced as the dagger shifted in his arm. I forced myself to look him in the eye.
"Enough running," Ryker hissed. He leapt forwards, punching my side. I lost balance and steadied myself, ducking a punch. I saw the cloak and tried to reach it, but he knocked me down.
He slapped my cheek, leaving a red mark. I kicked but missed. He laughed.
"Sad, really, how much you depend on that glorified cloth."
There was a bang.
The pain came after.
My head was spinning, spinning, spinning.
Ryker grinned, his features out of focus.
Darkness crept from the edges of my vision.
Silence.
Everything went black.
**
Astrid's POV
I leaned down slightly, keeping my grip on my axe tight. Stormfly squawked, diving down towards Ryker. My helmet, which I pulled down, protected my eyes as we shot through the battle field.
"Barrel roll!"
We spun, avoiding dragon root arrows. I grit my teeth, trying to make out the quick movements below. Freya kept vanishing, taking more hits than she was landing.
The was a bang and she fell limp. I gasped, pulling Stormfly up into a slow hover. Ryker cackled, reaching down to pick her up. I narrowed my eyes, speeding up.
I crouched on Stormfly. She blasted at his hand and he pulled back, glaring at us.
"If you know what's good for you, you'd back down!"
I leapt off, swinging my axe. He rolled to the side as I crashed into the metal floor. The clang echoed as I darted towards him. He slashed forwards with a sword and I ducked. I kicked at his chest and he barely moved. I narrowed my eyes, flipping over him and hitting his side.
He growled, punching forwards. I jumped sideways and swung the blade but he caught the handle and wrenched it from my grasp. He thundered forwards and I stepped back, unarmed.
"You should've left the Dragon Hunters alone," he said, voice uncharacteristically even.
I flinched, movement catching my eye. Two monstrous nightmares were diving towards us.
"Why," I stalled, feining submission. I shrunk in on myself, appearing smaller.
He relaxed, a grin slithering onto his face. "Because then I wouldn't get to kill each and every one of you and your dragons. Just look around you," he gestured around him, "there is no way you succe-"
Bright flames seared Ryker's back and I dashed to Stormfly, grabbing my axe.
"Snotlout! Snotlout! Oi! Oi! Oi!"
I took off, getting Stormfly to shoot her spines. Ryker screamed as one of the sharp projectiles pierced his arm.
Gustav swooped down, Fanghook scratching at Ryker's exposed face. He scrambled for a shield but Snotlout snatched it away. Freya was knocked to the side, catching my attention. Stormfly picked her up as I threw my axe at Ryker.
Blast after blast after blast we fired at Ryker. He screamed, falling. His eyes were red and restless. His chest rose and fell heavily as he fought off the attacks.
"Keep going!" Fishlegs yelled, diving with Meatlug. She spewed lava, melting his shield. The monstrous nightmares were alight, searing his clothes. Stormfly shot at his leg. He screamed and threw a dagger but missed.
We surrounded him, rapidly running out of shots.
Come on...
He scanned his surroundings, licking his dry lips. "SUMMON!" he screeched, voice hoarse. There was a scramble as all the hypnotised dragons abandoned their conflicts and rushed towards us. My eyes widened as a storm of dragons shot at us.
"Now!" I demanded, streamlining myself on Stormfly. Beside me, Snotlout and Gustav hurried through the ship, fighting against the dragons flying in the other way.
I saw Hiccup and Swiftstrike hovering, scanning the battle. I flew over.
"I had Gustav grab the Dragon Eye," I informed, admiring the grin that lit up his face.
He nodded. "We need to get out, now."
The former impenetrable wall of fire and claw was nowhere to be seen. The exit welcomed us as we all flew through the opening, ignoring the howls from Ryker.
Outside, the air cooled us. Fresh breezes ruffled my hair and I grinned, flying towards the clouds. I watched, a smile struck on my face, as dragons flew from the ship in large numbers.
**
Hiccup's POV
"Son!" Dad called, heading over. "Good job."
I yawned, gazing at the lightening horizon. "Thanks."
"Let's go home," he added.
I nodded. Light yellows brushed the sky in the distance. The waves shimmered, weaving the colours into a swirling pattern.
Behind me, the Dragon Riders began to cheer.
We've won.
*
"How is she?" Gustav asked, leaning on the stone wall.
I glanced at Freya as she lay at the edge of the arena. Her breathing was even, but she hadn't moved since the battle.
I sighed. "I'm not sure. She'll probably be fine, but I'm not sure how much she'll remember. Or what she'll want to do, knowing how powerful Swiftstrike is."
"Yeah." Gustav shifted, "Maybe she'll go back to the Dragon Hunters?"
I shook my head. "I don't think that's even really an option for her anymore, even if she did want to go back."
Gustav sat down next to her. I tilted my head.
"Are you going to stay here?" I asked. Shrugging, he looked up at me.
"I don't want her to be alone when she wakes," Gustav responded. "The dragons need to recover so Swiftstrike wouldn't be there. And Fanghook-" he took a sharp breath and stared at the floor. "He might - I mean, he could become erm, dependant, on the hypnosis."
My eyes widened.
Gustav shook himself slightly, his shoulder guards jingling. "It's the only thing that stops him from wearing himself out for a decent stretch of time. It can buy us some time to find a proper solution."
"Are... are you sure?"
His cloudy eyes were firm. He raised his chin, looking at me with determination. "I have to try. It could save his life. But for now, I'll stay here."
Suddenly, we were plunged into silence. I felt as if I was intruding as the two teenagers rested. I waved as I left, not entirely certain if Gustav noticed.
Rubbing my temples, I walked along the Berkian coastline. I wanted to relax, to enjoy the victory, but I couldn't. Anxious energy consumed me whenever I thought of Fanghook or Freya.
But we won, right?
Surely nothing will happen now.
***
What are your opinions on the perspectives that aren't Freya's or Hiccup's?
Is Hiccup right to worry? Or is that just his personality?
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