Lost and Found

Chapter 13: One More Time

The clouds are beginning their descent as the sun starts to rise. The ocean below us feels endless as we've been flying for hours. The complaining has gone down, and some of the vikings talk in hushed whispers to each other.

Hiccup leads the pack, and I'm a few paces behind him. It's silent between us as we're both too preoccupied with figuring out how to get the dragons back.

I'm so deep in my thoughts that I jump slightly when Hiccup calls my name. I glance his way, "Yes, Hiccup?"

He slows just a bit so we're right beside each other before he asks his question. "Do you know if there is a way to negate the effects of the alpha's control?"

I shrug, "Well it's like Drago said, the alpha's command is a battle of will. I suppose to win the battle you must give Toothless something...or someone, to fight for."

Hiccup nods silently as he ponders over what I said. Before he responds, we all break through the mist to see Drago's destruction upon Berk. He and Valka gasp in shock. "No." Hiccup mutters.

"He took all the dragons." Fishlegs says.

The small island of Berk is covered in ice blasts; many structures and homes are destroyed. All the dragons swarm above the bewilderbeast's head as it tries to climb onto the small island. The alpha scans the area, probably looking for more dragons or, gods forbid, people. My heart aches for the villagers below.

"Distract the Alpha. Try to keep his focus off of Toothless." Hiccup shouts to the group.

"Uh...how?" The twin Tuffnut questions.

"Have you forgotten who you're riding with?" Eret asks as he flies up next to us. "There isn't a dragon alive that I can't wrangle!" He rubs the scuttleclaw's head with a prideful smirk. Immediately after his declaration, the baby dragon dives toward the sea after spotting something. "Except for this one!" His shout echoes as the pair fall.

I chuckle a little. Snotlout scoffs and shakes his head, "Amateur."

As we get closer to the island, some vikings must recognize the group and begin cheering. The bewilderbeast turns toward our small group with a growl. It snarls in frustration as it tries and fails to take control of the babies.

Valka, I, and the rest of the group dive as Hiccup flies up to where Drago sits atop Toothless. The alpha growls toward them, but a sheep is launched in its face, effectively distracting the alpha. Bewildered, I glance down to see the rest of the group has dismounted their scuttleclaws and is working a strange slingshot-type thing. Eret catches the sheep as the twins work the slingshot. Snotlout and Gobble bring more sheep to the twins. Why they would have something like this is beyond me.

The bewilderbeast goes to blast the group with ice, but the sound of a horn makes it pause. I also take a glance and see no one over there, but I assume Fishlegs is responsible for the horn. The bewilderbeast turns back to the group at the slingshot as a black sheep flies through the air. The sheep lands on the dragon's head, rolling down its face before getting stuck right above the mouth.

"Ten points!" Snotlout cheers as the alpha huffs causing the sheep to fall. The group laughs until the bewilderbeast raises up again to shoot ice. "Uh, oh..." Snotlout says.

Once again, the alpha is cut off by the sound of the horn, only this time louder. Having enough, the bewilderbeast blasts the horn, obliterating it. Faintly I can hear Fishlegs call out, "I'm okay!"

The bewilderbeast turns away from the attempted distraction and refocuses on Hiccup, Drago, and Toothless. The world around me seems to go silent as I watch Hiccup inch closer to Toothless and Drago. I hold my breath as Hiccup reaches out for his best friend.