Giving Fantasia: The Taking Fantasia Sequel

Chapter 14: The Call

Chapter 14: The Call

"Toothless!"

Hiccup stumbled, blood running into his eyes. The lake was an empty basin now, all the water had drained into the pit. Hiccup slipped on the wet rock as he screamed for his dragon.

"Toothless! Bud! Toothless! Hear me! Come on!" Hiccup sobbed into the pit. His tears fell, but Hiccup could not see the bottom. Desperately he searched. But Toothless was nowhere in sight. Toothless had plunged under the earth, because Hiccup had not been there to help him fly.

His dragon was gone.

"Bud!" Hiccup screamed. His voice popped like dynamite. "Toothless! Please! Someone!"

"....hiccup."

Hiccup turned.

"Your Majesty!"

Hiccup ran to The King. He saw the wound left by Caliburn; a hole through The King's chest passing back to front. Tears streaming, Hiccup pressed a fist inside the hole. Blood pooled to his wrist. Tissue squelched. Visceral heat burned his skin. Broken ribs scratched his knuckles.

But Hiccup could not feel a heartbeat.

The King was dying.

The King coughed. Blood regurgitated from his punctured lungs. Hiccup grimaced. He wiped the blood.

"It's okay..." Hiccup wept. He knew it was a lie. "It's okay Your Majesty. It's okay. I'll find your lady. I'll get help. I'll – "

"...fantasia."

Hiccup leaned. "What?"

The King coughed again. Blood sprayed. Painfully he breathed. "...fantasia."

"Fantasia?" Hiccup grasped The King's hand. "Fantasia? Fantasia did this?"

Gradually The King's grip softened.

"...go." he said, weakly removing Hiccup's hand. "...go."

Hiccup blinked, clearing away tears. He touched The King's brow.

"I will fix this." Hiccup vowed. "I promise – there will be peace."

The King smiled. "...go."

Hiccup obeyed. He ran blindly, heart dragging under his feet.

The King remained. But not for long. His time – in this time – was ebbing.

And it was strange. So very strange.

The King's life had been magically extended. He'd been unbothered by the ills of old age, and blessed with the most valuable possession of all: time. But for 100 years, The King existed inside a curse. With Caliburn, he struck the blow that killed his kingdom. He was disgraced by his subjects, and haunted by their murdered children. His 100 year rule would be remembered in shame.

And these sins, these horrendous sins, were committed for a lady that he could never love.

It was so, so strange.

The King looked to the stars. Tears welled in his baby blue eyes.

Then he saw The Wishing Star.

And he remembered.

Weakly, the King laughed. He choked, coughing blood, trying to breathe. It hurt. So much.

Life is curious. Time is odd. And together, they are impossible to fathom. Because, The King had ruled for 100 worthless years; so who would have ever imagined that the moment before his death, The King would make a final decree --

--- that would change everything. Forever.

The King found the Wishing Star. He smiled.

And as his soul lifted to heaven, The King thought of four names...

...and called.

"....peter....ariel...wendy...jim."