Freedom at Last

Chapter 20: Aric meets Ingrid and Co.

Aric

As Toothless and I fell, Islas ran towards me and ask, "You all right, Aric? Did that Rider hurt you?"

I  rubbed my head, and replied, "I think I will manage, Islas."

I thought about Hiccup and how horrible he was. I couldn't bear it.

I took a quick bath and Toothless and I sneak out of the Camp in search for the other Riders.

A hand took me by surprise and as I turn around, I saw it was Snoutlout, along with his Nightmare.

"Did anyone followed you here?" Snoutlout asks, concerned that there might be a spy following me.

I replied, "No, I am positive that no one followed me. Now, Snoutlout, take us to the others."

We followed him as we walked father into the forest.

Then I saw everyone.

Ingrid said, "Astrid?"

"Yeah, it's me." I replied.

Tames said, "I still can't believe you went to find Hiccup on your own. You are quite  something, Astrid Hofferson."

I rub my head, "Gee, thanks, Tames."

Hiccup

I still held prisoner by Ryker, and Aric, who was he? He seems familiar, but I couldn't picture who it was.

I lost most of my energy mostly because of Ryker told his crew to not feed me and leave me to suffer.

I still wished that I could've stayed with Astrid.

Before I got captured, she told me that I have to kindle my relationship with my father.

Maybe she does have a point. I had stuck with the past too long and he was willing to undo the mistake of banishing me by trying to act like the father he was supposed to be.

As Ryker enters with Islas, he threw him across the floor.

"You let Aric alone with those Riders?!?"

"It's not my fault, Sir. I didn't know that Aric knew them, I promise!"

He lifts an axe as he was about to strike him down.

I pushed him with the strength I got left inside me as I got in position, letting the axe cut my left leg in the process.

 Islas widen as he saw how I saved him.

"Hayden!" He cries as runs to my side, looking at the fresh cut of blood coming from the limb of where my foot used to be.

"Hayden, you are a fool of saving him. Now you will perish." Ryker said, but Islas quickly defends me with his sword!

"You protect him?!? He's the enemy!" Ryker said.

"No, Hayden protected me like a friend, and I will protect him and all of the dragons. You turned the Dragons into a weapon, Ryker!

I will not let you hurt anyone, including Aric and Midnight!"

Ryker looked irate at me as Islas shield me with his arms.

Aric

I told the gang of what I've known so far.

"So, Hiccup is in bad shape, isn't he?" Snoutlout said.

Everyone looks at me and Toothless. It was kind of shock to them to find out that I made an imposition of a boy instead of a girl.

"I still don't understand something." Ingrid said, thinking out loud.

Fishlegs said, "Please don't tell me that there is more we should be worried about! I'm already scared of Astrid pretending to be a boy to get closer to Hic!"

"Well, what you described, Astrid, I think I know who kidnapped Hiccup and why he did it. It was because that Tames, my father banished him out of the tribe for thinking that Dragons should be our enemies for all entity. This was Ryker."

"Ryker was jealous of Hiccup and bullied him when he was living in Dragon Paradise before you found him and Toothless." Tames explains.   

I said, "It sounds like Ryker has a grudge on Dragon Paradise. But we still have to defeat him and stop him. I will go back as Aric to find out more about his plans while you inform Stoick about this new enemy."

Heather said, "Astrid, we're staying, either you like it or not. This is Hiccup we're talkin about."

I said, "It could be dangerous, guys. I am sure that Hiccup doesn't want you involved in a fight for him."

Ingrid said, "It doesn't matter as long we get Hiccup back in one piece and I'm eager to fight!"

Fishlegs said, "We been through a lot the past year when Viggo took control of Berk, and it's our turn to take a stand. We have to do what Hiccup did when Stoick banished him. Train our own Dragons."

I said, looking at my friends, "I hope that Hiccup's all right. I have to go back before Islas and the other soldiers get suspious of my disappearance."

I walked back with Toothless and I see Islas protecting Hiccup!

Toothless and I burst into the tent. "Islas! Hiccup!" I said.

Hiccup sees me and with his eyes stare into mine, he realized who I truly was.

Author's note:

What you think will happen next? Find out soon! - Jan