Long Live

Chapter 33

Hey, guys! Hope you enjoy this chapter and happy reading!

"That's the plan?"

"Yeah."

"Are you sure this is going to work?"

"Are you questioning my judgment and my ability to-"

"Yes. Well- no. But- I don't know. Don't you think that after what happened we should try to adapt and change how we fight?"

"Didn't I just explain to you the plan? If you were listening, you'd have heard some of the changes I made," Jack hissed. "And then there was that one big change in which-"

Hannah scowled. "Look, I'm just a bit weary of what happened, okay? This thing is unlike any other beast I've encountered all of the years I've been a knight. Its abilities are something that no one has ever seen before and we're not exactly sure what else it can do.

"But... if you're positive that this is going to work, then I'll follow through with it," Hannah added hesitantly.

"Hey," Jack said, his tone more gentle and soft. He put his hand on her shoulder. "Everything's going to be okay, okay? All of us are back together and safe, and we're going to keep it that way. And if this plan doesn't work, we'll back each other up until the end.

"You're going to be okay, Hannah," Jack said. "All of us are going to be okay."

Hannah simply nodded.

"Alright," Jack said. He turned to to the group. "Now before we try to fight the Black Dragon again, do you all understand the plan?"

"Yes," the group said simultaneously.

"Good," Jack nodded. He looked at the silhouette of the Black Dragon, who was awake now but hadn't noticed them yet. So far, so good.

"I'm really surprised that the Black Dragon hasn't noticed us by now," Anna quipped.

"Yes, which is a very high advantage point for us," Jack said.

"Kind of a dumb dragon if ya ask me," Merida muttered. "Not making sure that your victims are still...asleep."

"That may be," Hiccup said. "But I bet it'll make up for it in battle."

"Guys," Jack said. The others fell silent, their expressions suddenly solemn. Jack was a wire of nerves. If this plan of his didn't work, they might never come out of this cave alive. He shakily removed his sword from his scabbard and nodded to the others.

"This is it."

The group had agreed to position themselves so that they were all cornering a certain part of the Black Dragon; Jack and Elsa near the its head, Anna and Rapunzel on the left wing, Hiccup and Merida on the right wing, and Hannah and Galaxy near the backside.

"Merida, you sure you can hit it from this distance?" Jack asked.

"I've once had to shoot a target that was nearly at the opposite end of my village," Merida said, adjusting her bow and arrow. "Compared to that, this is a children's target."

"If the target was a dangerous, fire-breathing, formidable beast, then yeah, it is a children's target," Hiccup said sarcastically.

Merida glared at him. "You know what I mean."

"Guys," Jack said sternly. "This is not the time to argue."

Hiccup and Merida shrugged sheepishly.

"Alright, just a little more to the left and..," Merida released her hold on the arrow and let it fly loose. It was sent whizzing through the air and hit its mark on the Black Dragon's eye. "Bingo."