════ ⋆★⋆ ════

━━ chapter eleven
battle of the bewilderbeasts

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

      THE MOUNTAIN of ice growled and grounded together as bits and pieces broke off, hitting the snow shore with shattering impact; frozen, humongous raindrops that destroyed catapults and dragon trap carts into splinters. Following it, was the ginormous sea dragon Hiccup's mother led on her own Stormcutter. Valkyrie was frozen behind Eret for a few seconds, mouth agape as she watched the group of them descend into the battle with an ear-splitting bellow that rocked the ships, wavered the seas and trembled the stone. 

     Opening his maw, a blast of pure ice shards exploded━sending frozen waves towards Drago's army. "RETREAT!" some yelled, running as fast as they could and diving out of the way to avoid ice sharper than swords and larger than tall pine-wood trees. Those who weren't as lucky were caught right up into it, enveloped and stuck mid-scream, eyes wide.

      Valkyrie stammered, "What ... what is that thing?"

     Eret veered them to the right, brows furrowed with a grave scowl. "The Bewilderbeast," he explained━still having a few hurt feelings for his destroyed fort. "The Alpha species."

     She had seen the Red Death; felt its haughty breath as the Queen Dragon tried to take her and Zephyr into her jaws. But this Bewilderbeast was twice her size. She, the Submaripper and the Shellfire held nothing in comparison━this was the embodiment of the terrifying sea Leviathans mentioned in the Book of Dragons and pictured in the Dragon Eye. She was by far relieved and glad he was on their side. 

      With his bellowing roar, came another flock of dragons; following his command. Hiccup's mother━behind her tusked mask━spun her hooked staff in her fingers and pointed down at the army; the dragons followed her descent. Valkyrie had heard stories of her━tales of tragedy. Valka, the wife of the chief; killed when Hiccup was a babe, taken away by dragons during a raid. And yet, here she was, twenty years later and alive. 

    A group of Zipplebacks barrelled to the snow, wrapped up like boulders in green smoke; the left head latched onto the tail and their scales burst into flames like a Monstrous Nightmare's. They rolled along, knocking out men and traps as they went. Valkyrie gasped, amazed. "I━I didn't know Zipplebacks could do that..."

     One of them were snagged to a painful halt in a mouth-trap; the bars sprung loose from the rope and dug into the snow, locking the dragon underneath. Valkyrie pointed and Eret readied Zephyr to head after them, but Hiccup and Toothless were on the case immediately. "Come on, Toothless!" the chief's son tilted his dragon into a deep dive. "Show them what you got, bud!"

     The sky rang with the Night Fury's shriek and following it came a mighty blast━the traps were shocked right off the ground, shattering and splitting apart. Hiccup glanced over his shoulder, checking whether the Zippleback could fly away and cheered, "Attaboy!"

      Across the battlefield, Valkyrie caught sight of one of Drago's dragons scratching a Windstriker's exposed belly raw. She gritted he teeth. Eret didn't even need to be told to urge Zephyr onwards. He leaned in close to the saddle with Val behind him, and they swooped over. Eret set his hand on Zeph's scales, "You know what to do, boy," he told him, and Zephyr squawked with fury. 

      Valkyrie smirked (she supposed Eret wasn't too bad after all). 

     Zephyr snarled at the Thunderclaw. The dragon's attention was brought only to be flung back by a heat-blast that boiled his armour to burn━but not to kill. Screeching, he tumbled down, letting the Windstriker free from his grasp. Zephyr pulled to a hover beside his brethren, dipping down his head with a low squawk. They tapped horns, as if the other was saying thank you before soaring off. 

     Hott and Astrid were working side by side down near the launchers. A Deadly Nadder's magnesium fire could melt the metal hinges of catapults, and that was exactly what they did. Even before the boulders could be let loose━and they sprung loose, jarring through the wood of boats and sprouting their hulls with water. Snotlout joined them, diving Hookfang down and decks lit up; the front ships of the fleet were starting to become a bonfire. 

     The team of Dragon Riders rejoined, hovering together over the battlefield to figure out a fresh plan. Having the Alpha on their side was a great help; soon, more than half the battleground was covered in shards of ice. But what irked Valkyrie was that Drago didn't seem shaken. He watched the battle commence, standing amongst it like it was just getting started ... or going all according to plan.

     "I'm feeling really nervous about this," murmured Valkyrie, standing up on the saddle to gaze down. She set her eyes onto Drago standing by the shore. "Why isn't he spooked?"

     "Drago doesn't get spooked," Eret told her gravely, but that didn't make her feel any less nervous. In fact, it only just made her stomach worse. 

     Hott pursed his lips, considering this. He glanced over at Astrid, "We should have another go at the catapults." 

     She nodded; however there was a spark to her blue gaze━Valkyrie didn't realise it until now ... she's never gazed at Hott that way; it was like she was starting to see him in a completely different light. It made her smile softly to herself ... perhaps she was wrong; perhaps Hott could earn a shield maiden's heart. One day. 

     "Fishlegs, you head in with Hott and Astrid," went on Val and the pudgy Viking nodded. "I'm sure Meatlug his hungry for some catapult boulders. Snotlout, Ruff, Tuff━you guys take on those traps and help Stoick and Gobber on the ground. We just need to keep on going, and going ..."

     "You and Hiccup stay up here and help from above," added Astrid, nodding to their leader who was swooping Toothless in for another shattering plasma blast. "Dive-bomb when you can."

     Valkyrie's lips quirked into a mischievous smirk. "Always," she said.

     Eret paled. "Dive━what?" he glanced back at her and she laughed. 

     "Hang on," she told him. "Zeph━up!"

    "Whoa━!"

     They shot back up. Valkyrie narrowed her eyes down, leaning sideways out from behind Eret. She searched the battleground for victims━a casual dive down, pick up and drop back into the ocean. But she grew distracted when a net flung out into the sky. It snapped around Valka and her dragon━they struck the ground, hard.

     Her breath hitched, "No!"

     Slipping out of the net, Valka used her staff to get back onto her feet. Her mask flew askew, showing a flash of long, twisting dark auburn braids. In her low crouch, she looked like she was a dragon herself; wrapped in leather and clawed guantlets. 

     As Drago approached her, walking through the ice and the roaring fire of dragons with an arrogant calmness, Valkryie tapped Eret on the back and pointed down. He nodded and went to dip Zephyr into a dive━only for another net to sprung towards them. "Wait━Eret━look out!"

     With her help, they spun out of the way. Eret let out strangled cries, clinging desperately onto the saddle. Valkyrie managed to glance back at the bellow━Drago had hoisted up his own staff. He flung it around over his head, over and over━by the shore, the water started to churn. 

     Hiccup pulled Toothless into a hover beside Valkyrie, Eret and Zephyr━all of them staring in shock at the wave that burst forth over Drago's own ships, crashing down and cleaving them into two. Out of it, from the murky, cold and blazing waters, appeared three sets of collosal spikes surrounding the crown of a colossal-sized head. 

     Rising from the depths of the ocean to narrow his gaze at Drago and Valka, was a second Bewilderbeast.

     He roared, and Zephyr screeched nervously. The others returned to the skies; the Dragon Riders bunching together to watch the showers of sea-water gush down from grey, jagged and chained tusks. Valkyrie was back to standing on her saddle to see, a icy chill spreading down her spine as if the ice-spitter's breath had washed onto her, too. The second Bewilderbeast, splattered with grey amongst his white and charred scales, huffed by the slope. A breath of snow gusted forward, covering the jagged ice gleyshers created by the first. 

     Hiccup threw up his visor, "Another one?"

     The mighty beast bounded onto the shore and even Drago's men fled its stampede; each footstep thundering from thick, finned legs. They soared aroud it━hearts racing and stomachs churning. 

     "That is a class ten!" cried Fishlegs. "Class ten!"

     This was what they had seen back at Drago's camp. This had been the cause of those churning waves and bubbles. And Valkyrie cursed as she realised: "No━" she turned to Hiccup, and his face fell further at the look in her eyes; complete dread. "This was Drago's plan━he wanted to draw the Alpha out. They're going to fight."

      Valka's Bewilderbeast narrowed his eyes at the opponent, letting out a low growl that made the hair on the back of Valkyrie's neck stand on end.

     "COME ON!" Drago roared, shaking his staff at his dragon. "TAKE DOWN THE ALPHA!"

    "NO!" screamed Valka, bringing her hooked staff across his back. Drago gritted his teeth and pulled his arm back, striking her so hard she was knocked off her feet. Hiccup's jaw set. He went to dive down and protect his mother━but his father was two steps ahead.

     He leapt off Skullcrusher before they even landed. Just as Drago held up his weapon to bring it down on Valka's unmasked face, Chief Stoick the Vast threw his fist right across his jaw. 

     Drago spun askew, hitting the snow paces away. The chief turned to his once chieftess, holding out his hand and pulling her to her feet. 

     Valka let out a breathless sigh, flicking her braids out of her face to gaze up at Stoick. "Thank you," she murmured.

     "For you, my dear ..." Stoick's glare landed on Drago. He spun the axe in his hand, "... anything."

     The two circled each other, and in the distance, the two Bewilderbeasts charged. Boom━the ground and air shuddered as their tusks met. They roared; and the sound echoed across the entire ocean. 

    "Val!" Stoick didn't remove his gaze from Drago. "Do you think you can stop them?"

     She grabbed her staff and with a swipe, freed her Stormcutter. "I'll do my best. Come on, Cloudjumper!" hooking the edge of his wing, she jumped elegantly onto his back, and they were up into the air. 

     The Dragon Riders all continued to fight; destroying Drago's defences the best they could amongst the battling sea dragons. Valka flew right into the storm, determined to put a stop to the fight before it grew worse, and behind her, under the shadow of the two mighty dragons, Stoick wrestled Drago. He sent punch after punch, swinging his axe blade forth and slamming the butt of it against Drago's ribs. Valkyrie could barely hear her own orders over the roars, gesturing for the Twins to take down more bola contraptions and screaming for Snotlout and Astrid to head down to the catapults. Hiccup led Hott, Fishlegs and their dragons to the army below while Gobber dived down with Grump to aid Stoick. Valkyrie and Eret stayed up high, firing and watching the others' backs from above. 

     It was a blur; as battles always were. Evening was starting to rise as the sun set, and the firestorm of ships, traps, catapults and other launchers were cascaded into a eerie, dusk glow━as if the sky was lit up in doomsday flames itself. 

     But when it came to war, Vikings thrived. They searched for it, dreamed of it━it was the best form of glory to die in battle; that and childbirth was the way towards Valhalla to sit amongst the greatest heroes, kings and gods. And for Hairy Hooligans, it became the delights of their day; Snotlout and the Twins were cheerful and singing war shanties as they destroyed whatever they could. 

     Yet, Valkyrie couldn't find herself able to enjoy it like most Vikings would; there was something haunting━a chill in the air, not from the cold, but as if the gods were trying to warn her of something; to be prepared. 

     Valka's Bewilderbeast jammed his head straight against Drago's, pushing him back with all the strength it could muster. Their tusks interlocked, and their heads pulled back and forth, right to left━

     Hiccup's mother and Cloudjumper weaved in and out from underneath, coming up in between as the two alpha species pulled away. Spinning her staff and holding out her hand, she tried to calm her Bewilderbeast friend, but his opposition just reared his head in outrage━Valka had no choice but to dive away or be crushed at the bone-shattering crack from each hit. 

      Valkyrie has seen dragons fight; Titan Wings and Broard Wings trying to determine dominance over a female mate, or her eggs. But this was on a far grander scale; a far more dangerous scale. This wasn't something that could be stopped with a plasma blast or roar; this was a rampage. One that won't end until one of them was killed. Too big, too menacing to try and stop━these were kings, and they were nothing in parallel; it wasn't their place to interfere.

     Soon, the battle around them faded away as everyone━Dragon Riders and Drago's Army included━stopped to stare, astounded by the two mountainous dragons that charged back and forth. The only Vikings still fighting were Drago and Stoick. The chief caught the mace Gobber threw to him and swung it with no mercy against his enemy's cheek. 

     Two sets of kings were battling today; fighting to protect two different kingdoms. But under the burning glow of dusk, they were one in the same. 

     Until one got the upperhand.

     Drago's Bewilderbeast threw his head up, unlocking his tusks from the other with a earth-trembling, defeaning bellow. Their Alpha's underbelly was exposed from the swing. His opponent took his chance━he charged, locking him under the neck and sending him falling back into the ice of his castle. Shards cracked; splintering from their centre; the ground rumbled as they fell around their king. Drago Bewilderbeast finished the fight with a mortal blow; his tusks dug deep into the Alpha's chest, right through his ribs and to his heart.

     "NO!" screamed Valka. 

     Hiccup tugged Toothless to an abrupt stop, throwing his helmet up and staring in horror at the lifeless body of the dragon. Valkyrie let out a shaky gasp from behind Eret, "N━No ... no!"

     Eret's shoulders dropped, and Valkyrie's heart and stomach fell with them. She couldn't believe her eyes. They ... they lost ...

     Despite the battle below and the roaring fire from the fleet, the field was silent; everything was pulled back by the ringing in Valkyrie's ears as the new Alpha took a deep breath. He stepped away from the fallen sea dragon and turned to the dragons that had all stopped flying━just as startled; struck with horror. 

      Their king was dead. 

      The new king's eyes flickered into slits; Valkyrie felt dizzy staring into them. Her mind dazed━she didn't know whether it was because of the dragon, or what had happened, or both, but those eyes were hypnotic. They made her sick, right to the stomach. 

      The ear-splitting roar jolted her from her daze. Ice shook; shards fell; and the dragons from the nest all froze. With a school of squawks, each and every dragon that was once under Valka's Bewilderbeast's control, now flocked towards the new alpha. They landed at his feet, and Valkyrie shook her head, tearful, to see them all bow their heads in submission.

     "We've won," said Drago, a chilling smile upon his marred face. "Now━" he pointed his spear to Valka in the air; the Bewilderbeast's eyes landed on her, "━finish her!"

     "No!" gasped Stoick, pushing himself to his feet━as if finally realising what had just happened. 

     Valka's gasp was stuck in the back of her throat. She forced back her tears and urged Cloudjumper to go faster; they spun away from the waves of ice the new Alpha sent━but it knicked the Stormcutter's tail, freezing it within a block of ice. Stoick clenched his jaw and called for his Rumblehorn. He and Skullcrusher shot to the sky after them. "Come on, Gobber!" he shouted, and his best friend struggled after him. 

     He grabbed her just as she fell, holding her to his chest and using his axe to break their fall along the mountain. Sliding down, they hid behind a sheet of ice from the Bewilderbeast's haunting gaze.

     Hiccup dived Toothless down to meet Drago by the slope. "STOP!" he shouted. Drago frowned, turning as they landed. "Stop!"

     Valkyrie glanced back; she felt something worse in her drop━something far bigger than what fell at the Bewilderbeast's death. "No ..." she murmured, her throat hoarse. "What ... what is he doing?" 

     She tugged at Eret's furs to force him to turn Zephyr around to go after Hiccup, but the battle was returning━Drago's Army held new found morale; everything was going according to plan. The nets were released yet again to finish off the Dragon Riders once and for all. 

     They spun and they ducked; Valkyrie lost sight of Hiccup and Drago in the mess that was trying to escape. She clung on tight, trying to find an opening. Even if they destroyed these nets, there were more and more coming; they were outnumbered now that all the dragons had flocked to their new king's demand. Valkyrie was sure it wouldn't be long before they started to attack them, too. They would have no choice; they were devoured by their leader's curse; a Dragon's Curse. 

      But in hearing the yells, Valkyrie had to look. Her eyes widened. Drago swung his staff over his head, calling to his Bewilderbeast leering down at Stoick and Valka. Hiccup stumbled away, narrowly missing the tip. It echoed across the battlefield, and the new Alpha heeded the call without conflict. He narrowed in on Hiccup and Toothless, and the two tried to retreat, nervous as the Bewilderbeast approached.

     "Hiccup━" Val croaked out, her heart beggining to race. 

      Eret let her swap places with him, climing to the front while he shuffled back. Her mind buzzed, her heart thundered━she tried to keep her hands from shaking. Stoick and Valka ran from their hiding spot to their son, who was helpless━even with Toothless against the dragon of that size and Drago Bludvist who controlled it. 

     Something was happening; something bad. Valkyrie couldn't hear words spoken, she didn't know what Drago said━she could barely see the look on Hiccup's face. But she just knew, deep in her gut, that she had to reach him. She didn't know what she was going to do━she just needed to get to him. And she knew she was running out of time.

     "Hiyah━!" Valkyrie squeezed Zephyr's neck and with a cry, he took to the sky. Eret clung on as their speed increased. Val's fingers were rigid and cold, locked into the grip, low onto the saddle as they went higher and higher to the clouds. 

      At the right moment, she tugged back and Zephyr's wings flew out. Sharply, they turned back around and he pitched his body forward. Valkyrie set her eyes onto their target, but everything was happening too fast━even faster than the dive of the Windstriker.

      She could see clearer now━she could see Hiccup backing away from Toothless, his hands out and his face gaunt. The Night Fury prowled up to him. Not in a way he has before; not kind, not gentle, not curious ... Hiccup wasn't his friend; he was suddenly the prey.

     "Hiccup!" Valkyrie shouted, but he didn't hear. Eret held on with all his might, feeling the wind hit his face as the dive came deeper and deeper; faster and faster ... 

      Hiccup continued to shuffle back, cornering himself near boulders of jagged ice. Toothless didn't stop━no matter the cries and desperate commands from his rider. Valkyrie's heart was in her throat; she was sick. "Zephyr! Go! GO!" she yelled. "Come on, boy! COME ON!"

      Zephyr's wings folded back a final time━Valkyrie has never in her life gone this fast on her dragon. But it wasn't fast enough. She needed to be faster. The world was a blur around her, the wind roared in her ears, her hair flew behind her━and she wasn't fast enough. 

      Her husband's back hit the ice, and Hiccup had no where else to go. He glanced around him, looking for an escape. Toothless was not stopping. He opened his maw; and a glow of purple lit up from his throat. Valkyrie was so close. Her elbows were jarred from how hard she tried to keep herself steady. Come on, come on, come on, come on━

     "HICCUP!" 

     Hiccup froze. He glanced over and his face dropped to see who was flying towards him as fast as they could. He shook his head. "No, no━no, no━NOOOOOOOOO!"

      Valkyrie's dive was thrown off course at an explosion of blue and purple. 

     With a strangled cry, she pulled to keep them from hitting the ground, spinning in the smoke and burning light. She had no idea what had happened━she couldn't hear, she couldn't see...

      She feared the worst.

     Finally managing to stabilise them, there was a bated silence as Valkyrie waited for the smoke to clear.

      And once it did, she realised what had happened.

     For there, on the ground, where Hiccup had just been, lied Stoick the Vast.

     And he wasn't moving. 

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

     a/n: bring the tissues for the next chapter but i'm already sobbing so ...

     they fricken forshadowed stoick's death so much my head knew he was going to die in theatres but i didn't want to believe it; i didn't think they'd do it. and then they did, and i had convinced myself he wouldn't so much that it was just as shocking ... i remembered everyone gasping and it was silent in the theatres. completely silent for a few seconds. 

      hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. see you soon for the next ... *sobs*

      i tried to make it seem like val would be the one to get hiccup out of the way, but its probs was useless cos we all knew she wouldn't die from other stuff but still i tried ahaha. 

       anyway excuse me, i'll be sobbing in the corner.