Chapter 17 – The Shadow of the Queen
After a while, knowing full well that Hiccup was planning to escape, Thor stood quietly by the window, the wind blowing softly through the open frame. He turned his gaze to Astrid — still lying peacefully beside him, her body bare, one arm draped over his chest as she slept. Her breathing was calm, her face serene and unaware of what was to come.
Thor sighed, brushing a strand of golden hair from her face. With care and precision, he dressed her gently, making sure not to wake her. Every movement was delicate, almost reverent. Once she was dressed, he scooped her into his arms, holding her like a princess in a fairy tale. The warmth of her body lingered on his skin, but his mind was already elsewhere.
He leapt through the window of her house with ease, landing silently in her bedroom. There, he placed her gently onto the bed and pulled the blanket over her with a tenderness that contrasted sharply with his usual roughness. He stood for a moment, watching her sleep — then turned, his eyes hardening as he stepped back into the night.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the village, Hiccup was moving quietly across the outskirts of Berk, carrying Toothless's saddle. He glanced around cautiously, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and excitement.
— "Toothless, come on, buddy..." — he whispered. — "It's time for us to take a vacation. And preferably... a permanent one."
His voice was laced with hope, but also sadness. He had made up his mind — he couldn't stay. Not after what he knew. Not after what they might do to his dragon.
Hiccup paused, looking around.
— "Buddy...?"
But Toothless wasn't there.
Before he could call again, a deep voice behind him interrupted the silence.
— "Where are you going?"
Startled, Hiccup spun around and saw Thor approaching with measured steps. His presence was overwhelming, like a storm about to break. Hiccup stammered, trying to explain, but before he could say anything, Toothless leapt in front of him with a guttural growl, his eyes glowing defiantly as he took a defensive stance.
Thor reacted instinctively. He grabbed Hiccup and pulled him back, activating his thunder powers in a flash of electricity.
— "Careful, Hiccup! A Night Fury! Stay behind me while I take him down!"
Thunder crackled in the air. Sparks lit up the night sky as Thor's aura surged with raw power. He stepped forward, lightning coiling around his fists, eyes locked on Toothless.
But even as he played the role, his thoughts betrayed him.
— "Man… acting is such a pain. Come on already, Hiccup. I just want to go to sleep."
Hiccup quickly stepped between his brother and his dragon.
— "No! Wait! He's not dangerous!"
Toothless calmed slightly, sensing Hiccup's trust. Thor exhaled and let the lightning dissipate.
— "I'm going to sleep," — he muttered. — "Let's wait for Dad to come back. He'll decide what to do with your friend."
He turned away, clearly ready to drop the act and head home — but Toothless suddenly reached out and gripped his shoulders. Thor raised an eyebrow.
Hiccup looked him dead in the eyes.
— "Didn't you tell me to try being a hero in a different way? Then let me show you."
Thor paused.
Then nodded.
Moments later, they were in the sky, soaring high above the forested mountains and icy fjords. The cold wind howled past their faces as Toothless cut through the clouds like an arrow. The stars above glimmered in silence, watching them.
Then, one by one, dragons began to appear. First a few... then dozens... then hundreds, rising like shadows from the sea, flying in formation as if called by an unseen force.
Thor narrowed his eyes at the spectacle.
— "Hiccup... let the Night Fury follow them."
Hiccup, already ahead of him, guided Toothless to tail the swarm. They moved together like a stream of fire through the night sky. Thor followed close behind.
Eventually, the dragons led them to a remote island — blackened by ash, jagged with sharp volcanic cliffs. At its center stood a colossal volcano, its peak glowing faintly red. Natural tunnels and gaping vents riddled its surface like open wounds.
Hiccup's eyes widened as he watched the dragons descend, each dropping carcasses, livestock, or hunted prey into the dark holes of the volcano.
— "Great," — Hiccup muttered bitterly. — "They're throwing our food into a volcano."
As Hiccup murmured, Thor narrowed his eyes and activated his thunder power again. Electricity sparked in his irises as his vision shifted, tracing electromagnetic lines and heat signatures.
He focused on the volcano's core — and saw it.
A massive silhouette moved within. Larger than any dragon he'd seen. A monster curled in the depths. The Queen.
— "Level… general candidate," Thor thought grimly. "Just as I suspected... With so many worlds fused together, the monsters and villains have grown stronger. This... this will be no ordinary fight."
Suddenly, a small, fragile dragon flew back toward the volcano — empty-handed. No prey.
What happened next shook Hiccup to his core.
A monstrous head surged from the shadows and devoured the small dragon in one bite.
Hiccup's heart froze.
He stared in disbelief.
— "They… they sacrifice their food to that monster. If they don't bring prey… they become the prey..." — he whispered.
His voice trembled with horror.
Thor didn't wait.
He grabbed Hiccup's shoulder with force.
— "We need to get out of here. Now."
Toothless took a sharp turn midair, his wings flaring wide as they gained speed. The volcanic island grew smaller behind them, the swarm of dragons now distant shadows in the sky.
They flew fast. The air around them crackled as Thor's electricity surged again. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes burned with focus.
— "This is going to be... a hard battle."
Lightning danced across his pupils as the stars above flickered — and the storm approached.
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