( ✈ FIFTH FLIGHT; VIDEO — BOTH COURTS )

[smithwork]

[ The locket shows a huge, red-bearded man in a wide horned hat, scowling at Hiccup. ]

I've had enough of this! You're acting like a disgrace, flying off and abandoning the village at all hours —

You are not my father.

[ Hiccup, meanwhile, doesn't look too terribly affected by the illusion before him, at least not until Stoick steps aside to reveal a large lump covered in cloth, damp patches of blood seeping through. Stoick lifts a smaller clothed package off the tall one, and Hiccup backs up a step as his expression twists in suspicion and (yes, at last) real fear. ]

N-No, I don't want it.

Take it, Hiccup. This way, we'll set things right, son ... Go back to the way things were, the natural order.

[ Shoving the lump into Hiccup's arms, it's unwrapped tentatively as Hiccup's breathing turns shallow. The locket abruptly smacks the ground, a severed Night Fury leg splatting next to it as Hiccup trips in his horror, back-pedalling away. He screams for Toothless, wildly looking around (and elsewhere out of view, Toothless is doing the same thing), but all he can see is the hacked carcass when the rest of the mound is revealed. The ropes binding it are the ones that caused Toothless's scars, those from Hiccup's trap five years ago. ]

N-No ... I never — I never wanted that, I couldn't. I wouldn't hurt him!

[ Stoick smiles, the veiled dog's eyes glowing in his head as he scents terror. Softly, he rumbles in approval, ] Your first kill.

No, Dad ... please —

We'll have a feast for the new Chief! Cut out his heart just like you planned.

No! [ On his knees, Hiccup gags and stumbles to his feet as Inferno's fiery blade snaps out, rushing for the illusion of Stoick. ] Get off of him, don't touch him! You get away from my dragon!

[ A furious roar rips through the air, freezing the advance of Hiccup's not!father over the stricken Viking suffering a panic attack. The real Toothless, having just dealt with his own demons, races into view and shoots a plasma-blast that rocks the whole video as the locket fizzes so close to the violet-hued explosion, effectively blowing the dog right out of Hiccup's path. Another is fired at point-blank range as two huge black animals start to fight, and when the scuffle is won there are calls from both boy and dragon in the ensuing silence, the dull flare of the fire-sword shutting off in the cloudy mess. ]

Toothless! Toothless, to me! Come here, bud, c'mon! I'm right here, it's — it's okay now, he would never say that. Dad would never do that, I wouldn't let him. [ Hoarse and sobbing, the grainy view as the dust clears shows Hiccup scrabbling to clasp Toothless in a hug around a long neck, the similarly distressed dragon crooning in concern as a scaly arm (decidedly not severed) hooks around his boy's back to hold him close. ] I was so scared, I thought they'd hurt you ... Oh gods, I — I saw you ...

[ Still shaken up, Hiccup has to pull away just enough to retch on the grass outside the Station, knees shaking and a pegleg unsteady, hands trembling until Toothless nuzzles his side to help him balance (We have to get off the ground, bud). That's when Hiccup digs his fingers into the mud around the fallen locket and takes it back exhaustedly, snapping it shut in a fist. ]

Comments

Audio

[gordianknots]

[It is rather pointless to ask are you both all right? so Waver doesn't bother. Better to be practical.]

Hiccup? You're at the Station right now, yes?

Audio

[smithwork]

[ The feed clicks on from high in the sky, the sound of the wind buffeting past the fliers. ]

I'm above it, yeah. Sorry if you saw anything from my locket.

[ It's more embarrassing than anything, even as shaken as he is. ]

Audio

[gordianknots]

Don't apologise for it, it seems it isn't just you dealing with whatever it is.

[But that brings Waver to the point that he's concerned about.]

The monarchs have been asking those who can to defend the castles against these things. I suspect the same needs to hold true for the Station.

Audio

[smithwork]

I'll do what I can, but they're not easy to take down and Toothless has a shot limit. [ Even if the Night Fury blasts every dog once, right in the head, he isn't sure it won't take a couple more shots to keep them floored. ] Are you coming to the Station or staying at the Barrel?

Audio

[gordianknots]

Staying here. If the monarchs are demanding increased fortifications, that means traveling on land is not the safest option out there.

[He breathes out, running through the options available.]

Are there other residents within that could help put up defensive barriers?

[video]

[notyetlegend]

Hiccup!

[There's no need to ask if he's alright, and it's useless to yell out warnings. He has Toothless, which was more than what she could say she had when she encountered the dogs. Angus did his best, but honestly neither of them had been equipped to deal with the beasts. Merida's hands snap into fists, nails digging into the palm of her skin.]

[video]

[smithwork]

[ He responds a short while later, soaring steadily through the clouds. ]

We're fine, we just had to get off the ground. Do you want me to come pick you up?

[video]

[notyetlegend]

[She lets out a visible sigh of relief. Don't scare her like that.]

Aye. I'm a bit sick of bein' stuck in my rooms.

[She's had enough of staying put. Dogs or no dogs, she wants to be out and about, and now that she knows what they can do, she'll be better prepared.]

I made it back to Caer Scima. I didn't want to risk bein' anywhere there wasn't magic tae hold them back.

[video]

[smithwork]

You should stay there, more people can defend it. Is Jack with you?

[video]

[notyetlegend]

[She purses her lips together before deciding he's right. Two people have already risked themselves for her, she can't ask more to. Besides, she can use the time to practice what little magic Morgana taught her so far. Merida shakes her head at the question.]

I haven't seen hide nor hair of him, an' these dogs...I'm worried.

Video

[fiercestwarrior]

Are you all right, boy?

[ She can't explain it, but somehow knowing that Hiccup belongs to a people who looks up to her people as gods makes her feel... oddly responsible for him. As if she ought to at least try to live up to that lofty ideal even if there isn't much that she can do to accomplish that in this realm. ]

Video

[smithwork]

We're airborne right now, I don't think the dogs can get at us up here. [ As evidenced by the view when he turns on the locket, their sanctuary in the clouds a panoramic. ] Are you alright, Sif? Probably a stupid question.

Video

[fiercestwarrior]

I am fine.

[ But he's sweet to ask. Things might get a little hectic at Caer Glaem, but Sif's main reaction to being afraid is getting angry and fighting harder, so she is at least emotionally well equipped to handle the dogs (not to mention the fact that she can take a massive beating without really getting hurt) even if her lack of magical ability is a rather huge drawback. Her features soften upon seeing the vision of the clouds, a sight she has become very fond of herself after receiving her cleg. ]

Where will you go now? Toothless will have to rest eventually, I imagine.

Video

[smithwork]

We'll touch down on one of the mountains for a couple of hours, catch our breath. Before we do that I'm waiting to see if anyone I know needs our help, since we can fly right to them and a plasma-blast or two seems to down the dogs for good. I think.

[ Toothless rumbles, finding a good current to glide on, and Hiccup flops back on his dragon with the locket held above his face. Sorry about exchanging the clouds for stubble, oops. ]

Those things are a whole other level of terrifying.

Video

[fiercestwarrior]

I wish you could share that ability with me, for in this fight my sword is not nearly as useful as I am accustomed to it being.

[ Fantastic for hacking up most things but apparently not spectral dogs of terrifying evilness. ]

You were brave, Hiccup, and you fought well.

[ While not exactly softhearted, Sif can still offer words of support to fellow warriors. Especially when they are young and green and seem to sort of need it. ]

video - private.

[mixcds]

Hiccup --

[He's not sure what he's just seen, exactly. ]

You're alright, yeah?

video - private.

[smithwork]

I bruised my ass when a gigantic, demonic, ravenous evil dog tried to eat me but yeah, I'm cool. This is all good.

[ Flying away from all that at the speed of light, welp. ]

video - private.

[mixcds]

[Hiccup........ bro.............]

You look cool. Ice cold, even.

[Ha ha ha, he thinks on the inside. There are dogs everywhere. How do you even fuck up something as simple as moving bones??? Collectively??? ]

video - private.

[smithwork]

Just call me Jack Frost.

[ Glancing over a shoulder as Toothless pulls up, the view flips and they soar higher. ]

video - private.

[mixcds]

[deadpan: ]

My, Jack, look how tall you've gotten. Where has that deep voice of days gone by gotten to?

[And then, more seriously: ] Stay high. I don't know if the dogs can climb, but they're all over.

video.

[winterwork]

Hic— !

[He hadn't planned on leaving his side, but circumstances with the dogs had led him flying astray elsewhere. Witnessing Hiccup's attack leaves him regretting getting himself lost.]

Hic, where are you?

video.

[smithwork]

In the sky above the Station, heading west. Where are you?

video.

[winterwork]

Sorry, I got— people looked like they needed help so I rushed off and I got caught up. I should have come back sooner.

[He shakes his head, running a hand through his hair before rising back into the air to track his friend.]

Are you two alright now?

video.

[smithwork]

Yeah, we're fine, terrifying ordeals with demonic shadow-dogs aside.

[ Toothless swerves in a wide arc, keeping an eye out for Jack on the horizon. ]

Stay airborne, I don't think they can get to us up here.

video.

[winterwork]

Yeah, I'll keep up here if I can. I'm heading back over the Station now. Try to stay in the area for now so I can find—

[He pauses, eyes widening as he spots something beyond the locket out of view. It causes him to forget his purpose in the moment, gliding down further towards the ground despite what was just discussed.]

No ... it can't—you can't be here.

[In a moment, black covers the image and a gasp from Jack can be heard before the connection is cut off.]