Chapter 1

Hiccup continued to pace up and down her hut's floor. It had only been a few hours since she and Astrid had found the Maces and Talons board which had issued Viggo's challenge to her. After talking with the others, she had shut herself up in her hut to try and come up with a plan to get Heather back and keep the Dragon Eye out of Viggo's reach. How she wished that she still had her dragon powers, that the blood bond between her and Toothless was still active. Right now, she would have been happy to be a Night Fury right now. At least that would be something the Viggo wouldn't see coming. But the fact of the matter is, the terms of the bond had been meant and now the only thing that remained of that bond was the scar from where she had cut herself all those years ago when she had accidently mingled her blood with Toothless' and her eyes had somehow been changed from brown to an emerald green. She had wanted to ask Toothless why and how, but she could no longer understand him the way she had when the bond was still active.

At times it did seem like she and Toothless could hear each other's thoughts or even understand each other sometimes, But they would only last for an instant. But she couldn't bring herself to figure out how it worked, not now.

When she finally stopped pacing and stopped to look at her maps, she kept thinking about her plan to get Heather back. It wasn't a good plan. But it was the best she had right now. They were going to have to head for an island they had never been on before so Viggo was going to have that advantage. But hopefully if he had dragons, and he was going to, she would know things about dragons that even he wouldn't know. She reviewed her notes on dragons in her notebooks, the Book of Dragons, Bork's papers, and the Dragon Eye. Hopefully, all this would give her and the other riders some kind of advantage over the dragon hunters.

Hiccup felt Toothless nudge her arm as she felt her body begin to shake. "Oh Bud, I know, it's just, there is so much riding on this. If I mess this up, we could lose the Dragon Eye and Heather could die. I'm just scared Bud." She said turning from all her notes and rubbing Toothless' head as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

She heard Toothless purr as he wrapped his wings around her in a hug. She felt the shaking stop and she was finally able to stand still again long enough to get her head straight and think her plan over again. She just hoped that it would be enough to get everyone out safely.

(Viggo)

Viggo sat at his desk staring at his Maces and Talons board. He was excited to see what kind of player Hiccup was. As shocked as he was to find out his new opponent was a young woman, he wasn't that surprised to see how gullible she could be, leaving her base unguarded while his men searched for the Dragon Eye. While he was disappointed to hear that they were unable to find it, he had little doubt that Hiccup would be carrying it with her this time around. And he was ready to get back what had belonged to his people for centuries.

"It won't be much longer Hiccup. You and your friends will soon play right into my hands." He laughed quietly to himself.

As the hours rolled on, he kept wondering what Hiccup must really be like. To outsmart his older brother and his own hunters repeatedly and be able to keep the Dragon Eye from them for as long as she had. Maybe she really was an opponent worthy to be his adversary. Finally the hour of reckoning had arrived. Viggo was in his tent when Ryker came in to tell him that Hiccup and the other riders had gotten past the Typhoomeranges. Sur[rising to hear that she was able to slip right down the middle of the fire.

"Interesting, the girl really knows her dragons I'll give her that." Viggo answered quiet intrigued by what he heard.

"But what should we do, most of our forces have been stationed near the front."

"Not to worry big brother, everything is taken care of." Viggo said getting up and heading out of his tent. "Now then I think it's time myself and young Hiccup Haddock were officially introduced." He said heading for the spot where he had predicted that Hiccup would come looking for Heather.

He crouched in the cage with a blanket over him and listened. As he heard her footsteps coming closer, he knew it was time.

"Heather, come on let's go." He heard her voice say as the blanket was pulled away.

As he laid his eyes on her, he was very much stunned to see how beautiful she really was. Not that it changed his plans to get the Dragon Eye, but now he planned to get something else out of it.

"Where's Heather?" Hiccup demanded.

"I'm afraid she won't be joining us tonight. This game is between you and me." Viggo answered as his gaze shifted up and down her small and yet gracefully figured frame. "And I must admit, you exceeded my expectations for you. And since I'm feeling gracious tonight, I'll give you a head start."

"Why would you do that?" Hiccup asked keeping her shield in front of her.

"Because I am enjoying this and if I were to finish this now the game would end all too quickly." Viggo said as Hiccup slowly turned and then she took off.

Viggo signaled his men to wait for his command. After waiting for a minute or so, he sent to follow her. They caught up and cornered her with her dragon, a Night Fury, who was undoubtly carrying the Dragon Eye, as she had called it.

"If you don't mind I'll use that, once we get it back from you."

"Not going to happen." Hiccup said as she climbed on her dragon ready to take off.

But before they could even get off the ground, the Flightmare they had captured the night before was urged to spray its paralyzing mist and hit its target. Hiccup and Toothless were paralyzed. Everything was going according to plan.

"You and your Night Fury played right into my hands." He said as he took out the Dragon Eye and handed it to Ryker. He then worked her hands loose from the saddle. "You will be coming with me." He then took the Dragon Eye back from Ryker and handed him their new hostage. "I have truly enjoyed this game we have played and I promise you, we will play again soon." He said as they tied her up and took off with her, leaving her Night Fury still paralyzed in the field.

They trekked through the caves with the Flightmare and stopped as they realized Hiccup's paralysis was wearing off.

"Let go of me!" Hiccup began to yell as she kicked to get free of Ryker's hold on her.

One of the hunters final got her to be quiet or quieter by gagging her mouth so she wouldn't make as much noise.

"Try not to damage her too much. She could be of some good use to us." Viggo ordered staring at her bright emerald eyes.

He stood in front of the Flightmare as the glow from the mist shone through the Dragon Eye. Viggo could hear the other dragon riders coming with the Night Fury not far behind.

"Just a moment more." He said. At last the process was complete. "Release it, release the dragon." The Flightmare took off after the other riders.

He heard Hiccup struggling to break loose. "Accepting defeat is a difficult but necessary part of competition Hiccup." He smiled at her as he nodded to one of the other hunters who then took a club to her head and let droop over Ryker's shoulder unconscious.

Viggo could not wait to have some time alone with her.

(Toothless)

After the Flightmare was gone, Toothless tried to go back through the tunnels to find his hatchling, but they were already gone.

"They couldn't have gotten far, come on!" Toothless tried to order the other dragons.

"Toothless," Stormfly called to him. "He's not down there. You and Hiccup both knew Viggo had this whole thing planned out from start to finish. He's long gone by now."

Toothless felt his rage boil over until he finally lost it, letting out a shrill cry of anger.

"Whoa!" Tuffnut exclaimed on the back of his dragon as they landed. "I have never heard Toothless do that before."

"Yeah." Ruffnut answered. "It was awesome."

"He's upset because the hunters, and Viggo have Hiccup and who knows what they'll do to her. Or for that matter, what they want her for." Astrid answered.

"We need to go back to Berk and tell Stoick." Fishlegs said landing with Meatlug. "Skullcrusher could help us find Hiccup."

"And if we find Hiccup, we find Viggo and the Dragon Eye." Snotlout finished.

"First we should head back to the Edge for rest, it's been a long night and there's no way the dragons are in shape for a long night light." Astrid commanded.

"But what about Toothless, he can't fly on his own, how's he going to get back to the Edge?" Fishlegs asked.

"Don't worry, Hiccup asked me to carry something for him just in case." Astrid said reaching into her saddle bag and pulled out the tail that Hiccup had made for Toothless three years ago. "Hiccup fixed it just in case something like this would happen and Toothless needed to fly. She asked me to hang on to it if we ever needed to use it."

"Smart." Fishlegs grinned as Astrid unhooked the old tail and strapped the new one in place.

"Alright, let's head back to the Edge and get some sleep. We head for Berk first thing in the morning." Astrid said getting back on Stormfly.

Toothless had to admit, he was grateful that Hiccup thought enough ahead to have another tail for him in case he had to fly without her, but he stilled wanted her on his back flying with him. And now she was in the hands of a mad man who was planning to do Thor knows what with her. And he knew whatever it was, it wasn't going to be good. But that's why he was going to find her, if was the last thing she did, he would find her. And if those hunters, or Viggo, hurt her there was going to be Hel to pay.

Toothless didn't sleep at all that night. He couldn't even lay down, he just kept pacing all night until the others woke up. Toothless was already to go, he took off just as the other riders were getting onto the backs of their dragons. They had to hurry to catch up with him.

"If this good weather holds we should reach Berk by the end of the day." Astrid said as they flew over the ocean.

Toothless had to be grateful for that, but he couldn't stop thinking about Hiccup, what kind of torture were the hunters inflicting on her? Would she even still be in one piece when they found her? One thing was certain, if they had hurt her in anyway, he would make sure that none of the hunters, especially Viggo Grimborn, never saw the light of day again.

The hours flew by, literally, but finally Berk came into view and Toothless beat his wings harder going faster. He landed in the middle of town and ran to find Stoick as the other riders landed a short time later.

"I have never seen Toothless this upset." Fishlegs said as they caught up with him at the forge.

"He's worried about Hiccup, we all are." Astrid said they found Stoick talking with Gobber.

"What about Hiccup? Where is she?" Stoick asked as he came out with Gobber just behind him.

"Hiccup's been kidnapped by the dragon hunters." Astrid answered. "We need your help to track her down."

Stoick's eyes flared with anger. "I'll get Skullcrusher ready. We are going to find my daughter." He said as he started for his house.

Toothless followed Stoick. "Don't worry Toothless, when we find those dragon hunters, we'll show them what happens when they mess with anyone from Berk. Especially our family."

Toothless growled in agreement. If Hiccup was hurt, nothing would stop him from burning all Viggo's fleet to a smoldering pile of ash.

'Don't worry Hiccup, we'll find you soon.' Toothless thought as Skullcrusher came from back around the house.

"I just need something with her scent on it." Stoick said getting Skullcrusher's saddle on.

"Will this work?" Fishlegs asked handing Stoick Hiccup's notebook.

"I guess we'll find out." Stoick answered holding the notebook up to Skullcrusher's snout.

Skullcrusher gave it a sniff and nodded at Toothless and Stoick. "I got it. Let's go." He answered as he bowed to let Stoick on his back.

"This is going to be fun." Gobber said climbing on behind Stoick.

With a beat of the dragons' wings, they were all off searching for Hiccup.

"Don't worry, we'll find you soon, just hang in there a little longer, for me." Toothless pleaded in a croon as they flew on in search of the hatchling he had watched over for so long. He was not about to lose her again.