In one of his riskiest missions, Hiccup decides to venture alone to free the Submarriper. Unable to get back to the surface before his air runs out, he is critically injured. Now, as time progresses, Astrid worries for the damages her friend still sustains, ones he might not even know about. Hiccstrid.

Right, so the updates to this story are going to be fortnightly (Which for those of you who play the video game by the similar name, means two weeks) because I only have an outline for this story and a few seme-chapters. Work is killing me, but I wanted to at least start this now before the Hidden World comes out.

Anyway, we're looking at about ten to...something chapters. We'll see where this goes. I do have a...history for taking reviews and turning them into story plots. If that happens, it's out of my hands. (Looking at you, CajunBear73! You know what you did!)

Enjoy!

"So, what's your plan again?"

Hiccup proudly gestured to the diving bell. "It's Gobber's old smelting cauldron. I should be able to use it to free the Submaripper." He winced as Astrid stared. "Don't give me that look. It's all I got."

Astrid sighed and shook her head. "I don't like this, but it's our best plan." She looked at Hiccup. "Just, be safe?"

Hiccup nodded. "I will." He climbed in the bell and looked at Fishlegs. "Okay, Fishlegs. Same as before. One tug is good, two tugs is bad."

Fishlegs nodded nervously. "One tug good. Two tugs bad. Ah, Hiccup, don't you think we should run some more tests?"

Hiccup shook his head. "There's no time! Berk is out of food. We have to do this now."

"But I-"

"Enough, Fishlegs." Hiccup sighed. "I've made my decision."

Climbing into the cauldron, Hiccup felt Astrid's arm on his. She looked worried. "Hey. You okay?"

Astrid frowned. "I don't like this plan. There are too many risks. I could-"

Hiccup cut her off. "No. I'm the leader. As well as the Chief's son. This is my responsibility." He swallowed. "Astrid, if something goes wrong, you have to get me out of there as fast as possible."

Astrid nodded. "I will. Just, promise me it won't go wrong?"

The words from long ago that he was about to say sprung into his mind. I can't. They were still true now. This was one of the more dangerous stunts they would pull. If that cauldron leaked, or if the chain snapped, it was over. No dragon could break it open.

The cauldron was slowly lowered into the water, and Hiccup shifted his focus. It was time to get to work.

The bell dinged once more, and Fishlegs gave a sigh of relief. "One chain left!"

Astrid, constantly scanning for any signs of ships, wasn't able to feel Fishlegs's relief. Even if there was one chain left, they still had to get Hiccup back onto the boat.

Suddenly, she saw something on the horizon. "Ah, Fishlegs? We need to get Hiccup out of there."

Fishlegs frowned. "We only have one chain left!"

Astrid pointed to where a Dragon Hunter ship was slowly sailing towards them, catapults armed. "I think they realise that too."

She reached for the lever to draw the cauldron up, but Fishlegs stopped her. "Hiccup will give us the signal when he's done. We can't risk this!"

Astrid folded her arms. "You're right, Fishlegs, we can't risk this." She pointed at the horizon, where Viggo's ship was firing boulders into the water as Snotlout and the Twins closed in on them. "Viggo is trying to rile up the Submaripper. If that dragon fires while Hiccup is still down there…"

Fishlegs remained resolute. "I know the risks, Astrid. So did Hiccup. He said not to raise the winch except for his signal, no matter what. He has this under control."

Astrid growled at his stubbornness and trained her eyes on the imperceptible shapes far below the water. "Come on, Hiccup. Hurry up."

As if Odin himself answered her plea, the bell rung twice, and Astrid sighed in relief as they began to pull Hiccup up.

Just then, a boulder from a catapult hit the winch, knocking it over. Which freed the chain from its clasp.

Which sent the cauldron sinking back towards the ocean floor, Toothless trying desperately to rescue his rider.

What happened next Astrid would never understand. A few minutes passed, and the Riders were beginning to fear the worst when the Submaripper reappeared, holding the cauldron in its jaws.

Setting the cauldron on the boat, the Sea Dragon disappeared while Astrid and Fishlegs tried desperately to free Hiccup.

Minutes later-though it felt like hours, the Twins arrived. Assessing the situation quickly (a real shock to everyone), they grabbed an iron bar and directed Barf and Belch to pull, freeing Hiccup.

Astrid quickly pulled the boy out and stared at him. "He's not breathing!"

"What?" Eyes turned to Snotlout, who had just landed. Slowly, the stocky boy's eyes narrowed and he scowled. "Twins, Fish, with me. We're going after Viggo. Astrid, get him to Gothi!"

Without waiting for confirmation, the trio took off, and Astrid desperately compressed her hands down on Hiccup's chest, trying to get him to breathe again.

Finally, he did start breathing again, but he wasn't conscious. Sighing in relief, Astrid climbed on Toothless and pulled Hiccup into her lap, directing the Night Fury to fly back to Berk.

Snotlout's eyes narrowed in fury as Viggo smirked at him. Holding his hand up to stop the Twins, Snotlout landed on the deck of the Hunter ship, drawing a sword and pointing it at the younger Grimborn. "Why would you go to all this trouble just to cause trouble to Berk?"

Viggo didn't look phased by the threat at all. "Trouble to Berk?" He smiled. "My plan was never to hurt Berk. I just needed Hiccup's connection to Berk."

Snotlout felt his stomach drop. "All of this was just to hurt Hiccup?"

Viggo shook his head. "Even a worthy opponent can still be taught. Hiccup's fault is that he is willing to rescue dragons at any cost, even if it will be to his own person. That is a weakness that will be exploited."

Snotlout's grip on the sword tightened. "By you?"

Viggo chuckled and shook his head. "No, as Hiccup and I have discussed, I am simply a business man. I have no desire to conquer. Others far more vile than me will use his attachment for dragons against him. That needed to change."

Snotlout threw his hand out towards the sea, where the tail of the Submarriper could be seen diving beneath the waves. "Even though Hiccup still beat you?"

Viggo shrugged. "Merely proves his status as a worthy opponent. An honour not given lightly."

Snotlout shook his head. "I guess not." He motioned Ruff and Tuff forward as Hookfang swooped down and grabbed his Rider, then grabbed Viggo. "But you're still coming with me."

Viggo fruitlessly struggled to be free of the dragons talons. "You will come to regret this decision, I assure you. My Tribe has much influence in the area past your Archipelago. They will ensure your demise!"

Snotlout set his jaw and stared at the horizon. "Then we'll just have to deal with them too. But you might have killed Hiccup. And for that, you will answer to Stoick the Vast."

Astrid landed on Gothi's deck and burst through the door. "Gothi!"

The old woman shambled forward, all signs of annoyance dispersing as she caught a glimpse of the unconsious boy in Astrid's arms. Silently, she beckoned Astrid to lay Hiccup on the bed in the corner of the room, then ushered her out, closing the door.

Astrid sighed and rested against Toothless. She had warned Hiccup of this. That one day, he would face a battle he couldn't win. That the odds would be too great or the price too steep.

And that price could be his life. Astrid didn't want to think about it, but she had too. The words from not-so-long-ago sprung back to her mind. I can't imagine a world without you in it. Both Hiccup and Astrid had said them, and both meant them with all they had. They were so close to taking the next step to something. A new life, one made for the both of them.

But that new life might not come now. And it was killing Astrid that this wasn't a situation she could punch or force her way through. She couldn't fight and save Hiccup's life. Not this time. It was out of her hands.

It was up to the gods.

Chapter Notes!

1). Shorter chapter (I think) but it's almost the exact same as 'Dire Straights'. Minus Hiccup waking up. The next one is fun, though. Confusing to write, but fun.

2). Viggo Grimborn is a fun character to write. That is all.

3). This story will deal with the Norse Gods more than most other stories I've read. And the reason they aren't heavily involved, fanfiction or not, is because we can't determine how real they were. Now, for the sake of Defender, I am going to assume that they were real. Otherwise this plot gets too coincidental for me.

I will say that Hiccup will have some lasting damage from nearly drowning, so go ahead and guess what that will be. I will give a shout-out to anyone who guesses correctly!

Thanks for reading!

Judge