Author's Notes: Sorry for all the long waits. Words aren't coming as easily right now and I'm very busy, but I'll try to do my best for my die-hard fans (all five of them). Please review! I love to communicate and will get back to you as soon as possible. Also, go to my profile if you haven't already. I've been told it's funny!
Hiccup walked to where Mala was commanding her warriors to put out the flames. "We'll need our dragons", he said softly. She gave a sharp tilt of her head, and he turned back to his group. It would take a while before they could understand each other, but Hiccup was praying to Thor and Odin and everyone else that they'd reach that point eventually. "Now remember", said Hiccup, "Everyone has to think on their feet in case something goes wrong." Snotlout raised an eyebrow. "Fine, except me", Hiccup sighed.
He walked over to Toothless and stroked the large reptile's scaly side. "I don't knwo what I'd do without you, Bud", he whispered. Toothless warbled happily as Hiccup strapped his saddle and tailfin back on. The others waited patiently (except maybe the twins) as he fastened all of the extra equipment. Feeling his prosthetic slip back into the stirrup gave him a sense of relief, although it was probably false. it had been accepted that he was their leader, and he'd accept any sense of security, false or otherwise. They all took flight, steering against the wind, sea, and sun. Hiccup looked back at the island of fire blazing below, but pulled his gaze away and stared into the horizon.
While they were flying, Astrid drifted up to him. "What is it?", she asked. "You're thinking about something. I see it written all over your face." Hiccup looked down at his hands on Toothless' saddle. "I ended up as leader because my little catapult managed to hit a dragon during a raid. I didn't kill it, but what did that matter? It was Toothless that chose to trust me, Toothless who saved me, and Toothless who killed the Red Death. Because of that battle, and the- the aftermath, everyone thinks I know everything. I've been somewhat the head of our group since the days of the Dragon Academy, but now it's officcial. Now even the twins look at me like I'm supposed to have a plan."
Astrid flew so close that Stormfly's wing was under Toothless', and reached out to touch Hiccup's hand. "I know what 'aftermath' that is. And I can't say I know how hard it is. But you're our leader because you have a way with the dragons. You're our leader because you're brave, but also becasue you think. Your greatest strength is your mind, and this is a new era. You are exactly the kind of leader we need." Hiccup smiled. "Thanks, Astrid."
Somewhere inside, brave leader as he was, he still felt unsure. But there was no time for doubt or pep talks now; they had arrived. He crept back into the shadows with Fishlegs, while Astrid and Heather were int he bushes. Now it was Snotlout and the twins' time to shine. Ruffnut was wearing one of Heather's spare masks, while Tuff had some sort of creepy face paint on. They'd darkened the areas around Snotlout's eyes with ashes, he wore a piece of shapeless black fabric like a cloak, and Hiccup was responsible for the real drying blood that painted a mean scar across his cheek.
Viggo would see right through the disguises, of course, but they were strange enough to confuse and scare the guards. "BLAAAARGHH!", Tuffnut yelled. "That wasn't exactly what I had in mind", Hiccup muttered. Snotlout deepened his voice so it was soft and mysterious. "Come, now, pardon my brother. He is rather...insane." Ruffnut, who wore the same black "cloak", drew her finger along his fake scar. "Poor, poor Tabor. My darling Sven, you must remember that we are here on business. Why, the foul creature might frighten our Eruptadon." Hiccup was impressed by her acting, and could see that she relished calling her brother "Foul creature".
"Patience, Relsha, patience", Snotlout rasped, while "Tabor" proceeded to bang his head against a tree, repeatedly saying, "Mummy dear, how's the weather?" He looked over to Astrid and Heather, creeping up behind the guards. Astrid saw him watching and flashed him a nod. Fishlegs poked him as he heard the guard say "-Secret location. Of course, If you've brought servants, we could take them.."
That was when the girls struck. Axes whirling, they aimed a few well-aimed blows and kicks, and those hunters were out before they knew what hit them. Tuffnut stopped warbling gibberish and rubbed his head, smearing the facepaint. Ruffnut started arguing with him over who'd acted better, and Snotlout was swaggering around, fingering the "scar", until Ruffnut said that maybe "runt-ness" was transmitted by blood, like the Scourge. Then he dumped a bucket of water over his head, and she snorted at how easily he'd been fooled.
Hiccup didn't stick around to watch the commotion. He crept away, followed by Fishlegs. Now, a boy with a metal leg that creaks every step and a boy Fishlegs' size don't exactly find it easy to move quietly, but they did, somehow. Fishlegs counted the number of guards they passed, while Hiccup ran over the plan repeatedly in his mind.
Suddenly Fishlegs gasped. Hiccup opened his eyes in the middle of Step 24 and whispered, "What?" Fishlegs pointed. Hiccup followed his thick finger to a tent up ahead. It had four guards and was made of some patchwork fabric. The top was adorned with a dragon skull.
"Viggo's tent."