A/N: Hi! Welcome back! Once again, thanks to those who have sent me reviews, followed this story or added it to your favourites. It is much appreciated. I've decided to reply to said reviews in the following chapter instead of in PMs, so here we go:
JCttyd: Thanks! And here's your update!
The Dreaming Dragon: Glad you like it!
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Please continue (or start) leaving me reviews, even if it's negative! Hope you enjoy chapter 3! :)
"So, we need a plan. And not just any plan, but completely out the blue. Hiccup knows all of our usual strategies, that's how he got the better of us and almost won that last battle," Astrid announced, as the Riders gathered in the clubhouse.
"Or, we need to do something very predictable," Ruffnut chirped in. The others looked at her in confusion. "What? Hiccup and Viggo probably expect us to try to think like them and do something extraordinary. But if we do something overly predictable, that, my friends, will be the unexpected move." Ruffnut finished, looking very proud of herself. The others looked at her and blinked. Snotlout broke the silence by bursting out in laughter. "No, no, Ruffnut, let me tell you what that would be. That would be ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!" He continued laughing, only stopping when Astrid spoke up.
"Wait, Ruffnut, you might be right. If Hiccup and Viggo think we're going to try and think like them, then if we do something completely basic it'll catch them by surprise!" Astrid exclaimed, getting an idea and unrolling a map of Viggo's base.
"Wait, you guys actually like this plan?" Snotlout exclaimed.
"Shush Snotlout! So, where would be the one place that you wouldn't put Hiccup if you were Viggo?"
"Um… near the docks, where he'd be vulnerable?" Fishlegs replied.
"And where would the obvious place be, where Viggo would be expecting us?"
"Viggo's headquarters, or the dragon cells,"
"Exactly," replied Astrid, drawing a line in charcoal pencil on the map "So, step one, approach from North-east, scout the ships, make sure Hiccup isn't in there. I'll do that, I'm probably the most stealthy. Then we burn the ships to the ground. Ruff, Tuff, that's your job. Fishlegs, can you take out the dragon-proof ships? Then at least we would have done something to cripple Viggo, even if we don't manage to rescue Hiccup."
"Of course we can, can't we girl," Fishlegs replied, hugging Meatlug affectionately.
"Snotlout, you take out the guards at the docks, and if Hiccup isn't there, we stealthily make our way through the island. Where'd the next least likely place be?"
"Unguarded in the forest?" Snotlout asked, pointing at the trees labelled on the map.
"Right, so step two, scout the forest." Astrid drew a line from the docks to the forest. "I'd be surprised if we don't find him there, but if that happens, we fly out of range until we get just above Viggo's base. Is there anything I've missed?" Astrid looked around at the others, but none of them had objections. "Right, then let's get some rope and weapons," Astrid announced, rolling up the map and looking outside at the sunset. Toothless walked up to her and purred, and Astrid patted his head. "Don't worry Toothless, we're not going to leave you here again. We need you, you're the best cover in the night," Toothless crooned in reply, clearly approving. "And guys, just before we go, if this mission fails, we go straight to Berk." Astrid paused. "But it'd better work," She muttered as she mounted Toothless, signalling for Stormfly to follow. "Ready guys? Let's go!"
Viggo looked down at the map of his island, then at the Maces and Talons board thoughtfully.
"So what exactly are we doing, brother?" Ryker asked, frowning at the items on Viggo's desk.
"After their near-defeat this morning, the Riders are going to try and think like Hiccup and I. Try to play Maces and Talons. We can use this to our advantage-"
"Sir!" shouted a Dragon Hunter, opening the curtain to Viggo's headquarters. Viggo looked up and scowled.
"What is it?" He growled, making the Hunter cower slightly.
"The guards on the North-east of the island just reported that the northern shipyard has been completely burnt to the ground. Every last ship."
"And the dragon-proof ships?" Ryker questioned.
"Punctured, sunk or on fire," replied the Hunter, causing Ryker to growl and Viggo to frown.
"They're playing stealth, are they now?" Viggo thought aloud, then smiled slightly. "We'll play stealthy back." He turned to walk out of the tent.
"Where are you going?" Ryker called after him.
"I'm going to see how Hiccup's coming along," Viggo replied, walking out and heading for the forge. He heard the clank of the hammer on metal as he opened to see a rather sweaty-looking Haddock hammering an odd contraption. "So, how's your make-shift bola-launcher coming along?" Viggo asked, marvelling at the boy's workmanship. Hiccup looked up, only just noticing him.
"It's almost done." He replied, looking at the cross-bow-like weapon "I still need to add a few finishing touches-"
"No time, if it works, we need to use it. The Riders have attacked the shipyard and should be approaching through the forest right now. Go there ahead of me, and use your contraption. I will move my men to the edge of the forest so they can either stop them if they get passed you, or round them up if you succeed." Viggo ordered.
"Yes, Viggo, sir!" Hiccup saluted, grabbing the contraption and running out of the forge into the open air. He paused, feeling the cool wind as the darkness of night set in, then smirked and ran towards the forest.
Astrid's forehead furrowed in concentration as they entered the forest.
"Let's spread out to cover more ground. But stay in sight of at least one other Rider. And remember, we're playing a stealth game here. Listen out for any sign of Hiccup or a Hunter. The aim is to capture Hiccup without hurting him. Everyone got their rope?" Astrid whispered, looking around at the nodding Riders. "Let's go then," Toothless walked straight ahead as the other Riders spread out and passed the treeline. The forest was eerily quiet, the leaves of the trees rustling ever so slightly in the breeze. Astrid gave Toothless a tiny pat, signally for him to pause. The two stood in silence, listening for any sign of life. Suddenly, a scream came from her left. She whipped around to see Snotlout and Hookfang tied up in bolas and lying on the floor. Fishlegs jumped off Meatlug and made their way over to untie them, only to find themselves wrapped in bolas too. Astrid looked around in shock. Where was the shooter? She felt Toothless' wings raise and heard Stormfly's spines stand upright ready to shoot. She looked over at the twins to her right, who were cluelessly looking around while sitting on Barf and Belch, until out of the nearest bush two bolas emerged, knocking Ruff and Tuff off their dragon.
"Aaaah! I am hurt! I am very much hurt!" Tuffnut shouted. So much for being stealthy. The Hideous Zippleback looked down at his riders in surprise, but within seconds, they too were tangled up in bolas. Astrid scowled and hopped off Toothless, grabbing her axe and approaching the bush where the bolas had emerged from. She signalled to Stormfly to help the others, while she crept up to where she assumed Hiccup would be. But before she got there, Hiccup made the first move, shooting a bola, which wrapped around her axe. Astrid continued nonetheless, dodging multiple bolas coming her way until she reached the bush. Hiccup looked up at her in surprise, then scowled. Astrid reached for the rope wound to the hem of her skirt, but to her surprise, Hiccup dropped the bola-launcher and unsheathed Inferno.
"You want to continue the fight we had below deck?" Hiccup asked, igniting the sword and smirking.
"Sure, why not?" Astrid played along, readying her axe. Hiccup struck first, bringing his sword straight down towards Astrid's head, and Astrid blocked. Astrid struck next, attempting to knock Hiccup off his feet, but Hiccup jumped over. Astrid fought skillfully, despite the bola on her axe weighing her down. The fight continued, Hiccup continuously striking to kill, whereas Astrid struck to knock him down. As time went by, Hiccup's eyes narrowed.
"Why aren't you striking to kill like I am?" Hiccup asked, clearly thinking aloud.
"That's not what I'm here for," Astrid replied, blocking another blow. She noticed Hiccup slightly cock his head to the side.
"What are you here for then?" Hiccup stopped attacking for a moment.
"This," said Astrid, swinging her axe around so the handle hit the side of Hiccup's head. Hiccup stood still for a moment, then crumpled to the floor, unconscious. Astrid watched, surprised at herself for doing that, but telling herself it had to be done. She suddenly noticed a thin red scar across his neck, as if someone had pressed a knife there a little too hard, but she reached for the rope on her belt regardless and tied Hiccup's wrists behind his back, then stood up and turned to the others. Stormfly had managed to untie all of them.
"Thanks, girl," she said to her dragon "Ok, let's get Hiccup back to Berk."
"Why are we going to Berk? We don't need any more help in getting Hiccup back. He's right there!" Snotlout remarked, leaning against Hookfang's horn.
"Do you know anyone other than Gothi who can un-hypnotise Hiccup?" Fishlegs asked, mounting Meatlug.
"Uh… I hypnotised Fishlegs before," he replied.
"Number one, Gothi was the one hypnotising. Number two, your hypnosis on Fishlegs didn't work out very well did it?" Astrid replied, also mounting Toothless, holding the unconscious Hiccup in her arms.
"It was fine." Snotlout rolled his eyes.
"Thor Bonecrusher almost getting himself and you killed is not fine. Let's go to Berk." Astrid snapped, taking off, and the others immediately followed.
A/N: What do you think? Let me know in the reviews!
See you on chapter 4!
~httydfangirl123
