Hi guys! :D I see I created some diversity here in this story, didn't I? And amongst the reviewers, too! Everyone is trying to figure out the golden question: Is Barreck who he says he is, or is he evil? What do you guys think? :) Shout-outs:

StarFlight13: We'll have to see what happens! :D No spoilers! :D Yeah, so many questions and so little answered...thanks for the review! :D

LunarCatNinja: People like Barreck...can't trust 'em. :D And all the riders are completely clueless. Let's see what goes down. ;)

Dimensional Girl: No spoilers yet. :) And yeah, Viggo knows that "a house divided against itself cannot stand." :)

ShadowSpirit020: Yeah...something isn't right...:)

HappyPup1: No, Snotlout! D:

bella: Yeah, Barreck...not liking him so much anymore. :)

Guest (#1): Sounds about right. :)

Galaxy-Mitsuko-Pegasus: He's definitely up to SOMETHING, but what that SOMETHING is remains to be seen. :)

SilverGhostWolf: Barreck! Yeah, no one likes him anymore. The instant someone tries to cause diversion between good friends is the instant readers stop liking them. :) And yeah, the migraines stink, but usually I can just sleep them off, which is nice. :) Thanks for the review! :)

Forever Me: Yep! We love the traitors because they make Whump, and we also hate the traitors because, well, they're traitors! XD Thanks for the review! :)

Charr2003: Nope, can't trust Barreck. HE IS CREATING DIVERSITY. DESTROY HIM. But unfortunately, we cannot destroy him ourselves. :( Let's see what Hiccup and the gang come up with! Maybe they'll figure it out before Barreck does something drastic! :D And you can definitely PM me and let me know who you think Barreck is! :D I want to hear what you think. XD Thanks for the review! :D

SnivyDragon: Who knows! Hunches can be right. :D And yeah, Meathead Island...I remember my reaction when I found out the voice actor who played Spitelout. I was like, "OMGOSH WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!" Needless to say, I went back and watched all of Spitelout's scenes just to hear the voice. XD Hiccup's this insane genius who is so crazy that his genius plans always work. :D Thanks for the review! :D

Gamer Spice: Yeah, I kinda feel bad for Snotlout...and now of course Snotlout's going to be giving Fishlegs a hard time...I think Hiccup and Astrid can handle themselves, though. Let's see how it ends. :) Thanks for the review! :D

midnightsky0612: Everyone thinks Barreck is suspicious now. :) Thanks for the review! :D

AquaticDragon: We'll just have to see which side Barreck is actually on! :D Thanks for the review!

Kaida1909: Barreck was intended to be a very dodgy character; you don't exactly know what his plan is until it's too late. But I can promise you that this story will play out much differently than Heather Report did, especially in Part 2. Part 2 is when this story really gets interesting. :) Thanks for the review! :D

Jo: Yep, something strange is DEFINITELY going on here. :)

Barreck headed away from Snotlout's house, the sword still clutched in his grip. He headed towards the nearest tree, raised the sword, and poised it to strike, but at the last minute, a voice from behind made him stop.

"Hey, Barreck!" the voice of Tuffnut called, and Barreck turned around. Tuffnut was standing there, alone. "What are you doing? Going to go kill something? I can help you."

"That's quite alright, Tuffnut," said Barreck, smiling. "No killing tonight. Snotlout presented me with this sword, and I have come to test it out."

"Oh, cool," said Tuffnut, "but you know, Thorston weapons are better than Jorgenson weapons. We can fix you up if you want us to."

"I'll consider it," said Barreck. "Where is Ruffnut? I cannot recall seeing you without her so far."

"Oh, she's taken our dragon to go get dinner," said Tuffnut. "We sort of have to take turns doing it every night. It's annoying."

"I'm sure it is," said Barreck. "I've always heard the Thorstons were a proud, strong house."

"Oh, we are!" said Tuffnut, nodding eagerly. "Very strong house! We would know, we've tried to blow it up more than once, and when stuff can get through the explosions, you know it's good."

"Right," said Barreck. "You sound like you know a lot, Tuffnut."

"I sound like it," said Tuffnut, shrugging. "I don't actually know anything."

"Well, you sound it for sure," said Barreck. "I've heard everyone thinks you are a total loser."

Tuffnut's head snapped up. "Well, they're probably right," he said, "but just for sake of argument, who told you that?"

"Oh, no one in particular," said Barreck, shrugging. "I think I heard Ruffnut say something about it to Snotlout earlier...ah, I was probably just hearing wrong. Ruffnut's your sister, isn't she? And Snotlout's your friend."

"Right," said Tuffnut uncertainly. "And what did Snotlout say to the 'I'm a total loser'?"

"Oh, he agreed," said Barreck, "but I must have heard them wrong. I would not worry, Tuffnut. I'm sure your friends think very highly of you."

He looked down at the sword briefly, looked back up, and nodded. "I must be heading back," he said. "It was nice talking to you, Tuffnut."

"Yeah, nice," said Tuffnut.

"Good night," said Barreck, and he headed off.

Tuffnut stood there for a few moments, watching him leave. Sure, he himself knew he was a total loser, but to hear that Ruffnut and Snotlout thought the same kind of hurt.

"Hey, bro!" Ruffnut shouted from behind, and she approached, Barf and Belch walking behind her in her wake. "What're you doing out here? Something awesome?"

Tuffnut didn't answer. He pushed past her and walked away, head lowered. Ruffnut watched him leave, confused. He didn't even say hello to Barf and Belch.

"Tuffnut?" Ruffnut said quietly.

…

Hiccup and Astrid were waiting on Thor's Beach, where they had planned to meet the day before. Astrid was tapping her foot impatiently, her axe slung over her shoulder, and Hiccup kept looking at the sky, waiting (also impatiently).

"I don't understand," he said finally, turning to face Astrid. Stormfly and Toothless were standing behind their riders, looking equally impatient. "This was where we planned to meet, right?"

"Maybe they slept in," Astrid shrugged.

"All of them?" said Hiccup. "I seriously doubt that. Fishlegs is never late. I can understand Snotlout or the twins, but not Fishlegs."

There was a roar from above, and Hookfang soared downwards, Snotlout and Barreck mounted on his back. The two riders dismounted, and Astrid and Hiccup approached them.

"You're late," Astrid said, strapping her axe to her back to cross her arms.

Snotlout shrugged. "A Jorgenson is never late," he said proudly.

Astrid grimaced. "I hope you don't start saying that on a regular basis," she said. "It'd be a mockery to your character."

"Ha ha," Snotlout rolled his eyes, "very funny."

"Have you guys seen the other riders by any chance?" Hiccup asked. "They were supposed to be here an hour ago."

"Well, you can't exactly expect the twins to show up on time," said Snotlout, "and who knows. Maybe Fishface decided he's too good enough for us and went by himself."

Astrid and Hiccup stared at him.

"Snotlout," said Hiccup, "you do realize that Fishlegs is scared to death by just about everything. Nothing could drive him to go without us."

"Why would you say something like that, Snotlout?" said Astrid suspiciously.

"No reason," grumbled Snotlout. "But if he doesn't show up, we should go ahead and leave without him."

Just at that moment, Meatlug and Fishlegs arrived. Meatlug dropped to the ground, sank slightly into the sand, and Fishlegs hastily dismounted.

"Hiccup!" he said. "Thor, I'm sorry! I'm so late!"

"It's fine, Fishlegs," said Hiccup. Snotlout groaned and turned away, pretending to be busy straightening Hookfang's saddle.

"I don't know how it happened!" said Fishlegs. "Someone dumped a bucket of eels into Meatlug's stable! It took hours to finally calm her down enough to do anything!"

"Well, that's not your fault, Fishlegs," said Hiccup. "I wonder…" He looked at Snotlout suspiciously, but didn't elaborate.

"Maybe the twins did it," said Astrid, shrugging. "They're not here yet, either."

And instantly, Ruffnut charged forward out of seemingly nowhere, stumbling over her feet in the sand. Finally, just as she neared them, she face-planted the ground and dragged herself the rest of the way.

"What in Thor's name, Ruffnut?" said Snotlout angrily.

Ruffnut stood up, spitting sand out of her mouth. "You guys have got to help me!" she said urgently. "Tuffnut won't talk to me at all!"

"Are you sure he didn't just take another vow of silence, Ruffnut?" Fishlegs asked. "Last time he did it, he didn't talk for a month."

"No, this is different!" Ruffnut insisted. "He won't even look at me! He acts like I'm not even there! He won't fly Barf and Belch with me, and no matter what I said, he wouldn't help me blow up anything! Not even Snotlout's hut!"

"Hey!" said Snotlout crossly.

"Are you sure-" Fishlegs began.

"Whatever you're about to say," said Ruffnut, "I've already thought about it! I've never seen Tuffnut act like this before, and that's saying something, since I've been stuck with him my whole life! I don't know what to do!"

"Why don't we ask oh-so-intellectual Fishlegs?" Snotlout growled.

"I'm sorry…?" said Fishlegs, sounding as confused as everyone else was.

"Oh, I'm sorry," said Snotlout, "I thought you knew. Sorry, excuse me for asking."

Fishlegs looked at Hiccup. "What happened?" he said.

"I was hoping you could tell me," Hiccup said.

"But what about Tuffnut?" said Ruffnut desperately. "Please! I'm nothing without my brother!"

As if on cue, Tuffnut and Barf and Belch arrived, walking towards them through the sand. Tuffnut appeared to be sulking.

"Sorry, late," he muttered. "Are we leaving or not?"

Hiccup and Astrid exchanged glances. Whatever was wrong with the others, they didn't have a clue as to what it was.

But at the rate Snotlout wouldn't look at Fishlegs, and Tuffnut wouldn't look at Ruffnut, they weren't going to get very far without another argument.

"Yes," Hiccup finally said, "we're leaving."

"All of us?" said Snotlout angrily, crossing his arms, glaring at Fishlegs.

"Yes," said Astrid with a sharp edge to her voice, "all of us."

"I'm not going if Fishface is going!" said Snotlout furiously. "Slowest dragon, showed up an hour late to the meeting place...he'll just slow us down!"

"Where is all of this coming from?" Hiccup asked helplessly, throwing his hands into the air.

"Oh, I don't know," said Snotlout, "why don't you ask Fishlegs?"

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Fishlegs said pleadingly. "Honestly!"

"If you don't want to come with us, Snotlout," Hiccup said, "that's your decision. But we are a team. Remember that."

Snotlout looked ready to protest, but he didn't. "Fine," he grumbled angrily. "Just don't expect me to listen to him."

Fishlegs looked at Hiccup helplessly, and Hiccup looked back at him, equally helpless. Barreck mounted Hookfang behind Snotlout, and the twins, Tuffnut still sulking and not looking at Ruffnut at all, mounted their dragons as well. Ruffnut looked at Tuffnut sadly, and when he didn't look back at her, averted her gaze.

"This is weird," said Astrid to Hiccup as she and he mounted their dragons.

"I know, it is," Hiccup agreed. "They always fight, but never like this. This is...not good."

"What do you think happened between them?"

"I haven't the slightest idea."