Author's Notes: Hallo my lovely peoples! Sorry for the late chapter :( I've been so busy watchign the new season I forgot to write about it! Next to last chapter, so here we go! May not be a lot of action, but ah well :)

Bert is such a cute little ugly coward :)

Hiccup was running again. How much time had he run while on this island? This cursed island, Bert would say. Hiccup still laughed to himself at the ludicrous situation, then again, the assistance of the late Dagur The Deranged was not so different. Even still, Hiccup had to keep his mind on the mission and accept any help he could get.

In front of him, Bert skidded to a halt. Hiccup stepped back a few paces, in order to avoid the rancid stench coming off the former hunter in waves. He coughed and stepped slightly to the left. "There", mumbled Bert. He pointed with a shaking finger to a cave just ahead, whose interior was as black and murky as a moonless midnight.

"Tha' beast gave us a good bit a trouble, 'e did", Bert shuddered.

"Come with us", Hiccup coaxed. "Well-", Bert hesitated.

"I know yer s'posed to be good wi' dragons n' all that, but dontcha think it's a titch risky?", he continued.

Hiccup gave him a look. He extended the prosthetic leg with raised eyebrows. "Risky and reckless, though very finely divided, are two different things. Risky has never bothered me, as is obvious."

Mumbling something inaudible, Bert followed Hiccup, Astrid, and the others into the cave.

The deeper they traveled into the bowels of the earth, the thicker the darkness became. Now it was far deeper than midnight; it was like walking through ink. The only sounds were the thudding of their boots, the click of Hiccup's prosthetic, and Bert's grunts of complaint. "I don't like the dark", he moaned. "Suck it up", Astrid growled. Hiccup suspected she had never forgiven Bert for his initial stupidity.

The ceiling dripped with moisture, which hit the stone floor every once in a while with a plink that made Bert jump. Astrid, of course, was deeply displeased by this display of cowardice, while Snotlout seemed to see only its hilarity. Hiccup ignored them and kept plodding on, deeper and deeper into darkness so thick you could slice it with an axe. It was tangible blackness, a dark so dark that there was nothing but Hiccup and his mind.

He stepped onto a rough patch of stone, and a torch flicked to life. Bert squealed, and Astrid glared daggers in his direction. Hiccup blinked his bright green eyes, adjusting to the flame's brightness after being immersed in a sea of blackness. When he could see clearly, he realized that there was a path carved out of the shining stone, with unlit torches every few steps. Hesitantly, Hiccup moved towards the next torch; it, too, burst into flame.

Following the path, while Bert squealed every time a torch was lit, Hiccup wondered how much farther they would have to go. Suddenly, he saw a cage take shape ahead. Bert shuddered to a stop behind him, but was shoved forwards by a scowling Astrid. Trembling, he timidly tumbled forwards into the dark corner from which a menacing growl issued.

"It's okay", said Hiccup calmly. "Detach his chains from the wall and bring him to me."

Astrid smiled at him. Hiccup's heart skipped a beat, but he turned back and chose to ignore it. Terrified and timid, Bert tossed the chains toward Hiccup and cowered as far away as he could manage. "Coward", Astrid snorted with disdain.

Holding his breath, Hiccup closed his eyes and inclined his head downward, away from the Eruptadon's mighty jaws. Then, drawing an audible gasp from Bert, he extended his hand toward the creature, whose chains dangled limply from his other hand. His whole body relaxed with relief when he felt flesh the texture of rough stone touch his palm. "We're good", he proclaimed with a grin.

Grasping the chains proudly, Hiccup led the dragon gently out of the cave. He watched his friends emerge, blinking in the sunlight; then Astrid, who suddenly seemed to glow like the sunlight itself. Hiccup couldn't stop himself smiling this time. Then he paused.

"Where's Bert?"

And then Tuffnut grabbed the chains out of his hands.

Ooh, double cliffhanger! Cliffy chapters are fun, although the next I think will be my last. Hey, should I put a little more Hiccstrid development there? Like something official?

As always, review!

(Its right below these notes)

(Not too hard)

(Pleeeeease? Toothless wants you to) ;)

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