Soooo...welcome to the insanity! :) This is my FIRST update today, sorry for taking so long. Anywho, shout-outs:

Guest: Yep, geniuses! :D

Jesusfreak: Haha! Yeah, I know what you mean. And I got the vote! "It Comes At Night" and "Remember Me" are battling for first place. :) When I finish this fanfic, I'm going to write an A/N with the final results. :) And no, I don't have a tumblr account, but I have a pinterest account (my name on there is the same one as on here). :)

Wanli8970: AAAAAAHHH! I'LL KILL YOU, DRAGO! YOU BASTARD! TAKE THEM DOWN, HOOLIGANS! ALL OF THEM! SAVE YOUR CHIEF! :D

freyathefearless: The picture is from a new short film called "Dawn of the Dragon Racers." I haven't seen it yet, though. I just know where the profile pic came from. :) Yep, not too late! Your votes have been filed in! At the end of this fic, I will write an A/N with the FINAL results, along with the story I will write next. So I guess we'll have to wait and see which one wins! :)

AnimeAngel: Aha! Brilliant idea! I'll add that to my list of suggestions. I'm thinking it would be called "Guilt", but if you have a set title in mind, go ahead. And...OOOOOH! LATTE! *takes it gratefully* I LOVE LATTES! :D XD Free virtual popcorn for you! *tosses you bag*

xFaerieValkyriex: Worse worse worse worse worse...

After the meeting broke on that positive note, Snotlout pulled me aside, which was strange for him. After making sure no one else was looking, he addressed me.

"Look, Astrid," he started, "I wanted to say thank you."

Okay. Now that was really strange. "What do you mean?" I ventured.

"I mean," said Snotlout, "for taking charge. For...for leading us. We need a leader."

"We all do," I said, "but don't thank me yet."

"I have to," said Snotlout. "I'm...I'm...ahh, don't tell Hiccup I said this."

I could only imagine how much Hiccup would not care about what Snotlout had to say right now. He could barely keep his eyes open for more than fifteen seconds at this present time.

"But I'm terrified," said Snotlout. "I know it sounds strange, coming from me."

"Um...yeah, it kinda does, actually," I said.

"Well, I really needed someone just to show leadership to us," said Snotlout. "What you said...we all needed that at that point. We needed to see someone lead us in a calm fashion..."

"I am anything BUT calm right now," I admitted.

"Of course you're not," said Snotlout. "You're still human. We're all on edge. All terrified. All anything but calm. But the fact that you stepped up and didn't show it...that's what we needed." He put a hand on my shoulder. "Thanks," he said, and then, before I could say another word, turned and ran off to help make some poisons.

I was flabberghasted. That was weird. But I guess Snotlout really did care, of course. After all, he was still human, too.

I headed off to the Great Hall just to see how Hiccup was doing, and to talk to Valka a little bit, tell her of our plans, ask her for some poisoning tips. When I opened the door, I decided maybe it would be a good idea NOT to talk anymore about poisons.

Nothing changed much about the scene, except now there was only one healer instead of multiple ones. She was sitting across from Valka, Hiccup laying pale, feverish, shivering and unconscious in between them.

"Nothing's working," I heard a healer say to Valka. "The poison's killing him. I don't think he's going to make it..."

"Don't talk like that!" said Valka. Although I knew it was meant to come out strong and snappy, it came out as a pleading whimper. "Please don't talk like that," Valka begged, choking on her tears.

The healer looked to me. She knew Hiccup and I were friends, of course (well, everyone did). She stood up quietly and made her way over to me.

"How...how is he?" I managed.

"Bad," said the healer, glancing back at Valka and her son before turning back to me. "He's not going to make it," she said in a whisper. "The poison's too strong. There's...there's nothing we can do."

I gasped, tears spilling down my cheeks. "Nothing?" I asked. "I refuse to believe there's nothing we can do."

"Miss Hofferson, are you an expert at healing?" she asked me.

I wanted to say "YES I AM AND I KNOW HE'LL LIVE", but it would have been a lie.

In defeat, I shook my head, still crying.

"I know you're not," the healer said softly. "But I am. The poison, it's...it's unlike anything I've ever seen before."

"Then how can you say for certain he won't live?" I almost snarled on accident.

"Because I am a healer," she replied coolly. "I know these things."

"You don't know everything," I hissed. "You can't say that you do."

"I'm not claiming I do," said the healer.

"Then stop trying to," I said. "There could be a cure."

"Miss Hofferson, even if we do find a cure, he is still gravely injured," said the healer, her tone starting to raise in anger. "The stab wound is infected, and still hasn't sealed yet. If by some miracle there was a cure for this poison, it's only one of our many problems."

"There has to be something," I said. "I won't stand around and let you tell me there is no hope."

"There IS no hope!" said the healer as loud as she dared.

"THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE!" I shouted on accident. Many of the healers turned to me. Valka hadn't, but I could tell she was listening.

The healer stepped forward. For about two seconds, I was afraid I had stepped over the line. But then those two seconds passed, and I was filled with rage towards the healer.

"Really, Astrid!?" she hissed, jabbing a finger at me. "WHERE WAS HOPE, every time another Hooligan was hurt!? WHERE WAS HOPE when our leader was STABBED, and POISONED!? WHERE WAS HOPE, when EACH and EVERY cease fire we formed temporarily broke!? WHERE WAS HOPE THEN, ASTRID HOFFERSON!?

"MAYBE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE, TO BRING IT TO LIGHT!" I shouted. One of the healers shouted "YEAH!", clapped her hands once, and then quickly shushed herself when she realized everyone was staring at her. "Did you ever think of that?" I asked in a much colder and harsher tone.

With that, I turned on my heels and stormed out of the Great Hall.

I heard footsteps follow me out, and I expected it was going to be the healer coming to give me a snappy reply, but instead, it was Valka.

Before I could ask her what she was doing, she tossed her arms around me and hugged me. I didn't know what I said to make her do that, but I hugged her back nonetheless. When we pulled back, I decided to ask what had gotten into her.

"What was that for?" I asked, my tone sweet and in awe.

"I needed that," said Valka. "I was just ready to...to say there wasn't any hope." She frowned, tears once again falling down her face. "But no matter what happens," said Valka, "there is always hope. You were right. I'm not getting my hopes up..." she went on, hesitating. "...but it's reassuring to know that not everyone has given up."

"As soon as the battle's over," I asked, "please, someone fire that healer."

Valka offered a weak smile before heading back into the Great Hall. As she did, the healer who was arguing with me stepped out, glared at me, and then stormed off in the opposite direction.

I didn't even ask where she was going. Since she was out, I thought maybe I could go see Hiccup.

And so, naturally, that's exactly what I did.