Hey!

Wow. I just got back from Italy, and I'm super jet-lagged…. But I promised a chapter, so I apologize if some of this is sorta crazy… When I'm tired, my writing changes slightly, so we'll see how this goes.

Just to help you maybe understand some of the context of a few of Viggo's lines, I'd suggest rereading the last scenes of chapters 5 and 8.

Shoutouts!

wikelia: It's not a problem! Thanks! And, you find out what happens to her in this one… I agree, though. All of them are too young to die. (Even Stoick.)

Guest (#1) : Awww, thanks! Sorry I didn't update sooner. I just didn't have wifi. And I know I say this a lot, but it really means a lot to me to hear that. :D

Flopi216: Don't worry. She won't. Thank you! :)

01: Nooooo I didn't get it up very soon…. Sorry! :/ And thanks! I'm not sorry for the cliffhanger, though…. They're fun to write. :D

midnightsky0612: I think that's what we're all thinking. Even me. :)

AvaniAcrux: Don't worry. She'll be fine. I'm not a huge fan of deathfics, but I like when everyone thinks someone is dead. Thank you so much! AA I started out with this planned as a ten-chapter thing, but so much of the plot changed (as you can probably tell. Originally, chapter 5 was the climax, but then it all changed.) I'm thinking it'll be 12 chapters, but it may go to 13.

Jo: Don't you worry. Astrid is too amazing to die. :D

Azriel Night Seinara: Hey, we're all mad here. ;) Sorry it took so long. Italy's hotels' wifi is sketchy at best.

1 Fan: Yeah! I bet you can probably hear my evil laugh in the background ;) And thank you soooo much! :D

Guest (#2) : I hope this was soon enough and you aren't dead? Otherwise I can just try to shock you back to life with a plot twist, or this super awesome Hiccup/Viggo confrontation! :)

Hiccup scrambled away from Viggo, hand scrabbling for the sword he'd dropped in his surprise. His hand grazed the hilt, but he rolled the other way as Viggo's sword came down.

"NOBODY!" Viggo yelled, pulling his sword back up to bring it down again.

"BEATS!" Hiccup rolled out of the way when the sword came his way again. It sunk into the ground with a thump, but Viggo pulled it out easily.

"ME!" Thump. Pull.

Hiccup dodged the third stroke and quickly continued to his feet, using the momentum to push himself up. He danced around a quick swipe to his ribs and tried to pass behind Viggo to reach his sword, but Viggo spun to face him. The Dragon Hunter attempted to run Hiccup through, but Hiccup stepped to the left.

"Viggo!" Hiccup shouted, dodging another strike. "Stop! We don't have to solve this this way!"

"Yes, we do, Hiccup," Viggo growled. "We've both beaten each other by wits. All that remains is strength."

Hiccup managed to sidestep another blow, but this time Viggo's sword skimmed his arm. Hiccup felt blood begin to flow down to his wrist as pain blossomed where his enemy's weapon had struck.

Thor, he thought. That sword is sharp.

It had barely touched his shoulder, but the cut was deep. Blood pumped steadily from the wound.

He jumped back from another swordstroke. Just before he reached his sword, Viggo swung down at his head.

Hiccup knew Viggo was trying to block him from getting a weapon. If the past three minutes had taught him anything, it was that he wouldn't get to his sword without being decapitated or impaled in the process.

So, he'd just have to find another way.

"Viggo, you shouldn't be doing this," Hiccup said, deciding to try and talk his way out. That strategy had worked for him many times in a tricky situation.

"And why," Viggo panted, swinging his sword again, even more powerfully, "is that, Hiccup Haddock? After all we've been through? After all the destruction we've caused each other?"

Hiccup ducked under another swing. "No, but because it's in your best interests."

Viggo's brow furrowed as he considered Hiccup's words. "I don't understand. Do explain how killing you won't be good for me."

"Well, Viggo, as I recall, you were sort of stabbed the other day. You don't want to reopen the wound, because then you might actually die. And I think staying alive is one of the best interests there is," explained Hiccup.

Viggo considered this for a moment, sweat dripping, but continued his attack. "And who was it that stabbed me? You. I think it's good to stop my almost-murderer, don't you?"

Hiccup laughed. "I almost killed you only after you poisoned me and were about to kill Astrid. In retaliation, I could have killed you and said 'I think it's good to stop my almost murderer.'" Hiccup edged his way around Viggo as he spoke. "But I didn't."

"Au contraire! You tried to kill me!" Viggo exclaimed pridefully. "Just because I didn't die doesn't mean you didn't intend to."

"Ditto, Viggo. But the difference between us is that I actually didn't try to kill you. I put my dagger where I knew it would harm you and take you out of the picture momentarily, but killing you was never, and never will be, a part of the question."

Viggo's eyes narrowed as he studied Hiccup's face. "You've had this all planned out." It was a statement, not a question. "Ever since I poisoned you. Well, I'm sure being captured wasn't a part of the plan, but you're a smart boy. You'd have a new plan soon enough."

"It's taken you this long to realize it?" Hiccup smiled. "Of course I had it planned."

Liar.

He'd never planned to stab Viggo. He'd never planned anything. But Viggo had had Astrid and was about to hurt her… He'd nearly killed Heather, and he'd played with the riders like they were trapped mice and he was a cat. Not to mention how he'd treated dragons…

Hiccup was improvising. Better to let the enemy think you have a plan and not have one than to let them know you don't, he thought as he danced around Viggo's sword point. He bent over, reaching for the sword…

Then stood straight and parried the blow that would have cleaved him in half.

The two foes stood still for a second, swords locked. Hiccup's on the bottom, Viggo's on top. Hiccup glared at Viggo, and Viggo returned his gaze, steely eyes studying Hiccup's.

Then Viggo drew back his sword. Their eye contact never broke, however, both completely focused on defeating the other.

And so the battle began.

Hooligan fighting hunter, good against evil.

Hiccup versus Viggo.

It was all a blur in Hiccup's mind. He parried, thrusted, dodged, and swung till he was out of breath and his arm had grown tired. Then he heard it.

A scream.

More importantly, Astrid's scream.

It pierced through his focus like a knife through yak butter. His eyes widened and his sword dropped as he glanced at the direction of the sound.

Astrid.

He'd never heard her scream before, not even when she fell off Stormfly a few years ago and broke her leg and a few ribs after her dragon scrambled to catch her. Something bad had to be happening to her.

Viggo took advantage of Hiccup's distraction and flicked Hiccup's sword out of his grip.

And just like that, it was over. Viggo had Hiccup at swordpoint.

"Pieces, as with people, should be expendable, Hiccup. I've told you that before, yet you didn't listen. She's going to die now, and it's all your fault," Viggo taunted.

"No," Hiccup whispered.

"Oh, yes. But it doesn't really matter, because you'll be together in Valhalla soon."

Time slowed as Viggo drew back his sword.

"It was her you were fighting for, am I wrong?" Viggo asked, unable to resist taunting Hiccup further. "And look where that got you. I understand love, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock, contrary to what you believe. I understand its ways of destroying you. One of the most dangerous things you can do is fall in love. Because love—true love—cannot be hidden and is only used against you. You were just setting yourself up for defeat."

Hiccup's shoulders slumped the tiniest bit with a small sigh of resignation.

"The day I poisoned you, I promised myself you would die, either by poison or my own sword. I guess I was right. Good-bye, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock. Though I must say, well done. Nobody has ever gotten as far as you have."

And Viggo's sword started a long swing, in an arc headed right for Hiccup's chest…

But the dragon hunter was knocked aside at the last minute by a dark blur.

Hiccup reeled backwards in surprise and confusion. He glanced over to see Toothless on top of Viggo and growling ferociously at his unmoving enemy.

"Toothless…" Hiccup called breathlessly, stunned and confused.

Toothless roared and ran over, trying to push Hiccup to his feet.

"Thanks, bud," Hiccup said after he had stood up. "I'll be fine in a minute. Just got the wind knocked out of me…." He trailed off as he saw Viggo, lying on the ground a few feet away.

Viggo was limp and unmoving. An ominous red stain was forming on his clothes where Hiccup had wounded him days before.

He was unconscious… or dead.

Hiccup didn't really want to know.

Astrid.

Hiccup jerked to his senses and mounted Toothless, ignoring the pain in his arm. He could tend to the injury later.

He had to make sure Astrid was okay.

Viggo was right. It was all his fault.

Without Hiccup, Astrid never would have come here. She'd be at Berk, sharpening an axe or sparring with Snotlout.

He had to make sure Astrid was okay.

Because he just couldn't lose her.

And it was

All

His

Fault.

"Yaknog!"

Heather's call rang out across the battlefield.

To an onlooker or one of the Dragon Hunters, it seemed Heather's call was plain gibberish. In reality, her frantic call of, "Yaknog! Yaknog!" Was a previously established signal among the riders. It meant to meet together where the caller was. ("To confuse our enemies," Tuffnut had said. "They'll just think we're crazy holiday drink enthusiasts.")

It was a good idea to use a code, Heather would admit, because otherwise the Hunters would know what they were doing if they just shouted, "Regroup, regroup!"

Regardless, she still felt ridiculous shouting the name of the viking's festive drink at the top of her lungs.

Heather made the call, because from what she saw, Hiccup had been putting something into Stormfly's saddlebag… Was that the Dragoneye?

She shook her head. That wasn't important right now. What was important was somehow getting everyone out of this mess. Alive.

The first to join her in head-bashing their enemies were Ruffnut and Tuffnut. They had, by now, run out of SCWOD's, and were resorting to trickery and teaming up to defeat the Hunters. Heather had watched them for a minute during the battle, and it surprised her how much destruction they were wreaking.

"Wow, you two are quite the destroying team," she remarked, kicking away a Berserk after they had joined her.

"It's a part of the secret twin contract, H," Tuffnut answered.

"Tuffnut!" Ruffnut exclaimed. "Nobody's supposed to know about the secret twin contract!"

Tuffnut's eyes widened. "You're right, sis! What kind of twin am I?" Tuffnut asked, looking dejected. "I can't even keep the secret contract secret."

By then Snotlout had joined them, Hookfang lit on fire behind him. "Somebody remind me why we came here," he complained as a Dragon Hunter tried to shoot him with an arrow. "Because we're certainly welcome here!"

"And ten points from team Snotfang for the sarcasm!" Ruffnut shouted. "You have negative ten points, team Snotfang!"

"Wh… What? What's this points system, and why do I lose points for sarcasm?" An incredulous Snotlout inquired. "If anything I should gain points for sarcasm."

Ruffnut and Tuffnut considered this for a minute as Barf and Belch covered them.

"It's some silly point thing they're doing during the battle, Snotlout. For acts of bravery you get points. I honestly don't get it, but…" Heather explained.

"The great council of Nut has decided… Sarcasm shall, from now on, be a point-gaining factor! I mean, I can't just ignore what my brother-in-mischief says" Tuffnut proclaimed.

"Focus, people!" Heather said. "Where's Astrid?"

Suddenly, out of nowhere, they heard a scream. All the fighting momentarily froze and then resumed a second later.

"Astrid!" Heather shouted again. "Where is she?"

She pushed Snotlout out of the way, Windshear following in her wake. She caught sight of a sword being raised in the air, higher and higher….

Heather pushed away one last enemy, casually knocking him out in the process, and finally saw Astrid. She was on the ground, trying to stand, but it looked like her leg wouldn't support her. Ryker had his sword raised, ready for the kill…

His sword started to fall.

"No!" Heather yelled. But she was too far. She looked around desperately, trying to find something to stop that sword.

Nothing.

Heather took a look at her axe, shrugged, and threw it as hard as she could.

Heather almost couldn't watch her axe spin across the air, terrified of the outcome if she missed. She was convinced she had missed; at that distance and that speed?

An impossible shot.

Ryker yelped in surprise as his sword suddenly disappeared from his grasp. Heather stared in wonder. He saw Heather's signature double-bladed axe sink into the ground and his eyes sought her out amongst the chaos.

When he finally found her and met her gaze, she had already signaled to Windshear and her dragon was retrieving her weapon. Ryker's eyes narrowed and he strode over to where Heather was standing, grabbing a sword from one of his men along the way.

"Heather, no!" Astrid exclaimed.

Heather ignored her.

Ryker's eyes narrowed. "You," he spat.

Heather caught her axe out of the air when Windshear tossed it to her. "Yes. Me."

Ryker shook his head in disgust. "Traitor."

Heather raised an eyebrow and lunged. She really had no response to that.

Dagur was enjoying himself.

It was always fun to watch the senseless destruction of somebody else's camp.

He wasn't fighting with his men. He was calmly relaxing in Viggo's tent, peering out through a gap.

"Ohhhh!" He laughed when he saw Astrid's perilous situation. "I never really liked her."

Then an axe knocked the sword out of the way.

Dagur jolted as he realized it was his sister's axe.

Heather was here? Oh, boy. What fun!

He smiled and grabbed his own axe from the table next to him.

Dagur watched the fight for a while. Then he realized Heather was losing.

"Come on, sister! You're really giving the family a bad name!" He called out. But then Ryker brought his sword up and down and Heather's axe was split in half, the handle turned to shards.

Nobody would be able to wield that axe again. It was practically just two blades without handles.

As Dagur watched, Ryker raised his sword, for the second time that day, to kill Heather.

Wait.

That was his sister.

And Ryker was going to kill her?

Dagur thought back to his conversation with Hiccup.

"He has no respect for you."

The more Dagur thought about it, the more Hiccup's words rang with truth. Viggo never let Dagur do his own thing.

Ah, for it to be the good days when it was just him and Hiccup.

This was one of those times Dagur surprised himself. He wanted it to just be him and Hiccup, no Viggo with his overcomplicated plans and disrespect. Dagur seethed at the thought of it,

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend, right?"

Dagur grinned.

He and Hiccup could be back at it again. Just the two of them. If…

Ryker's sword began its downward arc.

It was now or never for the Berserker chief. Save his sister…. Or work with that annoying Viggo and his dull brother.

Dagur shot out of the tent, axe raised. He knocked Ryker's sword out of the way.

"Nobody… Touches… My… Sister!" He exclaimed, fiercely attacking Ryker.

The Berserkers froze at the sound of their chief.

"Uh… What does this mean?" asked a Berserk soldier.

Savage shrugged. "I guess we're helping the Berkians defeat Viggo's forces?" Savage suggested.

The rest of Dagur's soldiers shrugged and began attacking the Dragon Hunters.

The tides had turned.

Shoutout if you got the reference to the books! (Which, I actually finished on the plane today… I was freaking out and nobody cared. Such is the life of a fanatic.)

Also a reminder I'm still taking requests. Guidelines are on chapter 8.

Thanks for reading! Tell me what you think!

-bananablight