A/N: Ello' my lovely reviewers! You guys make me feel so durn special! Sorry to leave you hanging on the last chapter, but I promised myself I will not move from this spot until I have this chapter done! Unless I have to go to the bathroom, then you must wait ;)

Disclaimer: I owned HTTYD once. Then I woke up.

Chapter 10

A Watery Grave

Water is not a cushion. It knocked the breath out of me when I was forced under it. The cold stung every inch of my body, it felt like hands were clawing and pulling me farther down. Determined, I shot back out of the water. The metal prosthetic still weighed me down, but I did my best to float.

I saw no sky. Just a wooden canopy over top of us, making it impossibly dark. My eyes adjusted to the black, and I took in my surroundings. Alvin was at one end of the ship, trying to hold it up and keep it from sinking all the way. Astrid was at the other end doing the same. Someone was missing.

"Astrid!" I screamed. Her eyes flew to me, panicked and scared. She was breathing heavily, and it took her a couple of tries to reply.

"H-Hiccup!" she paused, trying to catch her breath. "He-he's under the water!"

My eyes widened. I gave up trying to keep my head above the water. I was exhausted, being with only one leg and arm to tread the icy-waters. I slowly let myself sink, knowing what to do.

My eyes flashed opened. I did my best to ignore the urge to shut them; the salt in the water felt like tons of needles just poking at my eyes. I frantically turned this way and that, searching for the dragon. I nearly lost my breath from the panic when I couldn't see him anywhere. I resisted the impulse to shout his name, knowing that would do us no good anyway. My grip on the knife I still held tightened, and I nearly lost all hope.

Something red caught my eye.

I whipped my still-sinking body that way, full of hope. I nearly cried from relief when I saw Toothless's tail fin, and him still in the net. Gathering up my strength, I rapidly angled myself toward him. I straightened my body to make my descent faster, desperate to get him free. He finally saw me, and opened his mouth as if to call. I nearly slammed into his side, making us both sink faster. I grasped the ropes, now falling with him.

I sawed at them with the knife, determined as ever. My lungs wanted to burst. They were crying and screaming in pain, begging for sweet oxygen. My vision was becoming fuzzy, a black frame now outlined any images. It was when I heard the final snap of the last rope being cut, and I saw the net fall to the watery depths, that I closed my eyes and gave up.

Next thing I was aware of I was above the water, sputtering and coughing up salt-water. I breathed heavily, wolfing down any air that entered my mouth. I heard a coo below me, and I looked down to see myself draped over Toothless's neck once again. I smiled broadly, scratching the dragon behind his ear.

"Déjà vu', huh buddy?" I said, earning another coo in return. I breathed out a chuckle, laying my head against the warm flank begging for sleep. I was drained, I wished for nothing more than to nap and gain back some energy.

"Yes, sorry to ruin the moment, but we're still trapped under a boat, filthy-child!"

I raised my head, glaring at Alvin. I heard Toothless growl, and I felt him move toward Alvin. I petted him, trying to calm him down, although I really didn't care if Alvin lost that other hand. Toothless jerked his head up, forcing my hand to stop petting him, and never leaving his warning-stare off Alvin, swam over to Astrid.

She was pale-white, almost blue because of the freezing water. She appeared weak and tired, not like the Astrid I knew. My face fell, not liking the way she was looking. Toothless started to pull at her shirt, insisting she grab onto his neck or back.

"Toothless," she took a deep breath, "stop! We have to keep the boat up!" she complained, shoving his snout away from her. He growled, frustrated. He looked at me, then gestured with his head under that water like he wanted to show me something. I slowly looked towards Astrid, still baffled.

"Astrid, I," I paused, still confused, "I think he may want to show us something." She looked at me, then at the anxious dragon. Toothless crooned to her. Her face softened, and she reluctantly grabbed onto the other side of Toothless's neck.

Toothless was about to take off, when I stopped him. I looked back at Alvin, who was now blue and getting tired. I knew that if we left him he would die. But why did I care? He was going to kill me, let me die! But that was the point exactly. Was, was I going to stoop to Alvin's level, and be no different than he? I didn't kill Toothless or let him die when I first met him, despite how my tribe loathed him.

I narrowed my eyes, annoyed with the fact I couldn't kill anything or anybody.

"Come here Alvin. Grab onto Toothless," I commanded. Alvin looked at me, face twisted in shock.

Astrid stared at me, mouth gaping, words totally lost. Toothless's eyes broadened, but then slowly drifted to a glare and he growled a complaint to me. I stared back at him, hard. Not letting the firm glare falter in the slightest. His eyes widened again, and his mouth went slack in shock when he saw I was dead serious. Alvin started to move towards me, and that's when Astrid complained.

"NO! You STAY AWAY!" she hissed, then directed her glowering stare to me. "Hiccup! I swear on Odin's name, have you gone MAD! He tried to kill you, he was going to slit your gods forsaken throat! He is going nowhere near you, he deserves to drown!"

"Astrid, we're not stooping to his level or we'll be no better than him!" I protested.

"I DON'T CARE! Hiccup, if you think-!"

"ASTRID!" I interrupted. She automatically shut her mouth, shocked at how stern I was. I looked at her apologetically, regretting how I had yelled at her. But we had no time for that. I looked toward Alvin, and beckoned for him to come here. He slowly inched his way towards us, hands still holding up the ship to keep an air-pocket. Alvin never peeled his eyes off Astrid or I, but slowly grabbed onto Toothless's back. Toothless shot a quick look at me, snorting. I kept the firm look, but raised my eye brows at him, pressing my lips in a strong line. He snorted once more, rolling his eyes. Toothless straightened his shoulders, and with a determined gleam in his eyes shot under the water.

We were moving at such a speed I could barely even keep my eyes open. The ship loomed over us, racing to the bottom. It nearly crushed us. Toothless with a bolt of speed raced out from under the boat, just seconds before it sunk all the way, and we would've been goners. Never letting his speed slow, Toothless continued shooting through the water with a path of complicated twists and turns. Finally, I saw a candle-light beam of light.

It was coming through a hole in the rock just meters in front of us. The hole was barley large enough to fit Toothless and all of us through. Toothless swam through a narrow tunnel, and just when I thought I would black-out again we shot out of the water. All gasped for air, trying to relieve the sting in our throats. We were in an under-water cavern. It was absolutely huge, and breath-taking. It reminded me a lot of the gorge.

After catching his breath, Toothless swam to the side of the pool so we could climb on land. Astrid helped me up because of my arm, and I was followed closely by Toothless. He leapt out of the water, shaking any water still on his scales. Astrid and I were sitting on the ground, still trying to catch our breaths. Alvin was across from us, doing the same. Astrid still kept a hateful glare at him, ready to cut his head off if he tried anything. Toothless growled at him, promptly setting himself in front of me to separate Alvin and I. Alvin scoffed, and rolled his eyes.

"That beast is awfully protective," he commented.

"Yeah, well he has every right to be," Astrid retorted.

"Both of you hush," I ordered, getting aggravated. The both automatically glared at me, and I glared right back. I looked at Astrid, and let my eyes slowly form an apologetic look to her. Her glare eased, and she gave me the same apologetic look back. I sighed, and looked around the giant cavern.

It was all rock, and it looked like it could lead on for days. The rock was a dull grey, rough and jagged along the edges. The only sign that life would dwell here was the pool of water, other than that it was too dark. I heaved another sigh.

"How do we get out?" I mumbled. Astrid then took a look around, too. She gave a similar sigh to me when she also saw no exit. Toothless then perked up, sniffing the air. I eyed him curiously, half expecting him to sneeze, but he didn't. Instead he stood up, his eyes lighting up. He looked at me, giving a gummy-smile, and bounded farther down into the cave.

"Well, your beast has finally abandoned you. What do you do now, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the III?" Alvin mocked.

"Alvin, I said hush! You're lucky I didn't let you drown. You should be grateful!" I spat.

"HA! Trust me that was a giant surprise. I was ready to drown, but you just insisted I come with you, so I did. Cause trust me, right now there is nothing more I want to do than slit your throat and lick the blood off my knife!" he snarled.

"Touch him I'm afraid there will be a peeved Night Fury ready to rip you limb from limb, burn you, and dance on the ashes. So watch it Outcast!" Astrid growled.

Alvin growled at her. He began to stand up, his one hand on his sword ready to duel. Luckily Toothless came running back, sprinting between Astrid and Alvin, separating the two. He growled a warning at the Outcast. Alvin backed off, releasing his sword and hooking it back on his belt. Toothless then looked at me, not moving himself from where he stood, and gestured with his head down the cave.

"What is it buddy?" I asked, walking towards the Night Fury. He kept looking between me and down the cavern, and eventually becoming annoyed started to tug on my shirt. I gave in, and we all three followed him down into the cave.

The path got narrower and narrower along the way. It also got dimmer. There was a point where I found it hard to see my hand in front of my face. The only thing lighting our way was Toothless's eyes, which luckily glowed in the dark. It was almost scary, though. Toothless's sleek black form was hidden in the shadows, you could only see a greenish light drifting from his eyes. I've never been scared of the dark: just what waits in the dark.

I clenched my hands into fists, ignoring the voices in my head telling me to go back. Toothless then stopped, nosing a section of rock. I looked at him, confused. He chirped to me. "What is it buddy?" I whispered, limping over to him. He kept nosing the door, making squawking sounds. I stared at him curiously. "What?" He sighed. He gently bit down on my wrist with his gums; I backed up a little frightened. He rolled his eyes, and shook his head. Trusting him, he guided my hand to the wall of rock. At least I thought it was rock. Toothless let go of my wrist; and my breath caught from shock.

It wasn't rock at all. It was wood. It was a door.

I delicately glided my fingers up and down, not believing what I was feeling. I slowly felt my lips emerge into a crooked smile.

"What is it?" Astrid asked quietly behind me.

I chuckled a little. "It's a door."

"A what?" Astrid replied. Both Alvin and Astrid came beside me, and hesitantly touched the door. I heard both gasp, and all together we pulled away rock and dirt that had been covering it, so you could now clearly tell it was a door. At the sight, my eyes widened, no believing what I was seeing.

Written on the door, in a dark red, was this:

Do Not Open This Door

Unless you are the true Heir to Grimbeard the Ghastly

Death will follow those who are disobedient

And right under it, drawn in what was once blood, was a skull. Death's head.

I was trembling now. My eyes were bulging, my mouth had gone totally slack. If we had already found the treasure; what was this here?

Alvin kept his hand on the door. I watched his fingers slowly curl, and I looked at his face. A shadow of evil was playing on his features, his eyes were bulging with maliciousness and almost pride. He turned to me, that same smile of sick pleasure was back.

"Open the door."

I looked at him hard, yet confused at the same time. "No. We don't know what's behind it," I could feel my voice quiver, because I had a pretty good idea what was behind it.

"Oh, but you do," he advanced toward me, "it's the treasure. It's the treasure, and you know it, boy!"

I started hyperventilating, backing up against the door as he got closer. "But, but we already found the treasure! It, it's back with the rest of the Vikings, remember! I-I-," I started to stutter.

Alvin whipped out his sword, he laid the sharp blade across my neck, pinning me to the door. Toothless roared, ready to pounce on Alvin, but he stopped him.

"Any of you move an inch and the sword goes right across his neck!" Nobody moved. Astrid was trembling from fear and anger, Toothless kept his position growling. Alvin looked at the dragon, then smiled evilly. He tensed his arm, and slid the blade ever so gently across my neck a bit. But that's all it took. I gasped in pain, feeling just a little bit of blood trickle down my neck, but not enough to kill me. My breathing got rasp, and Toothless locked eyes with me. They were full of sorrow and hopeless-ness. He forced himself to calm down, keeping a hateful stare on Alvin. Alvin cackled evilly. "I knew you would think otherwise Night Fury. Now, Hiccup lad. You know the treasures beyond that door."

"No I don't," I choked out.

"Yes you do. Didn't we just dare a watery grave?" he asked, pausing like he was expecting an answer. He laughed again. "And what's that I see on the door there? Death's head! Your beast found it. You are the true heir to Grimbeard the Ghastly, and you are the only one who can open that door!"

I immediately began to protest. "No I'm not! Snotlout is! I'm, I'm not fit to be heir! I can't be! Everyone's told me that since day one, and I've forever wanted to prove to them that I can be! Now when I don't want to be, you're telling me I am! I'm not the heir, I'm not the heir!" I started to say it to myself more.

"I don't care child! Your beast found it, and you ARE the HEIR! Now open the gods cursed door or this sword is going right across your neck, and possibly your friend's over there!"

I pressed my lips in a hard line. "Fine. But you have to promise no one gets hurt if I do!"

Alvin then smiled. "Promise. Cross my heart," he said, making an x over his heart with his hook. I scowled at him. He smiled mocking-ly, before lifting the sword off my neck. I breathed in with relief, but he still kept it pointed at my chest. I gradually turned myself around. I stared at the door for a few seconds, trying to think of any way out of this. But I couldn't come up with it. A quick jab to the back with Alvin's sword brought me back to reality. Ever so gently, I eased the door open.

And all our mouths dropped.

Astrid, Alvin, and I all peered in. In the doors was mounds upon mounds of gold and coin. Jewels, necklaces, you name it. It was a giant room filled with treasure. Piled to the top with the stuff. We all slowly trudged in, amazed. Astrid and I stood in front of Alvin, barely able to take it all in. Then I heard a door slam. And a Night Fury yell in rage, before it clawed at the other side of the door.

My eyes widened, and I whipped around to see the door closed, but no Night Fury. Alvin had his sword pointed to me, eyes gleaming and laughing. I could hear Toothless on the other side of the door, running himself against it and clawing at it, but nothing worked.

My mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water's, totally taken off guard. "Y-You promised no one would get hurt!" I screamed outraged.

"Oh, I did boy! But I keep promises to myself first!" I slowly started to back away, but the point on Alvin's sword followed my every move. I looked at Alvin confused. He cackled once again, enjoying himself. "When that coffin took my hand, I promised I'd make Grimbeard pay! I promised myself I'd find that treasure, just to prove Grimbeard wrong, and kill and descendants! Especially his so-called 'true heir'!" He swiped at my chest, and I barely maneuvered out of the way. "Besides," he said, swiping again, "I have no heart."

Alvin advanced on me, swiping his sword back and forth at me. I ducked and dodged, but despite my efforts he ended up piercing my chest. I fell to the ground, clutching at the scrape. I could feel it throbbing. I knew there would be a scar. My back was on the floor, my whole body moving up and down rapidly as I tried to breathe. Alvin just came closer and closer, the sword pointed at me. I reluctantly took my hand off the wound, and tried to sit myself up to defend myself. Alvin slammed his boot on my dislocated shoulder, shoving me back down to the earth. I screamed in pain, earning a cackle from Alvin. I heard Toothless roar outside the door, and all I could do was stare up helpless-ly at Alvin. "Finally." I heard him mutter, and he raised the sword high above his head.

I turned my head, ready for the blow, but someone called my name.

"Hiccup!" I turned to see Astrid with a sword. She tossed it to me, and I jolted up before Alvin could shove me back down to catch it. It landed in my left hand. Alvin yelled in rage, and brought the sword down. I barely held up my own weapon in time to meet his. The swords clanged together, forming a horrible sound of metal on metal. Alvin barred his teeth, pushing harder against his sword to make me fall back over. I nearly did. But one good swipe at his ankle with my metal prosthetic and he was the one on the ground.

I scrambled back up, slipping on coins as I tried to run away. Alvin was up before I knew it, charging at me. He quickly caught up, swinging madly back and forth. Of course I dodged and ducked, maneuvering this way and that, but I was getting tired. I couldn't keep up! "Dodging isn't going to be enough boy! And frankly you'll kill yourself trying to swing!" Alvin mocked.

"Hiccup! You have to swing!" I heard Astrid encourage.

"But I can't!" I whined pathetically, dodging another one of Alvin's blows.

"YOU HAVE TO TRY!"

I huffed, determined. I gathered any strength I had left, and prayed to the gods to be with me, just this once! Alvin swiped at my head, and I ducked. I shot back up, swinging for Alvin's arm.

I heard a yowl of pain, and to my surprise Alvin backed up clutching the upper part of his arm. I saw blood run down his arm like a river, and my eyes widened in surprise. I had actually hit him. I had actually hit him!

"Hiccup, Hiccup you hit him!" I heard Astrid yell.

I almost laughed. I actually swung right! But, but what was so different this time that abled me to swing? I looked down at the hand holding the sword, and it dawned on me. I was using my left hand. All those other times, I had used my right. But I couldn't use my right this time, so I used my left. And there's the solution: I was left handed! Of course one of the simplest answers to one of my biggest problems!

Alvin now directed his attention toward me. "But, but how did you-," he whispered, shocked. He then snarled and charged at me full-force. I lashed out my sword, parrying blows he threw at me. We took turns swinging now, both parrying and dodging out of the way. Something hit Alvin in the head, and his hand flew up to where the object had struck him. Another hit him. It was a coin. We both took a quick look at to where the objects were coming from, and saw Astrid throwing anything at him she could get her hands on.

"Oh, that's not fair now is it? Two against one? What you can't handle this by yourself, Hiccup?" Alvin asked, pausing his swings for the slightest bit. I narrowed my eyes, and swung at his chest. He dodged quickly, and we were swinging back and forth again. Astrid threw another coin.

"Astrid, it's ok! I can handle this!" I shouted to her.

She nearly laughed, but not to mock. More in disbelief. "You can handle this? Hiccup are you serious!" she shouted back, mad at my behavior.

Alvin and I took another round at swinging at each other, and I blocked one of his blows with my sword. With one hard push, I had Alvin on the ground. I turned back to Astrid, "YES!" I shouted. Her mouth was once again gaping, if she was mad or shocked I would never know. But I couldn't worry about it. Alvin was up before I knew it, screaming a war cry and bounding toward me. I swung to meet his blade, cringing at the sound it made as the glided across each other. Alvin was swinging up and down madly, me barely able to parry each blow. But then I saw what he was doing. He was trying to trap me against a wall. I looked around frantically, trying to come up with something to help me. In desperation, I jumped to the side. I started to walk sideways away from the wall, but I tripped. My head hit hard against the stone ground, I looked up anger-ly to see what had tripped me. But when I saw it, my whole body froze in fear.

I transparent tentacle was under my foot. I stuttered, shocked. Then the tentacle shot away, as if it knew it had been discovered. I yelped, surprised when it had moved. My attention was turned away when Alvin started cackling again. I jerked my head up, not knowing what to do. Alvin just slowly shook his head, as if disappointed, and raised the blade above his right shoulder to swipe at me for one final time.

I was about to fight back, but froze instead. Behind Alvin, was the transparent tentacle. It moved around playfully, almost uncontrollably. Alvin didn't even know it was there.

"A-A-Alvin! There's there's!"

He flared at me, outraged. "WHAT BOY! What can you possibly say that-," he was cut off. The tentacle had finally found him, and it quickly wrapped around. He dropped his sword, petrified. Before I could even blink, with a terrified scream Alvin was forcefully pulled back. I paused, not daring to move, I didn't even dare to breathe. Seconds passed. Then there was a blood curtailing scream of anguish. It pierced my entire body, freezing me in place. My breathing was heavy, I gripped the ground in fear. Then, from behind a mound of gold, a transparent beast slowly crawled its way into the open.

It wheezed every-time it breathed. The creature was enormous. Dare I say almost as big as the Green-Death. My breath caught as I noticed its whole entire body was see-through. And in its body was Alvin, sliding down the beast's throat. He wasn't moving, or struggling. That struck more fear into me. Every bad thought crossed my mind. I took a look at its eyes, and noticed it was blind. I never took my eyes off the creature. I ever so slowly eased backwards, trying to get as far away from the thing as possible. But then my metal leg betrayed me. It contacted with the coins on the ground, making the metal on metal noise I dreaded so much. I stopped in my tracks. The beast's ears perked up, trying to determine where the sound had come from.

It stayed like that for what felt like hours. I almost thought it was safe. But then, never moving its head, I saw the creature's eyes point directly at me.

Something warm and firm gripped my chest, squeezing the air out of me. The force was enough I couldn't breathe, and I began struggling against whatever was holding me. I looked down to see the transparent tentacle squeezing my chest. My mouth hung open, my eyes widened.

I screamed as it jerked me up into the air.

A/N: Oh my gosh. I'm so mean! I just ended it at another cliffie didn't I? I really am sorry, but my brain was screaming at me to stop there! I really was hoping for more action in this chapter, so sorry if any are disappointed. Please review, I'm afraid that there may be only two chapters left! GASP! But if enough people want me to, I will start some drabbles and the sequel (of course!). BUT, you have to review!

God Bless!

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