This is it the one where we have Hiccup/Shadow vs Snotlout I know you've been looking forward to this so I hope it doesn't disappoint.

Enough rambling let's get on with it.

Chapter 21 -

As he stood on a the edge contemplating everything. He had just yelled at the girl that he loves with the same venom that one of his worst enemies would receive, he just challenged his cousin to one of the most brutal fights known, as War Within Helheim is usually a fight to the death, he's to afraid to show his face to anyone and now he stands at the edge of a cliff ready to jump and end it all.

"I wouldn't think about it." A voice said behind him, "Hiccup you have too much to live for," It was his mother, Valka approached him with a worried look on her face, she was carrying her mask. Hiccup took off his and looked at her, mixed emotions of anger and sadness were clear ok his face. "This will be interesting, what exactly do I have to live for?" He asked not really caring, "Toothless needs you, I need you, this village needs you, the riders need you, Astrid needs you." She explained almost pleading, "Your decent into this darkness all started from the day you left Berk, but if it was ever truly that strong you would not of saved Dyer and Liza." She commented, "I just don't know why me though, and you say Astrid needs me, she doesn't, she loves Hiccup and I'm afraid I'm more Shadow than Hiccup now."

He sat on the edge of the cliff, his mother took a seat next to him, "You are and forever will be Hiccup, Shadow is that mask, if doesn't make you who you are" Valka explained to her son, "Something I want know, is what was that blood that was on you before you fought Dagur?" She asked , "I saved a dragon from attackers deep in the forest, the fight quick but brutal in the end, one of the lunged at the dragon and it ripped his arm off, the blood spilled around and got onto me, and that's it" Hiccup explained, "I have a question for you what does 'Life burns and falls' mean?" He asked, "How did you her of this" She asked shocked at the question ,"I found a broken sword with those words engraved into it" He explained, "Well decades ago there was a man who tried to control the dragons, and rule all he could and killed anyone who got in his was, in his own words life would burn and fall, thus all his followers had it engraved onto their weapons, many years later he disappeared and beloved to have does, but before he did, his son was born and his name was unknown, but the fathers name remains in the minds of those who met him 'Dygon'" she explained, Hiccup wanted to know more but knew his mother wouldn't go on, "You have a big day tomorrow get some rest" she said as she got up and looked away. Hiccup stayed where he was for a few more moments, he then looked at his mask "One more day!" He roared, as he clipped his mask on and stared out to the horizon.

(Au: btw I was listening to Metallica - The Memory Remains when I wrote this next part)

Snotlout looked around for his opponent, he then stared at the entrance expecting him to walk through like last time, only this time the opponent had other ideas. Suddenly a platform began to lower from the middle of the cage that loomed of the arena, due to the style of fight they had to move to another arena in which a large dome shaped cage would surround that fighters but there were no concrete walls outside the cage meaning the viewers could get as close to cage as possible. The platform got lower and a figure was visibly standing on the platform, he had his head facing down and wore a hood over his head, he had a black sleeveless tunic on, along with black hand wraps, black trousers and black leather boots. The platform had fully lowers hitting the ground and the figure stepped off, that platform raised to the air returning to the top.

"Attention this is the final contest in our tournament and will be competed as War Within Helheim," Stinger announced struggling with the last 3 words, "Everything is legal, at the fight will not end until one competitor either gives up, is knocked out or ... Killed... Ladies and Gentlemen the fighters are Snotlout of Berk " the mention of his name garnered a mixture of cheers and boos "vs..." The figure then removed his good revealing -the other fighter with a new style mask, this one was again black and still had a scratch over the left eye, but this one had red paint marked up and smaller clips to keep it in place, "Shadow of Scale Island!" Stinger announced, his name had no reaction not even a whisper.

Shadow then looked up and suddenly the dome cage began to lower. It hit the ground and both fighters glared at each other as they for closer and were now face to face, the bell tolled.

Snotlout slapped Shadow in the face, Shadows head went down, but started to rise slowly. Snotlout stepped back as he saw the eyes of the man he just slapped, it was like looking into the eyes of a dragon about to strike. Shadow tackled Snotlout and lifted him onto his shoulder and ran to the cage, Shadow then proceeded to constantly ram Snotlout into the cage with force, Snotlout kneed Shadow in the gut and started to punch Shadow in the face this caused Shadow to stumble backwards Snotlout tackled and pinned Shadow and started to wail on him with punches to the face, he even started to smash Shadow head against the concrete floor, Shadow grabbed Snotlout into a front headlock and drove his head to the floor. Snotlout got up as was dizzy from the blow, Shadow kipped up and spat blood out of his mouth, he then ran and kicked Snotlout in the face with a side kick, Snotlout feel onto a mound of dirt and saw a handle sticking out. He grabbed the handle and pulled it out, it was a small knife.

Shadow stalked Snotlout and grabbed his shoulder, he received and elbow into the gut and stumbled backwards, Snotlout turned and face Shadow who has now seen the knife in his hands, Shadow gestured for Snotlout to bring it, Snotlout began to slash at Shadow with the knife, Shadow was able to dodge all the swipes apart from the last which caught him across the chest, ripping his tunic and some skin causing him to bleed. Shadow held his chest in pain and saw Snotlout running at him knife on hand ready to stab him, Shadow leapfrogged over Snotlout who stopped in his tracks and turned to see Shadow land and sweep his leg across Snotlout's taking him to the ground. Shadow pinned Snotlout and began to punch him in the head much like Snotlout did to him, Snotlout wriggled his way out and stood up, they were both now panting and glared at each other.

They had been fighting for 10 minutes now which was double the time in Snotlouts fight vs Thuggory, the knife was lost as Shadow grabbed it and threw it out of the cage, Snotlout ran at him, Shadow jumped and grabbed onto the cage causing Snotlout to hit the cage face first, Snotlout was now bleeding under his right eye from where Shadow had punched him, and his boss was bloody mess from the same treatment. Shadow landed behind Snotlout and went to grab him but was reversedehe Snotlout grabbed his head and rammed it I into the cage and began to grind his face against it, due the the cage being made of some sort of chain the cage had large square holes but where each chain met it was a dangerous weapon. The mask was not armoured thus offered little to protection from being grinded against the cage. Snotlout the proceeded to try and to unclip the mask and reveal Shadow's face, he got one of the two clips undone but struggled with the other one. Shadow felt his mask being tampered with and struck Snotlout with a sharp elbow the gut and turned to him. As Shadow tried to adjust his mask Snotlout unloaded with a fury of punches to the face and finally a massive hook which sent Shadow to the ground.

As Shadow was getting back up with his head facing the ground his face felt light, he put a hand to touch his forehead, his mask was gone, that last punch must of knocked it off. Snotlout was at the other end of the cage celebrating while Shadow got to his feet hi hand now covering his face, he looked around for his mask. He was scurrying around and reached the edge of the cage when he saw to boots right at his face on the opposite side of the cage, he slowly got up and lifted his hand covered face look at the person in front of him. He looked at Astrid his green eyes meeting her blue ones, she held out a hand that had an object. His mask was in her hand and she was offering it to him with a smile of her face, under the palm of his hand he smiled to. As he reached to grab the mask his hand covering his face moved slightly and she looked at one of his eyes and noticed a scar over his left eye, she squinted trying to get a better look, Shadow then snatched the mask and quickly put it on hoping she never saw anything.

Snotlout had finally noticed that Shadow was up , he growled and then ran full sprint towards him to end it. Shadow stared at Astrid not saying a word, he took a deep breath and side stepped. Suddenly all Astrid could see was Snotlout's face hitting the cage, Snotlout fell to his knees, and now Shadow was in clear view, started to stamp his right foot that was placed in front of him, the crowd started to stamp their feet or began to clap on rhythm to Shadow.

Shadow pulled his right arm behind his back and aggressively clicked his neck, a dazed Snotlout began to get up and turned, Shadow ran and jumped 360 and struck Snotlout violently in the temple with his elbow as he completed the turn.

Snotlout was out cold meaning ..."Shadow is the winner!" Stinger announced proudly.

The crowd cheered for Shadow who backed up to the centre of the arena where the platform had lowered again, Shadow fell backwards onto the platform just as the cage was rising. People ran into the arena some to check on Snotlout others to Shadow, Astrid ran as fast as she could to the middle but it was too late, the platform in which Shadow was still laid out on was rising high above taking the victor to a place unknown.

I hope hope it was enjoyable and lived up to the hype!

Please review

peace out guys