Author's Note:

Hello everyone and welcome to what is probably going to be the second-last chapter of this story. It's more action and fighting and even more of Snotlout being awesome which has cropped up a lot in this story. Thank you for your continued support and I hope you enjoy the chapter.

I own nothing.

Blazing Victory

Hunterbolt landed hard on the ship's deck.

The Skrill had actually managed to orient himself so that he landed beneath Snotlout cushioning the boy from serious injury but the teen was still winded. Recovering he managed to pull out the knife Culloden had given him and he quickly began cutting the rope netting that had ensnared them. Pirates began closing in on them but a sonic blast from Thornado drove them back and the captain quickly ordered his men away, "Leave them and focus on the other dragons. That boy is mine!"

They swiftly obeyed and the captain strode towards Snotlout and Hunterbolt and the boy hacked away madly with his dagger. Stoick yelled in alarm from the back of Torch, "SNOTLOUT!"

He made to fly down to help his nephew but shots from the pirates and the net launchers kept him back. As he approached his helpless foe the captain spoke in amusement, "Snotlout is it? Well I am Captain SoarBlade and mine is the last name you'll ever hear." He smiled in anticipation, "I'm going to enjoy making you suffer boy. No one gets away with making me look like a fool."

Just in time the dagger cut through the ropes and Snotlout scrambled out from the netting and faced the captain holding his dagger ready. With his rider no longer right next to him Hunterbolt summoned down a bolt of lightning from the sky and incinerated the rest of the net and stood behind the teen. Snotlout patted the Skrill's snout, "Go get those launchers Hunterbolt, I can handle this."

The Skrill growled in concern but took to the air once more and renewed his attack on the ship's weapons, SoarBlade smirked, "You may regret sending your best weapon away boy. There's no way you can defeat me with just that dagger."

Snotlout didn't answer as he readied himself and SoarBlade did likewise. After a momentary pause SoarBlade lunged and the duel started.

Snotlout dodged the blade and swiftly struck out with his dagger nicking the captain's arm, the pirate grunted in pain but quickly swung his blade up forcing the teen to jump to the side. Another quick jab scored a hit on the back of the man's hand and SoarBlade snarled before countering with another swing, Snotlout barely avoided this one and received a gash up his arm. He let out a cry at that but managed to recover and he took a step back to increase the distance between them, the captain had also moved back and he held his sword ready as he gauged his opponent. He'd been surprised by the boy's skill but he was confident he could win, Snotlout for his part could tell the man was far better trained than he was and he knew he wouldn't last much longer. A roar from above attracted his attention and he saw Hunterbolt circling above, an idea came to him and he hoped the few vocal commands he'd taught the Skrill on the fast flight back would suffice. SoarBlade took advantage of his brief shift of focus and he moved swiftly forward, Snotlout saw him coming just in time and he smartly sidestepped the stab and dodged behind the captain and delivered him a swift cut down the back. The pirate roared in pain and anger and he viciously spun trying to take the teen's head off, Snotlout had long since moved back and he hopped backwards towards the ship's side yelling as he went, "HUNTERBOLT! STORM BLAST!"

The Skrill roared in response and dived towards the ship, SoarBlade didn't care and charged at Snotlout roaring in rage, "I'LL KILL YOU! YOU LITTLE BRAT!"

Snotlout jumped onto the ship's side rail ready to leap off as Hunterbolt landed on the centre of the deck sending tremors throughout the ship, SoarBlade launched himself at Snotlout just as the Skrill gave a mighty roar and blasted a wave of lightning across the entire ship felling everything in its path. The energy surged across the deck decimating launchers, weapons and pirates creating a huge shockwave and a surge of flame on the lightning scorched deck.

Snotlout was actually in the middle of his leap into the ocean when the shockwave hit him flinging him far from the ship, he heard SoarBlade scream behind him as he was caught in Hunterbolt's lightning but it was quickly forgotten as he tumbled through the air. Snotlout spun wildly and he barely had time to see the ocean beneath him before he crashed into the darkened waters. He floundered beneath the waves not knowing which way the surface lay as he tried to reach it, suddenly a hand appeared and grabbed the back of his coat hauling him from the sea and gripping him firmly as he sucked in welcoming breaths of air. It eventually registered that he was on a dragon, or more specifically Meatlug, and he turned his head to see who it was that had rescued him. His mind slammed to a halt when he saw it was none other than Borik Ingerman the man who hated him the most on Berk and Snotlout gaped at him, "Wha..?"

The man smiled, "That new dragon of yours has really trashed that ship and those Terrors aren't that far behind."

Still slightly bewildered Snotlout looked at the ships below and saw that Hunterbolt had basically wrecked the captain's vessel and the others were well on the way with several fires burning away merrily upon them. Hunterbolt himself flew up alongside Meatlug and growled at Snotlout worriedly and the boy smiled at him, "I'm okay Hunterbolt."

The Skrill grunted in response apparently not fully convinced and he flew closer allowing Snotlout to jump to his back from Meatlug. They flew on and met up with the other three riders and Stoick called across joyfully from Torch's back, "Snotlout! You're safe!"

"You have a lot of explaining to do young man!" Gobber exclaimed from Thornado, "What possessed ye to go off on such a crazy quest!? I've been pounding after ye all over the northern waters! We've been caught in storms, flown till we've nearly dropped out of the sky and survived off nothing but fish and roots! Now here ye are back at Berk riding a Skrill of all dragons! Do ye have any idea how worried we all were about ye!?"

Stoick cut his friend off, "We can worry about that later Gobber. We need to get back to the village and see how it's holding up."

Snotlout began speaking excitedly even as they turned their flight towards Berk, "Uncle! Hookfang should be back at Berk by now and he's carrying something really important that could help everyone who's sick!"

Stoick stared at him in wonder before giving more instructions, "Then we'll head straight for the Great Hall!"

As they arrived they were met with the sight of several pirates being menaced by Barf and Belch under Mrs Hofferson's watchful eye, Hookfang was also there and he hurried over as Hunterbolt landed and Snotlout dismounted.

He quickly scratched his friend before checking on of the saddlebags and finding the contents unharmed. Gathered Vikings stared in awe at Hunterbolt as Stoick hurried to his nephew's side, "What do you have that might help them?"

Snotlout carefully pulled out one of the flowers and held it up to his uncle, "This is the Glacial Bloom. If the tales are right then boiling these in fresh water will make a medicine that can cure anything and Hookfang's saddlebags are full of them."

The chief took the flower reverently and he stared at his nephew in amazement, "You actually found it."

He pulled his nephew into a tight hug even as he fired out orders to the surrounding Vikings, "I want several warriors to see to any remaining pirates and those that can ride dragons get in the air to help them. The rest of you are to get as many buckets of fresh water as you can and get those saddlebags to Gothi. Snotlout has given us a chance to save our children!"

There were roars of approval from the Vikings and they all shot off to their tasks and soon Vikings were pulling off the flower filled bags as others practically sprinted into the Great Hall with full buckets of water. As the hopeful frenzy of activity happened around them Stoick continued to hold his nephew with the start of joyful tears in his eyes, "You came back safely with a cure for Hiccup and all the others."

Snotlout smiled up at his uncle, "I had to do something to help them uncle."

"I know lad." Stoick took off the boy's helmet and ruffled his hair, "I am so proud of you Snotlout. And I know you're parents would've been too."

Snotlout hugged him tighter, "Thank you uncle."

Away from Berk and beyond the burning remains of the pirate ships a lone row boat made slow progress in the opposite direction to the village. In it was the elderly man who was Captain SoarBlade's father and under several blankets and the man's own outer layers was SoarBlade himself.

The captain's father had searched for his son after he'd escaped the Skrill's devastating assault and had found the man barely conscious floating in the sea some distance from the ship with extensive injuries from the lightning. He'd done what he could but he had no choice but to take his son to an old friend of his who might be able to help the captain.

SoarBlade groaned in pain and the father softly chided the son, "Stay still son, we cannot risk aggravating the wounds further."

The son growled, "I'll make that boy pay for what he's done, I'll return and finish what I started. One day I'll take that boy and I'll make him suffer for every wound and insult he gave to me, he'll be screaming for death by the time I'm done with him!"

"Of course you will." The father answered, "I'll do everything I can to make sure that day comes but for now you need to rest. Those wounds will take some time to heal and for you to return to full strength. Until then remain patient and your chance for vengeance will come."

SoarBlade did as his father ordered but he muttered quietly to himself, "I'll recover from these wounds and then I'll be back to exact my vengeance upon you." He growled out the name.

"Snotlout!"

PS-Yes I have just given Snotlout an archenemy but seeing as Hiccup has about three or four I thought it was only fair to give Snotlout one too. Please let me know what you thought and I'll hopefully update soon.