Whoa, okay, so I have been busy. :) I am going to start posting another fanfiction while this one is still in progress, and it will be a seven-shot fanfiction called "When All Hope Seems Lost." I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Shout-outs:

TheLastNightFury: You asked in a review for "Animal House" if you could do a cover for it (Animal House), and the answer is yes. :D

silverwolvesarecool: Oh, you can say that again! See, Hiccup! See! :)

: Thanks so much for the review! :D

Dragons and Kratts: Hahahaha. :D That's about it. Thank you for reviewing! :)

Omegaman17: YES GO OMEGAMAN17! GO! WE ARE ALL ROUTING FOR YOU! :D

Silver Electricity: LATTES!? WHAT IS SLEEP!? BWAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAAAA!

Edlover23: Thanks for reviewing, and I'm sorry getting your chapter back to you is taking me so long. I'm really trying to do a good job of it, plus I'm busy like crazy. But I am working on it. :) And I love it. :D

summergirl404: Thanks! Yeah, I want there to be a new episode for "Dragons" when Hiccup gets blind in the beginning of the episode, and then somehow gets it back at the end. It would have to be a longer episode, though, but I think lots of people would enjoy it. :)

midnightsky0612: DESTROY SAVAGE! YAY!

AnimeAngel: Let's "motivate" the email next time it goofs up. :)

LorreVarguhl: I think he is! HAHA!

Hiccup made it absolutely clear that he didn't want to talk about anything that had happened.

People tried to ask him if he was alright; they asked him what had happened; they asked him how exactly Elanor had died; but he refused all of them, using the excuse that he was exhausted.

Astrid saw right through it, but didn't press him. It was obvious he didn't want people to ask him about it, and even more so that he didn't want to talk about it.

They suddenly heard footsteps; someone was coming in their direction.

"Hide, everyone!" Hiccup said in a harsh whisper. Snotlout, Ruffnut, Tuffnut and Fishlegs dove into bushes to hide, while Thornado swept overhead and covered Hiccup and Astrid with his wings to shield them.

Thornado scanned the area with his eyes, growling in different directions whenever they heard a shout or cry of one of the enemy troops. Hiccup and Astrid huddled in the shadow of the Thunderdrum's wing, trying to keep themselves as quiet as possible.

The shouts were getting closer; it was getting harder and harder to stay silent while listening to their enemies cry out directions and instructions to each other, not knowing where they were, or how close they were getting.

Hiccup leaned entirely against Astrid, unable to remain sitting up on his own. She wrapped her arms around him, staring at Thornado's wings, waiting for something to happen. She found herself absolutely terrified of what could happen in the future to come.

The footsteps got closer, and then stopped. The dragon riders held their breath as they waited for the worst to come, but it never did. The footsteps continued once more, and then got quieter and quieter until finally, they disappeared altogether.

Hiccup released the breath he was holding in one motion and then sat there, gasping for breath and smiling like a mentally messed up person just because they hadn't been found out yet. They were safe.

For now.

"That was...terrifying," said Astrid.

"Don't even mention it," said Hiccup.

Suddenly, they heard an explosion out in the distance. Thornado shrieked and sprang to his feet, along with everyone but Hiccup and Astrid. They watched smoke rise from the shore, and then turned to each other.

"They blew up our ship, more than likely," said Astrid.

"Splendid!" said Snotlout. "So, we're stranded on this blasted island, with no place to go! The only dragon we've got is sir Renevgy-Tornado, but he can't take us all back to Berk, especially if Savage and his band of what-does-he-call-them has bola launchers!"

"Snotlout, calm down!" said Astrid.

"And YOU," Snotlout accused. "This is all your fault to begin with! If you hadn't suggested it, we wouldn't be here in the first place!"

"You have got to be kidding," said Astrid.

"It's your fault too, isn't it, Snotlout?" said Tuffnut. "I mean, it's your fault Hiccup is blind in the first place! If he hadn't ever went blind, none of this probably would have happened!"

"Well at least I'm trying to help!" said Snotlout.

"What's that supposed to mean?" said Fishlegs suspiciously.

"It means that I'm actually trying to do something to help the situation," said Snotlout, "while you guys sit around like...like...like downed dragons!"

"You couldn't think of a better insult!?" Astrid stepped forward.

"Oh, did I say that?" said Snotlout. "I meant to say, 'legless fools'!"

"How dare you!?" Astrid challenged.

"It's your fault, Snotlout, that this happened!" Ruffnut accused. "Don't deny it!"

"Well it's just as much your fault as it is mine!" said Snotlout.

"Why!?" said Ruffnut. "What did I do!?"

"STOP IT!" Hiccup yelled, jumping to his feet. Everyone instantly silenced themselves, not expecting the sudden outburst. "I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!" They all stared at him, unsure of what they should have been feeling, or what they should have done to respond. Before they could even think about replying, Hiccup turned and stomped off, deeper into the forest.

"Hiccup, wait!" Astrid shouted to him, running in his direction. His footsteps didn't falter, and he didn't stop, nor did he even think about pausing for just a second. He bonked into a few trees as he walked, since he couldn't see, but still managed to maneuver and weave himself through the forest without too big of a problem.

At length he couldn't walk anymore, so he put his hand against a tree and then sank to the ground. He heard Astrid stop in her tracks, and then walk towards him, not speaking, not knowing what to say.

He was sick of it. He was sick and tired of listening to his friends argue and fight about whose fault it was they were stuck on that accursed island. He hated listening to them bicker and yell at each other, throwing accusations out like they were flowers at a wedding. He couldn't stand it on a normal day. And now today, he really couldn't stand it.

"Hiccup?" said Astrid.

"Just go away," he said.

"Hiccup, I'm sorry," said Astrid.

Hiccup sighed. "I just wish you guys could get along," he moaned. "You never listen to a word I say, and when you do, it's only because it's a life or death situation. You guys can't get along, Ruffnut and Tuffnut are constantly at each other's throats, and you and Snotlout, and even Fishlegs, are no better."

He heard and then felt her sit down next to him. He didn't even turn his head.

"You guys are supposed to be friends," said Hiccup.

"We are friends," said Astrid.

Hiccup gave her an "are-you-serious?" look. "Really?" he said. "Could have fooled me."

Astrid frowned. "I guess we haven't really been treating each other like friends, have we?" she said.

"You most certainly have not," said Hiccup. He sighed. "You know what it took to get you guys to be my friends? Do you know what it took, Astrid?" He didn't wait for her to answer before he continued. "It took me losing a leg," he said. "And even now, you guys barely listen to me." He sighed again and shook his head. "You know, it makes me worried," he said. "How much more am I going to have to sacrifice, just to get you guys to hear me out?"

"Why...why haven't you talked to anyone about this before?" Astrid asked. "Why now? Why not before this?"

"Because you guys never listen," said Hiccup. "The twins and Snotlout; everything I tell them goes in one ear and out the other. And Fishlegs is too competitive...and so are you! Ruff and Tuff bicker, you and Snotlout challenge each other, Fishlegs jumps in...so where does that leave me? Trying to get you guys to stop. But do you listen? No. No, of course you don't."

"We all care," said Astrid. "We do, we really do."

"Then why don't you act like it?" he asked.

Astrid opened her mouth to say something, and then ended up closing it in the end. He had a point. A good one, at that.

"That's what I thought," said Hiccup when she didn't answer. "Could you guys at least try to get along? Right now...we need to be working as a team. Like a...well-oiled catapult."

Astrid nodded. "I'm sorry," she said.

"It's not just you," said Hiccup. "It's me, too, I guess. I'm supposed to be leading you guys, and yet...I don't know. I just feel like I'm failing you guys. All the time."

"You're not," said Astrid.

"Well, thanks," said Hiccup. "Let's go back and meet the others."

"Sounds good," said Astrid. "And...thanks, for talking to me about this."

"Well, thanks," said Hiccup.

"For what?" said Astrid.

"Listening," said Hiccup.