I promised I would never abandon this story without letting you know, and I never will. But I've been so busy with other things in my life. I don't have the time or motivation to write much anymore. All my passion and drive to create something that you guys will love is used up on my dates, my parties, my schooling, my sports, and my now-abundant social life. For the present I don't see that changing, so I can't guarantee prompt updates. Every several months if I'm lucky. I didn't reply to any reviews from last time for the same reasons. Sorry bout that too.

I also understand that if you've been following this story you'll have no idea where you are. I recommend re-reading a couple previous chapters to catch up.

Bog Burglar Island, Day 15 since Hiccup's Departure.

Camicazi, heiress to the Bog, paced nervously down the rows of soldiers, all neatly lined up on the edge of the battlements. The helmets and spears of her tribeswomen, the Bog Burglars, were glowing steadily in the waning moonlight. It was almost dawn.

The sight of her faithful soldiers was small comfort to her growing fear. With another careful glance at the lightening sky, she walked up to the newly made walls on the outskirts and, nodding at the two Boggie sentinels, sprung spryly up the wooden steps to the wall. The newly cut wood smelled fresh.

Chief Madguts the Murderous was leaning against the wooden spits, looking into the cloudy north with a spyglass. He noticed Camicazi but did not budge his gaze from the horizon.

Camicazi leaned on the wooden spits, staring out with him.

"The island is quiet," she said. "It's like we're all holding our breath. Where are they?"

Madguts swallowed. "It's called fear, Cami," he said slowly. "Great hosts the Berkians have. They will unload the wrath of a thousand years on this island when they arrive."

Camicazi took a deep breath, bending to look down from the wall. She saw the rocky outcrop and then the sea below, the waves crashing on the shore below. Camicazi spat slowly, watching her spittle drop the distance until it landed with a soft splat in the foamy water.

Footsteps sounded behind her, and a voice came.

"Cami."

Camicazi turned to look at the newcomer. It was a familiar face, her cousin, Hexi.

"Hey Hexi," she said, gripping her cousin's arm tightly. "What news?"

"All quiet from the northwest," Hexi stated, leaning on the ramparts with Camicazi. "But the stars have faded. The sun will soon rise."

"And when it does…" Camicazi took a deep breath. "All hell will break loose, if that message is to be believed."

"Cami – I – I'm afraid." Hexi looked at her cousin tenderly. "When I woke up this morning to get armored for battle, I just got this feeling, I – I -" She bit her lip. "I think I'm going to die today."

Camicazi spun on Hexi. "Don't say that!" She snapped. "You hear me?" Camicazi gripped Hexi's shoulder and leaned into her. "The Bog Burglars don't lose. We NEVER lose. Hundreds of years our island has stood here and guarded the mists of the Bog! It will not end today, and you will not die today! We win!" Camicazi pointed to the north. "When the hordes of dragon riders come from there, we will not be cowed! We will fight!"

Letting Hexi's arm go, Camicazi leaned once more on the edge of the wall, looking down and taking a few deep breaths. Madguts the Murderous glanced at her for a second and then returned to his spyglass.

"We never lose," Camicazi whispered, looking at the dark waves below.

"We never lose," Hexi echoed.

Camicazi then blinked. There was something blue and sparkly in in the water below. She gazed intently at it, and, as another wave struck it, it rolled onto the rocks, still glittering brightly. It was like a tiny blue diamond below her.

"What is that?" Camicazi muttered.

"What is what?" Hexi asked, but Camicazi was already hopping over the ramparts, clambering down the edge of the wall.

"Where are you going?" Hexi called after her, but Camicazi ignored it. Quickly, she scrambled down the wooden wall, down the rocks, and then landed adroitly on the rocky, sandy outcrop below. The blue object was still there, glittering on the rocks. As Camicazi approached it, another wave struck the rocks, washing the blue article into the sand, where it laid shining.

Camicazi reached down and picked the object up. Water and sand dripping from her hand, a chain clinked. A small chain.

Camicazi blinked, looking at the shiny item in her palm. It was a necklace with a blue Nadder scale on it.

Staring, Camicazi realized whose it was. Hiccup had worn it when he arrived on the island. She had been about to steal it while she was kissing him, but as soon as she touched the chain, he had pushed her away. Looking down at it, there was a face shimmering from the surface of the scale – a face she recognized.

"Astrid Hofferson," she muttered. "Hiccup's girl." Frowning, Camicazi tried to figure out why the scale was glowing. There was an eerie blue light coming from it for no apparent reason. Regardless, it must have fallen off of Hiccup when he was taken.

With one last look at the curious amulet, she hurriedly stuffed it in a side pocket of her tight black leggings.

"Cami!" Hexi called from above. "What are you doing? What was that?"

"Just something," Camicazi said back. "I'm coming up."

With a few more nimble hops, she expertly climbed back up the rocks and the wooden edge of the wall. Hexi reached down, grabbed her hand, and helped her back over the ramparts.

"What was that blue thing?" Hexi asked.

Camicazi reached into her pocket and pulled out the Nadder scale, the blue light shining.

"Whoa," Hexi breathed. Madguts raised an eyebrow and stole a glance over his shoulder at the two girls.

"This belonged to Hiccup," Camicazi commented. "It must have fallen off him when he was -" she glanced at Madguts – "killed."

"It's beautiful," Hexi marveled, turning over the scale and chain in her hand. "Who is the girl?"

"She was Hiccup's girl. Astrid Hofferson. She was here during the dragon raid."

Hexi handed the scale back to Camicazi, but Camicazi shook her head. "Take it back to my room, Hexi. Put it in the bag of fake coins next to Hiccup's helmet on the shelf in there. It may be useful later."

"All right." Hexi stuck the scale in her pocket.

"And don't steal anything while you're in there!" Camicazi grinned.

"Come on, I'm a Boggie!" Hexi giggled. "When did I ever steal anything?"

The two girls shared a laugh, then Hexi saluted Camicazi mockingly and left, hopping down the wooden steps before running towards Camicazi's house.

Sighing, Camicazi picked up her own scope and peered into the north. Madguts the Murderous had not budged since she had been up on the wall. He was still looking into the distance as intently as a hawk.

There was nothing. Camicazi scanned the sky, seeing naught but clear glowing sky as the sun was about to rise in the east. Turning her scope, Camicazi looked to the defenses in the southern half of the island. Her mother, Big Boobied Bertha, was giving instructions to the archers from the Boggies and the Murderous tribe.

She swung to the west. There was Dagur the Deranged, with his band of Berserkers. They were in charge of the bolas and nets – Dagur had insisted that he be given control of the dragon-killing machines.

Finally, she looked to the east. There was Alvin the Treacherous and his second-in-command Savage, in control of the ground forces. If the Berkians landed, Alvin and his Outcasts would deal with them. They were also to dispatch any injured or downed dragons.

Camicazi lowered the scope and took another deep breath. It was almost dawn.

"The sun is rising," Madguts the Murderous muttered, and then, as if to corroborate him, a cock crowed in the village. Six hundred pairs of eyes went to the north, and the first rays of sun shot over the trees on the eastern horizon.

Camicazi stared into the north. There was nothing. Still nothing.

Then the sun vanished, and darkness fell on the island once more.

Gasping, Camicazi whirled around, and then Madguts the Murderous swore. He finally moved, and this time he turned his gaze to the east. He gripped Camicazi's shoulder, hand as strong as a vise.

"Look!" He cried.

Camicazi stared at the sun on the horizon. It was blocked by a mass of tiny blips, one after the other, stretching for a great distance across the sky. Berk was here. The dragons had arrived.

Astrid's breathing was warm against the inside of Ruffnut's helmet. She still was not used to a helmet while flying, and she also hated how thin Barf's neck was. Flying the Zippleback was a difficult task.

Looking to her right, she saw Tuffnut, his fierce helmet covering his face and his blonde hair billowing out from behind it. Behind them the sun glinted off his spear. It was dawn.

"Bog Burglar Island in sight!" Thuggory called, who was leading the pack. His strong voice echoed through the ranks of dragon riders.

"We're there!" Fishlegs shouted, and a giant rumbling went through the dragon army, the soldiers muttering and the dragons growling. It was time. Time for battle.

Fishlegs turned and flew closer to Thuggory, and Astrid stretched Barf's neck out to them to hear the words.

"I'm going to parley with them," Fishlegs stated. "We'll enter the island under a flag of truce, with the army out of range. I need all the chieftains and a couple of soldiers as escorts."

Thuggory aimed a thumb at his wingman Tuffnut. "Tuff and his sister can be the guards," he said. "Round up the chiefs. We'll be at the island in a few minutes, so you'd better wave that white banner."

"Yes." Fishlegs stood up on Meatlug and shouted back to the army. "Attention! The chieftains and I are going to parley with the Bog Burglars! The army needs to stay back out of range while we do so!"

Tuffnut leaned over to Astrid and whispered fiercely in her ear. "You're going to be a guard, Astrid. Camicazi will be there. I swear to Loki, if you do anything stupid, like attacking Camicazi under the flag of truce, I will gut you!"

He didn't wait for a response, and Belch's head moved away. Barf looked up questioningly at Astrid.

"He's right, Barf," Astrid muttered, rubbing the scales between Barf's horns. "If I kill Camicazi during a parley, they'll kill all the chieftains. I can't do that."

Astrid took a deep breath.

"Chieftains of the Dragon Alliance! With me!" Stoick the Vast thundered, and the dragons carrying all the chieftains, chieftesses, and heirs moved forward. Digging her heels into Barf and Belch, Astrid propelled the Zippleback forward, following the group.

"The Bog Burglars have no honor," Mogadon the Meathead said aloud, to the entire group. "It is dangerous to go onto their island, even under a flag of truce. They killed Hiccup in cold blood and they will do the same to us."

"Not so," Chief Elcroy replied. His silver raven crest of Bashem Island glittered in the sun. "The Bog Burglars may have no honor, but they will not risk betraying the trust of every tribe in the archipelago, particularly the ones they have sided with."

"I'm not too sure their allies have any honor either," Fishlegs mused. "I mean, the Outcasts, the Berserkers, and the Murderers? That doesn't exactly sound like a noble batch of fiends."

"Regardless, we should risk it," Stoick asserted. "I MUST know what Big Boobied Bertha has to say about her – her killing my son. I cannot believe it until I hear it from her own mouth. She was not that kind of woman, I do not understand."

"There is a lot we don't understand," Thuggory agreed. "So let's find out."

Down on the shore, Camicazi took a deep breath as she looked at the sky. There were the seven dragons that held the commanders of their enemies. Above them flew a giant white flag.

Madguts the Murderous sighed and put his spyglass in his pocket. "Come, Cami," he said. "It's time to talk about how this war is going to happen."

Astrid's footsteps thudded on the wooden floor as she strode alongside the group of Viking royalty that represented the Dragon Alliance. They were walking through the Great Hall, approaching a large table at which sat Big Boobied Bertha, chief of the Bog Burglars, Madguts the Murderous, Alvin the Treacherous, Dagur the Deranged, and…. Camicazi. Astrid's grip tightened on her spear. Camicazi didn't seem injured from the dragon raid several nights ago. She looked alive, well, and deadly.

Stoick the Vast boomed up to the table, pulled up the chair across from Big Boobied Bertha, and sat unceremoniously. The chair creaked. With a quick, smooth movement, Chief Elcroy from Bashem Island took the seat to his left, and Chief Mogadon from the Meatheads took the right. Thuggory sat next to his father, and Bashhand, Chief Elcroy's wife, sat next to her husband. The last remaining Berkian was Fishlegs, and he went to the head of the table, where he pulled up a chair and sat. He was closest to the Camicazi.

Quickly, Astrid turned to stand guard next to him, the hem of her short skirt brushing his chair. She tapped the butt of her spear on the floor with a dull thud. She was so close. Camicazi was only four feet away from her, and she could skewer her with the spear in two seconds. But the white banner was flying.

Stoick broke the tense silence.

"It's been a very long time, Bertha," he said softly. "Last I saw you, you were young and powerful, and your daughter was only a babe." He glanced at Camicazi, then back to Bertha. "But you have not grown wise with age."

Big Boobied Bertha bit her lip.

"You KILLED MY SON!" Stoick thundered, leaping to his feet. "YOU! YOU AND THAT FILTHY DAUGHTER OF YOURS! WE HAD YOUR BOND, YOUR WORD OF HONOR, THAT NO HARM WOULD COME TO HIM! HE WAS GOING TO HELP YOU! HE WAS STRONG, HE WAS YOUNG, HE WAS GOOD, AND YOU KILLED HIM!"

Camicazi flinched.

Stoick, breathing hard, sat down. "You cannot undo that, Bertha. You have taken everything from me, and I will take everything from you. We are here to talk terms of surrender, but those terms, no matter what they are, will not allow you and your daughter to escape with your lives, I can promise you that."

Big Boobied Bertha still said nothing, and the silence was beginning to look ill on the Bog Burglars.

"There won't be any terms of surrender," Camicazi smiled, leaning forward mockingly. "The only surrender that will be happening here is when you are begging for your life on your knees, Stoick the Vast."

Astrid gritted her teeth. She wanted to kill Camicazi so badly. Stoick was speechless with rage.

"That's what Hiccup did, you know." Camicazi smirked. "It was pitiful. The great dragon master, on his knees before me, pleading. You know what he said to me?" Camicazi leaned forward. "He said, 'Don't kill me, Cami. Please. Don't do it. Don't do it!'"

Astrid was trembling. In another two seconds she would have rammed her spear through Camicazi's face then and there. Stoick the Vast looked like he was about to grab the table and smash it over Camicazi's head. But then Fishlegs, sitting next to her, leaned forward and spoke.

"We did not come to trade insults, Camicazi," he said calmly. "Let us speak rationally."

"And just who are you to speak at a council of war?" Alvin the Treacherous snapped. "You fat chubby wanker, you're not royalty. Who are you?"

"His name is Fishlegs. Fishlegs Ingerman."

It was Camicazi. Her dark brown eyes were intent on Fishlegs.

Fishlegs blinked at Camicazi. "Just so," he said. "I am the battle general for Berk."

Fishlegs had all eyes on him now. He tapped his finger on the table.

"Your words were courageous, Camicazi of the Bog," he smiled. "But lies fall as easily from your lips as men fall in the face of dragons. You are not a fool, Camicazi, although you have acted the part. You know that you cannot win this battle."

Fishlegs gestured to the door. "Out there, three hundred dragon riders await my command to send you all to your doom. I have brought the greatest dragon army ever seen to your shores. Imagine the dragon raids you all used to defend against, how terrifying they were. Now imagine that with fifty times the dragons, with riders on their backs, and a strategist behind their movements."

Madguts the Murderous shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

"It's impossible." Fishlegs grinned. "You put on a bold front, but I can see it in your eyes. You know it. You're all going to die."

There was a dead silence.

"However." Fishlegs straightened up. "There is no need for such destruction. Madguts, Alvin, Dagur, you are chiefs of great tribes. Why are you even here?" Fishlegs raised his hands. "The Bog Burglars lied to us! They promised us safe passage for Hiccup, and they broke their bond! Whatever promises they have made you will be impossible to trust. You have taken up arms against us. I say to you now, if you turn around, take your soldiers, and leave, we shall do nothing to stop you. You can go freely, without a fight, and shall keep your lives. What say you?"

There was silence for a moment, then Dagur the Deranged got to his feet.

"You are a sly bastard, Fishlegs Ingerman," he hissed. "But we Berserkers live by a code – the dragons must die!" He pointed to the door. "The dragons are out there! They are our enemies! They have always been our enemies! We must crush them, kill them, mangle them, and bathe in their blood! Nothing else will do! Isn't that right, Alvin?"

Alvin the Treacherous spread his hands. "We have always been the underdogs on Outcast Island," he said, rather calmly considering how he usually acted. "But this war will we our final time as such. Either we die and are gone forever, or we win and are powerful forever." Alvin shrugged. "I'll take that chance any day. Your offer merely lets us go back to our old ways, being nobodies and nothings. But if we win, glory and freedom will be ours." Alvin turned to look at Madguts.

Madguts the Murderous smiled darkly. "To win this war we need a force, an allied force," he stated. "At last, four powerful tribes are united against the dragons. Together, we stand dominant against our old enemy, and while you have us outmatched, this is the greatest chance we will have."

"You don't understand, do you?" Thuggory the Meathead slammed his fist on the table. "Madguts, I thought you were a rational chief! The dragons are no longer our enemies! They were being controlled by an evil Queen dragon. When Hiccup killed that dragon last year, the dragons were freed from that control. We don't have to fight them anymore! They are OUR allies." Thuggory opened his palm. "And with them we are unstoppable."

"With them as your allies, you side with the evil they are," Alvin argued. "The dragons are vile beasts."

"You know nothing, Alvin." Chief Elcroy of Bashem Island said calmly.

"Oh, Elcroy, MASTER of battle and a genius," Alvin the Treacherous scoffed. "What would you have to say?"

"That the dragons are like people." Chief Elcroy leaned forward. "They are JUST like us. I have seen, I have learned. The dragons have emotions, they have a soul, and they can communicate with us and one another. They are certainly not evil."

"No man has ever questioned your intelligence, Elcroy," Bertha stated. "But I'm not a man. I'm a woman, and I say you are a fool."

Alvin snickered. Bashhand, Elcroy's wife, bristled. However, Chief Elcroy just smiled.

"The world is changing, Bertha," he said. "We Vikings used to say, 'Only the strong can belong.' Now, it is 'Only the smart can belong.'" Chief Elcroy took his crossbow from his side and pointed it at Bertha.

The Bog Burglar guards tensed, and Chief Elcroy smiled. "Strong matters not when I have a bow in my hands," he said. "A child who is smart enough to build a crossbow can kill the strongest man alive. So it is brains that wins. We have the brains. You do not."

Elcroy lowered the crossbow, letting his point sink in. "In five hours you will all be ashes. Unless – you surrender."

"We will never surrender." Bertha got to her feet. "A hundred years the Bog has stood, and it will not fall."

Fishlegs shook his head sadly. "I'm disappointed in you, Bertha," he said. "And you, Camicazi." He looked directly at the blonde girl. "I can see you are smart – Cami. Look at me. Do you honestly believe that the dragons are evil?"

Astrid looked directly at Camicazi. Fishlegs had called her Cami for the first time. It was a name that only her friends used. Why was Fishlegs using it? However, Camicazi seemed affected by it. She opened her mouth, paused, then closed it again.

"The dragons are evil," she said, but her voice was not as powerful as it usually was.

Fishlegs peered intently at her. She was looking down, he brown eyes evading any contact. She refused to look at Fishlegs.

"Look at me," Fishlegs said quietly.

Camicazi looked at him, her beautiful brown eyes meeting his. There was silence for a few seconds.

"So be it." Fishlegs sat up straight. "We've given you all your chances, and we've been very generous with you considering the circumstances. Now comes the final question. Will you have surrender, or death?"

There was a moment of silence. Then Bertha rose to her feet, opened her mouth, and –

The door to the Great Hall burst open, and a Bog Burglar sprinted in.

"Chieftess!" She cried. "Sails! Sails to the south!"

All eyes went to Big Boobied Bertha. At once her expression changed from one of resigned hopelessness to one of savage triumph. Then she turned, looked at Stoick, and smiled.

Then horns blew – horns that Astrid had never heard before.

"We will never surrender." Big Boobied Bertha grinned. "You are all going to die."

Fishlegs leapt to his feet.

"So be it!" He cried. "We are at war! Dragon Alliance! To the army, quick! We attack immediately!"

Cursing, Astrid sprang to the side, running out the door directly behind the chieftains. Fishlegs, fat as he was, was in the lead. He threw open the door to the Great Hall and jumped out to the steps, staring to the south. Astrid was close behind. She landed next to Fishlegs and stared.

There, in the south, the horizon was matted with hundreds and hundreds of ships, stretching from end to end. White sails and purple banners flew over them. The horns sounded again.

Hysteria had arrived.

The feet of the Dragon Alliance royalty clattered on the docks, and Fishlegs whirled to the chiefs.

"We need to do as much damage as we can to this island before Hysteria gets here! With the wind at a ten degree angle and a 5-10 knot speed, they'll be here in about an hour! We need to destroy this island by then! Stoick, Mogadon, Bashhead, you have the attack. Give this island hell! And Elcroy!"

Chief Elcroy tore his gaze away from the ships in the south and nodded. "Yes, Legs?"

"I need you to take the Bashem Island riders and attack those ships! Delay them! You hear!?"

"Yes, General!" Elcroy sprang to his dragon, swinging spryly up to its back. "We're off!"

"To the dragons! To war! Battle! Battle!" Mogadon the Meathead roared. "Thuggory, get up in the air and lead the attack, son! Take Megadeath with you!"

"Yes father!" Thuggory obeyed, waving his hand to Furious. The Monstrous Nightmare, a flag of truce still attached to its back, sprang up to Thuggory, and he leapt onto its back. "Tuffnut!" He shouted. "With me! To the army!"

Astrid was doing some fast thinking. The island was currently abuzz with activity, and not much attention was being given to them, as they were taking off from the docks. Looking around, Astrid saw an alley to one side of the docks.

Tuffnut jumped on the Zippleback, tapping Belch. "Let's go!" he shouted at Astrid.

In a split second, Astrid made her bold decision. Patting Barf's neck, she swung down from the Zippleback and dropped to the docks.

"Astrid-Ruff!" Tuffnut yelled at her. "What are you doing!?"

Astrid looked up at Tuffnut. "I'm going to find Camicazi," she said. "I'm staying."

"But the battle hasn't started yet!" Tuffnut said, horrified. "They'll catch you and skin you alive!"

"They've got to catch me first." Astrid saluted Tuffnut. "Go, Tuffnut. See you later."

Tuffnut hesitated for one second, and seemed about to order Barf to pick Astrid up and fly off with her. But he didn't. Instead, he saluted, giving Astrid a nod.

"Godspeed – Milady," he said, and then snapped his visor over his face. Then, digging his heels into Belch's neck, the Zippleback roared and thundered off the docks, following Chief Elcroy and Bashhead.

Astrid stood rooted to the spot. Tuffnut had called her 'Milady.' That was Hiccup's phrase. Why had he used that title? What reason could he have had?

To remind her.

Astrid swallowed. Tuffnut was smarter than he seemed. He wanted to remind her why she was doing this. Why she needed to kill Camicazi.

"Thanks, Tuff," she whispered, watching his Zippleback fade in the distance. Then, realizing that she was now in grave danger, whirled to run.

And ran straight into Thuggory.

With a grunt and a thud, Astrid and Thuggory recoiled. Thuggory had been about to jump in Furious' saddle, and he was taken by surprise. Turning, the boy blinked.

"Ruffnut? What in Thor's name are you doing here?" He grabbed Astrid's arm. "Come on, we've got to go! Your brother just left."

"Let me go!" Astrid did not try to disguise her voice. She pushed Thuggory's arm off of her.

Thuggory stared. "What?" He said. "Are you crazy?"

"I'm leaving, let me go!" Astrid shouted, and turned to run.

"Ruffnut!" Thuggory shot out his hand and grabbed Astrid's collar. "What are you doing!?"

"Get off of me!" Astrid shook herself, trying to get Thuggory's hand off. Thuggory's hand slipped off her collar and grabbed the handle of her axe, hidden in its leather case. As Astrid tugged, the axe slid out, and Thuggory fell back on his bottom, holding the axe. Astrid, cursing, fell to one knee and then whirled.

Thuggory was staring at the axe in his hand. There was only one axe like it in the archipelago, and he knew who owned it.

"Astrid?" He gaped.

Astrid leapt forward and ripped the axe from his grasp. Thuggory, cursing, tried to get to his feet, but Astrid spun, kicked his legs out from under him, and then whirled and ran. She leapt off the dock and sprinted into the alley.

Thuggory scrambled to his feet, even as Furious stepped forward askingly. Thuggory glanced at the alley and then back to Furious. His big grey dragon was staring in confusion. Astrid vanished in the shadows.

"Thor dammit!" Thuggory cursed.

Just then Mogadon, Stoick, and Fishlegs ran up to the dragons.

"Thuggory, let's go!" Mogadon shouted. "To the army!" He sprang on his dragon, an oversized Gronkle.

"Curse you, Astrid," Thuggory muttered, scrambling up to Furious' back. Turning around, he undid the straps that held his wolf Killer to the saddle. Taking the wolf's ears in his hands, he bent his head down and leaned his head against Killer's, tugging fondly.

"Go after her, Killer," he whispered. "Keep her safe. Don't let her die. For me."

Killer growled softly, rumbling in his throat. Stoick, in the background, swung his massive body up to Skullcrusher, and Fishlegs hopped onto Meatlug.

"Go, boy." Thuggory gave Killer a final tug on the ears, and then Killer leapt off Furious, landing on the docks and then running into the alley after Astrid.

"Thuggory! Let's GOOO!" Stoick shouted, and then, with a pat on Furious' neck, Thuggory's Monstrous Nightmare spread his wings and thundered into the sky, leaving the docks, Killer, Astrid, and Bog Burglar Island behind.

Astrid darted through the unfamiliar houses and alleys, with thunder of Bog Burglar horns in her ears. Out of the corner of her eye she could see their massive dragon army circling in the east uncertainly. Looking up at them, she realized she was in a very bad position. Her goal was to kill Camicazi, and hopefully escape with her head still on her shoulders. Neither was an option at the moment, because she had no idea where Camicazi was, and if she did attack now, she would be slaughtered. She needed a place to hide until the battle was chaotic enough, which it most likely would, since the dragons were going to ravage the island. When the battle was chaos, then she could make her move.

Looking around, Astrid saw a building she recognized. The dungeons.

"Perfect," Astrid muttered aloud. "There won't be a soul in the dungeons at this point, the Boggies can't afford any of their own people in prison. So it'll be deserted. I can hide on top of the dungeons and look for Camicazi, and no one will see me."

Straightening up, she was about to sprint to the dungeons, but just then a group of five Outcast soldiers ran by. Astrid hurled herself behind a barrel of water and hid as the group hustled past.

Astrid bounded to her feet. She had to get there soon, or she would be captured. Darting across the open street, she reached the door to the dungeons. There was a bloodstain on the wood from where she had killed the Boggie guard some days earlier. There was also a giant burn on the doorframe, from where Stormfly had fired into the dungeons. It was funny to see them in a different light.

Astrid ignored them both, and hurled the door open, raising her spear. It was just as she had anticipated. The dungeons were empty.

Quickly, Astrid turned around and bolted the door from the inside. Now she was locked in the dungeons on Bog Burglar Island. It was rather ironic.

Astrid didn't go down the stairs to the dungeons, but instead she climbed up the ladder on her right. It led to the roof, and that was her destination. Reaching the trapdoor at the top, she flung it open, then scrambled onto the rooftop. At first she stood upright, but then immediately flung herself to her belly. She was very conspicuous standing up.

On her belly, she carefully shut the trapdoor. Then she belly crawled across the roof to the opposite side, where she carefully lifted her head and peered over the edge. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out her spyglass and put it to her eye. She quickly scanned the island, looking at the mass of excited soldiers, from the Outcasts, the Murderous Tribe, the Berserkers, and the Bog Burglars. They were all bustling about, preparing for the battle, and at the same time Astrid could sense their relief and excitement. Hysteria was coming to their aid.

In the sky behind her, there was suddenly a great horn blast, and then a roar of dragons, so loud it shook the sky. Berk was attacking.

Astrid didn't see it or hear it, but a giant grey wolf suddenly sprang from the shadows near the dungeons and tried to push at the door. It failed, since the door was bolted. Growling, Killer spun, looked around, and then darted to nearby barrel of water, which he jumped into with a splash. Then he peered his shining eyes out from the edge of the barrel, waiting for the door to the dungeons to open.

Tuffnut Thorston was not the same boy he was two weeks ago. He realized this as he hurtled through the air on Belch, alongside Thuggory the Meathead. His life before had consisted of devilish pranks, raucous laughter, and getting drunk. However, it had all abruptly changed with one single solitary event; the death of Hiccup.

Tuffnut bit his lip as the wind howled in his ears. It wasn't until Astrid brought back the horrible news that Hiccup was dead that he realized how much he had respected, admired, and even – loved – the rising star of Berk. Tuffnut's hero wasn't the man who invented yakshit pies, it wasn't the prank God Loki, it was a boy, a young boy who had changed Tuffnut's life. Hiccup Haddock.

And that's who I'm avenging, Tuffnut told himself, as Thuggory lifted his sword and let out a thundering battle cry. That's why we're doing this. The Bog is going to pay for what they did.

Then there was a roar of command from the Bog, and hundreds of bows were drawn, bolas readied, and nets prepared. Tuffnut gripped his spear tightly and thumped his shield. They were close now, so close.

"FIRE!"

Tuffnut heard the shout from the island, and there was a massive roar of twangs as a gigantic sea of arrows, bolas, and nets came up from the ground, whistling in the wind.

"Steady!" Thuggory roared, as the black mass of missiles rose up to meet them, leveling out.

Tuffnut swallowed, watching the arrows hum towards them like hungry bees. Never had he done anything this stupid – fly directly into hundreds of arrows, each one capable of taking his life.

For Hiccup.

The projectiles were then upon them, and Tuffnut, gritting his teeth, raised his shield in front of him and prayed fervently.

There was a roar of air as the arrows whizzed all around Tuffnut. An avalanche of little thuds struck the outside of his shield, and one clipped his spear, jarring his hand. Another grazed his outer knee, cutting a thin groove down his leg. Barf and Belch let out a roar of pain.

The arrows ceased, and Tuffnut lowered his shield from his face in time to see a spinning net coming directly at him.

"Dodge, Belch!" He screamed, and his dragon, seeing the net, rolled downward. Tuffnut was almost thrown off the dragon, and the stone on one corner of the net smashed into Tuffnut's shield, ripping it from his grasp. Tuffnut yelled, and saw his shield, littered with arrows, fall into the sea below. A bola barely missed his head, and a second volley of arrows passed them by unscathed.

Tuffnut refocused and gripped Belch's horns. He turned around to look at his dragon. Belch had five arrows embedded in his chest armor, but it looked like the leather dragon chestguard had done its job. Tuffnut then gasped in horror as he looked further behind him.

Scores of dragons and riders were falling from the sky, with roars and shouts of pain and agony. Dragons caught in nets, arrows sticking out of their eyes, men and women with blood pouring from arrow wounds and bones smashed by bolas.

This is war.

Tuffnut whirled back to look ahead of him, and then realized in shock that only three dragons in the front had survived the first onslaught. The rest had flown higher, including Bashhand's elite force. Now there was only three dragons that were going to be the first to strike the island.

Thuggory on his dragon Furious, Sven Hofferson, and himself.

"Get ready!" Thuggory roared. The rocky crags of the Bog Burglar coastline passed beneath them. "Furious, attack! NOW!"

The three dragon riders swung over the island. With a terrifying roar, Furious reached the first tower, and, with a swipe of his foreleg, smashed three Bog Burglars off it. Sven Hofferson's Nadder let a roaring fireball loose into a crowd of Murderous soldiers, and Barf and Belch lit a house on fire.

The attack had begun.

Bashhand was stunned at the bold assault on the island, led by Thuggory and Furious. They hadn't even tried to avoid the massive volley that the Bog fired, they had flown right through it and started the battle. The move made Bashhand angry. Her group was the elite force. They should have been the first. Instead they had flown higher, to divebomb the village from above.

"Warriors!" Bashhand yelled. "With me! Dive! Attack!"

Tuffnut was doing some quick thinking, even as the battle was raging around him. Fires were everywhere, dead dragons and people littered the ground, and the air was thick with arrows, nets, and bolas. But Tuffnut wasn't worried about any of them. For some reason all he could think of was Astrid.

She was screwed. Her entire purpose in staying on the island was to kill Camicazi, but there was a myriad of problems with that. Camicazi was going to be constantly surrounded by her own soldiers. Unless Astrid was willing to give her own life, she was going to have to think of a very different way to kill Camicazi.

She had to get her alone, somewhere where she could duel Camicazi, kill her, and then Astrid could make her escape. Tuffnut blinked. There was only one place that Astrid could probably count on Camicazi going to alone – her own house.

Quickly, Tuffnut yelled to Bark and Belch.

"Higher! Fly higher! We need to find out which house is the Chieftess'!"

Barf and Belch obeyed, and Tuffnut closed his eyes the dragon soared through a giant cloud of smoke from a burning house. Opening them after the smoke had passed, Tuffnut had a good view of the main village.

He was looking for the fanciest house in the settlement, and that would be the one that belonged to the royalty. It didn't take him long to spot it. He tapped Belch, coughing from the smoke they had just flown through.

"Drop me off at that house, Belch!" He shouted. "Pick me up behind the village in twenty minutes! Now!"

Belch looked back at Tuffnut to see if he was serious. He saw that his rider was, and then he obeyed instantly, flying across the village and then dropping low, towards Camicazi's house.

Tuffnut slid off Belch's neck, and, with a final pat on his green dragon's neck, he dropped down to the roof below. His Zippleback soared overhead then flew high back into the mass of dragons attacking the village. From his high vantage point Tuffnut saw why no one was back near his end of the village. The ships from Hysteria were arriving at the docks, and all the Boggies and almost all the Berkians were there. Fishlegs was trying to stop Hysteria from landing, and the Boggies needed them to land.

Tuffnut turned his back and ran across the ridgepole of the roof to the chimney. During a dragon raid fires in houses were forbidden, so Tuffnut had no worries as he hopped up to the large stone opening and slid down.

Coughing, Tuffnut rolled out of the ashes and onto the wooden floor of Camicazi's house. Quickly he got to his feet, looking around him. The house was actually very small, with only a front door, a room with a fireplace and table, which is what he was in, and then, in the back, was a small hallway with two doors in it. One, Tuffnut assumed, was Camicazi's room, and the other was her mother's. And if Astrid was here, she would have found Camicazi's room already. And she also would have heard him arrive.

"Astrid?!" Tuffnut called out, brushing soot from his clothes.

There was no answer.

"Hey, Astrid!" Still no reply.

"Astrid, if you're in here, I just found out that Hiccup is alive!" Tuffnut called.

There was no response, and Tuffnut nodded. If she didn't reply to that, then she wasn't in here. Tuffnut walked up to the hallway and opened the door that had 'Cami' written on it. Pushing it open, he looked in at the room of the girl he hated the most.

His eyes scanned the area, and as they came to the shelves, he froze. There was something there that should not be.

Hiccup's helmet.

Tuffnut bit his lip angrily and strode forward, taking off his own helmet. Tossing the rusty steel headgear on Camicazi's bed, he went up to the shelf upon which Hiccup's fine, shiny helmet lay. Tuffnut sat on Camicazi's bed and glared at it for several seconds, his arms crossed. Then he reached out and touched the top of the helm, his fingers sliding across the smooth metal.

"You shouldn't have died, buddy," Tuffnut muttered, his hand shaking. "Loki curse it, you shouldn't have died! Just you wait, Hiccup, Astrid and Camicazi are sure to come here, and when they do we're going to cut your name into Camicazi's heart! She's going to pay for this, that blonde bitch!"

"Oh, am I?" A voice came from the doorway, and Tuffnut whirled.

There was Camicazi, standing tall and fierce in the door, her hands on her hips. Her stance was wide, and her skin tight leggings were bloody on one side. There were four Bog Burglars with her.

Tuffnut gripped his spear. "Camicazi," he grinned. "How kind of you to join me."

"Kind of me?" Camicazi laughed. "Trust me, I'm not very kind. This meeting won't be enjoyable for you."

Tuffnut bit his lip as his grinned wider.

"We can make it enjoyable if you want," he said seductively, sliding his leg up on Camicazi's mattress. "I'm willing if you are, honey."

One of the Bog Burglar soldiers stifled a laugh.

"I don't think I know your name," Camicazi replied, grinning almost amusedly as she stepped into the room, followed by her four companions. "And I also don't think anyone will remember it after today."

"Legends never die," Tuffnut laughed, sliding his leg off the bed and standing up. "It's me, Tuffnut Thorston, the Chicken Destroyer."

Camicazi laughed, drawing one of her curved swords with a ring. "Chicken Destroyer, huh? What a lovely title, you must be a FEARSOME warrior. Look at your pretty little face, all those bruises. Who gave you that ass-kicking?"

Tuffnut's smile never faded. "I took this beating for Hiccup. And yes, I am the Chicken Destroyer. When I kill you right here and now, then we can change it to the bitchy chicken destroyer."

Camicazi blinked, and her smile faded.

"You're surrounded by FIVE Bog Burglars, you fool. How are you still grinning?"

Tuffnut's smile got bigger. "Maybe my dragon is on the roof right now, ready to blast this house to the ground."

Immediately all of the Bog Burglars eyes went up to the ceiling, and as soon as they did, Tuffnut struck. He hurled his spear at Camicazi. However, he was never a good spear thrower, and it missed, instead smashing into the face of one of the Boggies behind her. Before Camicazi knew what was happening, Tuffnut leapt to the shelf and grabbed Hiccup's helmet and Hiccup's bag, full of fake coins.

"Get him!" Camicazi yelled, and sprang forward. Tuffnut, whirling, jumped on Camicazi's bed and dove for the window. Camicazi's sword sliced his heel as he jumped, and he yelped before landing hard on the hill behind Camicazi's house and rolling.

"After him, Hexi!" Camicazi yelled to two of her Bog Burglar companions. Immediately the two turned to go for the door, and then suddenly stopped. There, standing in the doorway, was Ruffnut Thorston.

Camicazi stared and then laughed. "Your precious brother fled," she grinned. She nodded to Hexi.

"Kill her."

Hexi and another Boggie grabbed their swords and jumped at Ruffnut, over the dead Bog soldier that Tuffnut had killed. Camicazi expected the foolish blonde girl to turn and run, but she didn't. Instead her hand flashed behind her back and out came an axe… an axe Camicazi recognized.

"Hexi, look out!" She screamed.

It was too late. With a quick move Ruffnut rammed her spear through the throat of the first Bog Burglar, then spun under Hexi's blade and slammed the axe into Hexi's stomach.

"NOOOO!" Camicazi screamed, even as Ruffnut tore the axe out of Hexi. Camicazi's cousin, her face pale, crumpled to the floor, blood pouring from her wound. The other Bog Burglar was also collapsing, the spear in her throat causing her to gurgle as she tried desperately to breathe.

Then Ruffnut reached up, grabbed the edge of her helmet, and flipped it off. Of course, it wasn't Ruffnut. The axe had given it away. Standing before Camicazi was Astrid Hofferson.

"I've come for you, Camicazi," Astrid snarled.

With a cry of rage, Camicazi's last companion leapt forward to attack Astrid. The Bog Burglar was prepared this time, and with a few twists of her sword, battered Astrid back through the doorway. The noise of their duel clattered in the halls.

Camicazi leapt to Hexi's side, dropping her sword on the wooden floor as she gazed down at her fallen kin. Hexi was taking deep, ragged breaths, and blood was streaming from her deep axe wound in the lower stomach.

"I – I'm sorry, Cami," Hexi said brokenly, blood trickling from her lips. "I should have been careful, I should have listened, I – I'm sorry. I have failed you."

"No, Hexi!" Camicazi leaned down to her cousin, gripping her hand. "You fought bravely. You have won. Valhalla will welcome you."

Camicazi slid her hand down to Hexi's wound, and she inwardly flinched as she felt the damage. The injury was mortal, but it would take Hexi a long time to die. It would also be painful.

"I – I knew I would die today," Hexi whispered, her face white with pain. "I just knew it, deep down – Cami, don't let the Bog fall."

A gurgling scream came from the hallway, and a sword clattered to the floor. Astrid had just killed Camicazi's last Bog Burglar companion. Cursing, Camicazi looked up and saw Astrid walk to the doorway once more. She stood in the entrance, looking down furiously at Camicazi, her axe in her hand. However, when she saw Camicazi kneeling over her dying cousin, her face softened slightly, and she lowered her axe.

Camicazi looked back at Hexi.

"I have to go," she whispered, and Astrid, standing in the doorway, heard. "I have to fight. I love you, Hexi." Then, silently, Camicazi reached for the knife in her boot, drawing the steel quietly.

"Don't die," Hexi smiled. "I don't want to see you in Valhalla just yet."

"I won't," Camicazi smiled. Then, stealthily and quietly, she slid her knife into the wound already in Hexi's stomach. Expertly she felt the tip pierce Hexi's internal organs. Hexi would now die quickly, and she didn't even notice.

"Goodbye, Cami," Hexi gasped, and then passed away.

Camicazi swallowed. "Be at peace, cousin," she whispered, and kissed Hexi tenderly on the forehead. Reaching up, she closed Hexi's eyes.

"I will avenge you," she snarled, and then turned to Astrid, picking up her sword.

Astrid raised her axe again. She had been moved by Camicazi's emotion during the death of her cousin. For some reason she thought Camicazi was a heartless demon, incapable of feeling any sorrow or care. But now she saw that Camicazi had a good side to her, a side that wasn't so evil after all. But she killed Hiccup, and that was all that mattered.

Camicazi stood up, wiping a tear from her eye with her hand, which still held the bloody knife she had used to finish Hexi. Astrid suddenly stared at it.

As soon as Astrid saw the knife in Camicazi's hand, she realized that she had seen it before. She had seen it used, seen it bloodied like it was now. But where?

Then she remembered. It was during the raid on the Bog. It had been used to stab a Bog Burglar's eye, the one in the dungeons. Where had Camicazi gotten it from?

No matter. She had probably stolen it.

"I'm going to kill you for this," Camcazi said quietly, her face white with rage. "You bitch. That was my cousin. You killed her."

"You killed Hiccup." Astrid was shaking with fury. "You stand here and accuse ME of killing someone? At least I had the right! This is war now! And do you know why? Because of Hiccup! Because YOU KILLED HICCUP! Hiccup was mine! Hiccup was the greatest Viking to ever walk the earth! He was like a God! And you murdered him in cold blood! That's what started this mess, Camicazi! So no, I didn't kill your cousin! YOU did!"

Camicazi let out a cry of rage and threw the knife at Astrid. With a quick flick of her axe, Astrid knocked the blade to the ground. Then Camicazi was jumping at her, her two curved swords in hand.

Astrid was furious. She was enraged, savage, and utterly determined. But she was also keeping her head. Last time she had lost her temper with Camicazi, and she had almost been killed. Bog Burglars were devious bastards, and Camicazi was a master of tricking her opponents. Hiccup had probably been too trusting.

Sparks flew as Astrid deflected the first wave of Camicazi's attack. Her two swords flew through the air like circular saws, so fast that the eye could barely see them. But Astrid was a fine fighter. Each one of Camicazi's attempts was deflected, blocked, or parried. However, Camicazi was beating Astrid backward to the door. Suddenly, as soon as Astrid was in the doorway, she spun her axe to one side and left her chest open.

With a shout of triumph Camicazi lunged at Astrid's chest. Astrid, a slight smile on her face, grabbed the door to Camicazi's room and slammed it shut, and Camicazi's sword buried itself in the wood, stabbing all the way through it.

Astrid then jerked the door open, and the movement wrenched Camicazi's sword out of her hand, pitching the Bog Burglar forward. Astrid whipped her axe up, but Camicazi regained her balance quickly and dodged the attack.

But she now only had one sword.

Fishlegs, saying a quick prayer to Odin, raised his head to look out across the choppy water south of Bog Burglar Island. It was just as bleak as he feared.

Hundreds and hundreds of Hysterian ships were coming, and although at least a couple score of them were in flames, there was nothing Chief Elcroy could do against the onslaught. He had about a third of the Dragon Alliance's total forces, and they were doing as much damage as they could. It was not enough, however. The prow of the flagship, its violet banners flying proudly, was only a minute away from landing at the docks, and as soon as it did, the battle would be over. The Dragon Alliance would have lost.

Fishlegs swallowed. He hated losing. Although he was a quiet, fat, gentle boy, he had the fierce Norse blood coursing through his veins. He was defeated, but he would not give in just yet. He was too stubborn.

With a snarl of determination, Fishlegs looked at the docks. He had ordered Thuggory and Bashhand's group of elite riders to get to the dock and hold it, but the Bog Burglars had anticipated that move and had set up an impenetrable defense on the timbers. They knew if they lost the docks, Hysteria couldn't land, and Hysteria landing was life and death for them.

He needed to get Thuggory and Bashhand out of there. As soon as the Hysterians landed, any dragons left at the docks would be cut down like reeds. Fishlegs waved his hand, and a Nadder swooped alongside him, bearing his next messenger.

Fishlegs frowned. It was Astrid Hofferson.

"Astrid," Fishlegs snapped. "I told you to stay at the back of the army."

Astrid replied, her voice muffled by her helmet. "I am the at the back of the army, Fishlegs."

Fishlegs whirled around in his saddle. She was right. He had no more army behind him. They were all either fighting, wounded, or dead.

"Dammit!" Fishlegs cursed. "All right, Astrid. I need to get Thuggory and Bashhand away from the docks. We've lost that battle. Send them to join the dragons pillaging the village. That's the only battle we'll be able to win before Hysteria starts to wreck us."

Astrid nodded, and Fishlegs looked at her quizzically. "Did you get that, Astrid?"

"Uhhh… can you repeat that please?" Astrid said again, and this time Fishlegs noticed something was wrong. Astrid never had to ask twice about something that important – and the voice didn't sound like Astrid. The rider was too skinny to be Astrid.

"Hey!" Fishlegs snapped. "Soldier! Take off your helmet!"

The rider hesitated. "Umm, I really -"

"Take it off!"

"Loki curse you, Legs," the rider muttered. She didn't take off her helmet.

Fishlegs was angry. "Loki? All right, take off the damn helmet, Ruffnut."

The rider gasped, and she wrenched off her helm. Sure enough, it was the lean, war-painted face of Ruffnut Thorston.

"For the love of Thor, I do NOT need this right now," Fishlegs groaned. "All right, Ruff! Where is Astrid!?"

Thuggory raised his sword and smashed a Murderous soldier off the tower as Furious thundered past, raking the island with flame. Blood spattered onto his leather Meathead armor, and he grimaced as a giant splash landed in his eyes. Blinking, he tapped Furious.

"Get higher! I need to see!"

With a roar of acknowledgement, Furious obeyed, spreading his wings and flapping above the battle. With a sigh of relief, Thuggory pulled off his steel helmet and wiped his eyes. Then he looked down and around him.

The island was in flames, but the Boggies were doing a fantastic job containing the fire. In fact, the whole village was beautifully organized. Almost all the Bog Burglars were in cover or on towers, shooting bolas, nets, and arrows from hidden places. The dragons were doing a stunning amount of damage, but they weren't killing enough people.

Horns blew. Swallowing, Thuggory looked down at the docks, where the Bog Burglars were now swarming, trying to hold the wooden planks at all costs. Blood was all over, and dragons sailed around it, circling the fierce fighting.

The ships.

Thuggory could only watch in helplessness as he saw the first of the Hysterian ships crash against the docks. As soon as the prow came to a halt, a giant, fierce looking man leapt over the edge, fearlessly ignoring the many arrows and fireballs that were striking all around him. He wore a regal and black and purple cape and wielded a double bladed axe, the biggest one Thuggory had ever seen in his life of battle. One side was black, and the other was white. It was the axe of fate. This man could be no other than the legendary Chief of the Hysterian Tribe, Norbert the Nutjob. He let out a roar of command, and dozens of Hysterian troops began to pour over the sides of his ship, even as three others landed at the docks.

"Fate is against us today," Thuggory sighed, plowing a bloody hand through his hair. "The battle is over, Furious. We've lost."

Suddenly there was a blast of air, and a Nadder flew up alongside Furious. Thuggory looked over at the rider. It was Sven Hofferson. Sven saluted Thuggory, panting heavily.

"They've taken the docks and held the western defenses," he cried, sweat dripping off his blonde hair. "The east is in flames, but there's not enough damage done. Hysteria will eat us alive."

"I know that!" Thuggory snapped. "We're going to retreat soon, but Fishlegs is maintaining the attack until the Hysterians start to get organized. That's what he said he would do."

They were interrupted by another blast of air as another dragon thundered alongside them. Thuggory glanced at it, then frowned. It was a Zippleback with only one rider.

"Where have you been, Tuff?" He shouted, as Barf and Belch settled in next to Furious. "You vanished!"

"The battle separated us," Tuffnut groaned, reaching down to pat his heel tenderly. "It's kinda chaotic, war is."

Sven Hofferson had been staring at Tuffnut, and he finally opened his mouth. When he did his voice was hoarse.

"The – the rider who was with you," he said. "Where is she?"

"Oh – right – Sven Hofferson." Tuffnut cleared his throat. "Thuggory, Sven, did either of you know that Astrid is roaming loose on this island, looking for Camicazi?"

"I do know that," Thuggory said, his eyebrows raised. "She was disguised as your sister, Tuff. Are you telling me Astrid rode the same dragon as you, pretending she was Ruffnut, and you didn't notice?"

Tuffnut looked down. "No," he said. "I knew it was Astrid. But I had to let her do it."

"Thor dammit," Thuggory groaned.

"What about her? Did you see her?" Sven Hofferson asked breathlessly.

"No, but I tried to find her," Tuffnut replied. "I went to Camicazi's house, thinking that's where Astrid would lie in ambush. When I got there Camicazi ambushed ME and I almost died. I have no idea where Astrid is now."

"She's probably dead," Thuggory snorted. "I sent Killer after her. Thor dammit, I don't know why I did, I just – wanted to protect her. But it might cost me my wolf friend." Thuggory bit his lip.

Sven looked at Thuggory strangely. "Odd thing that you care so much about Astrid," he commented, a little hint in his tone.

Thuggory looked steadily at Sven. "I care about all my soldiers," he said stiffly.

"Erm - anyway." Tuffnut cleared his throat. "What do you propose we do? The battle is lost, and at this point the most good we can do is burn shit, so why don't we do that and look for Astrid at the same time?"

Thuggory shrugged. "That's as good a plan as any. Are you in, Sven?"

"Of course." Sven nodded. "That's my daughter down there."

"Did you know about it?" Thuggory demanded.

"Yes, I did," Sven sighed. "And I let her do it."

Thuggory shook his head in disgust. "I can't believe you two knew about this, told no one, and I sent my wolf in to get killed because of it," he snapped. "If Killer dies I might have you both horsewhipped for disregarding orders."

"Then have it done," Sven said stiffly. "This is not the time for such a debate, we have a battle to fight. Where shall we go first?"

"To Camicazi's house," Thuggory decreed. "That was the last known place she was in."

"Very well. Let's go!"

The three dragons turned right simultaneously, and just as they did, a Murderous soldier released an arrow from a tower, straight at Thuggory. Thuggory's dragon was turning the other way and couldn't see it, but Tuffnut did.

"Thuggory, watch out!" Tuffnut yelled, and leaned over, reaching out his hand in a desperate attempt to stop the arrow before it hit Thuggory in the face. If only he could catch it.

Thuggory turned and stared as he saw the arrow whizzing at his face. He had no time to block it, it was too late. Just as it was about to hit him full in the eye, the arrow smashed into Tuffnut's hand, blood spraying.

Thuggory recoiled as the arrow stopped a mere foot in front of his face, and Tuffnut howled. As the dragons turned, Tuffnut was doubled over in his saddle, clutching his left wrist with his right hand. The long black shaft had pierced directly through the center of his left hand. Blood was everywhere, and his snapped finger tendons were visible.

"Tuffnut!" Thuggory shouted. "Are you alright?"

"Gods!" Tuffnut groaned. "My hand! Right through my hand!"

"Tuffnut!" Thuggory waved at Barf and Belch. "Barf-n-Belch, take Tuffnut back to our lines! Get him out of the battle!"

"No!" Tuffnut shouted, clutching at the arrow stuck in his hand. "I wanna fight!"

"You've fought enough. You're done, that's an order," Thuggory commanded. "A true wingman indeed. Go get that arrow out of your hand, you can't even fight like that."

"I can take it out now!" Tuffnut argued, and, with a cry, broke off the tip of the bolt. Then with a howl, he yanked the arrow out of his hand, blood spraying everywhere.

"Thor dammit Tuff! You're going to be useless with that hand!" Thuggory pointed, as Tuffnut doubled over. "Out of the battle! Now!"

Tuffnut shook his head stubbornly, holding his mangled hand, but Barf and Belch looked at each other and flew away.

"Hey!" Tuffnut shouted. "Get back there! Loki curse you, you enlarged reptile! I wanna stay, I'm going to stay!"

His voice faded as the green Zippleback, ignoring his pleas, sailed up into the sky and turned North, away from the fighting.

"Could have been a lot worse," Sven Hofferson told Thuggory, as their dragons zoomed over the village to Camicazi's house.

"As if I don't know it," Thuggory replied. "That was inches away from my face, Sven. I almost died."

"Death is going to be a common theme around here," Sven grunted. "And if we don't hurry and find my daughter, she'll become part of the common folk."

"Aye, she will," Thuggory scowled. "All right, off we go!"

"Which house is Camicazi's!?" Sven yelled, as he raised his shield to block a flying arrow.

"Over there!" Thuggory pointed. "I visited this island when I was younger!"

Darting through the skies above the village, dodging bolas and arrows, Sven and Thuggory came closer and closer to Camicazi's house. As they did so, they saw an interesting sight. Thuggory yelled.

Standing outside Camicazi's front door was Thuggory's wolf Killer, accompanied by a Meathead soldier. Killer was holding down a Bog Burglar, while the Meathead soldier was fending off a pair of Murderous troops.

Sven and Thuggory wasted no time. With a blast, Sven's Nadder sent a roaring fireball at the two Murderous soldiers. One ducked, but the fireball struck the other one directly in the chest, and he flew away screaming, disintegrating into ashes. With a flick of his large tail, Furious rammed the other soldier in the belly, and he crumpled like a rag doll. Then, quick as lightning, Thuggory and Sven leapt off their dragons. Sven pounced on the struggling Murderous soldier who Killer was pinning, and yanked his war hammer from his belt.

"No, don't, please!" The Murderous soldier screamed, right before Sven's hammer crashed onto his face. Blood sprayed, and Killer turned away, the warm red fluid matting his grey fur.

"Killer! Where is Astrid?" Thuggory barked at his wolf. "Where is she?"

The Meathead boy dropped on one knee to catch his breath, and Sven sheathed his war hammer. Meanwhile Killer turned and bolted in the door. Sven Hofferson leapt after him. Thuggory gripped the Meathead boy's shoulder. "How are you, Eric? I thought you were with Bashhand's group."

"I was," Eric answered. "My dragon got shot down over the western part of the village. He – he's dead. I tried to escape to the edge of the trees, but then I saw Killer hiding in a barrel of water. Gods, I was shocked! Then he all of a sudden leapt out and took off running, so I followed him. He led me here, and I had to fight for my life."

Thuggory nodded. "Good job. I'm very sorry about your dragon. Killer was tracking a Berkian soldier."

The Meathead boy was about to comment, but then there was a shout from inside the house.

"Thuggory! I've found a trapdoor! Astrid went this way!"

"Great! We're coming with you!" Thuggory shouted back, and then turned to the two dragons who had carried them there.

"You two are dismissed," he ordered. "Attack the village and pick us up at the tree line behind the Great Hall when the army retreats. You understand? Go!"

Dirt sprayed as the two dragons' talons tore through the dirt and they launched into the sky. Thuggory turned to go into the door, then stopped. Three Murderous soldiers came racing around the corner, swords drawn. They had seen the dragons and come to attack.

"Shit." Thuggory groaned, grabbing at his sword. "Killer!"

The three soldiers pounced on him, and Thuggory's sword smashed into theirs as he fought. Then, with a ferocious roar, Killer sprung through the door. He landed heavily on one of the Murderous soldier's back, his teeth tearing at the back of the soldier's neck. The soldier's screams as he tried to throw Killer off was drowned out in the clash of steel as Thuggory battled the other two men. Above them, in the sky, the battle raged on.

Camicazi darted through the tunnels, almost at inhuman speed.

Astrid was cursing with every step she took. She was beating Camicazi, and somehow the Boggie heiress had opened a trapdoor in the floor of her house and was now darting underground. She could be leading Astrid into an ambush. But, in Astrid's favor, Camicazi was on the run. A running enemy meant a beaten one.

The tunnel was lit by a few torches that were mounted on the walls, and as Astrid sprinted past one, she wrenched it from its hold and flung it down the tunnel at Camicazi. It hit Camicazi in the back of the neck, and she cried out in pain, stumbling. A few strands of her hair caught on fire. Astrid gained.

Suddenly the tunnel sloped upward, and Astrid realized that it was about to emerge from the ground. No doubt Camicazi was leading her into a trap, but it was too late. Camicazi kicked open a door at the top of the tunnel, and Astrid, right behind her, jumped out. The two girls fell to the ground with a crash.

Quickly they both scrambled to their feet, and Astrid suddenly noticed where she had been lead to.

The Bog Burglar Great Hall.

About ten Bog Burglars were standing guard, and as they turned to see the cause of the noise, they saw their Princess and also an enemy. With shouts they drew their weapons and ran towards Astrid.

Astrid, cursing, turned to the tunnel, but Camicazi slammed the door shut.

"Too late now, Hofferson," Camicazi grinned evilly. "You're a fool."

Astrid snarled. "You are a coward, Camicazi."

Camicazi laughed. "I don't fight with honor," she chuckled. "I fight to win. It doesn't matter if I kill you or ten of my girls do. The point is you're killed, and that's all that matters to me."

The Bog Burglars were almost upon them, and Astrid raised her axe.

"You can't stop me, Camicazi," she replied. "I'm Astrid Hofferson, and I WIN!"

With a roar, she met the charge of the Bog Burglars.

Steel met steel, and Astrid felt a thundering crash as a war hammer thudded into her side. Yelling, Astrid spun her axe around in a wild, desperate form of self-defense. She felt the axe carve a line across one Boggie's face and then sink into the neck of another. Spinning it around again, it smashed a kneecap, and a Boggie fell to the floor, almost crushing her.

Astrid took a step back, trying to regain her balance. Three Boggies were down, and she was still alive.

The remaining seven Bog Burglars approached slowly, circling her. With their weapons pointed and teeth bared in vicious grins, they pressed for the final attack. Astrid could not hold off seven Boggies. She was doomed.

Camicazi laughed.

"So much for your sweet revenge, Astrid my dear," she mocked, sheathing her sword. "You were a fool to come after me alone, your best bet would have been to catch me in the thick of the battle. But you can't help a stupid Viking, as my Auntie used to say. Enjoy your final minute on this world."

Camicazi opened the door to the tunnels, ready to walk out. Then she gasped and scrambled backward, reaching for her blade.

There were two figures in the door, strong and tall. Astrid recognized both of them. One was the young Meathead who had approached her the day before, and the other was her father, Sven Hofferson.

Sven looked over at Astrid, even as the Meathead boy drew his sword. Astrid was surprised at his appearance now that she saw him in the light, for he had a strange tattoo on his chin, three dark bluish-black lines that imitated a fake beard.

"Astrid." Sven nodded to his daughter.

"Dad." Astrid gripped her axe.

The Bog Burglars were hesitant. They were surrounding Astrid, but now their heiress was being threatened by two fearsome warriors. They didn't know where to go.

Astrid snapped into action. "Kill her, dad!" she shouted.

Her father and the unknown Meathead boy jumped at Camicazi. With a desperate look on her face, Camicazi repelled the attack, dodging backwards. Four of the Bog Burglars, with cries of alarm, ran to go help Camicazi. That left three for Astrid.

Astrid looked over the shoulders of the three Boggies as the other four joined the battle with Camicazi. Her father grunted as one of them swung at him, and spun his shield around to defend against both her and Camicazi. The Meathead boy stepped forward to meet the other three, and opened up the fighting by splitting one of their heads open with his sword.

Astrid attacked. Three Bog Burglars were left, and she could handle that – maybe. Screaming a wild war cry, she battled them, deflecting blades and swinging her axe in skilled arcs. Then she saw an opening, and swung her axe into one of the Boggie's lower chest. She crumpled like a rag doll, her sword spinning on the floor as she collapsed. One down.

Out of the corner of her eye Astrid saw the Meathead boy being pressed backward into a corner, and her father still desperately dueling Camicazi and the other Bog Burglar soldier. He needed her help. Suddenly the Meathead boy reversed a turn and there was a flash of steel as another of the Bog Burglars he was fighting fell dead. The Meathead boy was a good fighter.

Astrid's axe smashed into one of the Bog Burglar's elbows. Bone splintered, and the Boggie screamed in agony. Quickly Astrid spun around and buried her axe deep in the other Bog Burglar's belly. Her face turned ash white and she dropped her weapon, falling heavily to the floor. Then Astrid turned to the Biggie with the broken elbow and mercilessly swung her axe up into her face.

Astrid turned to run to her father, and then she saw it.

Her father was fighting like an expert, fending off his two attackers. With his shield he blocked Camicazi's blow, and then he ducked under the other Bog Burglar's sword, before coming up and smashing his war hammer into a Boggie, crushing her chest. Astrid cheered.

But then it happened. Sven's hammer got stuck in between the ribs of the Bog Burglar, and he couldn't pull it out. Camicazi twirled around, batted his shield aside, and rammed her sword right through Sven Hofferson's chest.

Astrid screamed.

She didn't notice anything as she ran across the room. She didn't notice the Meathead boy yell in rage and slash the last Boggie's head clean from her shoulders. She didn't notice Camicazi jumping over her father's fallen body and running towards the Meathead boy. She didn't even notice as their two blades met in a savage clash. All she noticed was her dad, who was now on the floor, his face upturned.

With a desperate prayer she dropped her axe and fell to her knees by her father, grabbing his shoulders.

"Dad!" She cried. "Dad, get up! Get up!"

Sven Hofferson opened his eyes slowly.

"Astrid," he said quietly. His eyes dropped to his chest, where blood was steadily streaming from his heart. Astrid grabbed his hand and held it over the wound.

"That – won't help," Sven murmured, his hand reaching up to grasp Astrid's arm weakly. "She got me."

"Dad, no," Astrid gasped, pressing harder on his chest. "You can't die!"

"All men die." Sven Hofferson gazed fondly at Astrid, his face taut with pain. "I tried my – my best with you, Astrid. You wanted to be a warrior, and I trained you to – to be the best you could be. Promise me, you won't do - do anything stupid."

Astrid swallowed. "Yes, dad."

There was a cry of pain to Astrid's left, and Astrid looked up. The Meathead boy was staggering away, stabbed in the leg. Camicazi then ripped her sword up, and it caught the boy on the side of his helm. He fell to the side, his short sword spinning away on the floor. He was unconscious but alive. Camicazi immediately whirled, and saw Astrid kneeling over her father.

Astrid reached for her axe, remembering that Camicazi and she had been in this exact same situation a few minutes earlier, where one opponent was kneeling over a loved one. Camicazi remembered as well, for she hesitated and lowered her sword, nodding at Astrid.

Astrid turned back to her father. He was still trying to get out the words.

"Nothing stupid, Astrid. You need to think before you act. Think."

"I will, dad, I promise," Astrid whispered.

"Don't fight with anger or revenge, or any other emotion. Fight, but do it wisely. Fight with your brain, not with emotions. You hear me?"

Tears poured from Astrid's eyes.

"You hear me?"

"Yes," Astrid sobbed.

"You're my girl," Sven Hofferson smiled, stroking her cheek. "My daughter – my Viking."

"Dad, noooooooo," Astrid cried, tears spilling onto her father's bloody chest. "Dad, don't die, don't go!"

Sven took a ragged deep breath. "I'll say hello to Hiccup for you," he smiled.

And Sven Hofferson passed away.

Astrid cried, dropping her head on her father's ruined chest. Her tangled, sweaty blonde hair lay against the red blood on her father's armor, still streaming out the wound.

Camicazi. She was going to die for this.

With a snarl Astrid reached for axe, and then she froze. There was a sword at her neck.

"Get up," Camicazi smiled from behind her. She raised her sword, lifting Astrid's chin. "On your feet, and don't reach for that axe."

Astrid, her face a tear-stained bloody mess, slowly obeyed. She left her axe lying next to her father and slowly got to her feet, keeping her hands visible.

Camicazi walked around behind her, keeping her sword nicking Astrid's neck. The sword pricked the skin and a little drop of blood fell, trickling down Astrid's throat and onto the ugly green shirt that Ruffnut wore. Automatically, Astrid looked around the room for a weapon.

"You are a fool, Astrid." Camicazi whispered, her voice sounding eerily close. "You were so bent on revenge that you lost everything. Apparently you just lost your daddy too."

Camicazi raised Astrid's head a little higher and she walked back around to face Astrid, even as the Berkian girl was standing with her fists clenched in helpless rage. There was no weapon close enough.

"And do you know what the sad thing is?" Camicazi smiled.

She leaned into Astrid.

"I didn't kill Hiccup," she whispered. "Sad. Everything my mother told you and General Fishlegs was true. We didn't touch Hiccup. Gods, I wanted to, I wanted to ride him all night long. But hey, we told the truth. He was taken by a vortex from the sky. I didn't kill him."

Camicazi stepped back. Astrid was staring.

"I just wanted you to know that before you die," Camicazi grinned, and then swung her sword.

Astrid closed her eyes, waiting for the blow, but it never fell. Instead there was a ferocious roar and Camicazi screamed. Astrid opened her eyes, and saw a giant grey wolf hanging off of Camicazi's arm. It was Killer.

Astrid looked behind Camicazi to the door, where Killer had sprung through. And there, his bloodied sword drawn, was Thuggory.

Camicazi was screeching, hitting and kicking Killer repeatedly. The wolf was growling, his teeth sunk deep in Camicazi's forearm. With a scream, Camicazi twisted loose, blood spraying from her arm. Killer rolled to the floor.

Astrid reached down and grabbed her axe, ready to pounce on Camicazi, but Thuggory the Meathead was already there. With a savage shout he reached out and grabbed Camicazi by the throat. The Bog Burglar heiress gagged and grabbed Thuggory's arm, even as he lifted her off the ground. She lay there, choking, kicking at Thuggory. Her arm was hanging limply, bleeding profusely.

"Let her go!" Astrid screamed at Thuggory, jumping forward with her axe. "She's mine!"

Thuggory turned to look at Astrid. His leather Meathead armor was singed and stained with gore, and his strong, handsome face was soaked in sweat. He looked sore, angry, and tired, but Astrid saw in his eyes a hint of pride.

"So be it," he nodded, and flung Camicazi to the ground. The Bog Burglar hit like a rag doll and crumpled, gasping for air.

Astrid, her axe in hand, approached the fallen Camicazi.

"Thanks, Thug," she muttered.

"Kill her quickly," Thuggory said firmly. "You've caused enough trouble with all this, Astrid."

Camicazi was still gasping for breath, face down, and Astrid stepped over to her, planting her foot on Camicazi's back and pressing her into the floor. The Bog Burglar seemed so frail and thin under her leather boots.

"Thuggory!" Someone called, and Thuggory turned. It was the Meathead boy, who was lying on the ground holding his stabbed leg.

"Eric!" Thuggory said in surprise. "Hold on." He hurried across the room and stooped next to his fallen countryman.

Camicazi groaned, and Astrid spun her foot around and kicked her brutally in the ribs. Camicazi cried out in pain and rolled over onto her back, clutching her side. Astrid planted her foot on Camicazi's neck, and the girl gurgled, grabbing onto Astrid's calf.

"I – didn't – kill Hiccup," she gasped, her chest heaving. "I didn't!"

"I don't care," Astrid replied mercilessly, and raised her axe.

With a desperate twist and a kick, Camicazi spun on the floor. As Astrid's axe came down, Camicazi's right foot came flying across, and it struck Astrid firmly on the back of her knee. Astrid's knee buckled, and just as it did, Camicazi twisted out from under Astrid's boot. Astrid lost her balance. Her axe sunk into the wooden floor and she stumbled forward.

Astrid heard Thuggory yell and she cursed as she scrambled to her feet. Camicazi had jumped for her sword and got hold of it. Now she turned and ran, her light leather shoes pounding as she darted up the steps to the throne, high on the dais.

Enraged, Astrid ripped her axe out of the wood and pursued her. She expected Camicazi to turn and stop at the throne, but she didn't. Instead Camicazi slid her sword in her belt and jumped onto the throne before taking a flying leap onto a giant wooden post that went to the ceiling. Then, quick as a Terrible Terror, she started to climb catlike up the post.

Astrid was startled, and stopped in her tracks. Camicazi was going up to the rafters!

Thuggory ran up beside her, his Meathead sword drawn.

"By Odin, she can climb," he said, his tone tinted with honest admiration. "You know what, I bet she has a trapdoor in that roof. She's going to get away!"

"She is NOT going to get away," Astrid snapped. "I'm going to get her."

Thuggory turned and looked at her. "You're going to climb up there?"

"Yes," Astrid said. She turned and looked at Thuggory.

As soon as her eyes met Thuggory's she suddenly seemed to melt inside. Just then she was a mess, an emotional, raging, saddened mess. But as she looked at Thuggory and his broad, well-groomed face and stared into his deep brown eyes, she started to relax. She saw in Thuggory's eyes a concerned look of care, one of deep and loving affection.

"Can you climb that?" Thuggory nodded to the post.

Astrid tore her gaze away from Thuggory's to look at the post, where Camicazi was already almost at the top, in the rafters.

"I can," Astrid told Thuggory. "But when I get to the top she'll try and bushwack me before I can get on the rafters and fight. I need you to cover me."

Thuggory nodded. "I can do that."

"Then I'm going to climb."

"Astrid, wait." Thuggory grabbed her arm. "Listen to me, Sasstrid. We've lost this battle."

Astrid bit her lip.

"I'm just gonna say it," Thuggory stated. "We've lost it. Hysteria has already landed. We won't be able to fend them all off. The battle is over. We've been whipped." He sounded bitter.

"I don't care," Astrid swallowed. "I'm going to kill her."

"I know." A corner of Thuggory's mouth went up. "Stubborn, aren't you? Well, I can't stay and help, I've got to get Eric out of here. And Astrid, the Outcasts are retreating from the defenses back to here. Watch out for them, they'll be here any second."

"All right," Astrid replied.

Camicazi laughed. Standing tall on the rafters, she pointed her sword at Astrid, who was standing below.

"Come and get me, Astrid!" She challenged. "What happened to your so-called courage? Fight me!"

Astrid gritted her teeth, and slid her axe into the straps on her back. Steeling herself, she ran over to the pole that connected to the ceiling and swung up onto it, shinnying up as fast as she could.

She missed her spiked skirt, because it gave her extra grip while doing things like this, but Ruffnut's outfit was tight and allowed her to move well without snagging anything. In ten seconds she was already about fifteen feet off the ground.

As she got to the top, Thuggory yelled and threw an axe at Camicazi. His aim was perfect, and Camicazi cursed as she ducked, almost losing her balance on the rafter. Astrid took the opportunity and swung from the post and onto the rafters, her leather boots making a dull thud on the dusty timbers that supported the Bog Burglar's Great Hall.

Astrid looked down at her footing. She was standing on a roughly hewn rafter that was maybe eight inches wide, with a thick layer of dust that would make foot traction difficult. Ten feet ahead of her was Camicazi, standing on the same rafter. The worst stability imaginable.

Thuggory now had the Meathead boy upright, and, with one final parting glance up at Astrid and Camicazi, he helped the boy into the door of the tunnel and vanished. Killer snarled and stayed, his fierce yellow eyes gleaming up at the two combatants in the rafters.

Astrid raised her axe in front of her, even as she realized that Camicazi had a huge advantage. The Bog Burglar was used to this kind of thing, climbing on roofs and supports to escape after stealing things. She had no such experience. However, Camicazi's right arm was definitely injured badly from Killer's bite, and the bruise on her neck looked painful as well.

Astrid took a step forward, balancing on the rafter. Camicazi, her confident grin still on her face, hopped onward closer.

"All right, come to mommy," Camicazi grinned. "Come here and die."

"Die?" Astrid grinned. "All I have to do is tackle you off these rafters, bitch. We'll probably both break our legs, but I've got a wolf down there that will tear YOU to shreds. You'd better worry about the dying part."

Camicazi darted a glance down at Killer, who snarled savagely.

Suddenly there was a tremendous roar and a crash, and the whole roof of the Great Hall shook. With a cry, Astrid fell, barely catching onto the rafters. She looked up to see a giant section of the roof torn away, flames roaring all around it. And there, wings beating, was a red Monstrous Nightmare. The dragons attacking the island had reached the Great Hall, apparently.

Astrid scrambled back on top of the rafter, still gripping her axe tightly. Looking down the wooden plank, she saw Camicazi barely hanging on by one hand, her good arm. Then, with a quick, adroit movement, she swung her legs around the rafter and flipped onto it, breathing hard. She still had her sword, somehow.

The red Monstrous Nightmare vanished from above the hole, and now there was a free passage from the rafters onto the rooftop, where the first rays of sunrise where blazing brightly through.

With a mighty jump, Astrid leaped for the shingles, realizing that if she got to the company of the dragons, the chances of killing Camicazi would increase tenfold. Her jump was good, and she made it. Scrambling to her feet, she stood on top of the Great Hall, brandishing her axe.

There were two red Monstrous nightmares. One was Hookfang and the other was a vicious monster that belonged to Snotlout's father, Spitelout Jorgenson. They were singlehandedly trying to burn down the Great Hall, which was a typical Jorgenson approach. However, they were being fiercely attacked by bolas and arrows, which made their task difficult. Hookfang was circling the Great Hall, and Spitelout and his dragon were on top of the roof, ripping at the shingles.

A Hooligan spear was embedded in the roof next to Astrid, and she dropped to one knee to tug it loose. One of their dragon riders must have flung it during the fray.

Camicazi, her blonde hair flying in the breeze, jumped onto the roof on the opposite side of the hole. There the two girls stood, facing each other across a fiery opening, conspicuous on the skyline. Snotlout, who was doing a pass over the Great Hall, saw the two girls on the rooftop.

"Camicazi!" Snotlout roared.

On the other side of the rooftop, Spitelout Jorgenson heard his son shout. On top of his dragon, he whirled. When he saw Camicazi on the rooftop, he shouted and leapt off his dragon, grabbing his axe. He started to run towards Camicazi. The girl whirled to look up, as Snotlout's giant Monstrous Nightmare was thundering towards her.

Astrid took the opportunity. Grabbing the spear that was embedded in the wood, she yanked it out, and with a giant heave, hurled the spear with all her might at Camicazi.

She just barely missed. The spear sailed right over Camicazi's shoulder and kept going – until it smashed into Spitelout Jorgenson's chest.

Astrid gasped, and Snotlout screamed.

Spitelout, a confused and shocked look on his face, spilled to the rooftop, the spear jutting awkwardly from the center of his breast. His axe clattered on the shingles and he pitched on his face, tumbling off the roof. The spear broke as he rolled down the hard wood shingles and then his body vanished over the side as he fell.

Snotlout yelled. Astrid had never heard him yell so loudly and so desperately before. Hookfang let out a furious blast of fire and then the Nightmare diverted his flight towards Camicazi and dove to the ground, where Snotlout hopped off and ran to where his dead father was lying.

Both Astrid and Camicazi were now standing in shock.

Spitelout's Monstrous Nightmare howled.

It roared louder than Astrid had ever heard a dragon roar. With a look of maddened rage in his red eyes, he opened his mouth and sent a gigantic blast of fire down the roof at the two girls.

Both Astrid and Camicazi did the same thing. They both shouted and sprang for the hole they had just come out of. They jumped through, yelling, just as the hot, ferocious ball of fire passed over the spot they had been.

Astrid barely noticed the searing blast of fire. She was trying to land on the rafters again, but her jump had been slightly off. With a shout, she dropped her axe and tried to grab hold of the beam as she passed by, but she couldn't. Her bloody hands slipped on the wood and she fell, yelling, down the floor. She crashed into a table, wood flying everywhere. Luckily the table top broke her fall. Her axe landed several feet away, clattering on the wooden planks. Lying in the mess of broken boards, she groaned, sitting up. She looked back up to the rafters.

Camicazi was standing on the beam, her sword still in her hand. She had made her jump perfectly.

"You have failed, Astrid," she leered. "The battle is over, and you're in the wrong spot. I'm done with you. Go now and die in whatever way seems most appealing to you. I'm off to kill some dragons."

Then she turned and leapt spryly back up through the hole, her blonde hair flying behind her.

Groaning, Astrid got to her feet. The Great Hall was empty – at least of all living people. Ten dead Bog Burglars and her father were lying there. Thuggory was gone, and so was the unknown Meathead boy who had fought so bravely. The only being left in the hall was the wolf Killer.

Grunting, Astrid dragged herself over to her axe and picked it up, even as Killer walked up to her side. Camicazi was right. She had failed. She had failed miserably. Not only had she now escaped, but the endeavor had cost her father. The death of Spitelout Jorgenson was another huge loss. She had killed one of her own soldiers.

But she was not going to let that affect her. Camicazi had told her to go and die – and she didn't feel like dying just yet.

Using her axe as a prop, she pushed herself to her feet. The fall had shaken her up, and she needed to catch her breath. Killer looked up at her with his fierce yellow eyes. They had an urgency in them, as if to say, 'Let's get the fuck out of this place.'

"You're right, Killer, let's go," Astrid nodded, rolling her shoulders. "But hey! What happened to the tunnel?"

Astrid was staring. The entrance to the tunnel was gone. It was completely blocked by the massive amounts of fallen rubble and shingles when the roof was broken.

"Shit," Astrid groaned. "Now there's only one way out – the front door."

With Killer at her side, Astrid strode up to the large twin doors of the great hall, axe in hand. Knowing that she was about to step out to the most visible place in the village, she shrugged, and pushed the massive doors open.

And there, right in front of her, was twenty full armed Outcast soldiers, and behind them, Alvin the Treacherous himself. They were hurriedly walking towards the Great Hall. Behind them half the village was in flames.

"Shit." Astrid said quietly. She didn't even yell it, she was beyond that. The only thing left to her was utter resilience, and she rolled her shoulders. She had nowhere to go.

The Outcasts saw her, and stopped short.

"Who the fuck are you?" One snarled, pointing his spear at Astrid. "You're not a Bog Burglar."

"What! You're damn right she's not," Alvin the Treacherous leered, a grin on his ugly face. "I know her. That, my boys, is a Berkian girl! Kill her!"

With angry shouts, twenty Outcasts men raised their weapons and ran at Astrid.

Time seemed to slow down for Astrid. The noise of the charging Outcasts became a distant blur. She suddenly felt weak, her body sore all over. Her eyes tilted upwards involuntarily, where she saw the North half of the village burning. The dragon army from Berk was massed above that area, and the rest of them were fleeing from the docks, where the Hysterian troops were pouring off their ships onto the island.

Tears filled Astrid's eyes. So this was how it would end. Her desperate attempt to exact justice on Camicazi had failed. She had cost Berk her father, Spitelout Jorgenson, and caused an injury for a Meathead warrior. And now it was all for naught. She was standing alone in front of twenty Outcasts, ready to cut her to pieces.

Not alone. Killer snarled.

Astrid faded back into reality, blinking in surprise. She looked down at the brave wolf standing by her side. His snarl had been utterly fearless, utterly ruthless, and utterly confident. Killer wasn't accepting defeat. He was going to fight all those Outcasts, and he was going to kill each and every one of them.

That snarl brought fire back into Astrid's heart.

With a yell, she raised her axe.

"Come on, Killer!" She yelled, and charged down the stairs of the Great Hall at the Outcasts.

The Outcasts were taken aback. They were not expecting to be attacked, after all, they outnumbered Astrid 20 to one. But seeing her fierce charge down the steps, her bloody axe raised, and a giant wolf at her side, they hesitated.

Astrid screamed her war cry and swung her axe at the first soldier. Killer leapt right beside her.

Thuggory fell to the mossy ground, grunting. Eric, the Meathead boy on his back, let out a cry as he pitched to the swamp as well.

Gasping, Thuggory sat up. Looking towards the village, he saw the wooden wall of the outermost house. Giant plumes of grey smoke was rising from the village, and the smell of burning wood and flesh was thick.

Eric groaned. "Where are the dragons, Thug?"

"I told them to pick us up here once the army retreats," Thuggory informed him. "I guess the dragons are still attacking right now. Better pray that they both didn't get shot down, or else we'll be prisoners by nightfall."

Eric buried his face in his hands, and Thuggory tore off a sleeve from his shirt. "Here, Eric. Bind up that stab wound. It's not deep but you don't want to bleed out."

"These damn mosquitoes are going to suck all the blood out of me before then," Eric muttered, slapping at his arms. "You had to pick a swamp, huh?"

Thuggory laughed. "This island is called the BOG, Eric. Everywhere's a swamp."

"Blast," Eric muttered.

"Hey, there they are!" Thuggory pointed above the trees. There, flying fast and low, were Furious and Sven Hofferson's Nadder.

Thuggory stood up and waved his arms. The dragons saw them and circled, landing in the swamp with a squishing sound. Thuggory grabbed Eric's arm and helped him to his feet.

"Get on Furious," he muttered at Eric. "As soon as I break the news of Sven's death to his dragon, there's no telling what he'll do."

Eric nodded, and as Furious trotted over, he grabbed hold of the saddle. Thuggory, taking a deep breath, turned to Sven's Nadder. The dragon was staring intently at Thuggory, its large yellow eyes filled with concern. Thuggory couldn't think of anything to say.

"Sven is dead." He stated stolidly.

The Nadder froze, its tail flickering.

"He got stabbed through the chest," Thuggory said quietly, demonstrating the move with his hands. "Dead."

There was a long, three second silence. Then the Nadder screeched.

It screeched so loudly Thuggory and Eric yelled and covered their ears. Then it began to run around the swamp, flinging its tail all over. Spikes flew.

"Let's get out of here!" Eric cried, as a spike barely missed his face. "The dragon's gone crazy! Let's go!"

Thuggory was inclined to agree. With one last glance at the enraged Nadder, he stumbled over to Furious. The dragon didn't wait for him to climb up to the saddle, he simply grabbed Thuggory in his claws and lifted him up, his wings pushing off and lifting them into the sky. Then he tossed Thuggory back onto him, where Thuggory finally felt safe.

"There!" Eric shouted, pointing. "Our army! We still have organization after all!"

Thuggory couldn't help but yell in pride as he saw the sight. Retreating was never a good thing to see, but the flawless efficiency of this one was fantastic to watch. All the dragons were pulling back from the island, lifting themselves into the air above the edge of the village, out of range. It was a wonder to see, so many dragons fighting so many different battles, now becoming one.

"To the army!" Thuggory cheered, and Furious, bending his wings, turned to join. The village was half burning, half filled with cheering Bog Burglars and their allies. The Southern seas and the docks were littered with purple banners and ships, the signature of the Hysterians.

Thuggory's heart was pounding in his chest. Never in Viking history had there been a battle this big, with this many tribes, and this many warriors. And he had just been fighting in it.

With a couple more swoops of his large wings, Furious was out of range. He joined the rest of the army, which was circling over the western side of the village, out of range but still close enough to see. Fishlegs, in the center, suddenly raised his hand, and then all the dragons stopped circling to turn into a formation, each one hovering behind Fishlegs and his Gronkle. Thuggory took the chance to survey the troops. Stoick the Vast was still alive, and so was his dragon. Chief Elcroy was alive, as was his wife. However, his wife's dragon was nowhere to be seen. She was riding with Elcroy. Both Mogadon and Megadeath from the Meathead Tribe, his father and uncle, were alive and so were their dragons. He was relieved to see that.

"Thuggory!" A shrill female voice shouted, and then Bashhand swooped up on her dragon.

"Bashhand," Thuggory acknowledged, glancing over the Bashem Island heiress. The girls' entire outfit was stained with dried blood and her hands were scratched and ripped. Her face was also covered in soot.

"Eric!" She cried, seeing the Meathead boy with Thuggory. "Where did you go? What happened to you? Are you hurt?"

"Sorry, Bashie," the boy replied. "My – my dragon got shot down, killed. I was in the village with Thuggory and got stabbed in the leg."

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry," Bashhand said remorsefully. "And Thuggory, just where have you been?"

"I was – busy," Thuggory groaned, reaching down to pull a Nadder spike out of Furious' grey hide. "Lots of death, lots of chaos. But the battle is over."

Bashhand frowned. "Not over yet. By Thor, would you look at that!"

Thuggory turned and looked where Bashhand was pointing. His heart leapt into his throat. There was the most awe-inspiring sight he had ever seen.

There in the open area in front of the Great Hall, in the middle of a crowd of Outcast soldiers, was Astrid and Killer. They were snarling and yelling, cutting down the group of men one by one.

"Go Astrid!" Bashhand cheered. "Kill them! Kill them all!"

"By the Gods," Thuggory whispered. "Astrid! Killer!"

The Dragon Alliance Army heard Bashhand shout, and all eyes went to the place where Bashhand was pointing. Soon the whole army was watching and staring in amazement as Astrid kept mowing her way through her opponents. There was only four in front of her now. Then three. Then two.

"We've got to help her!" Eric spluttered. "She's going to die! Look, the soldiers are closing in around her!"

"NO!" Fishlegs shouted. "We can't help her. We wouldn't get there in time, and we've already retreated! We can't risk anyone else. Astrid and Killer are out of our hands!"

Astrid took one last ragged, heaving breath and faced the last ugly, mail-clad Outcast that stood between her and Alvin the Treacherous. Her axe met his with a clash, and the bigger, stronger man grabbed her axe handle and yanked her into a head butt. Astrid dodged, and the man's helmet smashed into her shoulder. Astrid winced as she took the blow. The man's breath smelled like rotten dog meat.

The Outcast soldier tried to pull back and head butt her again, but Astrid hung on to his collar and used it to brace herself into a full body knee kick to the man's groin. There was a whoosh of air as the soldier yelled, and he released her axe. Twisting loose, Astrid spun around and whipped her axe up across the man's chest, carving a deep bloody gash from his hip to his collarbone. He fell heavily to the ground, his body collapsing across another fallen Outcast man.

Out of the corner of her eye Astrid saw Killer tear the throat out of the last wounded Outcast on the ground. With a vicious snarl, he looked up. Astrid took a step forward and adjusted her grip on her axe. There, in front of her, was Alvin the Treacherous.

"You fight pretty well for a little girl," he snarled, grabbing his massive sword. "But you can't beat me."

Astrid was panting, gasping for air. "I can," she breathed. "And I will."

Alvin laughed. "I think not."

As if to corroborate him, there were shouts and a pounding of footsteps. Astrid turned and saw a legion of Murderous soldiers arrive, all clad in strong armor. They stopped at the edge of the street, drawing their swords. Killer, standing beside Astrid, snarled at them. His tongue was lolling out of his mouth, and he looked every bit as tired as Astrid was.

There were more footfalls, and Astrid wearily turned to her opposite side. There ran up a score of additional Outcast men, hairy and smelly. They circled around behind their commander, weapons drawn. Savage, the Outcast second-in-command, was there as well.

Then, to top it all off, there was a yell from the Great Hall, and the doors burst open. A sea of Bog Burglars poured out, running down the steps at Astrid and Killer. Astrid turned around and looked at them, utter hopelessness engulfing her. There was at least sixty total to fight. She looked up. There, in the sunrise, was Camicazi, standing on top of the Great Hall. She was looking down at Astrid with her hands on her hips. It was too high for Astrid to see, but she knew Camicazi was grinning her smug little smirk.

Behind her, Alvin laughed. "Are you ready to die, Astrid Hofferson?"

Astrid took a deep breath and turned around.

"Everyone dies," she said calmly. "The only question is when and how. At least I'll get to die knowing that I was killed at the hands of a cowardly commander who needed a hundred soldiers to kill a girl for him."

Alvin bristled, and some of his soldiers snickered behind him. Even Savage giggled.

"Don't start this yakshit with me," Alvin growled. "You're going to challenge me to one-on-one combat, I know. It's your only hope. But I'm not going to do it."

"Of course you're not," Astrid smiled. "Not only are you a coward, but you know you can't beat me either. You're afraid you'll lose."

"I AM NOT!" Alvin roared. "I would fight you, but why should I!? I've won!"

"Excuse me?" Astrid laughed. "You? Your twenty men did all the work, and I killed them all. Look at your sword! It's still clean! What have you been doing all battle long, huh? Trying to dry the piss off the front of your pants?"

Now even the Murderous soldiers laughed. Alvin turned purple with rage.

"Maybe I won't kill you," he hissed, taking a few steps forward. "At least, not right away. Maybe I'll take you as a prisoner instead. Maybe I'll keep you as a slave in my tent, chained down and keeping me – company – at night."

Astrid snorted with disgust. "Trust me, I know you don't get action often," she snapped. "But I'd die before I'd do that."

"Then I'm afraid you'll just have to die," Alvin leered.

Astrid was about to reply, but there was a sudden hush in the circle. Astrid looked behind Alvin, and there, marching up the road, was a horde of Hysterian soldiers. At their head was Norbert the Nutjob, chief of the Hysterian tribe.

Astrid almost forgot her perilous situation, so great was her curiosity. After hearing so much about the legendary Hysterian tribe, she was dying to know what their chieftain looked like. The first thing to notice was his size.

Norbert the Nutjob was easily the tallest and biggest man she had ever seen in her entire life. He surpassed Stoick the Vast by at least a foot, and while his stomach was a little thinner, his chest was broader. He didn't wear much armor, only shiny steel greaves, bucklers, and a leather breastplate. He was helmetless, and across his forehead was a purple bandanna, the colors of Hysteria. Another shocking fact about him was his face and facial hair. He was not pale like most of the Northern Viking tribes. He was tan, almost as brown as dirt, and he had no beard. Instead he had a small white goatee and white sideburns. It was a strange look, but he pulled it off. He looked terrifyingly fierce. Strapped across his back was the massive axe which was counted among the most famous Viking weapons of all time; the Axe of Fate.

He strode up to the circle, and Astrid could swear she felt the ground shake because of his footfalls. He stopped at the edge and looked around.

"What is this?" he demanded, and his voice was one that absolutely commanded respect. His accent was a thick drawl that Astrid could barely understand.

Alvin the Treacherous seemed cowed. He answered meekly, or at least as meekly as he could.

"This is a Berkian soldier and her" – he glanced at Killer – "pet wolf."

"This girl is from Berk?" Norbert looked around. "The last standing enemy, eh?"

"She won't be standing for long," Alvin snarled. "I was about to kill her."

"She appears to have been standing for some time," Norbert commented, looking around at the pile of dead Outcast men. He glanced at Astrid, looking her over carefully. "You are a warrior."

"That I am," Astrid snarled. "And I will not be a prisoner. I will fight to the death."

"I'm sure you will," Norbert grinned. "Then I'm afraid you're going to die."

"Not if this cowardly Outcast chief accepts my challenge!" Astrid asserted, turning back to Alvin. "You and I, single combat, right here, right now! I win, and I get set free. You win, and I die. Fight me!"

Alvin glared. "I want to!"

"Then do it." Norbert the Nutjob folded his brawny arms.

"I shouldn't, though," Alvin blustered. "We've won, why give her and her wolf a chance, huh?"

Norbert the Nutjob smiled. "Unless you like a good challenge, which I most certainly do. I would love to see a duel between the two of you."

Alvin stared. Norbert pulled his axe from his back. "What is your name, girl?" He asked Astrid.

"I'm Astrid Hofferson, Rider of Berk," Astrid said proudly.

"Well, Astrid Hofferson," Norbert stated, "I am about to give you a chance." He lifted his giant axe into the air. "Do you see this axe? This is the Axe of Fate."

"I know what it is," Astrid snapped. "I've seen a lot of fat chiefs blustering about their fancy axes all my life. Yours just happens to be a bit more famous than most."

Norbert laughed. "You know that when a weapon is known it means it has killed a lot of people," he replied. "But mine is special." He flipped the double-bladed axe around in his hand. "See the two sides? One is white and one is black. Fate is unpredictable, and so is the axe."

He raised the axe high. "Here is your chance, Astrid Hofferson. I shall toss this axe into the sky. As it comes down, you are to call out which side the axe will land on – black or white. If you are correct, then Alvin shall fight you on your terms. But if you guess incorrectly…." Norbert gave her a fierce smile. "Then I will use this axe to chop you in half."

Astrid swallowed. There was no doubt in her mind that Norbert the Nutjob could cut her in half any time he wanted. In fact, he could probably break her in half with his bare hands any time he wanted. But his offer was the best she was going to get. She had no idea that her life might ever be decided by a 50/50 chance. She nodded.

"I accept the offer, Chief Norbert," she said solemnly.

"Of course." Norbert the Nutjob smirked. He nodded at Astrid. "When the axe reaches the highest point, you have to call it. Black or white."

Then, bending over, Norbert flung the massive axe high into the sky.

Astrid stared at the whirling weapon, spinning upwards. Norbert was incredibly strong, because the axe was flying about three times as high as she could ever throw hers. There was no way she could even see the two sides of the axe, let alone guess which one might land in the dirt. The axe reached the highest point.

Astrid took a deep breath.

"Black!" She yelled.

The crowd shuffled, and the axe began to fall downward. Astrid closed her eyes, and prayed a brief prayer before looking up. The axe was falling. As it got closer Astrid could see it. It was spinning. And there, five feet above the ground, Astrid realized that the white side was going to hit, and she was going to die.

It spun one last time, and the white side struck the ground.

As soon as it did, dirt from the road sprayed, and for a brief second the axe blade was concealed by the dust. Then there was a dull purple flash. The dust glistened bright purple for a second and then it faded. Regular dirt landed on the ground next to the side of the axe that was buried in the dirt.

It was the black side.

The crowd of soldiers watching gasped. Astrid was staring in utter shock. She had seen the white side land! She had seen it! But something purple flashed and now it was the black side was in the dirt. It had to be a trick. She looked at Norbert the Nutjob. It was his axe, after all.

However, Norbert seemed just as shook as she was.

"That was very strange," he muttered. He took a step forward and looked at the axe carefully, as if he couldn't believe his eyes. Then he looked up.

"Black side wins. Astrid, you shall fight Alvin."

There was a muffled whispering from the crowd surrounding Astrid, and Norbert the Nutjob picked up his axe. He examined it carefully, still confused as to what just occurred. "Very strange," he murmured.

Alvin turned to face Astrid, a fierce snarl on his face. His sword was still drawn. "Are you ready to die, bitch?" He leered, stepping towards her.

Killer the wolf had been silent for a long time. He hadn't been threatened. However, when Alvin approached him, he growled. Alvin hesitated and looked around nervously at Norbert the Nutjob.

"The wolf. I don't have to fight him, too."

"The deal didn't apply to the wolf," Norbert agreed, looking up from his axe. He turned to the bowmen by his side. "Kill the beast."

Astrid whirled. "Killer, go! Run!" She shouted.

Killer understood. He pivoted and started to run. A Hysterian soldier, seeing him start, fired a crossbow at him. It whizzed by Astrid, and Astrid used her axe to smash it to the ground in midair. In three bounds Killer reached the edge of the ring, and, with a flying leap, crashed on the shoulders of two Outcast soldiers, who flailed at him with their weapons, trying to kill him.

They all missed, however, and Killer reached solid ground. His legs churning the dirt, he sprinted down the street. A few more arrows were fired at him, but none found the streaking grey beast. He came to the edge of the forest and then was gone.

"Yes!" Astrid exulted, a smile coming to her face. With a grin, she turned back to face Alvin.

And saw a massive sword coming at her face.

Astrid yelled and sprang backwards, barely evading the ugly weapon as it whizzed right in front of her nose. Alvin swung again, and Astrid bent over his cut, the tip of the blade coming a mere inches away from her belly. Then she found her footing and swung her axe around to give herself space. Alvin had to step back.

Astrid now readied herself. She had crossed blades with Alvin before, and knew much of his skill and style. However, there wasn't much skill. All Alvin had was brute force and knowledge of a few basic moves. Her skills were speed and quickness, the perfect combination to beat him.

With a yell, Astrid swooped in. She feinted a swing to the left, and as Alvin raised his shield to block it, she spun around, reversed her cut, and aimed a powerful blow to the Outcast Chief's side. With a grunt, Alvin raised his sword, blocking it clumsily. The sound rang over the silent circle. Everyone was watching with baited breath.

Astrid danced away as Alvin tried to get closer. She grinned. "Come on, you big, slow, cockless coward," she teased. "Can't even beat a girl."

Alvin glowered. He raised his axe and swung. Nimbly, Astrid ducked under the blade, lunged closer, and kicked Alvin solidly on the inside of his left knee. He grunted in pain, and Astrid slid under his shield, drawing her axe along the back of his arm, slicing the leather straps that held the shield in place. The crowds gasped as Alvin cried out and stumbled, blood dripping from his arm and his useless shield clattering to the rocky ground.

There was a roar in the sky, and Astrid took it to be the cheers of the Dragon Alliance, which was watching from above. Alvin turned around slowly on the opposite side of the circle, raising his wounded arm. Astrid was facing him from the other side, her axe in one hand and a ferocious gleam in her eye.

With a yell, Alvin charged, his sword raised high. Astrid was about to turn and dodge to one side, but an Outcast soldier who was in the circle behind her raised his foot and kicked her in the back of the calf as she turned. Her knee buckled, and she dropped to one knee even as Alvin was upon her. His knee struck her chin, and she flew backwards into the dirt.

The circle cheered, finally breaking their nervous silence. With a yell of triumph, Alvin slammed his foot down on Astrid's chest, crushing her into the hard ground. Numbly, Astrid felt blood trickling down her neck as she reached out, fumbling for her axe. She found it, and her fingers touched the wooden handle. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw the toe of a Bog Burglar reach out and kick the weapon away.

Astrid had no words. She wanted to scream foul. But this was not the time. Alvin was raising his sword to strike the final blow. Someone else in the circle behind her kicked her in the head. Dirt flew up into her face.

Alvin was roaring his victory, his sword raised high. Astrid screamed as she felt his foot press down harder, and heard two sickening pops as ribs snapped. But then her groping fingers found something in the dirt. It was the short crossbow bolt she had batted out of the air a few seconds ago.

With one last effort, she grabbed the bolt. Flicking it up, she twisted it and slammed into the back of Alvin's thigh. With a roar of pain, Alvin crumpled. His foot slid off Astrid's chest, and his final blow was stopped.

Astrid rolled over, and sprang to her feet, ignoring the screaming pain of her broken ribs. There, right in front of her face, was the Outcast soldier who had kicked her twice. She reached out, grabbed his sword from his belt, and yanked it free. Alvin was still reeling. With a yell and a twist, Astrid spun around and slammed the sword through Alvin's belly.

There was a gasp from the circle, and the dragon army in the sky roared.

Alvin turned ghostly pale. Dropping his sword, he stared down at his abdomen. Taking both hands, he tried to pull the sword free, but failed, and crumpled to his knees. The long, chipped blade was sticking about a foot out of his back. The silence in the circle was appalling.

Astrid staggered over to her axe, holding her broken chest. Reaching down with a wince, she picked up her weapon. Then she approached Alvin. The Outcast leader was gasping his final breaths, blood and black gore dripping from his lips. His hands were clutched so tightly around the sword in his stomach that his knuckles were white. He looked up at Astrid.

"Do you have any last words?" Astrid asked slowly, her ribs hurting so badly it was a pain to even speak.

Alvin tried to speak. In vain he struggled to get the words out of his blood-filled mouth. Through the mess, he managed four words.

"Proud – to – be – Outcast."

Astrid nodded. Alvin, a look of agony crossing his face, bent his head downward.

Adjusting her grip on her axe, Astrid raised the weapon high. With a yell, she brought her blade down on the back of Alvin's neck. Her swing was true, and she felt the steel strike through flesh and bone cleanly. Alvin's head, helmet still on it, rolled on the ground. Blood sprung from his severed neck as his body crumpled to the earth.

Astrid dropped to one knee, breathing deeply. Leaning on her axe, she turned and looked up at Norbert the Nutjob. Norbert nodded in approval.

"The fight is over," he said. "Astrid has won."

"Won!" An Outcast soldier yelled. "She cheated! She stole a sword to kill our chief!"

Norbert laughed. "And she was kicked TWICE by you lot," he retorted. "And her axe was kicked out of her reach. Don't start talking to me about cheating. Fate has decided."

Astrid spoke. "You all are the dirtiest bunch of cheaters and foul-players in existence," she spat bitterly. "It was an unfair fight, and I won. You lost. Now let me go."

Norbert nodded. "You shall be set free."

Astrid closed her eyes.

"Raise a white flag," Norbert the Nutjob commanded. "Let one of her Berkian soldiers come and retrieve her."

He stepped to Astrid and knelt beside her. He whispered in her ear.

"If the day ever comes that you would rather fight for the winning side in a war, you come to me."

Astrid looked at the enormous man, her eyes strong and true. "I will never fight for you," she said. "I fight for the Dragon Alliance, and I have a dragon. You want to kill dragons. You will never understand the reality about them."

Norbert smiled. "I have been all over the world," he told Astrid. "And know much more than you might expect. Who says I don't know about dragons? I know they are intelligent, have feelings, and can be more human than a lot of humans. Is that why you are fighting? Over that fact? Because it matters not to me. The only thing that matters is my alliances. I currently have an alliance with the Bog Burglars. Therefore I have and will aid them as long this war may last, and that means you are my enemy. But there will be other wars to come after this. Other wars that involve dragons. The greatest war the world has ever seen is being planned even now. When that happens, and if you are still alive, ask for me. I will give you a place in my army."

"What wars?" Astrid demanded. "I don't care about wars ten years in the future! No! I'm here to win this one."

Norbert shook his head sadly. "Oh, you know nothing, you little lioness," he said soothingly. "But I am sure you do know this – that Berk doesn't have the only dragon riders. You know that there are other riders, better riders than you in the world. For instance – a rider with a giant Skrill who possesses more power than you could possibly imagine. Would I be correct?"

Astrid stared. "My God," she whispered. "What – how – how do you know about that?"

Norbert only smiled and stood up. "Another time, my dear," he replied. "But know this. This war is only a small trifle in the years to come. In the end, there will be a last war, one that covers all the earth in shadow. And when that occurs, you would be best to choose the right side." He paused. "MY side."

Astrid could only stare.

"We will meet again," Norbert said, and then turned his back. Walking away, the Axe of Fate clanged against his back.

Slowly, Astrid stared over the ground in front of her. The bodies of Outcast soldiers, bitten and sliced, were around her. The circle of Boggies, Outcast, and Murderous fighters was muttering among themselves. A white banner was flapping in the breeze above her, and in the distance she could see a dragon sailing down. It was coming to get her.

Blinking, Astrid turned her gaze up to the great hall. There was Camicazi, sitting on the edge, looking at her. Her arms were folded. Her and Astrid locked eyes.

"Dragon rider!" Norbert the Nutjob called. "I give you your lioness, Astrid Hofferson!"

Astrid turned her bleary eyes to the sky. There she saw her mother and her Nadder dropping into the circle to get her. She tried to rise, but couldn't. Her eyes faded, and she passed out on the hard ground.

There is is! Only about twenty-fucking-thousand words long. But a battle is a battle, and there was a lot to cover. Sorry we got no look at Hiccup and Toothless in this one, but they'll be back next chapter, as soon as I can write it. Drop by a review if you care to! I'll try to reply to them all.

Cheers,
NatB.