At Alubarna, Anubis who was the only central figure left in the city was now rallying the Royal Army against the upcoming Rebel Army.
"The Rebel Army is fast approaching us men," he announced. "Listen, we must protect Alabasta with our own hands! Do not fear death, wipe them with everything you've got!" He then unsheathed his sword and raised it into the sunlight. "We must stop the rebels! Take up intercept positions!"
The Royal Army immediately cheered raising their weapons into the air.
At the same time riding on horses and camels were the Rebel Army who outnumbered the Royal Army 3 to 1, with that being said most of them were untrained civilians so there was no way to know which way the battle might turn.
"Alubarna is going down!"
Strider was reading from the front grasping his wound, he hadn't yet fully healed from the bullet wound he received back at Naahun.
"Are you okay, Strider?" a rebel asked riding alongside him. "Your wound…"
"It's nothing, I'm fine," he assured him. "Besides if we keep on riding at this page we'll reach Alubarna by daybreak. We can't stop for anything, just keep riding."
"Yes, sir!"
"We attack at dawn!" Strider ordered.
Meanwhile at Viggo's underground base, everyone was watching as Vivi was crawling on the floor.
"You can quit fooling around now," said Viggo.
She merely ignored him, nothing was going to stop her from stopping this pointless war.
Viggo smiled. "What a coincidence, we were about to head to Alubarna ourselves, Miss Wednesday. If you like to come with us, Princess, then please do. Or you could try and save them."
He then held out a key in his hand.
"The key," Vivi gasped.
"That must be the key to this cell," Hiccup assumed.
Viggo smiled cruelly and held out the key as Vivi desperately tried to get her hands loose. Viggo then dropped the key and just as it was about to hit the floor, Vivi managed to free her hands. She then tried desperately to grab it, but Viggo tapped his foot on a button on the floor a trapdoor opened beneath the key.
"No!" Snotlout cried.
"What? A trapdoor?" Vivi stared.
The key landed on the floor exactly where Mr 3 had fallen a few days ago. Then emerging out of one of the tunnels in the chamber was a huge alligator.
"It won't be too long until the Rebels and the Royal forces begin their battle to the death," Viggo explained. "Even if you have read to Alubarna from here who knows if you'd make it in time." He then turned and faced her. "In order to stop the rebellion, you need to leave at once, Miss Wednesday. Will you do that? Or try and save your friends instead? It's your choice, but if you choose the latter it doesn't help that I accidentally the key in the alligator den."
Vivi looked down into the chamber below and saw the large alligator in the chamber.
"A Grand Alligator," she gasped.
"And what are those things?" Ruffnut asked.
"They look like big alligators to me," said Tuffnut.
"And there's a whole lot of them," said Astrid pointing at the aquarium with a large alligators swimming around.
"Looks like were in some kind of aquarium," said Fishlegs. "I hope were not for dinner."
"As if this day couldn't get any worse," Hiccup sighed.
The allegation the chamber below sniffed at the key and then swallowed it.
"What happened?" Hiccup asked as the others can see what was going on from their position. "Vivi, what happened?"
"A big Grand Alligator just swallowed the key to your cell," Vivi cried in dismay.
"Can't you make that being spit it out?" Snotlout asked.
"I wouldn't stand a chance. They're alpha predators, at the very top of the food chain. They're so ferocious they even pray on Seakings. If you get near one we'll devour you in one bite."
"Sorry, you might have had the key, if I hadn't accidentally dropped it," Viggo smirked. "And now there's no telling which one of my pets might have swallowed it."
"Thanks a lot, you jerk," Astrid glared.
"If we can only get out of here I could handle those overgrown reptiles," said Toothless.
"Huh, don't we have to get outside the cell first?" Tuffnut frowned.
"Yeah, but we need the key to do that," said Ruffnut.
"Sounds like quite the conundrum, which comes first…"
"Getting out of here or getting the key?" Ruffnut nodded.
"Would you two muttonhead shut it," Snotlout snapped.
"Oh, well," said Viggo as he snapped his fingers and a door opened. "I'm so sorry, but we must be going. Time is of the essence. Oh, and speaking of time, this room will be destroyed in exactly one hour. It served me well, but it's no longer of any use. Soon the waters of Rainbase's Lake will fill this room and unless there's there were fish or one of my alligators anyone left in here won't survive."
He then looked at Vivi with a large smile. "Well, it's either 1 million innocent citizens or a mere seven pirates that have no future. It's time to choose, but to be honest the odds are quite low for both. I hope you like gambling, Miss Wednesday, because like they do at the tables upstairs you're going to have to roll the dice just like I did with this country which was simple thanks to all the fools here. People like those juvenile rebels, and that old man digging in Uba."
"You don't mean Asger do you?" Hiccup stared.
"Of course, even though everyone else has abandoned it, that old fool keeps on pecking away every day in an oasis that long dead. Even when he's plagued by constant sandstorms, he still digs away."
"I won't let you speak to him with such disrespect," Hiccup glared.
"You don't know much about sandstorms, do you my dear Hiccup? Ever wonder how one hits a town perfectly every time?"
Hiccup's eyes widened. "No, you didn't."
"You don't mean?" Vivi stared shocked.
"It was him?" Astrid gasped.
Viggo laughed as he extended his hand of a small sandstorm appeared within his palm.
"I will kill you!" Vivi swore.
Viggo merely chuckled and turned his back on her and walked off. Miss All Sunday looking at her briefly with an emotionless expression and then followed her boss.
Suddenly a trapdoor opened and water began to dispute out.
"The room's starting to flood!" Fishlegs panicked. "We're all going to drown if we don't do something."
"I'm too handsome to die," Snotlout cried.
"Calm down," said Toothless. "Panicking like a bunch of headless chickens isn't going to help us."
Vivi was completely frozen, unable to move and looked at Viggo as he walked off. "So it's either my kingdom or my friends. All you've done is take, Viggo, so I know that you wouldn't give me either choice. Even if I left for Alubarna you'd kill me before I ever reached it. The only real choice… the only way to end this nightmare is to take out the one who started it."
She looked at Viggo with burning hatred. "Monster… you don't know a thing. Not anything about this country's people… its history… our way of life."
Everyone watched as Vivi rose to her feet and began spinning her disks, but a few seconds later her arms fell to her side and she fell to her knees. They watched as she began to cry, no one could blame her especially after what they witnessed.
"Vivi, get us out," said Hiccup gently. "You can do it, I know you can."
"How Hiccup?" Vivi cried.
Viggo stopped and turned. "Ah, so you're finally stop and begging for your life Dragon Conqueror Hiccup. There's no shame in that, it's only natural, everyone is afraid of dying."
"I'm a pirate, it's an occupational hazard," Hiccup smiled with confidence. "I just don't wanna die just yet, not when you're outliving me."
"I admire bravado, but you're still small fry compared to me," said Viggo.
"At least I'm not hiding behind a façade, I'm perfectly honest with myself," said Hiccup.
Viggo then snapped his fingers another trapdoor appeared and then suddenly emerging out of it was an alligator.
"You're right, Miss Wednesday. I would have had you killed before you reach the capital and of course I'm planning on doing the same here."
The large alligator was looking down at Vivi, it was so big that it could swallow her in one single bite.
"That thing is so gigantic," she said backing away slowly.
"And unfortunately his friends outside waiting their turn," Astrid added.
She was right the alligators were now lining up outside of the trapdoor waiting their turn to get inside.
"At least we don't have to wait around and drown like rats," said Toothless.
"Yeah, but getting eaten by a gigantic alligator is in the way that I want to go either!" Snotlout snapped.
Vivi raised her disks. "Peacock String—"
Then before she could launch her attack the alligator pounced on her and she barely had time to get out of the way before it smashed right through the staircase with its powerful jaws.
"That thing is fast and strong too," Fishlegs stared. "It shopped right through those stone stairs like they were cardboard."
Suddenly the alligators slapped Vivi with its huge tail.
"Vivi, no!" Hiccup cried.
"Please tell us that you're still alive!" Snotlout pleaded.
Vivi was still conscious, barely, but she had drawn a bit of blood. The alligator was still behind a poor used to attack once again.
"Vivi, get up!" Hiccup yelled.
"Run!" Astrid cried.
"Vivi, get out of there! It's going to eat you!" Fishlegs pleaded.
The alligator then opened its mouth, but then suddenly they heard a ring tone. The alligator stopped and everyone turned towards the source of the sound which was coming from Miss All Sunday.
"Someone's calling," she said. She then pulled out the Transponder Snail. "Yes?"
"Hello," said Ragnar's voice. "Hello, can you hear me?"
"Yes, we can hear you. You're a Millions, right?"
"Hey, pal, is this thing working all right? I've only used the Transponder Snail only once before."
"It's working fine," said the second voice sounding bit beaten and bruised. "They can hear you, just keep talking to it."
"What do you want?" Miss All Sunday asked impatiently.
"Hey up and state your business," Viggo ordered. "What is it?"
"Ah, I've heard that voice before," said Ragnar much to Viggo's confusion. "Yeah, hello there. You've reached the Crap Café."
Viggo frowned. "The Crap Café?"
"Does that ring a bell? It should, but in case it doesn't then maybe this will jog your memory… Little Garden."
Viggo then recognised the voice, it was the person that impersonated Mr 3 and gave in that phony report about the Dragon Riders' death.
"We have seven of the eight Dragon Riders inside that cell based on what Mr 2 showed us," said Viggo. "The only one that's left is that pet, do they have other members we don't know about?"
"Did you hear that?" Fishlegs whispered.
"The voice was unmistakable," said Astrid.
The twins then opened their mouths. "Rag—"
"Shut it?" Snotlout hissed as he quickly covered their mouths. "They don't know about him so let's keep it that way."
Hiccup nodded. "He was in the cargo hold when Mr 2 showed up so they never met. That means he's our ace in the hole."
Vivi's eyes lit up. "Oh, that's right, Ragnar and Chopper didn't get captured. They're still outside."
"Ah, yes," said Viggo looking down at the transponder snail. "Mind telling me, who you are?"
"Me? Well, just call me Mr Prince."
"Very well, Mr Prince, mind telling me something else? Like where you are."
Ragnar chuckled slightly. "Do you truly expect me to answer that question? I'm not the kind of guy that gives up information, easily, unlike you just did Mr 0."
Viggo merely narrowed his eyes.
"Mr Prince, hurry!" Snotlout cried from the cage. "If you don't hurry up were all going to end up as gator bait! We're running out of time!"
"As matters I'm dream, I don't really want to see the inside of an alligator stomach!" Ruffnut cried.
"Even though it would be totally awesome!" Tuffnut yelled.
"Judging from the yells I gather that my crew is still alive," said Ragnar with a small chuckle. "Thank you for letting me know that you have them, all I have to do is find you and—"
They then heard a gunshot and a cry from Ragnar.
Hiccup and the others were bit concerned that Ragnar had just been shot.
"Not so task now, are you?" said a new voice. "We've got him, sir. Don't worry he won't be going anywhere in the condition that we've put him in."
They then heard several groans from Ragnar.
"Ragnar," said Vivi in a hushed whisper. "Oh no."
"So where are you? Speak up," Viggo ordered.
"I'm at the front of the casino with a gator on top in Rainbase… Raindinners."
"This doesn't sound good," said Toothless.
"I'm surprise they caught him offguard," Hiccup frowned.
Viggo chuckled. "Stay right there." He then placed the receiver down. "Well we shouldn't leave the man waiting."
"Is this wise?" Miss All Sunday questioned. "The Million still don't know the actual identity of their boss."
"Aside from the number agents no one knows who you and I truly are," Viggo nodded. "Everyone things that I'm a local hero who also owns this casino. There's nothing suspicious about a proprietor going to see what happened in front of his building. Our secret will be safe."
Vivi had secretly backed away towards the broken staircase and a split second later she began climbing it. The alligator immediately turned and opened its largemouth biting through a good portion of what remained of the staircase.
"Vivi!" Hiccup yelled.
Vivi had managed to avoid the jaw and climbed onto the staircase.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Snotlout yelled.
"We still have time before this room feels completely with water," said Vivi looking down at them. "I'm going outside to help you know who."
Hiccup nodded. "I refuse to believe that he was caught so unprepared. If you can get him then I'm sure he can get us free."
"And Chopper's out there too so we might actually have a chance of getting out of here," Astrid agreed.
Fishlegs then saw burst of sand heading straight towards Vivi. "Vivi, look out!"
Vivi turned and saw Viggo's hand rushing right towards her and it grabbed her neck.
"Vivi!" Hiccup yelled.
"I've had enough of your nonsense," said Viggo pulling her down off the staircase.
Snotlout and the twins were panicking as the water was getting closer and the alligator was slowly turning around. Viggo and Miss All Sunday somehow managed to get on top of the staircase and looks down at them.
"If you care for your friends that much, Miss Wednesday, you can just die here with them," said Viggo. "Which thanks to the rising water and my hungry pets outside should occur very very soon. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to drag Mr Prince back here to join you. I hope you don't mind corpses."
Viggo chuckled as he began climbing the staircase with Miss All Sunday in tow.
Moments later the two of them had made their way up into the casino whether Stuart just stared at them overnight.
"Oh my, Mr Viggo, sir," he gasped. "Have you heard what's happening in Naahun?"
"Yes, tragic," said Viggo dryly.
"The whole town… no, the whole country is in an uproar. Everyone's talking about it, it appears the Royal Army and the Rebel Army… they're finally about a clash."
"Oh well," Viggo shrugged. "I'm not surprised, the king does let pirates attacked the cities. I always thought that something like this would happen if Cobra kept on letting this country suffer."
Many of the customers then saw Viggo the go and just stared.
"Hey, it's him!
"Viggo, I'd love him!" said a young woman.
"Whoa, a public appearance in the casino."
They all began cheering him on as he walked by.
"Seems you're as popular as ever," Miss All Sunday smiled.
Viggo just remain silent as he made his way to the door.
Meanwhile making their way to the capital were Mr 1, Mr 2 and Miss Double Finger. In order to pass the time, Mr 2 had transformed into Mr 1 and was now staring at him with the same mean expression.
"Why that gloomy look off my face," said Mr 2.
Mr 1 glared at him. "Damn you. I don't remember you touching my face ever."
Mr 2 smiled and reverted back to his normal face. "I didn't silly, I punched it. Or have you forgotten, I guess your muscles are bigger than your brain. It's a good thing that your brother that planning all of this."
Mr 1 then grabbed his shirt and pulled him towards him. "What?"
"Oh, bring it on," said Mr 2.
Miss Double Finger just sat there rolling her eyes. "Knock it off you two. Save your energy for the real battle."
Mr 1 then reluctantly released Mr 2 and Mr 2 just sat there looking completely bored.
"You guys are no fun," he said. "Why does a fun person like me have to work with you unfun people?"
"You won't be cooped up with as much longer," said Miss Double Finger as she looked out of the window. "That's Alubarna right outside the window."
Mr 2 then suddenly sprung forwards and pushed the two of them aside to look at the window. "What? Oh, let me see. Let me see!" He soon saw the capital in front of them and it was getting closer by the second. "So that's Alubarna where this little old drama is going to unfold. The place where Mr 0's plan will blossom like a flower in the desert."
Meanwhile at Viggo's headquarters, Hiccup and the others were facing imminent death at the moment they had a choice on whether to be eating by giant crocodiles or drown. Of course right now they were all concerned about Vivi, who appear to be unconscious in front of the giant alligator.
"Vivi!" Hiccup yelled.
Vivi then began to stir. "They've been there for me all this time." She then began to stand, albeit a little shaken. "They've never let me down so I cannot let them down. I won't let them die like this."
The alligator then pounced on Vivi and smashed through the staircase, but Vivi had managed to strike it with her disks before it was upon her. She then took advantage of the fact that the alligator was now stunted jump on its back and onto the staircase.
"All right, she got away!" Astrid cheered.
Unfortunately the alligator had recovered from the initial attack and opened its largemouth touring apart more of the staircase. The shockwave had also caused the windows to smash allowing more water to flood into the room.
"Things have just gotten bad to worse," Fishlegs whimpered.
"At the rate it's flowing, we don't even have an hour left. We'd be lucky if we have 20 minutes," said Snotlout.
"Vivi, are you okay?" Hiccup yelled.
"I'm fine!" Vivi assured them. "I'm going to get help so just hold on! I will get you out of there, I'm not going to abandon any of you I promise. I'll be right back with help, okay."
She then ran off and exited the room.
Viggo and Miss All Sunday had now exited the casino and what they found was surprising.
"What the hell is this?" Viggo growled.
Outside the casino were all the Million agents and they were all beaten up and littering the floor.
"These were the remaining Millions we had in town," said Miss All Sunday. "If you include those that Thoth the Falcon took down, every last one of them have been wiped out."
Viggo then looked at one of the men, who was still barely conscious. "Hey, who did this?" he asked rolling him over onto his back with his foot. "Tell me."
"A guy… he was called Mr Prince," he groaned.
"But I thought that you idiots caught him. So where the hell did he go?"
"He headed towards the south part of town, he just left."
"South?"
He looked around and then saw someone in a poncho running for it.
"I see, run then," he said as a gust of wind covered him. "Run all you want, but you can't escape me."
"You could forget him," Miss All Sunday suggested.
"Oh no, I have always killed those foolish enough to cross me," said Viggo with a fiend just smile. "And that's not a habit I'm quitting any time soon."
His lower torso then transformed into standard he launched himself into the air.
Meanwhile in the casino, Vivi had just ended when she heard a massive explosion outside. Many of the patrons inside panicked and screamed when they heard a noise.
"Whoa, is that an earthquake?"
"I'm not sure, but it caused the bridge in front of the casino to collapse. The whole thing's gone."
"What? You mean we're stranded in here?"
"How do we get out of here?"
"Aren't there any boats?"
Vivi's eyes widened when she heard the news. 'What? Oh no!' She then immediately rushed towards the entrance. "If the bridge is out then I'm locked in."
"I didn't do it to keep you in," said a voice behind her. "I did it to keep those Baroque Work creeps out. It's one part of the plan, you see."
Vivi turned and her eyes widened, because sitting at a slot machine was none other than Ragnar still wearing his Stetson.
"The other part is Chopper running around town like a decoy," Ragnar then turned away from the slot machine. "If we're going to stop this Civil War that's about to erupt in this country we have to hurry."
"Ragnar," said Vivi with relief.
Ragnar smiled and touched his hat with one thing. "Think you can tell me where our friends at? Well, Princess?"
