Ahh, word of warning, This stories getting pretty heavy, I'd say if your rather light-hearted, the rest of the story as you might guess, is probably not for you. Not saying this is a gore fest. More of an angst fest. But it's all for good reason. (I'm getting pretty philosophical up in here) And the ending... Is... Well. It's not tragedy. It is a happy ending as much as I don't want to give anything away.

With that aside. Yes, I named this after imagine dragons because it's my favourite band. (And it's got dragons in the name, I mean duh.)

Review replies


Ninuhuju: Oh yeah I saw that, (Not sure whether I like Dagurs hair cut... or lack there of) And of course Hiccups the dragon whisperer :P I think Hiccup letting the terror go was like my nod to the books, the original toothless was set free while movie toothless goes into the cage XD. (I can be symbolic to you know!) but yea anyway I'm off on a tangent, Thanks for your review :D

glitterjewel: I hope you're okay with my sporadic updating... I updated as soon as the writers block left my system. And yes, it;s a disease as many other writers would agree! Anyway, Thanks for your review :P

BEST OC Maker: I shall, and you are very consistant with your reviews just so you know... wait, you probably did already know... Thanks for your review XD

silverwolvesarecool: Hehe, I thought that was pretty cool personally. It even rhymed! And yeah i'm really bad with any language that is not my own. Sadly, (I will learn and speak ancient Norse one day, so just watch me.) Haha yeah, Future Astrid is definitely getting nostalgia and anxiety all rolled into one. And yeah well, the space time continuum is kinda messed up, (But it's not that complicated! it's just a big ball of wibbly wobbly time-wimey stuff!) But whose fault is that! (I'm looking at you loki) So yeah, heres the next update! Thanks for your review :)

nightfury153: Review 1/2/ Not sure if you are actually telling me that you didn't feel the angst, or that i killed you with angst, I think the latter is true here, and for that I apologise. And also, more to come. Thanks for your review :3

Guardian of Azarath: Well due to Stoicks tendency not to listen, (stubbornness... Greeeeeaat,) The Vikings probably won't do all that much different, and the dragon-riders aren't exactly great qith their dragons yet, the only real thing different about this battle is well... Astrid. Oh you'll find out. It will be rather blatant actually, and yeah I'm kinda admitting it hasn't happened yet. (Well, actually, it could of, but you just haven't found out yet) so keep your eyes peeled. And yes, totally right, where's Hulk when you need him. thanks for your review :P

Kyubbiman: Oh, review for chapter 3... So you got past the thor-awful first opening chapters... I forgot people are still beginning this story :P. Welcome, and I swear it get's better. Thanks for your review XD

Kisa167: :) Glad you like it, And it seemed I've got another person hookfanged. (Badum tss?) Okay, that was bad, I'll admit that. And eyah, I updated so I hope you're proud of me. (Note, all of this chapter was done through some writers block. I'm still surprised I wrote as much as I did.)


Ready Aim Fire


Hiccup's breath hitched as he saw the first wave of enemies entering the mountains. Sure they had both sides of the small mountain valley covered, but the sheer amount of enemies they were facing was something that he would never forget.

Gods, Asgardians and Humans alike formed a shield wall that blocked all access to the valley, The giants were not phased as they charged up the pass with tenacity. Hiccup could already see some more enemies coming up from the mountain pass behind them. They may have a strong defense... But now they were walled in. This valley, it was where it would all end for the ground forces at best. However, they planned on holding out as long as possible.

The shield-wall defending the first entrance braced for the enemies first charge. There were shouts from all sides. Hiccup sighed as he sat upon Toothless, Who was staring down the distant troops coming towards them. He should probably help the ground forces. He rallied the Deadly Nadders to his position. His plan was to separate the tightly packed units who were engaging the shield-wall. Astrid hovered nearby on a skittish Stormfly.

"Here's the plan. We're going to fly down the gorge and kill them while they are in their compact formations, it should be a simple strafing run with fire and Nadder spines. But be careful, there isn't much room for manoeuvring."

He ordered. There wasn't much delay as he took off towards the gorge with his Nadders in tow. The troops barely had any time to react before fire descended upon them. Archers scrambled to get a clear shot however they were both tightly compact and easy targets themselves.

The Nadders were easily obliterating the fodder of frost and mountain giants, They were making good progress. However, for every wave they destroyed two more rose to take their place, And for every Nadder they lost, the weaker their collective force got. All the enemy had to do was wait.

Toothless shot multiple blasts at many frost giants, searing and killing them. However, he noticed they were getting near the bottom of the gorge. He stopped the assault and called the retreat of his riders in an instant. If they got too far in the open then… Well he didn't want a repeat of what happened to his mother.

"Riders, Retreat. Regroup in the valley!"

He yelled over the sound of fire and battle. There were sounds of agreement but the sound of fighting was rather loud. He urged Toothless back up the mountain, Toothless was snarling at the enemies on the ground, dodging the occasional arrow that was shot at him. Toothless had tough skin like Gronckles did. A few arrows wern't going to phase him. Okay maybe Loki's, but not these ones.

Hiccup landed back in the valley where a large portion of the Gods and Vikings alike were holding a shield wall. None of the giants could get through to the camp which included the children and injured.

He dismounted Toothless to go discuss strategy with his father, who was one of the spare soldiers that were not needed in holding the line just yet. However, a Goddess came up to him, She had raven black hair but blue eyes, she was clothed in battle gear from head to toe, He wasn't sure what Goddess as there were many to choose from.

"Ahh, a Night Fury… Such a beautiful creature…"

She marvelled as Toothless gave her a curious coo. Hiccup raised a brow as she smiled back at him. She introduced herself.

"Nótt, Goddess of night, just admiring, as I had some input on the Gods creation of the Night Fury, Although I never got to see one up close until now."

She was still smiling, and it was oddly calming despite the shouts of warfare in the background, a moment of serenity amongst the chaos. He couldn't help but give her a small sad smile.

"Yeah, too bad that he's the only one I've ever seen."

He said dejectedly. She giggled, and Hiccup was almost offended.

"You've never seen another one."

She parroted and Hiccup was about to ask her what the helheim that meant when an explosion of a Zippleback snapped him back to reality. He checked to see what happened but as it appeared a Zippleback got too impatient and charged the front lines.

By the time he looked back at Nótt she was gone... Disappeared. He sighed and tried to locate his father, When he was interrupted again, this time by Astrid, looking a little lost.

"Hey."

She began, Astrid was a little out of her element, sure the fighting was her element, but she was more melee to melee combat and having to wait back here left her in an odd spot, so she decided she'd just stick with Hiccup.

"Hi, Hey can you help find my father? I know Odin's busy fighting and the only person I really know who can pass on battle plans is my father, I mean I would of talked to Nótt but she went off and disappeared so..-"

He was about to continue but Astrid interjected.

"Nótt?"

She asked, he shook his head while continuing.

"Oh just some Goddess who had an interest in Toothless for a few seconds there. So anyway I just need to find him so, yeah I already said that… So can you help?"

He questioned, she smiled and nodded. He was going to check the group of beefy looking Asgardians that were standing attention a few platoons behind the front lines, That looked like the place his father would be, tough, heroic, badass, etc. However he didn't get to check as a massive war horn sounded and the fighting from both sides momentarily stopped. When the war horn ended there was silence.

After hours of fighting, uproar and battle the sudden lack of any noise was truly harrowing... It was pure silence. Then, just as soon as it began, the silence ended with the sound of shouting and metal striking metal continued as if nothing happened. But Hiccup noticed there was a red glow to the mountain side now, as if something on the other side was... oh no.

Hiccup barely had time to call out to anyone as a massive flaming fist came smashing through the mountain on the east side of the valley. The frost and mountain giants had to go through the pass into the valley, and that was part of the plan. He never took into consideration the fact that the fire giants are not going to passively sit back while their forces are boxed in and destroyed. They were going to get to these humans. The attacks in the front and back of the valley were just decoys... These fire giants just went through the mountain. A range of things happened in the next minute. Firstly, Hiccup called all of the dragons to the air. Secondly, The frost and mountain giants took advantage of the confused Asgardians, Gods and Vikings alike by crashing through the shield wall and into the small valley taking a bundle of lives in the process, and thirdly the fire giants began climbing slowly over the mountain, almost leisurely.

"Ohhhh that's not good"

Hiccup spouted nervously. He needed a plan fast, they needed to get out of the valley. The Gods had already noticed and were pulling away from the front lines leaving more Vikings to hold off the cannon fodder. Given the fact the Asgardians were bigger and admittedly more skilled. They charged back into the valley and formed a ragged line facing the fire giant while protecting the injured and the children. Some children were already begging for either mercy or to pick up a weapon themselves. The valley was in chaos, fighting was everywhere, he was lucky he was in the air for the ground was scattered with allies and enemies alike.

Hiccup saw the Vikings desperately try and hold the line when a plan hit him, they needed to act, now. He rallied and Nightmare riders to his position, he spoke to their leader, Osmond.

"Osmund, We need a way out of this valley, by fortifying it we held them off but it got us surrounded, take your nightmares, and kill everything in your wake… Make us an exit."

Hiccup said, this was when Snotlout should have taken to the sky and had his heroic and probably last moment. But life has a way of changing, nearly purposefully, to a way nobody expects.

Osmund gave a nod to his chief and took to the air, yelling commands at his division. Hiccup knew Osmund would cause an inferno that would put those fire giants to shame. He called the Twins and Gobber over, The leaders of the Zipplebacks and the Gronckles.

"You asked for us chief?"

Gobber asked while the twins were eager.

"Ready to fry them and pie them!"

They yelled in freaky twin unison. Hiccup couldn't help but grin at the fact that some things never change. His smile left him when he began giving orders.

"Gobber, I want you to meet the Nadders and myself in the sky, we're going to give those fire giants Hel. Ruff, Tuff? I'm sorry to ask this of you, but you're going to have to leave this fight."

They opened their mouths to protest but he didn't let them argue his unorthodox order.

"I need you to grab as many of the children and injured as you possibly can, children first. And get them as far away from here as possible, this is your whole division. Fly, Fly as far away as you can until your wings drop. Get as far as you can from here and if Fishlegs or even Eret is still alive then get him to help lead you."

He said, The twins were not the brightest by anecdotal reference, but even they could hear the desperation in Hiccups tone. The twins protests died on their lips and they too were now solemn. Tuffnut sighed as he nodded his head before adding.

"Just so you know Hiccup… You made a great chief, and I always looked up to you… Midgard wouldn't be what it is without you, and I don't just mean your legacy and what you've done for us… I mean you… And before I go I just wanted to say... "

He trailed off not finding the right words… Ruffnut, who seemed to want to say the same thing practically. Finished the sentence for him.

"Give. Them. Hel."

She faltered, voice cracking slightly on the last word. Hiccup was slightly stunned at the twins opening up to him like this… But it was touching to say the least.

"Th-... Thanks guys"

He stuttered trying not to let tears cloud his vision. Ruffnut was suddenly herself again and a devious smirk surface upon her face. She raised her hand as if answering a question.

"Girl, actually, but you'll get it someday."

She laughed and Hiccup could not help but grin. Tuffnut was snapped out of his daze at this as well.

"Hey, you said I get the last joke!"

He protested. Hiccup sighed as the twins took off towards their division to give their orders, all while bickering.

"Well we're not dead yet dummy!"

Ruffnut retorted as she mounted barf.

"Yeah! Well that begs the question, right before we die you could pull a great one liner, not that I wouldn't be proud, but this means you could be pulling the wool over my eyes!"

He continued as he mounted belch. Hiccup let their bickering fade into the distance as he turned to Gobber who was watching the whole ordeal. The gang was getting separated, one by one. The end of the world was forcing the friends apart, one by one, life by life. Already Hiccup has faced losses, losses that won't be recuperated and things he'd rather forget, people that can't be replaced... The twins might make it a few days, the children would live to see another day. But why prolong their suffering? Why let them live only to know they will die tomorrow or the day after?... Hiccup already knew his answer. Because another day alive is a victory for Berk, another day breathing is another day winning. If not, the questions; Why let anybody live another day if they know there is suffering to come? what would the point be of living if they were only going to die in the future anyway? Self preservation isn't universal, but it is powerful.

They will fight this war to the bloody and horrific ending of it. every last man woman and child massacred, because the longer they breathe, the more they fight, the less willing they are to just give up... The more time the past has to reverse it, if they can. It's naive and optimistic hope. Wishful thinking. But it is what Hiccup clings to. Even if he dies. He hopes he has bought enough time.

He turned to Gobber who was already torn after seeing his students and comrades die one by one and also witnessing the only people one could still class as 'jovial' leave and become solemn, even for a moment, was enough to have even 'Gobber the belch' have tears formulate in his eyes. Hiccup turned silently to his old mentor and virtually second father before speaking.

"So… Ready to die, Gobber?"

Hiccup smiled slightly before it left face again. Gobber grimaced and there was silence before he responded.

"Ready as I'll ever be. Hiccup."


Gods damn it. I love all the characters to much, I'm tearing up writing this. I apologise to the multiple armadas I'm sending at your feels here. (I'm sure Dagur would approve) Speaking of which, Anyone want as little Dagur interlude? He's not directly affiliated with the story, but I sense his end in "Race to the dge" series, I feel by the end of it Dagur would be gone, so I want to pay homage to my insane friend. Yep, you know whay, I'm decided. I'll have a little 500 word interlude at some point with Daugurs perspective of Ragnarok

Maybe even heathers?

Ragnarok is the end of the world. So yeah that'll be fun.

Speaking of which, I technically found the cure to the first (out of two I think) types of writers block. Type one (Which I cannot cure): Global writers block = Can't write anything, no Ideas, big stupid empty head. (See Big hero six for more reference)
Type two: Local Writers Block = Can't write anything on any given story (or multiple) because you've been writing it for so long you have no clue where to go and nothings coming for you. (Cure 1: When you start the story, have a plan) Cure 2: Write other drabbles/beginnings to other stories... Looking at my profile it's easy to see which road I took. Yep, I wrote the intro to like... 3 different stories, But it's good now. (for now)

Read, Review, Wake up at 3am and realising you really want to listen to music. Loudly... Do as mentioned previously. Wake up people you probably shouldn't wake up at three AM... (Gods, sleeping in much.) And of course, Follow and fave... And subscribe!

Okay don't subscribe because you can't, wait... I can't tell you not to do something when it's impossible... Whatever. It's 5am. Give me a break.

Cya :D