Sorry for the late update, my laptop is begin repaired so I have to use another computer.
Ever since the defeat Dragon's Edge, the hunters had abandoned all operations at the Northern Markets, meaning it was far much safer for people to trade. One of these traders had just sailed to the beach and grabbed the contents of his boat.
Then he heard a rumbling sound and next thing he knew, he was being pulled down into the sand and vanished without a trace.
At the Edge, Hiccup was holding a medallion which had a Viking card on one side a dragon on the other.
He smiled upon seeing it. "Eh! Just like I remember.
Then Snotlout then came barging in and tried to grab it. "Hey, whatcha got there?"
Hiccup then shoved him away. "Nothing."
Snotlout frowned at him. "Uh, if it's nothing, then give me it. Hookfang and I am making a ceremonial burst of yours truly and we need all the junk metal we can melt down."
Hiccup immediately turned on him. "What? This isn't junk. It's my betrothal gift to Astrid. It means we'll be together forever."
Snotlout then popped his head over his shoulder. "Forever? Well, not if you give that rusty piece of…" Hiccup sighed and walked away with Toothless. "Hey, you know what would be a great idea? A decorative battering ram. Oh! How about a shiny new ball and chain? Wait! A bludgeon with her initials!"
Hiccup then slammed the door writing his face.
"Ow!" Snotlout groaned.
Ragnar and Fishlegs then made their way to Astrid's hut and discovered that she was apparently doing some sort of spring cleaning.
"Ah, Astrid," Fishlegs began.
Astrid immediately turned on them. "Guys, unless this has something to do with Hiccup's betrothal gift, the one that I haven't gotten him yet, the one I have no clue where to start."
Fishlegs looked at her. "The ceremonial betrothal gift must be exchanged six moon cycles from the first announcement of a couple's… Well…"
"Betrothal?" Astrid finished.
"Yes!" Fishlegs looked at her in bewilderment. "Ah, look at me. I'm a wreck. You'd think I was the one 48 hours away from complete disaster, but it's you—"
Astrid then promptly covered his mouth with her hand and then he licked it.
"Ew!" Astrid then promptly grabbed Fishlegs tunic and tossed him over her shoulders, which was quite a feat in itself, and slammed him into the floor. She then immediately climbed onto his chest and looked down at him with a fixed glare and began to twist his arm. "What is wrong with you?"
Ragnar then immediately intervened. "Whoa, whoa, whoa," he said calmly. "Let's all take this nice and slow."
"Especially since we can help you," Fishlegs groaned.
Astrid then promptly released his arm.
"Okay. Who knows Hiccup better than me or I?" Fishlegs asked.
"Me," Astrid answered.
"Good point. Then you know what an amazing gift-giver he is."
Astrid then sighed and sat on his stomach. "Yes. That's the problem. Hiccup is not your ordinary Viking." She then stood up. "He's got a Night Fury. He can fly with a suit made of yak hides. He has a sword that ignites on command. And he's going to be the next Chief of Berk."
Ragnar then helped Fishlegs onto his feet.
Fishlegs then could see the problem. "Wow. Well when you put it like that you are really completely—"
Ragnar then pushed Fishlegs aside and placed a hand on Astrid shoulder. "Astrid, I've known Hiccup far longer than any of you, before any of us dragons, and believe me when I say that he would be happy with anything you give him."
Astrid sighed. "Thanks Ragnar, but I—"
Hiccup then chose that precise moment to enter the hut. "Hey, guys, I just got a T-mail from Trader Johann and it didn't sound good."
A few moments later everyone was in the clubhouse as Hiccup began to explain to them about the mail that Johann had sent.
"All it says is that he needs our help and to come quickly," Hiccup explained.
Snotlout looked at him with his hand around his hips. "And you immediately wrote him back a big, old, 'No, thank you,' I assume."
"Why would I do that?" Hiccup asked.
"That guy is bad luck, Hiccup," said Snotlout strongly. "The last time we got a T-mail from old TJ, we almost got eaten by an island of very angry and very wild dragons."
Hiccup rolled his eyes and approached Snotlout and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Okay. Tell you what, Snotlout, you can stay here."
Snotlout looked at him as he walked away nervously. "By myself? No, thank you. I'm just saying, this sucks."
Hiccup began to fumble with his satchel and then looked at Astrid. "Hey, Astrid, can I talk to you for a second?"
Astrid immediately panicked. "Oh. Uh, better wait on that." She then began to climb onto Stormfly. "Don't wanna leave Trader Johann hanging."
That was not the response that Hiccup expected and watched as he immediately took off.
Hiccup then looked at Ragnar and Fishlegs. "Uh, what-what's happening?"
"Don't ask us," said Fishlegs quickly. "She's your betrothed."
"She's not alone her mind right now," said Ragnar rubbing the back of his head.
A few moments later all them were in the air making their way to the Northern Markets and Astrid was spending most of the time getting as far away from Hiccup as possible, much to his confusion.
"Astrid!" Hiccup yelled trying to catch up with her.
Astrid imminently pulled away from him in a manner that looked as if she had lost control over Stormfly.
"Astrid, will you just keep Stormfly steady for a minute?" Hiccup asked.
"Sorry. She's feisty today," Astrid lied as she grunted and pulled on Stormfly's saddle. "Must be the excitement to see Trader Johann. She really like him."
Stormfly squawked and took off.
Hiccup frowned. "She really… What? Since when?" Astrid, however, was now quite a distance away. "Astrid!"
Hiccup looked at Ragnar and Fishlegs with a bewildered look and they merely shrugged.
They soon reached the Northern Markets and, while they're dragons eat all the apples in every cart; they walked their way through the market. As they walked they noticed that there weren't as many people as usual.
"Ugh!" said Snotlout in disgust. "Didn't this stink hole used to be way more crowded?"
"Oh, yeah. Definitely," Tuffnut nodded. "I mean we'd have been robbed at least three times by now. I miss that charm."
"At least we don't have to worry about Dragon Hunters here anymore," said Ragnar.
They soon meant up at Johann as his stand and he began to explain the reason why he summoned them here.
"Everything from glass trinkets to golden chalices, vanished," said Johann. "And the traders? Gone without a trace."
"You seem to be okay, Johann," said Hiccup gesturing to his stand which was covered in different items. "Has anything of yours been taken?"
Johann smiled at him. "Master Hiccup, leave it to you to find the silver lining in a dark, mysterious cloud."
Snotlout rolled his eyes. "Yeah, maybe they just packed their stuff up and left?" He then raised an eyebrow at Johann. "You didn't tell them any of your boring stories, did you Johann?"
Johann narrowed his eyes at him. "I assure you, my tales of adventures and revelry are the preeminent part of any weary traveller's day."
The twins just looked at him blankly.
"Uh…" Ruffnut blinked.
"Case solved," said Snotlout rubbing his hands together. "Anyone wanna race me back to the Edge?"
Fishlegs frowned. "Uh, guys, I don't think this is about Johann."
"Okay, Fishlegs. Then wants it about?" Hiccup asked.
He then waved his hands in front of him dramatically. "The Curse of Tears."
Tuffnut then imminently burst into tears much to the bewilderment to everyone.
"It's that word," Ruffnut explained resting a hand on her brother's shoulder. "Makes him open up like a water spout. Ever since we were kids."
Snotlout then smiled with a gleeful look. "Oh, what word? 'Tears?'"
Tuffnut then cried once more.
Ruffnut glared at him. "Really?"
"Sorry. Jeez, Louise," said Snotlout holding his hands up. Then a small smirk appeared on his face. "Tears."
Tuffnut then cried even harder.
Hiccup sighed and turned to Fishlegs. "Fishlegs, can you explain."
"As I was saying, if the Curse of T—Oh," he said looking at Ruffnut, who gave him a warning look, and Tuffnut, who had finally cared down. "If the curse of the you-know-what is real, and I'm not saying it is, many trader and valuables have fallen victim to it and vanished, never to be heard from again."
"I've head of this," said Ragnar folding his arms. "Personally I believe it's pirates or Smothering Smokebreaths."
"Well, I like a good mystery as well as anyone, but I promised Hookfang we could roll in some yak dung back home. So you can keep your curse," said Snotlout pointing at Fishlegs and Ragnar. He then pointed at Tuffnut. "And you! Tears."
Tuffnut then broke down into tears.
"Hang on," said Hiccup holding his hand up. "We at least need to check this out. All right, let's split up and look around. Look for any signs of a struggle."
Fishlegs then looked at Astrid. "Astrid, you can team up with me and Ragnar." He then leaned towards her ear. "What better place to find a gift for the Viking who has everything?"
"Great idea, Fishlegs," said Ruffnut's voice behind him. They turned and found the twins standing behind them. "Shopping can be so relaxing."
"Therapeutic, so," Tuffnut sobbed.
Ragnar looked at Astrid. "Astrid, you really don't have to go to some much trouble."
Astrid stared at him. "But I have to get Hiccup something special and one of a kind."
Ragnar sighed knowing that nothing he'd say would convince her.
They then made their way to one of the stalls and the merchant imminently pretended them with a spear.
"This spear is barbed on the head," he explained as he demonstration. "So while the head will slide into the victim, pulling it out is a different story."
He then laughed.
"And a story I, for one, would love to hear," said Tuffnut and leaned on the table. "Chapter and verse, please."
Astrid wasn't so eager. "Hiccup with a spear. Really?"
"How about something portable?" Fishlegs suggested.
"And practical," Ragnar added.
"Hmm. Maybe this seax?" said the merchant as he reached behind his counter. "Made from the bone of a dragon." He then saw the looks that the Dragon Riders were giving. "Right. I suppose dragon bone is a no-no."
"Not cool," said Tuffnut as they began to walk away.
"Oh. I do now carry a wide array of items," said the merchant desperately. He then pulled out a golden dish. "This decorative dish, for example."
Astrid folded her arms and shook her head.
"Uh, how about a working ball and chain?" he said pulling up a ball and chain.
Astrid just remained silent.
Tuffnut laughed. "Hiccup can take off his leg. You really think that's gonna hold him?"
"All right. All right," said the merchant bending behind his counter. "I was reserving this for my host special customer but…" He then pulled out a map.
Astrid looked at him questionably. Um, a map?" She then looked at the others. "He wants me to get Hiccup a map?"
"Ooh, but it's so much more than just a map," said the merchant. "It is told that whoever can decipher it, can find their way to the Treasure of Tears."
Tuffnut then instantly broke down and began to cry.
"Curse of Tears, Treasure of Tears," said Fishlegs and Tuffnut cried even more heavily.
"I'm sensing a theme here," said Ragnar.
Fishlegs' shrugged. "Makes sense they'd go together."
Ruffnut glared at them as she bent down towards her brother, who was now curled up into a ball. "For the love of Thor, have you no soul?" She then gestured to her brother. "Look at this poor man."
"No, and no," said Astrid plainly. She then walked off in a huff. "Treasure map."
Hiccup and Snotlout, along with Toothless, were in another part of the market looking for clues that could answer their disappearing traders' mystery.
"The first thing we have to figure out, is there really a curse," said Hiccup. "And, if there is, where did it start? Whose curse is it?" He then looked back at Snotlout. "Are you even listing to me?"
He was that Snotlout had his back to him and holding his medallion.
"Snotlout where did you get that?" Hiccup asked.
Snotlout shrugged at him as if it was not a big deal. "Your saddleback." He then smirked at him. "You should be more careful around here."
Hiccup sighed.
"You know what this thing need?" Snotlout asked looking at the medallion.
"To be out of your grubby hands?" said Hiccup as Snotlout walked past him.
"It needs a chain. Then at least Astrid can wear the stupid thing," he said as they made their way to a store selling chains. "Otherwise, it's just an anchor for a very tiny toy." He then held it up to a chain. "See? Looks nice, right?"
Hiccup held out his hand and gave him annoyed look. "Would you give me that?"
Snotlout laughed up to the very point when someone ran past and took it out of his hand. Hiccup glared at Snotlout and then chased after the thief.
"I'm guessing you want that back," Snotlout assumed.
He soon joined Hiccup and Toothless with running after the thief. The thief made a sharp turn around the corner, but they followed his movements.
"Snotlout!" Snotlout yelled.
Then the thief ran towards another Viking and tossed the medallion to him. "Catch, Amos!"
Hiccup recognised both the voice and the name. "Amos?"
He soon realised that they were chasing after the same thugs that kidnapped him a few months ago for Viggo's reward.
Amos ran past a couple of Vikings and then to another Viking running in the opposite direction.
"Look!" Hiccup pointed as Amos looked to be giving the medallion to the Viking.
Then they saw him looking as he was giving something to another Viking and Amos did the same to Berthel. All four of them were laughing as they each ran in different directions.
"Where'd he go?" Hiccup asked.
"I don't know," said Snotlout placing his hands on his head. "I lost track of who we were chasing. I hate being confused!"
Hiccup looked at him as he mounted Toothless. "Really? I figured you'd be used to it by now."
He then took off.
Snotlout glared at him. "Heard that." He then looked around for Hookfang. "Hookfang!"
Once he mounted on Hookfang, he joined up with Hiccup and Toothless. Hiccup was looking down at the marketplace for any hint of the thieves. Then he saw Berthel handing it to Amos, who ran towards the forest.
"There!" Hiccup pointed.
They then flew down after him and gave chase.
They followed him through the forest, but had to duck in order to avoid getting hit by the low branches. Snotlout, unfortunately failed to do so and got thrown off of Hookfang.
"Help! The Curse of Tears is real!" he cried.
Hiccup ignored him and continued to hunt down Amos and soon found himself on the beach. Amos, however, was nowhere to be seen, in was as if he had completely vanished.
They landed on the ground and saw a set of footprints, that they assumed to be Amos, that stopped a few paces into the beach and where they stopped was a small pile of glass.
"Uh… The footprints just stop," said Hiccup. They then looked around for any trace of him. "I mean, couldn't have disappeared."
"Well, maybe it's the Curse of Tears. Ooh! Scary!" Snotlout joked waving his hands around in a spooky manner.
Hiccup then examined the glass on the beach. "Hmm, never seen anything like this."
Snotlout looked at the glass fragments in his hand. "Me neither."
Snotlout then felt something large and scaly warped around his chest. A split second later, he was screaming as something pulled him into the sand.
Hiccup turned in time to see him vanish. "No!"
Hiccup jumped and grabbed his hand, only to find himself being pulled into the sand. Toothless and Hookfang then rushed over towards as quickly as they could.
"Toothless!" Hiccup screamed.
Toothless jumped into the sinkhole and grabbed Hiccup's prosthetic leg and pulled.
"Hang on, bud!" Hiccup cried.
Toothless pulled with all his might, but only succeed in pulling Hiccup's prosthetic leg off. He and Hookfang looked around for the sickhole, but saw that it had vanished along with their riders. Hookfang tried to dig, but his claws weren't suitable for digging.
Hiccup and Snotlout found themselves falling through the sand. They saw something that resembled a dragon of some kind before everything went black.
When Hiccup regain conciseness, he found they were in some kind of carven.
"Where are we?" Hiccup asked.
Snotlout, who clearly awoke sooner than he did, had a cheerful look on his face. "Who cares? Look around you."
Hiccup then noticed for the first time that the craven they were in was filled with treasure. Gold and silver coins and jewels littered the place, along with empty crates and tables. He also noticed that there were a lot of dead bodies around, which was concerning.
Snotlout, however, failed to realise this and imminently leapt into the loot. "Gold, silver, silver, gold," he yelled tossing the coins into the air. "How I love thee to caress and to hold…"
He then notice that he has holding someone's dead arm and tossed it into the air in surprise. He then jumped back and saw, for the first time, the dead bodies that litter the floor.
"Aw, man," said Snotlout as he got up. "What is with these bones? They're ruining my treasure pleasure."
Hiccup was now leaning on a barrel to support himself and glared at him. "Snotlout, it's not your treasure. And from the looks of things, having it didn't help these guys much. We need to worry less about this useless junk, and figure a way out of here or all the treasure in the world won't help us."
He then looked around for anything he could use as a spare leg. "Okay, first things first. I need something to replace my leg."
Snotlout then grinned gleefully. "Ooh, a leg, you say? I have just the thing."
Before Hiccup could say a word, Snotlout pushed him onto the floor and grabbed the bones of a leg.
"Snotlout, what are you…" Hiccup yelled, but stopped when he saw Snotlout tiring the leg to his stump. It say that it was disgusting would have been an understatement and began to groan in disgust.
"Shush, you! Snotlout snapped. He then finishing tiring the leg to his stump. "There."
Hiccup lifted the leg and couldn't help but thing how terribly disturbing it was. He then narrowed his eyes at Snotlout, showing his displeasure.
"Trust me. He won't miss it," said Snotlout gesturing to the body he took the leg from. "Thank you, dead body."
Hiccup then picked himself up and discovered, to his surprise, that the leg was actually working. "I guess I can live with that." He then turned their attention to the other problem. "Now, we need a plan before that sand thing comes back."
He then noticed that the places was covered in glass, but it looked as if someone dumped the melted sand and it hardened instantly. "Hmm. This stuff is everywhere."
Snotlout chuckled as he looked up. "No kidding. Look."
Hiccup looked up and saw that glass was covering parts of the ceiling. They could see daylight beaming through it, enough to light the carven, but thick enough so they could see a bit of it.
At the Market, the others were unaware of Hiccup and Snotlout were in trouble. Tuffnut was currently wearing silk scarfs around his shoulders and held a gold bludgeon covered in jewels and in front of him was Fishlegs wearing armour that he and Ruffnut put together.
"And voila!" said Tuffnut. "You, my good fellow, are the model of a modern Viking gentleman."
He then tossed the bludgeon to Fishlegs.
Ruffnut then approached him. "Every Viking leader needs a formal attire. Am I right?" she asked. Fishlegs just remained quiet. She then yelled in his ear. "Am I right!"
"Yes!" Fishlegs yelled and accidently hit himself with the gold bludgeon.
"Indubitably," Tuffnut nodded.
They then looked at Astrid, who was standing with Ragnar, and saw her shook her head.
Tuffnut then groaned. "Her fashion sense is dreadful."
"Uh, just dreadful," Ruffnut agreed.
Tuffnut then walked away. "Scarf exit."
"Time is wasting."
Ragnar shook his head as they walked away. "What made them think Hiccup would wear such outfits?"
Astrid sighed and looked at Ragnar and Fishlegs. "Listen, I think we just have to face the facts, guys. There's nothing I can get Hiccup Haddock that he doesn't have, doesn't want, or doesn't need. I'm useless."
Ragnar placed a hand on his shoulder. "Astrid, you've already given Hiccup something. You." Astrid looked at him with a frown. "You're the greatest gift that he could ever want… but if you want to give him something more tangible I may have thing that—"
He was then interrupted when they heard the sound of Toothless and Hookfang's roars. The two dragons then landed next to them looking distressed.
Fishlegs rushed up to Hookfang. "What is it? What's going on, boy?"
"They seem distressed," Ragnar noted.
The two dragons kept on roaring and Toothless then nudged Astrid and she realised what the problem was. "It's Hiccup. I knew it. Something must have happened to him and Snotlout."
Hiccup and Snotlout were still trapped in the cavern and were trying to climb out of it. However, Snotlout lost his footing and knocking into Hiccup and they both fell to the floor.
"Ow!" said Hiccup as he hit the floor.
Snotlout, unfortunately, landed on some glass which shattered and he felt hundreds of sharp daggers in his butt. "Ow!" he roared. "If you break this stuff it's really sharp." He then removed the piece that pierced his thumb and began to suck it. "Ow, ow, ow."
"Then don't break it," said Hiccup as he pulled himself up.
"A little late for that. But thank you," said Snotlout as he got up slowly.
Then they heard thudding close by and Snotlout imminently hid behind Hiccup.
"Oh, no," he quivered. "It's back. It's gonna turn us into old dusty bones."
"Would you stop whining and get ready to shoot," said Hiccup as he grabbed two crossbows and gave one to Snotlout.
They slowly made their way to the thudding and Snotlout's knees were shaking. Then jumping at them was Amos holding an axe. Hiccup and Snotlout imminently aimed their crossbows at him.
"You," Snotlout glared.
"You!" Amos glared back.
"Put those things down. Now!" Hiccup ordered. "If we have any chance of getting out of this place, we all need to work together."
Snotlout grunted, but lowered the crossbow.
"Yeah. Together," said Amos and grudgingly lowered the axe.
Hiccup then saw his medallion sticking out of Amos' belt. "And I'll take that, that you very much," he said snatching it.
He then tucked the medallion into his belt and walked off.
Aboveground, Astrid and the others had followed Toothless and Hookfang to the beach were Hiccup and Snotlout had disappeared. Hookfang was digging into the sand desperately and the others looked aground the beach.
"Hiccup!" Ruffnut called looking under a rock.
Toothless began scratching the sand and Astrid looked at him. "What is it, Toothless?" She then shock her head in worry. "I don't understand. Where are they?"
"The tracks just end here?" said Ragnar shaking his head at the footprints in the sand.
"Guys," said Fishlegs and held out Hiccup's prosthetic leg.
Astrid gasped in horror.
"Woo-hoo!" Tuffnut cried excitedly and grabbed the leg from Fishlegs. "I'll take that." He then looked at it with curiosity. "Wow!" He then saw Astrid glaring at him. "What? It's mine. Hiccup willed it to me. He said if anything ever happened to him the leg was to be bequeathed to one Tuffnut LaVerne Thorston."
Astrid then matched upwards him angrily and snatched the leg from him. "Oh, you want this? You want it? Oh, I'll give it to you," she said threateningly. "Come on. Say it. Say you want it. Say it. Or should I say it? Tears! Tears, tears, tears!"
"Ah, no, no, no!" Tuffnut cried covering his eyes.
He then fell to his knees and began crying.
Ruffnut rushed up to her brother and glared at Astrid. "What's wrong with you? It's not his fault Hiccup's gone. Why do you have to be so mean?" She then gestured to her brother, who was sucking his thumb and acting as if he was a baby. "Look at him! He's just a baby."
Astrid finally cared down and bent down to Tuffnut and reached out to touch him. "I'm sorry, Tuff. I-I don't know what came over me. I think I'm just—"
Ruffnut then knocked her hand away. "You leave him be." She then looked at brother. "Hey. What do you say we look at our new map, bro? Would that make you feel better?"
Tuffnut looked at her and nodded as he continued to suck his thumb.
Fishlegs looked up. "Wait. What map?"
Ruffnut then pulled out a map, the same one the merchant was trying to sell to Astrid.
Astrid looked at her. "You bought that?"
"It's not like we had a choice," she said defensively. "It's got word words we love beyond… Well, words."
Ragnar frowned. "What words?"
"'Treasure' and uh, you know…" she said gesturing to Tuffnut.
Toothless was still digging the sand, catching the notice of Ragnar and Fishlegs. They approached him and saw that he had dug up some chucks of glass.
Ragnar looked at them. "They're made of glass, but the formation… it want made by man."
Fishlegs grabbed one and held it out. "Astrid, I-I hate to admit it, but these glass fragments look a lot like…"
"Don't say it!" Ruffnut yelled as she and her brother got up.
Fishlegs then ran a finger down his cheek and mouthed the word 'tears'.
Tuffnut then broke down into tears again.
"Oh, come one! I didn't even say it," Fishlegs groaned.
Astrid then took the map from Ruffnut. "Well, I'm out of ideas. Might as well give this thing a shot."
She then opened up the map.
Down in the craven below, Hiccup and the others were still trying to find a way out."
Hiccup sighed. "Nothing but a dead ends. I don't think we're getting outta here anytime soon."
"Great. I'm finally rich, and I don't even get to enjoy my vast fortune," Snotlout groan and then glared at Amos. "Thanks to Amos the Lamest over here."
Amos then glared at them. "If you hadn't chased me, we wouldn't be down here in the first place."
Hiccup then glared at him. "What? If you hadn't stolen from me, we wouldn't have to chase you."
"Well, I guess we can call it even."
Hiccup stared at him. "No we can't. that's not even kind of even."
Snotlout then saw something in the darkness as Hiccup and Amos argued. "Guys, guys. You might wanna save this discussion for later."
Hiccup and Amos turned and saw something moving in the darkness.
It was slightly bigger than Toothless and had a long, snake-like body. It had a large head with relatively small blue eyes. It's neck was long with sharp rows of spikes. It had four legs, each ending with three sharp claws. The back legs were bigger and more muscular than the fore ones. Its wings were big compared to the body. It had two sharp claws on each of them. The tail was very long and has rows of spikes on it.
Hiccup looked at the others calmly. "Okay, nobody…" Amos then ran for it. "Amos, no!"
Too late, the dragon saw him running and roared. It then fired a shot, which bounced off the sand and headed towards Amos.
Hiccup quickly tackled him to the ground and the shot went over their heads. It then bounced off a sand dune and headed for Snotlout, he quickly grabbed a shield and placed it in front of him. Good thing he did, because when it made contact glass covered it from head to toe.
Hiccup looked at Amos. "It thinks you're trying to steal its treasure. Don't move."
The dragon then fired another shot, which bounced off the sand once more and headed towards them.
"Okay, now move!" Hiccup yelled as they got out of the way.
The shot stuck the sand dune and was sent upwards, but not before turning a patch of it to glass. It kept on firing at them and they kept on running and screaming as the shot covered anything it touched to glass. It then fired a shot in front of them to block their path and created a pillar of glass.
"Oh," said Hiccup. The dragon's head then appeared around the pillar. "Take cover!"
He and Amos ran for it and it continued to chase them. Then by accident, it stuck Snotlout with its tail causing him to lose the shield. He slammed into some carts and a crossbow landed next to him, firing a bolt. The bolt went straight through the glass ceiling and created a hole allowing sunlight in.
The sunlight then stuck the dragon's scales and imminently it burnt them. It hissed in pain and dung into the sand and disappeared.
Snotlout then approached Hiccup and Amos with the crossbow in his hands. "Did you guys see that?"
"It's the light," Hiccup stared. "It can't be in direct sunlight."
"Maybe that's why he patched up the holes in the roof," Amso guessed.
"Maybe," Hiccup nodded.
"No 'Thank you. Nice going, Snotlout?'" said Snotlout smugly. "Nothing?"
Amos narrowed his eyes at him. "Oh, shut up, Snotlout."
Snotlout glared at him.
Above ground, Astrid and the others were following the map to the Treasure of Tears, but so far they found nothing.
"All right, look, Astrid. We'll give up the…" said Tuffnut, but stopped in midsentence.
"The what?" Astrid snapped.
"You know. The Tear—" He then began to sobbed for a second, "those , we can live without. But the treasure? That's gotta be ours. We earned that treasure. I earned that treasure."
Astrid rolled her eyes. "If this works, you can have all the treasure you want. But if it doesn't, you know what's coming," she said looking back at the map.
"Uh, what do you say we stay from going down that dark road again, Astrid?" Ruffnut advised.
Tuffnut nodded. "Yeah. I'm not sure I have any… Well, you know, left to cry."
Astrid then frowned as she looked down at the map and saw a large X and looked up. "Hmm. Do you see that?" She zoomed off. "Hiccup."
Toothless, Stormfly and Hookfang then quickly followed her.
"Astrid!" Fishlegs yelled running after her.
"Wait, for us!" Ragnar called running as well.
The twins shrugged at one another and followed them.
In the carven, Hiccup and he heard familiar dragon roars above him.
"We're going to die," Snotlout groaned.
"Shh," Hiccup hissed looking at him. "Do you hear that? It came from outside."
Astrid was running alongside Toothless as quickly as she could.
"Come on, boy," she said. "If this map is real, we need to get there soon."
In the carven, Hiccup looked at both Snotlout and Amos.
"All right, lift me up," he said. "If someone's out there, we need to make sure they can see us."
Snotlout and Amos then each took a foot and lifted Hiccup closer towards the hole.
Astrid and Toothless had found a hole and looked down it.
"Is he in there?" Fishlegs asked.
Snotlout looked up at Hiccup. "Is anyone out there?"
"No," said Astrid and Hiccup in unison.
Astrid and the others were nowhere near Hiccup and Snotlout, they were on a ridge which had many holes dug into the surface.
Astrid got up sadly. "Looks like we're not the only ones who got fooled by this map."
Hiccup looked down at Snotlout and Amos. "Looks like we're on our own."
Once they lowered Hiccup back down onto the ground Snotlout and Amos began looking around for anything that could help them, but with no luck. Hiccup on the other hand was looking up at the glass roof above them.
Snotlout then looked at him. "You know, staring at that thing isn't gonna suddenly help us get outta here."
Hiccup then turned to him. "Hey, you have a better idea for whenever that sand-busting thing comes back?"
Snotlout smiled. "Sandbuster. That's a good name."
Hiccup gave him a blank expression.
"I was just trying to help."
"Oh, you couldn't have gotten sucked down with your dragons, could ya'?" Amos grumbled. "Could've flown right out of here. But no!"
"Why do you even talk?" Snotlout glared.
"It's how I voice my displeasure," He grumbled and gestured towards the hole in the roof above them. "And I'm gonna die with freedom just beyond that hole."
An idea then entered into Hiccup's head. "The hole. Yes. That's our way out."
Amos laughed. "Oh. How do you plan on getting to it?"
"Yeah, I mean the idiot dose have a point," Snotlout admitted. "We can't even reach it."
"Then we'll bring it to us," said Hiccup and looked at the old crats around them. "You two start stacking this junk. Build a tower as high as it'll go."
"It'll never reach and it'll never hold," said Amos.
Hiccup turned on him. "Oh, just do it."
"And what are you gonna do?" Snotlout asked.
"Build a cage, to trap the Sandbuster when he comes back," said Hiccup as he grabbed some wooden beams and a bent nail.
Amos looked at Snotlout with a dubious look.
Snotlout sighed. "I don't know. Just do what he says. He's always right, so there's no point."
"What was that, Snotlout?" Hiccup asked.
"You're like a ray of light. Lighting my way. Super-shiny." He then saw the confused look on Hiccup's face. "Never mind."
"Yeah, yeah," Hiccup sighed.
On the surface, Astrid was sitting on the edge of the ridge looking down at the map. Ragnar and Fishlegs would tell that she was concerned about Hiccup and approached her.
"He's down there," said Fishlegs. "Somewhere. And we're gonna find him."
Ragnar placed a hand on her shoulder. "We're not going to stop until we find him. Right, guys."
The dragons were certainly eager, but Tuffnut was curled up into a ball sobbing while his sister comforted him.
"Bro, it's like tear. It's spelled the say," she said. "'Tear,' 'tear,' no?" Tuffnut continued to cry. "Okay. All right. Calm down."
Ragnar rolled his eyes and looked at her. "Astrid, it's not the first time Hiccup is stuck with Snotlout and more than anyone knows he can look after himself."
Astrid was about to respond when she noticed something on the map. "Wait a minute." She then got up and handed the map to Ragnar and Fishlegs. "Guys, what do you see here?"
Fishlegs was looking at the twins. "A good reason to throw the twins into our volcano?"
"No," Astrid snapped gesturing to the map. "Look." She then pointed to the helmet on the map and then to the mountain ahead of them. "This helmet in the corner looks just like that mountain peak over there."
Ragnar and Fishlegs looked at one another and back to Astrid.
Ragnar looked at her. "I can see the simulates, but—"
Fishlegs then looked at her. "Astrid, I know you want this to—"
Astrid ignored them and pointed to the axes. "And these axes right here?" She then pointed to a pair of tress that formed a cross shape. "They line up, too. These are all landmarks. All around us."
Ragnar then slammed his head on his forehead. "Of course, the X is just to tell you were you can find the landmarks."
Astrid nodded. "And when you line up the map here, look what happens."
She placed her finger on the tears symbol and removed the map. Her finger pointed towards the beach.
She then looked at the others and rushed off with a new sense of determination. "Come on. We're going to get Hiccup."
In the carven, Snotlout and Amos had finished staking the crates together so that it almost reached the roof.
Amos looked at Snotlout dubiously. "You don't really think this thing's gonna hold?"
"As long as we get Hiccup to climb it. It'll hold his scrawny butt no problem," said Snotlout confidently.
He then turned to witness Hiccup pulling a rope and saw no signs of a cage anywhere. "I thought you said you were building a cage?"
"Yes, Snotlout. I did," said Hiccup as he tired the rope.
"Okay, don't take this the wrong way, but don't cages have, I don't know, locks, bars, walls?"
Hiccup then backed away slowly. "Trust me. This is going to work." He then looked at them. "Now let's get up that tower. Did you make sure it was sturdy?"
Amos looked at Snotlout. "Snotlout said—"
"It's fine, it's fine, it's fine," said Snotlout quickly.
Hiccup then began to climb the tower and it began to shake. He looked down at Snotlout, who have him the thumbs up and chuckled nervously. Then suddenly something exploded behind him, they turned and saw the Sandbuster had shot of out the sand wall.
"Sandbuster, Sandbuster!" Snotlout cried as he hide behind Amos.
"No, don't!" Amos yelled and quickly climbed the tower.
"Hiccup!" Snotlout yelled doing the same.
The Sandbuster too climbed the tower and nearly got Hiccup, if he hadn't gotten out of the way in time. He then jumped and landed on a makeshift catapult he made, which fired a rock at the glass roof creating a hole. The light stuck the Sandbuster causing it to hiss and retreat.
"Ha-ha," Hiccup smiled and jumped onto another catapult.
Again another rock struck the glass roof and fired another beam of light at the Sandbuster. Hiccup kept on jumping from catapult to catapult, which he made around the carven, and kept on firing rocks at the roof. Soon the Sandbuster was trapped as it was surrounded by beams of daylight from the roof.
Hiccup looked at the others. "See? Cage."
Amos looked at Snotlout. "You wasn't lying. He is always right."
"Shut up, Amos," Snotlout glared.
Hiccup then rushed to the tower and began to climb. "Now, for our exit."
They began to climb and had just reached the top when the Sandbuster made its move. It began to fire up at the roof sealing the holes Hiccup had made and then slammed into the tower.
"Oh, no. No!" Hiccup cried as the tower collapsed.
They landed on the ground had and Hiccup's medallion skidded across the floor, underneath the Sandbuster.
Hiccup looked at the Sandbuster. "Hey, don't you touch that. It is a gift."
"Oh, yeah, I'm sure he cares about that," said Snotlout rolling his eyes.
The Sandbuster then roared at them and advanced towards them.
Snotlout then grabbed a large sword from a barrel. "Snotlout!" he yelled before he toppled over due to the sword's weight. He picked himself up and pointed the sword at the Sandbuster. "Gotcha! Ha!" He then toppled over again and looked up to see the Sandbuster directly on top of him. "Hiccup!"
Amos crawled away screaming and Hiccup saw his medallion and then only beam of sunlight left shining through the last hole in the roof. He then ran towards the Sandbuster and past Snotlout, who was still trying to lift the sword.
Snotlout saw him running past and stared at him. "Hiccup, what are you…"
Hiccup then skidded across the floor and snatch the medallion underneath the Sandbuster.
"Yes," he said as he landed in the beam of light.
He then held up the medallion and reflected the sunlight off of it and stuck the Sandbuster. It imminently roared in pain.
"…doing?" said Snotlout getting to his feet and rested the sword on his shoulder. "Nice job!"
Snotlout then toppled over due to the sword's weight.
Hiccup kept the light on the Sandbuster as it moved. "You guys run. I'll keep it busy."
Amos got up. "Right. Sounds good to me," he said and ran off.
Snotlout then grabbed his ear and pulled him back. "Stand down, Amos the Lamest. We're not going anywhere without that guy. Got it?"
"Then we're all gonna die where we stand!"
Then the glass roof shattered and flying into the carven was Astrid, who was riding Toothless, and the other Riders. Astrid, Ragnar and Fishlegs then fired upon the Sandbuster pushing it back.
Hiccup joined the others and smiled. "You were saying?"
Astrid, Ragnar, Fishlegs and Stormfly then fired more breath attack at the Sandbuster. He clearly had enough, because he jumped into the sand and disappeared. They then flew down to the others to get them out of the caven.
"Woo-hoo!" Hiccup cried as he took Astrid' hand.
Hookfang grabbed both Snotlout and Amos.
"Hookfang!" Snotlout cried.
"No, no, no!" Amos screamed.
Soon they flew out of the hole and into day light.
It was late in the even when they returned to the Northern Markets and Hiccup explained everything to Johann.
"I must say, Master Hiccup, you and your team always seem to right the wrongs in this mad, mad world," said Johann. "With the vicious Sandbuster beach closed to incoming traffic, the flow of commerce can, once again, commence." He then noticed the sword Snotlout was holding. "And, speaking of commerce, Master Snotlout, I've been admiring your bejeweled weapon. Simply dazzling."
"Save it Johann. It's not for sale," said Snotlout bluntly.
Tuffnut was still crying his eyes out and Ruffnut was trying to comfort him.
"Just start with a 'T' A little t… Just a little…" said Ruffnut and Tuffnut broke into tears again. "Oh. Okay. Okay."
Johann then looked at Hiccup. "And with that, I did you adieu."
When Johann left, Hiccup looked at Astrid. "Astrid…"
Astrid then made a quick exit. "Um, I need to check on Stormfly."
Hiccup then grabbed her arm. "No, no, you don't."
Astrid looked at him. "I don't?"
"No. You need to stand right here and take this in," said Hiccup and reached into his satchel. He then pulled out his medallion which now had a string around it. "This was my father's betrothal gift to my mother." Astrid gasped as Hiccup placed it around her neck. "And he gave it to me, to give to you."
Astrid held the medallion in her hands and Hiccup placed his over hers and looked into her eyes. "Astrid, you're a part of our family. You always have been and I hope you always will be."
Astrid sighed and looked away from in shame.
Hiccup imminently believed it was because she didn't like his gift. "Um, okay. If you don't like it—"
Astrid quickly looked at him. "Hiccup, I… It's beautiful. It's perfect. It's just… I didn't get you a gift. I don't know what to get, or…"
"But you did," said Hiccup causing her to look at him. "Astrid, you got me the greatest gift in the world. You." Astrid stared at him as he grasped her hand. "You, just being here with me. It's the only gift I need."
"Then you won't be needing this," said Ragnar.
Hiccup and Astrid looked at him and saw that he was holding a shield with a sheet over it.
"What's that?" Astrid frowned.
"It's your betrothal that you had me made," Ragnar smiled. "Sorry it took so long, but Bucket can only do so much with a drawing."
He then removed the sheet and Hiccup and Astrid gasped, because the shield had a beautiful painting of Hiccup holding his around Astrid, who was leaning on his shoulder with her eyes closed.
"It's beautiful," said Hiccup stunned and looked at Astrid. "And you were so worried about not getting me anything special."
Hiccup then pulled her into a hug and she rested her chin on his shoulder as she warped her arms around him. She then looked at Ragnar and mouthed the words 'Thank you' and Ragnar winked.
Snotlout then interrupted the moment by playing around with his new sword.
"En garde!" he yelled before he lost his grip and fell into an apple cart.
The sword was sent flying through the air before it headed for Hiccup and Astrid.
"Watch it!" Hiccup yelled pulling Astrid out of the way.
The sword then plunged into the ground and upon closer examination he recognised it.
"Wait a minute," he said getting closer to the sword.
"What is it?" Astrid asked.
"I thought I recognised it that sword," said Hiccup. "That's not just any sword. That's…"
Astrid realised she recognised it as well. "Viggo's." She then looked at Hiccup confused. "But if his sword is here…"
Hiccup's face became grim. "Who brought it here?"
