Blades met themselves as Hiccup wielded his dagger, sending sparks flying in all directions as he occasionally scraped his weapon against Krogan's. Hiccup bared his teeth as he faced his opponent. He grabbed onto the long handle of the battle-ax, pushing against it. Hiccup had barely any room left behind him before he'd fall into the pit. He jammed his prosthetic in the cracks in the stone, locking him in place. It seemed the effort to push had gone beyond Krogan's patience as he released his grip on the handle and threw himself at Hiccup, taking them both down into the pit of the arena. The bodies hit the ground hard, the sickening thud echoing on the round wall surrounding them.

Krogan wasn't tardy to get back up the moment he'd recovered. Unfortunately for Hiccup, he'd collided harder against the stone floor than Krogan had. He blinked his eyes and winced as the new pain spread everywhere in his body while the Flyer towered over him, a hand reached out to grab the Rider's collar. Hiccup groaned as he was moved, taking hold of the man's wrist as he lifted him high off the ground.

"You are weak, Hiccup Haddock," said Krogan through gritted teeth before slamming him back down against the cold hard ground. Hiccup hollered his agony, unable to make a move to save his life.

He tried to get up, pressing his blood-stained hands against the slick and cold stone to push himself up, only to get kicked in the abdomen and end up right back where he started with the side of his face kissing the ground. He bared his teeth, spitting out the blood, and wiping the drop from the corner of his mouth. Krogan chuckled above him, tightening his hand into a fist again as he was about to throw another punch to keep the Rider down on the ground. The Flyer noticed silver flicker from the corner of his eye and turned to see the dagger that had joined them in the pit lying on the ground a distance away. Hiccup coughed, trying to recover from the recent beating. He looked the way Krogan had and saw the moonlight shine down on the blade, begging to be used and pierce flesh. It didn't matter whose flesh it was. It was hungry for blood. The Flyer picked up the weapon, examining the sleek blade that held no flaw. His toxic glare flashed by on Hiccup who glared back, hand covering his bruises as if it might help him heal his injuries before facing the enemy once more.

Krogan smiled wickedly, approaching the Rider for the final act. Hiccup's eyes flashed wide, the violet glow fading away to allow the emerald-green through. Fear finally shot through him like an arrow through the heart. He felt like a lamb that'd been led to its slaughter, lying in the middle of a cold pit under the cold embrace of the full moon. He looked past Krogan's form to meet Viggo's eyes, the cold fire in them making him feel colder than ever. For a moment, it felt like time was slowing down as he studied the dagger, its clean blade about to be stained red. He examined Krogan's violet irises glowing against the darkness, knowing full well he'd been under the same spell for too long. The neutral look - the depersonalization - was shocking. Even Krogan had a soul, and even then, he couldn't find it through his eyes. He flashed his attention back to Viggo who stood attentively, hands resting over the butt of his sword whose's blade was embedded in the ground as he watched the scene unfold like it were a simple play at a public fair. The lack of emotion on his face stroke him to the core. He looked up to the sky to see the distant silhouettes of dragons he recognized to belong to his team. They felt so far away.

Maybe this was his punishment for the wrong that he'd done. He knew he'd hurt his friends, he knew he'd caused lots of pain; physically, mentally, and emotionally. He deserved this. Maybe he wasn't all in on the things he'd done, but he also hadn't been strong enough to fight it, and the damage he'd done was irreversible. Nothing was after all.

He was right. Hiccup Haddock was weak. He had failed in the one field he'd wanted to succeed: protect his friends. He'd done all but that.

He closed his eyes, ready for the blow.

But it never came.

Hiccup cracked an eye open as he heard the blade drop to the ground with a loud cling. Krogan backed away slowly, fingers pinching his nose bridge, pain obvious as he grimaced and stumbled backward. Hiccup watched in disbelief. Krogan's dose had been nearly as small as his and it was wearing off too. The Flyer groaned in pain, a pain he could understand. The Dragon Rider did not wait another second to grab hold of the dagger and wield it before him, should Krogan snap out of his state too soon. He raised his eyes upon Viggo who had disappeared out of sight. For a moment, Hiccup frowned in confusion, searching the edge of the arena. Instinct took over and Hiccup twisted around just in time to avoid Viggo's sword as it swung down and scraped against the ground. Hiccup's heart raced with adrenaline as the Hunter's eyebrows furrowed in frustration at the Rider's rapid thinking. He'd clearly pissed him off, for many reasons.

"You surely are hard to kill," said Viggo, swinging his sword back to his side as he circled the Rider, taking Krogan's role while the Flyer dealt with his own problems.

"I'll take that as a compliment," replied Hiccup, standing his ground with the dagger held horizontally before him.

"You've kept your arrogance intact, I see," growled Viggo, taking slow steps around him. Hiccup never let his guard now, narrowing his eyes on the man.

"You'll find I have kept many sides of my personality intact, especially the ones I know you dislike," said Hiccup. His sass sure pushed the wrong button for Viggo immediately swung his blade again to which Hiccup ducked. Viggo growled like an animal, baring his teeth to express his displeasure.

"You and I could have accomplished so much more," said Viggo, anger to his tone. "But your stubbornness has gotten the best of you."

"The only thing you'd ever do is use me!" shouted Hiccup, a bolt of anger setting off in his chest.

He tightened his grip on the handle and swung fast, too fast for Viggo to react and raise his sword to block the blow. He slashed the Hunter's cheek, drawing blood. Viggo stood frozen. He patted the cut and stared at the warm liquid staining the tip of his fingers. He returned his focus on the boy before him who did not show any sign of guilt or whatsoever. Hiccup narrowed his eyes, hinting he'd do it again without mercy. Viggo replied with a swift swing of his sword to which Hiccup tried avoiding. The tip of the sword cut open the leather of his armor, cutting all the way through to the skin across this chest. Hiccup gasped at the new pain, pressing his free hand over the cut as it bled out of the crevice in his armor. He hissed through his teeth at the sting. All he'd needed was an edge, and Viggo had given it to him.

Without another beat, the Rider threw himself at the Hunter, swinging his dagger. Viggo blocked every blow with his arm plate like a shield. Hiccup leaped backward when Viggo swung his sword at his side first window he got.

The two stood still for a moment, panting, their eyes never leaving their opponent.

"It's nothing personal, Hiccup," said Viggo, straightening up, walking closer while Hiccup backed up, keeping the distance even between the two of them. "When your opponent presents you with the opportunity to wipe out all of his pieces at once, it is the cunning player who seizes the moment."

Hiccup sighed in exasperation, the exhaustion starting to take over as his adrenaline rush slowly started to fade away. "Will you shut up?"

And he struck again, and again. His blows grew weaker, but he persisted, refusing to give in to Viggo of all people. He could tell Viggo wasn't doing great either, with his injured shoulder restraining his movements. But the man was strong and kept on fighting despite the cuts his adversary generously gave him. Hiccup's fury took over him and he attacked with everything he had left. He slashed, punched, and pushed until Viggo's sword was knocked out of his hand and out of his reach. Hiccup had the Hunter back up until his back met the cold wall of the arena, sliding down to the floor, panting and sweating and bleeding.

Viggo looked up at Hiccup, chuckling quietly as the Rider pointed the tip of the dagger down at his throat. He knew he had the gut. He knew what Hiccup was capable of. He knew his opponent.

"Well," said Viggo, a sick smile stretching on his face. "Looks like the student has surpassed the master."

Hiccup didn't speak, his displeasure unmasked as he tightened his lips and furrowed his eyebrows even more.

"What are you waiting for, Hiccup?" asked Viggo, narrowing his eyes on the blade, his smirk fading away as his lips curved the other way around. "This battle between us could go on for years to come, and you know that as much as I do. Or... you could end it today."

Hiccup didn't react right away like he was analyzing his options and wondering what alternative to choose. When he moved again, it was to take a step back and straighten up, removing the dagger from threatening the Hunter.

"You're right. It probably will," said Hiccup, regretfully looking down for a moment before meeting his gaze again. "But I'm not like you."

Viggo bared his teeth in frustration at the Rider's strength not to strike him down right here and now.

"Who are you then, to consciously allow hundreds of more lives to be laid just to keep your soul clean?" snarled Viggo.

Hiccup lifted his dagger and looked down at it for a moment, analyzing its features. He tightened his grip on it before forcefully throwing it all over to the other side of the arena where it clung loudly against the stone surface of the pit. Krogan lied unconscious against the wall much like Viggo, passed out from the pain that had taken over his brain.

Viggo sighed, watching closely as Hiccup walked over to his side and pressed his back against the wall, sliding down to sit next to him, breathing heavily.

"I don't know," replied Hiccup, not sure if he was talking to Viggo or something else. But he was too tired to figure it out anyway.

Neither of them said another word as silence settled in the arena.

The nightmares were finally coming to an end.