Sorry about the long wait for the update. School and work has kept me busy. Good news is the next (and last) chapter will come quicker, though, as its already partially written.

Hiccup was immovable, frozen with fear. His mind was blank, terror sending him far beyond the capacity of any rational thought. Toothless bared his teeth, growling lowly, but Hiccup held out his hand. One false step, and they were dead.

Viggo just smirked, his hands folded behind his back. "Do you know, not just anyone can sneak onto this island, let alone reach my tent. But then-" he ventured a step further. "As you've just shown, you're not just anyone."

Toothless snarled, but Hiccup crouched down and pressed his hands against his head. "Easy, Toothless, not yet."

"And you have the last Night Fury in existence." Viggo gave a small chuckle. "You have my respect, dear boy."

But Hiccup rose to his feet, giving him a determined glare. "Where is it, Viggo?"

"It? I'm sorry, but if you want an answer, you'll have to be more specific."

"I know!" Hiccup snapped, not in any mood to play games. "I know you have the Dragon Eye, and I know you're using it to find the King of Dragons."

"Ah, so that's what you're after," said Viggo, sounding slightly impressed. "Dragon Eye, that's a fitting name. Tell me, why would I give to you?"

"Because it's in your best interests," Hiccup returned.

Viggo scoffed, widening his in mock amazement. "Is that so?"

"Once you give Johann what he wants, he'll dispose of you. You've said it yourself: people, like game pieces, are replaceable."

But Viggo just gave him a smirk, folding his hands behind his back with cold poise. "A fine argument, but you're mistaken; I'm not one of his game pieces. Do you think I would be so naïve not to have a contingency if a warmonger like Johann should turn on me? I have more power than you believe. How do you think Johann was able to find the Dragon Eye? He had to use my resources. So you understand why I'd be so reluctant to hand it over to a boy, one who has so nicely invaded my island."

Hiccup gritted his teeth. He forgot how well this man could get under his skin. "Well, I'm sorry, but I'm not asking. Toothless."

Toothless opened his mouth and began charging up a plasma blast.

"How's this? Hand over the Eye, and you won't have to know what burning flesh smells like," Hiccup retorted savagely.

But Viggo clicked his tongue. "Almost terrifying," he chuckled dryly, which made Hiccup grind his teeth together. "But there is one problem. You're in no position to bargain."

Hiccup clenched his fists tighter. "You wanna bet? 'Cause from the lay of the field, it looks like I am."

"Well, then, perhaps-" Viggo gestured behind him as someone else entered the tent. "you should take another look."

In stepped Ryker with a dagger to a struggling Astrid's throat.

"Astrid!" Hiccup cried, nearly jolting forward but Ryker held the blade closer to her neck.

"I wouldn't move if I were you," he chuckled sinisterly. "And that Night Fury better not try anything either."

Hiccup held his hand out to Toothless who immediately choked down the blast he had been charging. He could not risk hitting her.

Astrid tried to fight back against Ryker's hold, but he had too good of a grip on her hair and was pulling her head back.

"Alright, stop!" Hiccup yelled, holding out his hand. "You can hurt me, but she stays out of it."

"Oh, I'm afraid she's very much a part of this," Viggo returned, glancing at Astrid who was panting from terror. "After all, the traitor always dies in the end. It's a shame it had to end this way, but I'll get over it."

Hiccup stared at Astrid who looked back at him, pleading silently, "Do something!"

"Oh, don't look so morose, my boy," Viggo said in mock sympathy, then he snapped his fingers to summon two more hunters. "You'll be joining her."

But just then, Hiccup twitched the fourth finger of his outstretched hand. Picking up on the signal, Toothless whipped his tail at Ryker, knocking him and Astrid to the ground. Hiccup rushed forward to Astrid while Toothless shot the guards.

Astrid scrambled to her feet and pulled Hiccup out of the tent with her. Almost immediately as they were out, hordes of Hunters came looming towards them like the threatening waves in a seastorm.

"Come on, we've gotta lose them!" Astrid yelled, as they ran back towards the caged dragons.

"Astrid, we've got to get to Wingmaiden Island!"

"Wingmaiden Island?"

"It's where the last lens is. If Viggo gets it-" But after a backward glance, Hiccup came to an abrupt halt. "Wait, where's Toothless?"

Astrid jerked him by the wrist impatiently. "He'll be fine, now come on!"

Hiccup pulled his hand from hers. "We can't just leave-"

He was interrupted by three arrows whooshing past his head. They resumed running. Behind them came enemy forces, ten of soldiers, more than they could hope to defeat.

"I have an idea! Split up!" Astrid suddenly cried, darting left before Hiccup had a chance to respond.

Hiccup made his way to the long grass and rushed through it, ignoring the occasional blade that lashed against his face as he went. He had to find Toothless, wherever he was. He had to get to him before the Hunters did, if they had not already gotten him.

He doubled his pace, but it made it all the more painful when he lost his footing and smacked against the dirt. He strained himself as he got up. He had to keep going, no matter what happened next.

As soon as Hiccup pushed himself up, he had to duck his head down to avoid a flying sword from plunging itself into his head. He glanced at where the blade embedded itself into the tree, then to the person who threw it.

Viggo stepped forward, towering over him and ready to kill. "Take it."

At first, Hiccup was frozen, terrified and confused. Then, he glanced back at the sword, realizing. Viggo was challenging him. Wasn't that just like him? Victory was so precious to him that he wanted it in the fullest measure, beating Hiccup fair and square. And, as the hunter once prided himself, he was a good sport.

Getting to his feet, Hiccup grasped the hilt of the sword and pulled it from the tree trunk. "You're not gonna win."

Viggo smirked while he reached behind him and pulled his sword out of its scabbard which came out with a shing. "We'll see."

Hiccup held the oxidized green sword outward, he stepped into a fighting stance. The hunter and the rider rushed towards each other, weapons raised. The blades clashed together. Hiccup took the offense, striking as fast as he could. If he could win this fight, he could maybe have the chance to find Toothless and escape.

But for every sling of Hiccup's sword, Viggo flawlessly and effortlessly blocked it. It was almost like he knew Hiccup's every move before he even made it. Their blades locked, Hiccup's blade grated against Viggo in a struggle. With one shove, Hiccup was sent back, nearly losing his balance. Luckily, his hands met the ground before he ate the dirt.

Hiccup stood quickly and raised his sword above his head in time to block Viggo's attack, but the hunter kept on attacking. He struck hard and quick, one hit after another, like a merciless hailstorm. It was getting harder for Hiccup to keep up. He was being worn down. It was time to change tactics.

When the next strike came, Hiccup dodged and slashed Viggo's left cheek, not cutting too deeply but enough to draw blood. Viggo winced, his hand went to his face. He eyed the blood on his fingertips, then let out an angry growl and lunged at Hiccup, renewing his flurry of blows.

Metal hit metal, blade clashed against blade in a seemingly endless cycle. Both opponents kept fighting with the same tenacity, the same skill. It was either's game. Hiccup then felt Viggo's sword slice into his left calf, and he screamed. Viggo took the opportunity and kicked Hiccup to the ground, causing him to drop his sword which Viggo kicked away from his reach.

Hiccup groaned, clutching at his shin which bled painfully. Viggo towered him, his sword was drawn. Terrified, Hiccup backed away, sliding backward hurriedly with his hands and feet, but Viggo followed him almost leisurely as if he were doing nothing more than an evening stroll.

"You put up a valiant fight, but you never stood a chance." He gave a cold laugh. "And to think, how just seconds ago, you believed you had the upper hand. And now look where you are."

Hiccup began to reach for the knife in his belt when Viggo pushed his foot into his chest, pinning Hiccup to the ground. Panting, Hiccup frantically tried to push Viggo's boot off him, but it was futile.

Viggo's blade glowed hungrily for his blood in the cold light of the stars. Hiccup turned his head away with a wince as Viggo held the tip of the sword near his face.

The world seemed to slow as Hiccup watched Viggo raised his bejeweled sword above his head, ready to strike and kill. This was how it ended, with the Dragon Hunter sword slashing across his throat, with him dying and never having saved his home or his friends.

It was all over. Hiccup had failed. The sword began coming down, ready to deal the blow. Hiccup squeezed his eyes shut and turned his head away in fear.

But as Hiccup thought he was meeting his end, he heard the screech of a Night Fury, and his eyes flew open in time to watch a plasma blast hit Viggo in the shoulder, stunning him and knocking him off of Hiccup.

Hiccup sat up, breathing a sigh of relief upon seeing his friend. "Thank Thor you're okay, bud."

Toothless took a step forward when out of seemingly nowhere he was ensnared by a net. He screeched in panic. Ryker and his hunters had arrived with back-up.

"No!" Hiccup jumped to his feet, but his injured left leg betrayed him, and he fell into the grass. His walking was compromised, his leg screamed in pain as blood seeped from the gash. The hunters were encircling them. Hiccup pulled himself across the ground, struggling to get to Toothless. But his efforts were for naught when he was restrained and his arms were twisted behind his back.

Hiccup struggled against their hold, but it was useless. He watched as Viggo got to his feet, walking to Toothless with a slight stumble. He held his sword near Toothless who whimpered.

"Magnificent creature," he whispered with a cold smile. "You'll be quite useful." He then turned to Hiccup, approaching him. "But you… you won't be so fortunate. It's a shame, really," he continued with a small sigh. "You were almost a worthy opponent. But all good things must end."

Then came the sound of the beating of wings and a voice from above. "This isn't over yet!"

Hiccup looked up to see Astrid riding a Nadder who fired a magnesium blast down from the sky. It hit the ground, knocking Hiccup's captors off balance. Ignoring the shooting pain in his leg, Hiccup did not waste one second and staggered over to Toothless as fast as he could while Astrid rained down cover fire. He seized the knife on his belt and cut his dragon free with one slice. He climbed onto Toothless' back, and they shot straight up into the sky to meet the shieldmaiden, narrowly avoiding the onslaught of arrows.

"Astrid-"

"Go, find that last lens! I'll hold them back as long as I can!" Astrid yelled as her Nadder sent a volley of spines down.

"No, I'm not leaving you! You could die!" Hiccup screamed.

Astrid smiled bitterly. "Kinda wasn't expecting to make it out alive." She let out a cry of surprise as an arrow nearly hit her. "Now go. GO!"

Toothless rushed off, not even waiting for Hiccup's confirmation.

"Wait!" he screamed, but the Night Fury would not turn back.

Hiccup held tight to the spines as he looked over his shoulder, watching as the fiery battle scene between Astrid and the hunters rapidly grew smaller and smaller until it was eclipsed in a shroud of smoke.

Hiccup jerked his head forward, squeezing his eyes shut. Astrid had sacrificed herself so that he and Toothless could get away alive. He hated the idea of that. He wished he could have done something, that he could have found another way.

But it was too late, and he could have done nothing. It was her decision, and she made it. Hiccup exhaled shakily. He had to make sure that Astrid's sacrifice was not in vain. He had a job to do. It was time to find that lens and destroy it.

It was the only way to end this.

Once and for all.