AN: Ooo? Possibly the fasted update I have ever done. I hope you all like it. I had a day to kill and I recently started playing SSX3 again. So yeah, the muse hit me hard.

This chapter the focus is mainly again on Viggo. Believe me, there is a reason for all of this focus. Plus, it's my story so HA!

Oh yeah, Zoe and Drum have a part on this chapter.

Oh, someone new joins the cast of Snow Gods!(Two new people show up, one is just a cameo)

Because I didn't feel like splitting this into two chapters and making a triple update, this chapter is going to be a bit long.

Oh, for those who asked. The title of the last chapter had no pun intended. Collision has yet to type a chapter for this story, but she has contributed ideas.

Chapter 8: Tough

Viggo sat at the bar, resting his head on it.

"Yo…kid…kid." The barkeep nudged Viggo shoulder, Viggo sat up.

"Wha…wha?" Viggo wiped some droll from his mouth, picked up the Vodka bottle and tried to down it, but it was empty, all three of them were.

The barkeep held up his I.D. "Viggo Rollig? From the SSX Tour?"

Viggo nodded, "Man that's a bad picture…" Viggo's voice was slurred.

"I thought so; you got a race in about 20 minutes." The barkeep nodded, pointing over the T.V

Viggo was on the screen, it was a commercial for the SSX Tour. Viggo shredded up the snow, flipping and landing in front of the camera.

"SSX Season 4. Go Big or Wipe Out." He said into the camera before speeding off.

Viggo rested his head into the bar. "Aww…damn…"

The barkeep tapped him again, "You need a lift?" The old man whispered, sliding the bottles away from Viggo.

Viggo looked up, "Yeah man…Yeah. Just up the mountain…It ain't far."

The barkeep nodded. "I am on break, so it doesn't matter. Come on." The man was built like a truck now that Viggo noticed. He was bald and wore a pair of thick overalls.

Viggo looked at him harder, "I think I know you...I seen you some 'ere before…"

The man gave a bit of a thick laugh, "Ha ha. You might've."

The man opened the door to his truck, it was big, Viggo got in the front seat and laid back.

The man got in beside him, cranking it up and speeding down the road.

"Yo yo yo yo! This is THE one and only Mac Fraser on SSX Radio Big!" Mac wailed over the mic.

"Welcome to The Mac Attack! Tonight I got a special guest on its returning vet J.P Arsenault."

"Hey." J.P said into the mic.

"So, how'd it feel to get that big win over Psymon today in Topsy Turvy?" Mac asked him.

"It felt good…really good. He vas a hard man. But I took him down, he got distracted."

"Distracted?" Mac asked.

"Yeah, a couple ov his friends in the front rows began to whistle and call for him. He tried to show off and ended up flying into ze crowd." J.P retold the event. "One of ze girls was sent to ze hospital. She loved every second of it."

"Word." Mac said, "Oh what's with all these rumors of the possible break up of Snowboarding's second favorite couple?"

J.P didn't answer, "Vat do you mean?"

"You know You and Allegra."

J.P didn't answer again.

"Ve are…having a bit of a problem at ze moment. Time constraints and so on."

Mac nodded, "Riiiiiiiiiight, So. Word has been going around that you and Viggo Rollig don't exactly see eye to eye. You think he is a threat to you?"

J.P laughed. "Viggo Rollig is no threat to me."

Viggo kicked the stereo. "Turn it ooof!" Viggo held his ears.

The barkeep looked up, "I take it you don't like him." He turned the stereo off.

"Bingo…" Viggo looked at his board. "I can see the lights…thanks for the ride."

The barkeep pulled over. "You sure you can board, man? You are pretty sloshed."

Viggo opened the door, stood up, looking dangerously wobbly. "I can manage…I mean, come on. It's SSX." Viggo nodded, taking his board out from the truck bed.

"Hey…thanks again…I never got your name. Man." Viggo started.

The barkeep looked around. "Not many people do."

Viggo waited, "So…what is it?"

The man hesitated. "You are probably too drunk to remember."

Viggo shrugged, "Prolly…but come on man. I need to know your name. In Sweden it's like… a rule or somthin'."

The man hesitated again. "You can call me Jurgen."

"Ok…cool. I'll remember that." Viggo nodded.

"No you won't." Jurgen smiled, closing the door and taking off.

Viggo turned around, Zoe walked up to him. "You made it…holy shit, you are shitfaced."

"Ya momma." Viggo wobbled to the starting gate, strapping his board on.

"Whatever, your funeral." Zoe lined up. Her leg locked securely into the restraint on the board. Yuri pulled up alongside, her new board shining. It was black and had the letters Y & G etched into them in purple paint.

Moby, Nate, Eddie, and Griff slid in. Griff starting right next to Yuri of course.

Griff looked over at Yuri.

"One two finish?" Griff asked.

Yuri thought about it. "We'll see." Despite being mad at him for what happened earlier. For some reason Griff always had a way to make Yuri forget about what bonehead mistake he had made.

The siren wailed and the riders took off, Nate taking the early lead, Eddie not far behind.

"Yo, Cowboy! Let me show you how it's done!" Eddie yelled, jumping clear over Nate's head. Eddie sailed into first place, letting his snow spray Nate in the face. Moby came up fast behind Nate and shoved him hard, sending Nate into the snow.

"Oh come on!" Nate pushed himself up. Zoe was racing fast, but cautious she stayed away from the main pack, taking a side route less traveled. Viggo was…well, he was moving.

Viggo zigged and zagged all over the snow, barely missing Yuri and Griff.

"Yo! Watch it!" Griff yelled as they all come to the first big jump. Viggo missed it and went off onto a grind rail, riding it down. Moby had a look of sheer determination on his face as he took the lead. Spinning around to keep him momentum. Eddie was a close second until Yuri passed him up, Griff a little bit later.

Nate decided he was better off not trying to jump; he headed down Viggo's path.

"Okay, Zoe. Nice and easy, don't push yourself." Zoe spoke to herself, avoiding the jump and instead sailing down some powder. She was in 4th place, which she was comfortable with.

Viggo tried to keep his balance, Nate was coming up behind him. Viggo teetered too far the side and ended up eating snow, Nate blew past him and came up for Yuri.

Viggo pushed himself up, vomiting into the snow. "Come on…I can do this…" Viggo couldn't get up, he instead let himself fall face down into the snow, letting the race go on without him.

Moby checked to see if anyone was following him. Eddie was hard on his tail but too far away to do any real damage. Yuri and Griff were out of sight, Nate was on a short cut and Viggo had fallen off of the face of the Earth. That left one rider unaccounted for…

Zoe veered back into the main track, managing to land a simply Indy. Moby blinked. "Do yourself a favor and STAY back there." He yelled.

"Fuck you, Moby!" Zoe yelled back, leaning forward to catch up. Eddie doing the same.

"You did. Then you decided I wasn't good enough and you went for Shamu!" Moby turned his head forward, hitting the next jump dead on, landing on a fallen tree and grinding it down. Zoe hit the jump as well, spinning and performing a tail grab. Zoe landed a little shakier than she wanted. Eddie avoided the jump all together and tried to speed past the two.

Yuri and Griff hit the jump and landed with speed, it became a five way tie.

Nate broke the SSX Window careening back onto the main course. He could see no one ahead of him, or no one behind him.

"What the hell?" Nate coasted past the infrared tripwire.

"Nate Logan is in First Place!" the automated voice yelled, since Rahzel wasn't DJing and this race wasn't televised.

"…Well dip me in shit and roll me in breadcrumbs." Nate leaned forward, letting his big lead grow even bigger.

The five way tie for second didn't break. Griff decided to take action, steering close to Moby he tried to land a well place shove. Moby shrugged it off and backhanded Griff, sending him spiraling into the snow. Yuri looked back thinking she should stop, but she knew Griff would catch up.

"Get off, wimp!" Moby yelled, before he could finish Eddie was moving in a shove. Moby took hit the brakes hard, causing Eddie to trip over his board. Eddie tumbled into the snow, Yuri, Zoe, and Moby blowing by.

Yuri thought better not to try and tempt Moby instead she slowed down a bit.

"I can deal with 3rd." Yuri whispered to herself.

Zoe began to pull a little too close to Moby. Moby looked at her, pain and hatred in his eyes.

Zoe looked at him. "You gonna do something?"

Moby didn't answer instead he tried to blow past her.

Zoe speed up, she had always been faster than him. Her shred beginning to blow snow in Moby's face.

Moby pulled his goggles down.

"I gave ya a warning!" he yelled.

Zoe flipped him the bird. "It's a RACE, Moby. You either put up or shut up."

Moby lost it, he began to catch up to Zoe, he cranked his fist back, ready to swing.

"NO!" Yuri crashed right into Moby's back, sending him flailing into the snow. Yuri sped past, looking back with a deeply saddened face. Moby gritted his teeth and got up, watching Zoe and Yuri cross the finish line.

Nate was sitting in the snow wiping down his board. "What took you two so long?"

Zoe got off her board and walked over to Yuri. "What the fuck did you think you were doing?"

Yuri looked up at her. "He was about to hit you!" she yelled.

"I know! It's a RACE. That's what you DO. It's SSX. Boarder cross. No rules. Don't you get it?" Zoe yelled, getting in Yuri's face. Moby crossed the finish line. Instead he kept going. He didn't stop; he just sailed down the back country. Nate looked on at Griff crossed.

"But you are already hurt! The last thing you need is for Moby to snap and fling you on your first run back!" Yuri backed down, still keeping her voice loud.

"Next time you stay out of it alright? Unlike you, I am a big girl who can take care of myself!"

Zoe turned around.

"Then how come you needed Drum to take care of you up on Ruthless?" Yuri muttered her eyes narrow.

Zoe turned around to reply; before she could Griff had already had his lips all over Yuri's face.

"…" Zoe just slumped her shoulders. Nate noticed this and headed over to her.

"Yo, you alright?" Nate asked as he pressed the button for the trolley to come. Leaving Yuri and Griff to celebrate.

Zoe just looked at him. "Don't even bother." Nate took the hint and backed off.

Zoe looked around.

"Wait a second." She looked around again.

"What?" Nate asked.

"Where is Viggo?"

All three of them looked around.

Eddie sailed across the finish line; snow still fresh in his afro.

Zoe turned to Eddie, "Yo, Eddie? You seen Viggo out there?"

Eddie shook his head. "I figured he was in front of me…"

"…You're right. He ain't here." Nate said. "He was with me before he fell over back near the start of the race. He looked sick."

"Drunk more like it. He was all over the course." Griff added.

"…" Zoe hit the button for the trolley to the top of the course.

Nate thought.

"Oh shit. He might have passed out." Nate hopped into the trolley soon as it stopped. Yuri and Griff piled in.

"You commin, Zoe?" Nate asked, keeping the door open.

Zoe shook her head. "Nah. My leg hurts. You three can find him, just retrace the tracks." Zoe looked around; the snow wasn't falling, so his tracks should still be fresh.

"I'll radio Pete and tell him to come out here." She added.

"I'm going to head back to the Lodge. He might of DNF'ed and just headed home." Eddie added, hopping onto a lift separate from Zoe's.

The three nodded.

Zoe got on the trolley back to the Lodge. Yuri's words hurt. They really hurt.

Had Zoe really needed Drum's help that day? Zoe had prided herself on confidence and being able to handle herself up until that day. Now she doubted it.

Griff reached into his bag, pulling out the helmet with the flashlight on it. Yuri rested her head against his shoulder.

Nate looked at the two of them, even though he did not necessarily like how they had both changed, he did like how they were together.

"What?" Yuri asked, looking at Nate.

Nate shook his head, "Nothin'." Nate looked out the window, blinked, and then hit the emergency stop button. The lift stopped dead Nate slid the door open and hopped out. It wasn't too far from the ground.

Viggo laid face down in the snow; he had been there for almost 15 minutes now. Nate rolled him over, Viggo's cheeks and lips were a deep shade of blue.

"Shit…might be frostbite." Nate hefted him up. "Griff, come over here!"

Griff hopped out of the lift, walking over to Nate and helping him drag Viggo back. They lifted him high as they could and Yuri began to pull him into the lift.

"Wow, he doesn't look too good." Yuri said through her tired breaths, plopping back down on the bench. Griff climbed his way back in followed by Nate. "Yeah, we need to get him to the Medic Center. Look at his face."

As Zoe promised, she had radioed Pete and told him to have a Medic Copter ready. By the time the four of them had gotten back down the course, Pete and Rahzel were there to meet them, the Medic Copter behind them.

"What happened?" Rahzel yelled, trying to speak over the loud helicopter.

"He passed out in the middle of a race!" Nate yelled back, Pete and some EMT's put Viggo on a

stretcher, and loaded him into the back.

"Passed out? Why didn't someone stop and get him?" Rahzel yelled as the chopper took off.

Yuri chimed in, covering her ears. "He was in last place. We didn't know."

Rahzel nodded, "I wonder what could make him do that…"

The three of them looked at each other; Nate nodded and pulled Rahzel off to the side.

"I think Viggo has a bit of a problem. He was stone cold drunk out there on that run. He had no business being on the snow in his condition." Nate whispered to him

Rahzel looked a bit surprised. "I see. If he is drinking too much, I might have to suspend him until he cleans up his act."

Nate shook his head, "That might make it worse. Believe me. I tried already to snap him out of this rut, but something keeps pullin' him back in. I say we get some outside help."

Rahzel raised his eyebrow, and then gave a faint smile.

"I got someone I can call."

Nate asked, "Who?"

Rahzel shook his head. "You don't know him. He is a good friend of mine. I'll give him a call when we get back to the Lodge."

Nate nodded, despite not having a clue who in the hell Rahzel was talking about.

Zoe walked into the Lodge; it was peak time for activity. Mac was at Radio Big doing his radio show; Kaori was playing a video game against Eddie. Drum was in line waiting for his next turn.

Zoe looked around before sitting on the sofa, watching the game go on.

"Booyah! I got you, I got yooou!" Eddie cheered, watching Kaori's character flail and die on the floor.

Kaori pouted. "You keep on getting the good gun!" Kaori tried harder, this time running around trying to chase him.

Eddie's character flew across the screen.

"HEADSHOT" the T.V rang, Drum and Kaori cheered, Eddie didn't let it phase him

"Yay!" Kaori squealed passing Drum the controller.

Drum began to play pulling his green-tinted goggles down.

Zoe found herself actually…oogling Drum. Sure, deep down, she really didn't go for guys his type. He was gentle, nice, a little sarcastic, and not in the least bit fit. But for some reason she found herself just…looking at him.

"Yo, Zoe!" Psymon yelled, plopping on the couch.

Zoe didn't answer.

"Heeeeeyoooooo G.I. Zoe" Psymon yelled again, this time prodding her.

Zoe just blinked, as if she was in a coma.

Psymon grabbed her bra-strap and popped it against her back.

Zoe flinched forward, snapping to the side and elbowing Psymon right in the mouth. "What the hell are you doing?"

Psymon laughed, "Tryin' to get your attention. Whatcha lookin' at?"

Zoe shook her head. "Nothing."

Psymon looked in the direction of Drum. "That's a whole lotta nothin'."

Zoe turned to Psymon. "That's getting annoying."

Psymon looked somewhat hurt, "What's getting annoying?"

"How well you know me." Zoe slumped back on the sofa.

"Well. When you live with someone, you sorta pick up all their quirks." Psymon smirked. Apparently, he still remembered the short relationship the two of them had during the off season of the SSX Tricky. Zoe and Psymon competed in a one-time event called Sledstorm. They had something romantic, but it wasn't love. They decided to break up soon after Sledstorm was over... Now it's more of a brother and sister relationship.

Zoe shrugged, "Whatever. I don't know how you would pick up any of my 'quirks'. You were always out working on that sled." Zoe punched him soft in the arm. Psymon grinned. "So were you."

They paused a bit. Zoe went back to oogling Drum.

Psymon shook her out of it. "Did you see the fight today?" Psymon asked, trying to change the subject. "Kaori and Elise went all Charlie's Angels on each other. It was fucking hilarious."

Zoe burst out laughing. "Yeah, that shit was funny. I didn't even know Barbie could fight like that."

Drum finished his game, completely obliterating Eddie. Mac returned from Radio Big and Kaori got up to greet him. Drum followed the two of them up to their room.

Zoe thought. "Yo Psy, I'll catch you later. Alright?"

Psymon knew where this was going. "No problem. Do whatcha gotta do?" Griff and Yuri walked through the door, hand in hand. "I got some business to take care of myself." Psymon grinned wide. Griff and Yuri caught sight of it and began to take off running.

Drum sat on his bed, listening to Mac talk to him.

"So when you land, you gotta make sure you pull up just a bit, or else you are going to bounce and lose balance." Mac was demonstrating on his bed. Kaori was too busy laughing at how silly he looked.

"Hey, don't laugh. I'm just tryin' to help him out." Mac jumped up and down on his bed. Drum began to laugh, too.

Knock Knock Knock.

Kaori got up to answer the door, it was Zoe.

The three of them stopped.

Zoe looked right at Drum. "I gotta talk to you."

Drum shrugged. "Oo...kay." He didn't move he just waited.

Zoe looked at him. "Aren't you going to come in?"

Drum shook his head. "I'm tired of hiding and crap. Whatever you need to say to me you can say in front of them, too. They're my friends."

Zoe shrugged and walked in, sitting down on a chair, putting her leg up on Mac's bed.

"I'm heading into town tomorrow. My cast is coming off." She started.

Drum and Mac looked at each other.

"…and…?" Drum trailed, raising his eyebrow.

"You wanna come with?" Zoe said non-chalantly.

Drum whipped out his M-Comm and checked the events.

"I'm clear for tomorrow." Drum said, seemingly to his M-comm.

Zoe raised her eyebrow, "Is that a yes?"

Drum nodded, sitting back. "Sure, why not?" Mac and Kaori whipped out their M-comms in unison.

Kaori's M-comm had a big red X on the screen. Suspended.

Mac checked his. "I'm clear, too."

Zoe looked at the two of them. "This matters to me…why?"

Kaori chimed in, bouncing. "We can come, too!"

Zoe looked like she was about to puke.

"Both of you." Zoe started, looking at the two of them. "Want to come see me get my cast taken off."

The both nodded. Sometimes it seemed like Mac and Kaori shared the same brain.

"…Why?" Drum blurted in this time.

"Come on. A trip to the city on a day off? No worrying about trying to make it back here for an event. Let's make a day of it." Mac said.

Kaori nodded, cheerfully. "Yes! We can go to the movies and got out to eat!"

Zoe and Drum looked at each other with a 'Help me.' look.

Kaori looked at the both of them with the biggest, saddest, cutest puppy dog eyes. "Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please?"

The way Kaori looked reminded the three of them of anime. Chibis.

Zoe looked at her like she was ready to shoot her, before she could open her mouth…

"Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please?" This time it was Mac.

Drum slammed a pillow on his own head. "Oh hell no!"

Zoe sighed and gave up.

"Sure, why not." She mumbled.

"Tomorrow at 10:00 AM." She said to Drum, getting up. "If you are late I'll just go without ya." She left and walked into the hall.

Mac called after her, imitating Drum "WEAR SOMETHING SEXY!"

Zoe could hear the pillow smack into Mac's face.

Despite how she had looked when she was being chibi-assaulted by Mac and Kaori, in the hallway she stopped to let out a big, full blush.

"Okay." She said to herself, replying to Mac. "I will." Then cracked a smile.

"Holy shit, are you serious?" Atomika spoke to Nate.

He, Elise, Allegra and J.P were all sitting at the dinner table talking over pizza.

"Yeah, we had to airlift him to the Medic Center. Might have frostbite." Nate nodded.

Elise sat back in her chair. "Damn. I hope the kid is alright. What did Rahzel do?"

Nate shrugged, "I suggested he get someone from the outside to help Viggo. He said he was gonna call someone."

Elise nodded, slapping away Atomika's hand from under the table.

Allegra fell silent.

"He is going to live, right?"

Nate nodded. "Yeah, it wasn't a threat. I've seen worse."

Allegra gave a small sigh of relief, J.P rolled his eyes. J.P and Allegra were sitting on the sides of Nate.

J.P shrugged. "Eet's his own fault. He shouldn't have tried to board like zat."

Allegra looked at him in disgust.

Elise nodded, "For once he is right. If he was really that drunk, he shouldn't have been riding."

Allegra didn't want to admit it, but they were right. Viggo shouldn't have been riding.

"I'm going to go to bed…" Allegra got up, J.P got up as well.

"Alone." Allegra added. J.P sat back down. Nate tried to hide his laugh with a slice of pizza.

"Oh shut up. Everyzing vill be fine in ze morning." J.P nodded. "Just watch."

"Whatever you say, Frenchie." Nate grinned. "Whatever you say."

The next morning, Rahzel was sitting in the terminal at the base of Peak 1. Pete's heliplane was coming in for a landing.

Rahzel couldn't believe that his person was able to get here overnight…especially the way Pete flies.

The door opened the Rahzel's secret weapon got out.

Rahzel walked up and shook his hand. "Glad you could make it."

The man smiled, he had a great smile. He shook Rahzel's hand. "Anything for a friend. So, who needs my help?"

Rahzel held up a picture. "Viggo Rollig."

The man took the picture and looked at it. "I've seen him on T.V. Good rider. What's his problem?"

Rahzel spoke in a serious tone. "Alcohol."

The man winched. "Ouch. Well. Take me the Lodge first. There are some people I want to say high to. The man pulled the hood of his jacket down.

Rahzel grinned. "I knew you would."

Rahzel began to board the Heliplane he looked back at the man.

"Welcome back, Brodi."

Brodi smiled, he slung his bag with the Yin-Yang over his shoulder. "I go where ever Buddha tells me to, my friend."

Rahzel nodded.

Brodi looked at the snow. "But damn, it feels good to be back."

AN: Brodi is here! I never personally liked him in SSX Tricky. But I felt he would make the perfect "Spiritual Guide" of sorts Viggo needed. There, you can all stop whining about how the story has become all about Viggo now.

You know the drill, Read n Review.