=Normal POV=
(Saturday, 5/19/2018-10:45 am)
(Archian Island, Berk)
(Berkian Academy; Outside Basketball Court)

Today marked two things; one good, and one sad. Today was the championship game between the Berkian Academy Hooligans and the Murderous High Vikings. However, it was also the one year anniversary of Hunter's mother, Valerie Haddock, passing away so unexpectedly. Hunter ended up changing his plans; he just wanted to be alone. Hunter didn't want to be at the school for the practice, and he expressed that to his coach when the game got postponed to an undetermined date. Hiccup even ended missing his appointment with Keith, again, because of all the confusion. Keith wasn't happy, but understood this one was not Hunter's fault at all, neither had been the car situation a week before. The game was supposed to be Friday the 18th at 4:00 pm, but there was awful weather, and the opposing team blew a flat on their bus, having to wait for another to come, so it was decided to postpone. Unfortunately, Hunter's mood was so off because of knowing the biggest game of his got moved again. Also, today was supposed to be a random practice, so they could be ready for when the game was announced. Hunter told his coach that he wasn't going to be there as his head wouldn't be in the game. Dimitri understood, and hoped Hunter would be okay as he excused him from the practice.

Hunter was at home alone, just sitting in his room with music on and looking through photos and watching videos of the time when his mom was alive. His tumor symptoms were also very active and relentless today, to the point that he didn't even know if he would have managed to play. Everything hurt and he felt sick again. The tea had only helped a little, so Hunter figured this would be a good chance to relax a bit. He'd get through today, likely miserably, and then be back to somewhat normal as the time continued to pass and move away from this awful day. And unknown to Hunter's knowledge, the game date had already been determined, but he never found out because he left once the game on Friday was called off. So Hunter had no idea that the game was today. His team, girlfriend, friends, and family were all there. Even the parents of his friends and girlfriend too. They all assumed Hunter missed this game because of what the day was, but had no clue that he actually just didn't know it was happening today.

"Coach Bludvist!" Devon said, coming up to him.

"What's wrong?" Dimitri asked, turning to face him and then Elijah right beside a moment later.

"We've got a problem," Elijah stated. "Another one of the boys is sick, and we're out of backup players as they're all filling in for others who got sick earlier this week."

"We don't have enough to play the game." Devon added.

"If we can't play, we forfeit and lose automatically…" Dimitri reminded quickly.

"No one else can play. We tried calling everyone to see if they're better and they're not…" Elijah informed.

"Coach, what about Hunter?" Inquired a member of the team. "He's not sick, I don't think…He could come?"

"I don't think he knew there was a game today…He left after things got postponed last night." Another mentioned.

"Yeah, he never got word." One added.

Shane and Travis walked up. "So what's happening?" Shane asked.

"You know, you boys are right; I don't think he knows…I'll call Hunter and let him know the championship is today; I'm sure he'll come right down." Dimitri said, getting his phone out.

"Wait, hold on…" Shane stopped him. "Hunter isn't going to come in, coach."

"Why wouldn't he?" Elijah questioned. "He doesn't know the game is today."

"Doesn't matter, he's not gonna come in. Coach, he told you last night why he wasn't going to come to today's practice, before it was stated today would be the game, and told you what today was. You excused him for practice…" Travis reminded.

"Why would I do that?" Dimitri arched a brow.

"Coach Bludvist…It was a year ago today that his mom died…I talked to Uncle Spencer, his dad, this morning. He said that Hunter told everyone to leave him be today because he wants to be alone, that happened at 6:30 am…I called to ask if Hunter was okay since he wouldn't pick up his phone when I called to ask him how he was holding up." Shane explained. "Trust me…He's not gonna come in."

"He will, the championship was important to him. And if he didn't know it was today, he'll come if we tell him…I don't have a choice, I have to try or we lose on a technicality…" Dimitri sighed as he dialed Hunter's cell and waited. Shockingly, on 5th ring, there was a pickup.

"Coach, I told you that I was not coming in for practice today due to personal reasons…" Hunter's voice informed.

"Hunter, listen to me…Today is not a practice. You left last night before it was announced, but the championship game is today, in fifteen minutes." Dimitri stated.

"What?..."Hunter said.

"Half the team is sick and I'm already got all their spots filled with backup team members…But one more just got sick, and I don't have an extra. Please? I know today isn't a good day for you, Shane reminded me…But if you don't play, we forfeit and lose automatically…Please, come in and play. We're on the outside court; I only need you for two hours…Please?" Dimitri pleaded.

"Please?!" The team begged while around him.

"What do you suppose they're all talking about?" Spencer wondered from his seat, grouped up with the others.

"Something must have happened…" Nicole informed. "Looks like the coach is on the phone." She pointed out.

After a few moments of silence on Hunter's end; he finally sighed. "Fine…" Hunter replied. "I'll be there before the game starts." He added, then ended the call before Dimitri could say anything else.

"What did he say?" Devon wondered.

"Said he'll be here before the game starts." Dimitri repeated.

"He's probably not gonna be in the best mood, so I'd just thank him and back off…" Shane warned.

"Will bear it in mind." The other nodded, knowing Hunter did have a bit of a temper and not wanting to invoke it today.

. . .

(11:00 am)

The referee approached Dimitri. "It's time, are you ready?" He asked.

"We're waiting for one." Dimitri informed.

"You have five minutes, if she or he doesn't come then you forfeit." The referee walked off.

"Come on, Hunter…" Dimitri prayed.

At the end of five minutes, Hunter still hadn't shown as the referee walked over once more. "Has your player arrived?"

Dimitri sighed. "No…"

"Then I will make the call." The referee moved to center court. "As the Hooligans are missing-," He stopped when someone walked out of the boy's locker room in a Hooligan uniform.

Devon saw him and sighed in relief, letting the others know that Hunter had come. "Oh, thank Odin…" a few said. "Wait! Wait, he's here!" they called to the referee, as the man glanced over to see Hunter there, sitting on the bench to make sure his laces were tied tight.

"Hooligans aren't missing anyone!" Elijah called to him. Hunter looked miserable and if looks could kill, someone would be dead for calling him today.

"Game on!" The referee smiled.

"Hunter…Thank you." Dimitri said.

"Yeah, yeah…Let's just get this over with so I can go back home…" Hunter moved past them to take his space at center court and meet with the captain of the other team. The referee mentioned the usual stuff before Hunter shook hands with the other guy and everyone got into position.

"I'm…Really surprised he came…" Glenn mentioned to Spencer.

"Why wouldn't he have?" Keith asked.

"Said he wanted to be left alone today." Spencer shrugged.

"Is he not feeling well?" Ella wondered.

Spencer shook his head to her. "No, it's what today is," He sighed. "It's the one year anniversary of his mother's and my wife's death. Hunter has been awake since before the sun came up, and we asked what he wanted to do today; he said he wanted to be left alone."

Nicole frowned, so it was today that Hunter lost his mother and that's why she'd barely heard from him. But if he wanted to be left alone, then why would he come to the game? Likely for the sake of the championship. Nicole could see the scholarship board people from different universities were present, and Nicole knew how important this was to Hunter to get a scholarship for college.

"I guess we'll have to ask him later, if he's willing to talk to us." Glenn shrugged. "Aren't we all supposed to go out?"

"I think that was if they won the championship." Ashley mentioned calmly.

"Well, he's here with the team and we're all here to support him." Nicole said. The others nodded in agreement and watched the big game begin.

. . .

(12:30 pm)

The game was going well; the Hooligans were winning and holding it so that Murderous couldn't catch up by much. Hunter only spoke when he had to, but he kept his head as much in the game as possible. It was hard to focus with what today was, and on top of it; his symptoms were acting up with all the movements. Hunter had a pounding headache; he felt lightheaded, nauseous, and dealing with joint pain. On top of all that, there was a lot of chest pain too. Which, Hunter knew he got sometimes, but usually not this much. There was thirty more minutes to go of the game, and as it looked now; the Berkian Academy Hooligans were going to win the championship. At the moment; the Hooligans were trying to score a few more baskets to keep Murderous from catching up. There was a good lead right now, but one or two more wouldn't hurt, just to draw them out until the final buzzer.

Hunter managed to get the ball away from the other team and was running it down the court; a sharp pain stuck in his chest as he nearly fumbled his foot. It looked like a trip, but he caught himself and kept going. Hunter managed to score one and things reset with the teams doing whatever they could to either get the ball or keep it from the other side. Shane got the ball as they worked their way down the court again; Hunter and Travis had his safe, but a Murderous player snuck in and shoved Hunter out of the way with his elbow. Now, while Hunter had been shoved more time than he cared to keep track of, and knew it was bound to happen; what he didn't need was to have gotten an elbow to the chest in order for the other player to shove him away from Shane. It hurt and Hunter cringed, but got himself back in to protect his cousin.

"Trav!" Shane called, passing him the ball. Travis caught it and could make the basket, but this particular spot was one that Hunter was best at.

"Hunter! You take it!" Travis stated. Hunter nodded as Travis tossed him the ball, but the other player who jabbed him in the chest got in and stole the ball away to get down the other side; the Hooligans raced after him. However, at that very moment; Hunter knew something was wrong. Hunter didn't know how to explain it; his chest was in agony and tight, he felt like he couldn't breathe. His heart was beating rapidly and irregularly. Hunter tried to shake it off, but the pain hit again while he was running to get the ball back; he froze in place.

"Something is wrong…" Nicole said, quickly getting her father's attention by tapping his knee as he was behind her. "Dad, something is wrong with Hunter!"

Keith looked quickly, just in time to see Hunter looking dazed, breathing shallowly, and then finally while bringing a hand to his chest. "Oh no…Oh no no no no no…" Keith whispered, Nicole could see the heavy concern in her father's eyes, so she knew that something was very wrong.

"Hunter?" Shane stopped running when he didn't Hunter beside him anymore, he looked back to see the state Hunter was in. Suddenly, Hunter's eyes rolled in the back of his head as he smacked the ground hard, passing out completely. "Hunter!" Shane instantly broke off and went back for his cousin, and with concern, Travis did too. Shane tried to shake him a little, tapping his cheek to coax him awake, but it wasn't working.

"He's out cold…" Travis raised his head. "Stop the game!" He called as the referee blew the whistle, calling for time out. The referee came over and looked to the Hooligan side, motioning for Jeremy and Kyle to come out.

"What happened?!" Dimitri demanded quickly.

"We don't know! He just stopped suddenly and dropped, coach." Shane said, clearly worried.

"He did take that elbow to the chest…" Travis mentioned. "Or maybe emotional stress; today isn't exactly a good day…" He added.

Jeremy and Kyle tried with everything they were equipped for, but Hunter wasn't waking up. The two looked at one another with concern. "What's wrong?" Devon asked them.

"We…Don't know…" Kyle admitted.

"Nothing we've tried is working. He's not responding to light, touch, smell, sound…Anything. His heart rate is really fast and abnormal, and his breathing isn't right…" Jeremy said.

"I think we need a doctor…Or maybe even a paramedic…" Kyle stated.

"I know where there are two right here in the building." Shane said as he rushed to get to the stands. "Nicole! I need your dad, and your mom…Now."

Keith and Ella didn't waste time as she moved to get out of the stands and down onto the court. Worrying for Hunter, Spencer, Nicole, Glenn, and everyone else moved to get down as well, but already knew not to crowd. Keith and Ella took their places where Jeremy and Kyle had been, using the tools provided to check over Hunter themselves.

"What happened, Shane?" Spencer asked.

"I-I don't know, Uncle Spencer. Everything was fine, but he took that hit to the chest then shook it off and the next thing we knew; he just dropped and now he won't wake up…" Shane explained, trying to stay calm.

"He's been out for almost five minutes now…" Ella reminded as Keith was listening to Hunter's heart.

"I know…His pulse is weak, his heartbeat is irregular and too fast for this to be caused by an elbow to the chest…And his breathing; I don't like it." Keith said, acting as if he didn't know that Hunter had a tumor.

"We need to get him to the hospital." Ella stated, grabbing her phone. "This is paramedic Ella Strondsen. I need an ambulance at Berkian Academy's outside basketball court on the double. The patient is an eighteen year old boy who took a hard hit to the chest and passed out," She explained. "Unresponsive to everything. Irregular heartbeat, weak pulse…" She added. "I'll stay on the line…"

"No…Not again…Please not again…" Spencer pleaded as Glenn was trying to keep him calm, so was Shawn Jorgenson.

"Spencer, calm down…Panicking is not going to help Hunter any right now." Shawn advised.

"Don't tell me to calm down! My son passed out, and this has turned into an emergency situation. Just like with Val…It's happening the same way…" Spencer lowered his head, clearly upset and scared.

"I know…I know. But he's gonna be alright. Have faith, Spencer…" Glenn tried.

"You told me that with my wife, and it wasn't alright!" Spencer snapped. "She collapsed the same way, and then died right before paramedics could arrive! I can't…Lose him, Glenn…I can't lose him too…"

"We're not going to lose him, Spencer. I promise; I will personally be with him the entire time." Keith vowed. He and his wife continued to monitor's Hunter's status, giving updates to the paramedics until they arrived just at 1:15 pm. Paramedics rushed in and didn't even need to repeat the same things over again, they were just bringing in the gurney to get Hunter on it for transport to the hospital in the ambulance. "I will ride with him and help on the ride." Keith stated.

"Understood." The male paramedic nodded.

"We'll follow in the cars." Ella informed firmly.

"I want to ride with my son." Spencer stepped up.

"There isn't enough room, Spencer. Listen to me; I will go with him…I can help the paramedics work on him. But if we don't move now; we're going to lose him. If you want me to save his life, you need to let me do my job. I promise that I will keep you updated, but I can't do anything if I don't know the problem and we're wasting time by standing here." Keith said to Spencer, who reluctantly, gave in and nodded softly.

"Don't worry about updating me. Just save him, Keith…That's all I care about. I'll wait for hours to get an update…Just find out what's wrong with my son, and do whatever you have to in order to fix him…When he is stabilized and okay…Then tell me what happened…" Spencer said. "Just don't let him die…"

"I swear to you that I will not allow that to happen, Spencer." Keith stated as he quickly left with the paramedics. It was clear Spencer hated seeing them go, and that he was trying to be strong and keep it together.

"Might not be the best time…But how are we finishing the game?" Asked the Murderous Coach.

"I can play coach…I'm feeling better than before. I'll take Hunter's place, we'll finish the game…" Said one of the players who had been sitting on the bench due to not feeling well, but not wanting to miss the game either.

"There's no point finishing the game if we're down one player aside from Hunter…" Dimitri looked at Shane. "Hunter is your family, and I won't hold it against you if you want to go to the hospital and wait for news…"

Shane looked down a minute, then sighed. "Hunter…Would want us to finish it. Not like there's a lot of time left to go and who knows how long we'd be waiting around for an update…I'll stay."

"We're going ahead," Glenn said.

"Go, I have my car; I'll catch up after," Shane said.

"I'll be with him too." Travis nodded.

"The rest of you go…" Shane stated. Nodding in agreement, and concerned still; they all rushed out to clear the court and head for Berk General Hospital.

. . .

(1:20 pm)
(Ambulance; In Route to Hospital)

"What's this kid's medical history?" The paramedic asked Keith.

"History doesn't matter; I know what's wrong with him. I'm his doctor, and couldn't reveal anything to his family or friends without his consent…He has a tumor in his heart. It was discovered back toward the end of February, and he knew his only chance was surgery…I agreed to let him hold the surgery in June, as long as he saw me weekly so I could monitor the status so this medical emergency wouldn't sneak up on us. However, the last three or four weeks have been crazy and he missed appointments…It seems things were worse as I'd feared…" Keith said.

"What do we do?" The female paramedic inquired.

"Call ahead to the hospital, have them get the OR ready for open-heart surgery in one hour's time from when we arrive. Tell them to call in Keith Strondsen's surgery team, have them meet us there." Keith stated firmly. The paramedics nodded and got to work on making sure they didn't lose Hunter on the ride, but also doing what Keith said. Keith just helped where he could, watching Hunter's vitals and condition. Soon they'd be at the hospital, and once everything was ready; he'd perform the surgery and hopefully, Hunter would be alright.