"Toothless!" called out Hiccup. The little Nightfury landed in his hand and promptly shifted into a sword that ignited into blue flames. He aimed it at the man standing in front of him. "Let her go," he growled. Viggo pulled on Merida's hair, pulling her closer to him, the knife pulling closer towards her throat. Merida groaned, the pain of her hair being tugged coupled with her straining against the rope around her wrists, was making her frustrated.

"Come, come, Hiccup, you know what I want. Bring me all eight High Dragons, and I'll let her go. Simple as that."

"Is it?" asked Hiccup. He had fought Viggo far too many times to not know that he would have a backup plan, and that he didn't keep promises.

"As if," muttered Merida. Viggo shot her a glare before answering as if she wasn't there.

"Of course I'll let her go. Wouldn't do me any good to kill her if I needed to make another wish, now, would it?" Hiccup let out a low growl. "So, what's it going to be, Hiccup? Are you going to gather the High Dragons together and grant my wish, or must I slit your pretty girl's throat?" He tugged on her hair again, resulting in a yelp out of her mouth.

"Don't worry about it, Viggo, we're here," came a voice from behind Viggo. Viggo glanced over his shoulder, there stood the other seven holders of the High Dragons, Eret, MacIntosh, Snotlout, Fishlegs, Dingwall, MacGuffin, and Dagur. Astrid, Heather, and the twins were standing more to the back, but they had their dragons out and ready if their friends needed back-up. "So, what's your wish, Viggo?" asked Dagur, arms crossed as he glared at him. "Though I must remind you, it cannot be just anything you want, the power to grant wishes is limited, hence why all eight High Dragons must be present."

"Oh, it's simple, really, I'm looking for someone."

"Who?"

"Drago Bludvist." The teens blinked.

"Who?" asked MacIntosh.

"Uh, Dagur, should we be worried?" asked Hiccup.

"Who is Drago Bludvist?"

"An old friend. I just heard recently that he was wounded in a battle and went into hiding, no one knows where he went. I just want to find him, check up on him." The group eyed Viggo suspiciously. "What? Can't a guy have a few friends?"

"Oh, a guy can have a few friends, I just don't see you being the type," quipped Dagur.

"You're right, I don't have many, which is why I need to check up on Drago, he's technically the only person I would consider a friend."

"And you had to threaten Merida's life to do that?" asked Hiccup.

"Would you have listened to me any other way?"

"He kind of has a point," muttered Dagur.

"So, what will it be . . ."

"Fine, we'll use the High Dragons' power to help you find your friend. But you let Merida go first."

"Hiccup," began Viggo as the knife got very close to Merida's neck. She let out a whimper before gritting her teeth.

"No, he's right," interrupted Dagur. "You have to let her go, because if she's in the circle with you, the Dragons will get confused as to whose wish they should grant. They can only grant one wish at a time, remember?"

"Make the circle first, and then I'll let her go."

"Fine," muttered Hiccup as he nodded at the group. The holders of the eight High Dragons circled Viggo and Merida, the weapons shifting back into their dragon forms, ready to spring into action.

"Good, thank you," said Viggo with a smile before practically throwing Merida to the side rather hard. Dagur caught her before she hit the ground. Astrid and Heather rushed forward and grabbed their friend, pulling her to safety behind them and the twins. Hiccup gritted his teeth before shooting a glare at Viggo. He was going to get him, but not today, today they had made a deal, though Hiccup had a very bad feeling about it and knew that Dagur shared the same feeling. But in the next second, the eight Dragons began to glow their respective colors; blue, red, green, gold, silver, orange, purple, and bronze. Beams of light emanated from each dragon's tiny body and merged above Viggo's head before the blended white light descended on him. Viggo closed his eyes as the light enveloped him, the power reading his wish and granting it. When the light dissipated after a few minutes and Viggo opened his eyes, he smiled almost evilly.

"Well, thank you, my wish was granted, I have my friend's location. See you around," he remarked casually before walking away coolly. But not before pausing by Hiccup on his way out and whispering, "Next time, my real wish will come true, and all eight High Dragons will be mine." Hiccup's eyes widened, but before he could do or say anything, Viggo was making his escape.

"Hiccup!" Merida rushed into his arms. He pulled her close and smelled her apple shampoo, relieved that she was safe.

"What did he say?" asked Dagur worriedly as the others joined them.

"Did he really wish to find his friend?" asked Eret, looking at Viggo's escape route like he was about to follow him, despite Viggo having had a good enough of a head start at that time.

"No, he did wish to find his friend," said Hiccup hoarsely.

"Then what did he say to you?" asked Astrid.

"That he'll get his real wish later, to gain control of all eight High Dragons," Hiccup said through clenched teeth, his anger seething to the point that if it could be physical, it would be boiling.

"And his friend, Drago Bludvist, or whatever, is going to help him do that," realized Dagur.

"We shouldn't have granted his wish!" blurted Fishlegs. MacGuffin echoed the sentiment, though Fishlegs had to translate for him.

"No kidding, but it's too late now," said Hiccup.

"And besides, he would have killed Merida!" exclaimed Astrid. Hiccup pulled the redhead closer to him, and Viggo would use her life as a bargaining chip again. But would he let her live next time?

"Well then, may I suggest we prepare ourselves? No matter what Viggo is planning, we need to be prepared," stated Eret.

"For anything and everything," said Dagur.

"And since Dagur knows Viggo so well, well, at least, the best out of all of us, we're going to have to listen to him for training," mumbled Snotlout.

"Well then, since that's the case, we had better get started. Let's go!" said Dagur, leading the way out. Hiccup and Merida stayed behind, Hiccup having pulled her into a tight hug.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly, fighting the tears that threatened to fall from his face. All that caged up stress and anxiety was going to turn into a tsunami and wash over him if he let it.
"I'm fine, thanks to you," she replied just as softly. He couldn't help it, he let a few tears fall.

"I, I almost lost you," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. He felt her shudder as she took a shaky breath.

"And if Viggo does get all eight High Dragons?"

Hiccup's grip tightened with determination. "He won't, we won't let him, we can't let him. The High Dragons were entrusted to us, and for good reason. We'll think of something, I'm sure of it," he stated firmly. She pulled her head back from his shoulder to look at him before she began to grin.

"Then I guess I'd better work on my archery and practice with my dragon. Viggo took me by surprise this time, he won't next time. And he'll come to regret it."

Hiccup laughed. "That's Merida Dunbroch talking, alright. And I expect you to make him pay good and well."

Merida grinned big. "Oh, you can bet on it." Hiccup smiled at her before pulling her in for a kiss.