Savage scanned the horizon nervously. What if the Berkers had their dragons? They didn't have any catapults or anti-dragon equipment with them. The men next to him were cranking their crossbows, looking at him for guidance. Savage was second to Alvin, but still a cunning warrior that the Outcasts looked to for leadership.

"Look sharp, boys. We don't know what's going to be coming at us" he called out, his eyes still moving across the sky.

"Chief, look!" One of the sentries pointed closer to the ground. Savage looked down to see a large dust cloud, rolling towards the cave that the Outcasts had commandeered. Too fast for humans. Was it those strange horses? Galloping Dragons?

"Fire when they get close enough!" he raised his bone to signal the attack. The Outcasts in the front line, armed with crossbows, lowered and aimed their weapons at the cloud. The moment they could pick out a target, they would fire. Any person in that range would be cut down instantly by the bolts, and the battle would be over then and there.

Savage turned to the elder Viking-"Mildew, tell Alvin we've got company! Get the lads up for battle!"

As Mildew hobbled away, Savage and the Outcasts turned back to the cloud of dust. It seemed obvious, sloppy. Too obvious. Too big a target. A distraction. Before any of them could put two and two together, an impact exploded into the ground. The blast sent Vikings flying, blowing rocks and dirt high into the air with the impact of a catapulted stone.

The projectile? Rainbow Dash. In the center of the ring of destruction stood the blue Pegasus, with Snotlout on her back. As the Outcasts struggled to regain their bearings and senses, Snotlout dismounted.

"That was awesome!" he pumped his fist before unsheathing his axe.

"Oh yeah! Let's clear this place!" Rainbow joined him in the war whoop before they engaged.

The nearest Outcast managed to see his crossbow cut in half before a lightning-fast hoof knocked him out cold. His companion raised his own weapon to shoot at the Pegasus, but Snotlout's axe rang against his helmet and the entire warrior vibrated from the impact. The brawl-happy Viking and the Karate blackbelt gained their advantage early, and quickly put it to use.

The ring of arms and the din of impacts called the other Outcasts to arms. No sooner did the first line of archers fall than a raging mob of warriors charged them. Rainbow and Snotlout just smirked at each other and stood their ground.

That's when the other Vikings and Ponies caught up. A blast of magic scattered the mob, and a volley of bolts and spears were deflected by a bright pink shield as Twilight led the charge, Astrid sending the flat of her sword crashing into the nearest warrior.

Other missiles arced at Pinkie Pie, but she casually ducked and dodged them, impacting the chariot instead.

"Oh man, we forgot our weapons!" Tuffnut realized as their chariot rumbled over another outcast.

"Hey, could someone toss us a weapon?" Ruffnut yelled above the din

THUNK! Two spears sank into the chariot. Promptly, the twins yanked the shafts from the embedded heads.

"Thank you!" Ruffnut said to no one in particular, before swatting down an Outcast.

"You're welcome!" Pinkie responded automatically.

Meanwhile, Applejack's lasso was working hard, disarming one Viking, then tripping up another. A spear was yanked out of a warrior's hands, then send flying to pin another warrior to the wall by his shirt. Astride her, Fishlegs struggled to hold on.

"Whoa! Sorry-it's just that I'm used to going much slower" He apologized after yanking her mane instinctively

"'S alright, sugarcube. Go any weapons of your own?"

"They're all left at home, and I think I'd fall off if I tried picking up one of theirs"

"That's a pickle. "

"Got anything you or I could throw?"

"Nope. Ain't enough rocks here to throw without bringing the cave down. "

"Wait, I've got it. Throw me, Applejack!"

"You sure?"

"Yeah!" Fishlegs braced himself, and with a buck, Applejack sent him flying like a cannonball into the thick of the Outcasts. Those that did recover enough to stand were quickly knocked back into helplessness by some solid kicks by the pony.

"Problem is I can't do it twice" groaned Fishlegs from the floor.

As the others clashed with the Outcasts, Rarity and Hiccup sped straight at a center of torches. Sure enough, there was Alvin the Treacherous and a tied up Spike. Two guards flanked the little dragon, swords at his neck. Mildew leaned on his staff to the side.

Hiccup dismounted. "All right, Alvin, what do you want? If it's me, let's just get it over with. You know what to expect from me and I know what to expect from you. Just take me already" he snapped

"Ah Hiccup" Alvin chuckled, "Usually you're smarter than this. I expected you to come here, but I also thought you'd figure what the game is by now"

"Sorry if I'm reluctant to play by your rules, Alvin" Hiccup crossed his arms and glared.

"Let him go!" Twilight Sparkle trotted in, blasting away the last of Vikings in her path.

"Now we're talking!" Alvin's laugh raised in volume in his triumph

"You see, Hiccup, I don't want you. I want someone who can do magic. Someone like her" he gestured at Twilight.

Twilight gasped.

"That's right; we know you like this little dragon here, so you have a choice-we get the dragon, or we get you" Mildew grinned at Twilight with his broken teeth.

"Why me?"

"Come off it, my little pony; we know you're the only Pony with magic. I know that dragon knows magic, too, so either way, we win." Alvin gestured at the captive Spike.

"Spike's magic is only good for transporting letters. He can't help you in whatever scheme you have in mind." Twilight explained.

"Well then, I guess he's useless. Boys, take off his head-" Alvin raised his hand at the guards

"NO!" Twilight yelled. There was a brief pause. Alvin narrowed his eyes but his smile stayed on. Twilight glared back at him, tears in her eyes. Hiccup turned from one to the other, struggling to think of a plan.

"All right, Alvin. You win." At this, she briefly glanced to Rarity, their eyes meeting, as if a cue. There was a brief pause. Her glance shifted to Hiccup, this time calm and comforting, then finally at Astrid, before meeting Alvin's gaze again.

"You win" she repeated, "I'm yours. Free him."

"But Twilight, you can't! Please, kill me instead!" Spike struggled as he was slowly untied.

"It's all right Spike. Everything will be all right" This time their eyes met. Twilight's unspoken message seemed to calm him, but he still looked worried.

Hiccup realized exactly what Twilight had in mind at that moment, mouthing 'she's got this' at Spike.

"I knew you were smart, Miss Sparkle" Alvin laughed once more. "Hear that lads? We won!" The bruised, battered Outcasts weakley cheered as the others watched in stunned silence. Well, the others except for Rarity; she was busy.

Hiccup's keen eyes were the first to notice her quietly manipulating the cut ropes with her magic, sliding them around the ankles of the two guards and making a very elegant knot. He allowed himself a smile.

Alvin noticed that smile-"What're you smilin' about? Think you can train that dragon? Hah! You might as well forget it, and get used to living with these horses-"

Suddenly the guards fell to the floor, their swords falling out of their hands and scattering away. One sword flew up, glowing with blue energy.

"Sparkle! You're breaking your word!" Alvin was startled for once.

"Oh, I'm not breaking my word. I'm not picking up that sword either" She gave him a triumphant smile of her own.

Then the sword attacked as Rarity charged.

"YOU! WILL! NEVER! EVER! HURT! MY! SPIKEY! AGAIN! I! SHOULD! CUT! YOU! TO! RIBBONS! AND! I! WILL! IF! YOU! PUT YOUR! FILTHY! HANDS! ON! HIM! EVER! AGAIN!" Rarity punctuated each scream with a telekinetic swing, attacking Alvin with such ferocity that even the famed warrior barely could parry the blows. One swing slashed so hard it cut a horn off his helmet. Another made his chain mail rattle.

Mildew, seeing the assault, charged forward, raising his staff to strike Rarity. He barely took a step forward before being body checked to the ground. Looking up, he saw Astrid aiming her sword at his throat.

"I would stay there if I were you" she threatened.

With the last word from Rarity's mouth, their swords met edge to edge, locking in place as the metal cut into each other. Rarity used that opportunity to punch Alvin in the face. The dainty-looking fashionista laid out the Viking chieftan in a single blow, sending a gold tooth flying and the massive warrior crashing down.

Twilight had been using the distraction to start tying up the Vikings with their own belts, eventually manacling even Alvin as he laid there unconscious.

Spike and Rarity rushed to each other, holding each other in an embrace.

"That was touch and go" Twilight set out a sigh as she wiped her forehead with her magic.

"I wish I'd thought of that" Hiccup admitted.

"Oh, I'm sure you would. But it was me he was after this time. Never thought about the other unicorns, did he?"

"Well, I guess this was new to him. My question is how'd he know you were good at magic? Someone must have told him"

"Gee, I wonder who" Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes sarcastically as she helped tie up another Outcast.

"Yeah, me too" Pinkie added, unironically.

"Have you guessed it yet?" a deep giggle echoed around the cave.

"Are you having fun, Discord?" Twilight muttered

"Oh, I'd say I'm quite satisfied" the Draconequus manifested in a referee's shirt, holding up a scorecard showing a "30 : 0".

"Let me guess. This is that Chaos God you told us about? I suppose you know Loki?" Hiccup raised an eyebrow at Discord.

"Big fan, Hiccup; I'm probably his biggest fan" Discord now wore a horned green helmet and was waving a pennant with a big golden L on it, "Of course, with Ragnarok the whole thing breaks, and I just can't bear to break my favorite toys"

"Are you really a God?" Fishlegs walked backwards slowly.

"I suppose I am, but I try to be humble about it" A little halo fizzled above his horns, glowing weakly and sputtering out.

Hiccup actually walked towards the floating chimera.

"Did you bring us here?"

"Oh, only indirectly. I made a lovely little toy when I was bored, and then I lost track of it. I guess it's just my luck it happened to wind up with those horned Helraisers, but it was certainly enjoyable."

"Then are you going to bring us back?" Astrid walked to Hiccup's side.

"Without your dragons? I suppose. I mean, dragons are just great for wreaking havoc in the world. If you don't miss, them, of course, I'll take them off your hands-"

"Never" Hiccup interrupted him.

"Then I suppose you'll just have to get your dragons back before I can send you back. If they're your dragons, you go look for them" Discord sniffed.

"Oh, we will. We were going to do that anyway" Hiccup didn't stop glaring.

"Are they all right?" Fishlegs asked

"For now, I suppose-but I'm sure they'll run into other dragons and ponies and other monsters soon enough. I was hoping for some towns destroyed" Discord replied casually

"I like this guy already" Ruffnutt commented

"Totally" Tuffnut concurred

"Where are the dragons?" Hiccup crossed his arms impatiently

Discord chuckled "Oh, please. They're dragons; they're not that hard to find!" A pith helmet popped onto his horns. "Happy hunting, kids!" And with that he popped back out.

Hiccup sighed.

"Don't worry; we'll do everything we can to find them. I promise, I've even told Princess Celestia about and there's no chance they can hide"

"Thanks, Twilight. I just feel like this is my responsibility"

"I know that feeling. I have the same problem myself"

"Well, count me in!" Spike stretched his arms as he walked towards the group, "Being a dragon should help"

"That's the concept anyway" Rainbow Dash quipped.

"We're in this together, sugarcube. Can't just let you hang out to dry, ya know?" Applejack chimed in

"I even have a dragon call!" Pinkie waved around a small kazoo on her hoof.

"There's no such thing as a dragon call!" Twilight slapped her horn with her hoof.

"It worked on Spike!"

"It usually does when you play it outside the window at 3 in the morning!" Spike sighed

They all shared a laugh.

Thankfully, another train came along, as well as the royal guard. As the Outcasts were flown off to prison by armored pegasi, the dragon riders and the ponies boarded a new train dispatched soley to pick up the wrecked passengers (Fluttershy had flown up to one of the city watchtowers and told them of the crash).

As they settled to their seats, Astrid turned to Rarity.

"Where did you learn how to fight?" the Viking asked

"I took fencing and boxing lessons, darling. Art and craft are my mental exercise, but a girl needs physical exercise, too."

"Gotta say, you were pretty good"

"Why thank you, darling. I prefer not to settle things with violence, but if my sister, or my friends, or my Spikey is in trouble, I will not hesitate to come up with a backup plan. "

"Well, that's my kind of backup plan" Astrid grinned at the unicorn.

Overhearing, Spike turned to Hiccup on the opposite seat

"I think we know some pretty amazing women"

"I've been aware of that for a while, bud, for quite a while".