Apologies for the wait, guys. Life has been weighing a bit more heavy on my shoulders. But now that I'm on break from School, hopefully I can devote more time.

Now, before beginning, a quick thanks to those who reviewed on the previous chapters, and a HUGE thanks to everyone for getting this story up to another milestone. We stand now at 20,000+ views, so thank you guys so much! :)

Let us go on with story though, shall we?

"There's nothing much to say about these Vikings, Stoick." began Dagur. "Although, their intentions are obvious. Kill, enslave, sack, and conquer. And it seems that this invasion fleet is more than I could've anticipated. I didn't even see it coming."

"None of us did." Stoick replied, drinking from his mug. "As I said, the first report we got on these Vikings was when our scouts were attacked by one ship loaded with twenty five of them. Half of the crew escaped with their lives while the others had axes to their heads."

Dagur sighed, shaking his head. "They should be lucky that they didn't face what we faced. There's more than just simple warriors in their ranks." he responded, causing Stoick to grow curious.

"What do you mean?"

It was then that Dagur placed his mug down, tapping his fingers on the table. "Where do I even begin." he said. "For one, the Vikings with their axes, shields, and so forth, aren't the only ones you can expect. This army, it commands forces I have never seen before. There are these Barbarians that look almost like Vikings, but are complete savage and wear more furs. They attack with ferocity, and their agility is fast, very fast. I could barely hold my ground against three of them... And then, there's the Rus'. These guys are tough I tell you, wielding great axes and great weapons with similar Viking armor…"

"And…?" asked Stoick.

"But it is very unfamiliar in terms of how it was made." the Berserker Chieftain added on with. "They don't just wear leather and furs for their armor, but as well as black iron plate. Their style is different from any Viking I've ever seen, almost as if they have a Chieftain of ingenuity."

"Aside the armor, what makes you assume that?"

"Their technology, their weapons, Stoick." Dagur continued. "It's beyond anything I've ever seen… especially those Devastators."

Stoick choked on his ale from hearing that word, though he wasn't sure what a Devastator was. He glanced at Dagur with a brow raised inquisitively, and Dagur shrugged.

"I don't know what to say aside that fact that they're fiery killing machines." he said to Stoick. "Explosive pieces of black metal were filled in these siege weapons, and whenever it fires it would send the large metal flying in the air, bursting in flames, and they would explode upon impact as if it were a meteor striking Midgard. None of our catapults could even take one of them out."

Both of them sat in silence, pondering and thinking of what might happen and what needed to be done. It was hard not to believe what Dagur saw back on Berserker Isle when it was being taken over, and there has been more than what Stoick had anticipated, as it seemed that Ivar's influence was far more dangerous than he thought.

"Well," started Stoick. "The best we can do right now is wait until our opponent comes. There is a chance that we may or may not be able to defeat them… but I tell you: we will meet them in battle one way or another."

"And do you think we'll hold?" asked Dagur.

"...It's all in the hands of Odin." the Chieftain replied as he took a big gulp of ale from his mug, still eyeing Dagur. "-For I assure you, that the gods will be with us in this battle. I know it. My speech however will perhaps turn the tide in our favor."

…

Magnus blocked with his practice sword as a strike from Astrid came at him from above. In response he gave her a mere quick and simple strike as a distraction right before he rolled around behind her and struck her with his wooden blade at her ankles.

Hiccup and the others stood by and watched in interest and slight suspense as the two great warriors fought each other with great skill and movement, each making their own move against each other that was unique to their style, and this caught his full attention.

"The way they move…" he said to himself. "That's something you don't see everyday when it comes down to two great warriors."

Magnus smirked as he stood up from being on his knees, looking back at Astrid who was in the same state as he was. Both of them breathed intensely, catching their breaths from making their attacks.

"Are you finished, girl?" he asked, taunting her. "Your attacks are as slow as a lazy boar, and you fight like an amateur who has no experience."

"Excuse me?" she responded, gripping her axe tightly. "You're going to regret ever saying that to me…"

The grin on Magnus' face got even wider as Astrid prepared to attack again, and already the young man had an idea up his sleeve. To make thing easier he decided to use a different type of style as he switched hands and placed his sword in his left hand, with his right hand and arm placed behind his back. He then pointed the weapon outwards and taunted Astrid with stabs in the air.

"Charge me again." he said. "See how far you get."

The shield maiden let out a battle cry, and Astrid wasted no time with rushing at Magnus and charging him. Her axe was raised up high and her speed was fast and swift. However, upon meeting Magnus in combat, she did not expect what he would do next.

At the last second when Astrid was about to strike from Magnus' right side, the lad did the most simplest move that one should know how to do, and this to Astrid was unexpected since she suspected something more advanced. He stepped a couple of paces to the left as the shield maiden struck whilst using his blade in his left hand to misdirect the blow, and then bash the wooden blade of his practice sword against her back when she was facing to the right from him.

Astrid felt the rough blow and she fell over to the ground, with Magnus shortly rushing up to her and raising his blade up to her throat when she sat up.

At that moment, Astrid knew she was beaten.

"Good spar." Magnus said, offering a hand to help her up. At first she considered grabbing his hand and throwing him to the ground to stand on 'equal' terms… but instead she took his hand and gave a grin as the two fist-bumped each other.

"Good duel." she said.

Tuffnut stepped forward. "Three points to the master-at-arms Magnus! Astrid standing at-"

"Ah- dadada." interrupted Hiccup. "This isn't a competition. It's just training. Besides, we all know that one way or another the fleet will be here soon... We have to train and fight as best as we can so that we can actually manage to stand against the enemy."

"Aye." agreed Magnus. "Though by far, all of you are rusty when it comes to fighting. The only one here who was able to actually best me and almost get equal with me here was Hiccup."

"Well for one, you're older than us, and as a whole, stronger than us." commented Fishlegs, though Magnus just gave a shake of his head at the young Ingerman.

"At this age, it shouldn't matter about strength alone. It's true that you need to be strong when standing against a foe, however it can only get you so far. Skill and movement are key in this upcoming battle, and you need to be agile. Now, though you were unable to beat me in a spar - Astrid here surprisingly fought out longer than all of you."

"That's a bunch of yak dung!" called out Ruffnut.

Hiccup stepped forward. "No it isn't, actually. By far you guys only lasted a few minutes against Magnus, whilst Astrid here, though unable to best him, did fight him for TEN minutes straight if I stand correct."

"And that you do." nodded Fishlegs. "I kept track of time. You're right."

Astrid looked back from Hiccup and up onto the older Viking. "So if I was able to last ten minutes against you, what was my problem? How did I lose?"

For a moment, Magnus thought about it, memorizing the way that Astrid fought. She was acrobatic and reflexive, just like he and Eira was. Her blows were somewhat heavy, but enough to make a difference. However, the two handed axe did look heavy as a whole to him since the blade of the weapon was larger than the great axes which the Scandinavian Vikings used.

Then, it occurred to him.

"You're not using enough precision." he said, causing Astrid to lift a brow.

"How am I not precisive? My attacks in the past have been able to cleave my enemies in two, especially since the day I began fighting Dragons. Many of my enemies have fallen before me, and just because you're quicker and faster makes you think that-"

"That you'll hardly land a blow on Ivar's men? Yes." he replied with bold words. "They're quick, fast, agile, and definitely stronger when it comes to using their full weight on you. Assuming that precision alone with your skill can take them on, you are mistaken, Astrid."

The lass shook her head, looking down at her axe as she inspected the blade. "...So then how do I improve?" she asked him.

Magnus sighed, walking towards her as he placed one of his hands on her shoulders. "Look, lass. It's just training. I'm only doing what's best for you all so that you get a sense and an idea of how these Vikings are going to fight. All you need to do is just practice more. Perhaps those years of peace have kept you all rusty in your ability, in which I understand. But when in doubt, keep moving forward."

"Uhh… one question?" asked Tuffnut, and all eyes fell on him.

"Yes, Tuffnut?" replied Hiccup as silence filled the arena.

"If you two know these guys are tough and skillful and whatnot, then how were you, Magnus, and what's-her-face able to escape?"

The older Viking walked closer towards Tuffnut, stopping by Magnus. "First of all, my name is Eira." she said, crossing her arms. "Secondly, the only reason that we were even able to get kills off those heathens was because we knew their every moves and actions. Magnus and I were taught how to fight like them when we were younger, and in return Magnus taught Hiccup time and time again on the ways of how he fought, though not very often."

"And yet Hiccup got his butt kicked by Mildew's brainwashed loyalists-"

"That's in the past, Tuffnut." interrupted Hiccup. "I rely not on my strength alone, but as well as my skill and agility. If I had a sword in my hands then you'd find yourself a foot shorter from your head. And as for Mildew, he had the element of surprise with him. If I had known his men were there then I would've unsheathed my blade and given them quick deaths."

Tuffnut gave a splurt from his mouth, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms. "Suuuuuuuuuuure." he said towards the scrawny auburn-haired Viking.

Hiccup gave a grunt, tempting to reach his hand towards the blue-hilted blade that laid sheathed around his waist, but before he could do so he was lightly patted twice on the shoulder by Snotlout who stood behind him, shaking his head which motioned him not to do so, and from this the young Viking took a step back.

Before anyone could talk though, a rallying horn coming from the village was suddenly blown, and all eyes turned into the direction it was coming from. 'What is going on?' Hiccup thought to himself, but the answer would become clear to him when Gobber came into the arena, gesturing everyone to clear out.

"Ev'ryone out!" he called out. "Tha Chief's speech is about ta start! All tha warriors ar' required to rally in tha plaza!"

…

In the center of the village, hundreds were gathered around their Chieftain with Dagur right next to him, all of them viewing Stoick with wonder and concern on what he was about to say. They had been told the previous day that a speech would unfold, and now here it was.

As for Hiccup and the gang, all of them had reached the plaza before the majority of the warriors had, though the hundreds had filled up the plaza until there was barely any room. However, their summoning was obvious, so now or never they had to hear the Chief's speech.

Stoick took in a full breath of air before giving off a deep exhale, staring up at the crowds that stood before him.

"My friends." he began. "Warriors of the Hooligan Tribe. Defenders of Berk! ...I have called you all here to bring the word, that in a short amount of time - the Great Heathen Army and it's invasion force will soon be at our doorstep. It is now inevitable."

Gasps had spread throughout the ranks of Vikings as small conversations began between the majority of them, though others stood silent. They knew well as well that it was inevitable.

"What!?" one soldier called out. "We're exposed to the enemy?"

"When did this happen?" another cried.

"We have to do something! We can't just sit and wait while they move against us! We must fight them!" one more shouted, and Stoick nodded at the lad as he spoke up again.

"That is why, I have a plan! And, there is something all of you must know!" he continued, raising his hands up into the air for total silence.

"The Vikings we're going up against are beyond our generation! Their technology is beyond what we craft. Their warriors are strong in number, and skilled in their crafts of fighting, and we know that there are more than just Vikings! Germanic Barbarians, Slavic Rus' Varangians, all of them called under one banner to wipe us all out. And thus, I come to tell you all this at a time where the stakes cannot be higher!"

Once again, Stoick took a deep fresh breath of air in, and again he exhaled it out through his mouth, glancing at all those who faced him.

"I tell you all to stand with me! For when the enemy comes sailing at our doorstep, we will unleash Helheim upon them! Our arrows will rain down from the sky like the hail from a blizzard! Our swords and axes will pierce them like knives cutting through butter! And our strength and might will be unbreakable! No matter how outnumbered we are, I can guarantee you all that we WILL fight as one! We will win this… TOGETHER!"

His axe raised high above the ranks of warriors, and massive amounts of cheers followed from everyone that stood around him. Hiccup and the group however stood around as they glanced at each and every Viking who was eager for the fight. It was clear to him that none of them were afraid to die.

After all, Valhalla would await them.

"Stoick." a voice said, catching the Chief's attention as he turned away from the crowd, and his eyes fell onto Dagur who had his brows lifted. "You said you had a plan."

"Aye, that I did."

"And what plan would that be?" the Berserker Chieftain asked him.

"Well…" started Stoick. "Tell me, Dagur. Have you ever considered making new allies out of old enemies?"