"Why in the name of Thor did you bring him here?!" Hadrian shouts as Hiccup lands near him with Toothless. Hadrian pulls down his hood and cowl.

"I figured you would know! He's your dragon." Hiccup smiles. Hadrian chucks Hiccup's shield at him. "He wouldn't stop howling until we agreed to let him come!"

Lightning roars and swoops down towards the arena.

"I think he sees you." Hiccup says.

Hadrian looks to Hiccup and gives a snarl, but beneath it, Hiccup could see a smile. Lightning swoops down, and while Hadrian keeps an eye on Dagur, still unconscious, he switches his vision between running ahead and checking on Dagur.

Lightning swoops to the arena and doesn't even hesitate to blow the rusted bars apart and dive inward. Hadrian skids and slides down as Lightning whooshes right over him. He covers his hands with his head as dirt and stone scramble about. Lightning comes to a skittered stop next to Toothless and Hiccup. Hadrian pushes to his feet.

Lightning perks his head and coos. He trots to Hadrian immediately. Hadrian opens his arms up and nearly stumbles when Lightning nuzzles into his cheek. Hadrian scratches at Lightning's snout. "Good to see you too, boy."

Lightning coos and smiles. The reunion was cut short as a spine-tingling roar echoes through the air. Over on the horizon, they could see Fishlegs and Meatlug hovering towards the arena. On their tail – quiet literally – is the Screaming Death. They watch as the dragon gains on Meatlug and opens its jaws wide.

Hadrian cringes as he watches the dragon close its mouth around Fishlegs. Strangely he didn't feel panicked. As suddenly as it gulps Fishlegs, it spews him out in a belch of fire.

"Okay, and why did you bring that thing here?!" Hadrian shouts.

As Hiccup lands Toothless near him, Hadrian spots an Outcast hurdling towards him. Hadrian looks around and kicks up a hammer, then spinning and chucking it at the Outcast; it lands in a perfect hit to the dome. Lightning then grabs the man by an ankle and hurls him over to a trio coming in.

"Thanks. Well, as it turns out, this may be the only chance for us to get rid of it." Hiccup explains. "I saw the Screaming Death's mother. It's been destroying those islands, searching for her!"

Hadrian looks to him perplexed. "That, thing has a mother?"

"Yeah."

A roar within the arena catches their attention. Hadrian spins around just in time to have a Berserker tackle him to the ground. Hiccup is about to help when an Outcast jumps in front of him, with a spear ready. Looking all around, Hiccup finds himself surrounded. Toothless immediately spins, lashing his tail out and wiping the Outcasts aside. A Berserker comes up from behind, but it whacked away by Toothless' wing. When another one strikes, Toothless snarls and leaps in the air, grasping the man and pinning him to the ground.

Hadrian rises from the inert body of the Berserker that tackled him. Hadrian spins out his dagger and snarls. The man rises and readies his sword. Hadrian flicks his eyes over the man's shoulder, and buying the idea something is behind him, he glances over his shoulder. Hadrian takes advantage of his distraction to bring his knee up and kick the Berserker hard in the side. As he doubles over, Hadrian sinks his dagger into the flesh of his throat, then middle of his back. Gasping, he falls and dies.

Hiccup runs over to Hadrian's side when a Berserker tackles him off of Toothless. As Toothless roars a boa spins out and ensnares his wings. Hiccup and the Berserker roll and when Hiccup feels his back land on the ground, he grips whatever pierce of armor he can find and uses his legs to haul the Berserker over him. Hadrian races to jump on the back of the man Hiccup just hit. He presses the tip of his knife into the soft tissue beneath his throat, and the man raises his arm and drops his sword in surrender.

The man punches Hadrian's knife hand away from his throat. The tip gouges his skin as it goes and a stream of blood arcs through the air. The man throws Hadrian to the ground, but Hadrian kicks his legs out from beneath him. An Outcast approaches and Hadrian readies his dagger as the Berserker stands up. Hadrian dances between the two men, his dagger a blur of steel. Both men are bleeding, and one in particular was soaked with blood from a gash underneath his arm. Hadrian ducks a sideways slash, spins on his heels, and then lunges to the side of a thrust. The dagger pierces the air inches from Hadrian's face, but he seems to not care how close he comes to death. Hadrian's dagger punches underneath the breastplate, slicing open the flesh and spilling intestines to the cold stone.

Hadrian rushes to Hiccup and helps him to his feet. Then they both detangle Toothless. The Screaming Death's roar echoes through the arena as it nears. Hadrian help Hiccup mount Toothless. Astrid lands near them.

Hiccup grabs his shield. "Okay, they've seen each other. All we have to do now, is get them together," he stops momentarily to block a boa coming his way. "Then, get clear of this place."

Stormfly sprays her fire to keep soldiers away. "Then what?" Astrid asks.

"I'm hoping it does exactly what I think it should." Hiccup says.

Hadrian blocks the thrust of a Berserker, then pushing him off. "And what would that be?" he hollers.

"Something good?"

Hadrian ducks below as the Berserker goes to slice his head, then ramming his head upwards, nailing the man in the chin. He grabs the Berserker by the ears and scruffs of hair and drives his knee to the man's nose. Then grabbing him about the neck by his arm, they swing around and the Berserker crashes into a stalagmite, then Hadrian kicks him in the stomach, rattling the contents and having him fall unconscious.

The Screaming Death roars again as Fishlegs approaches. Hadrian can't help but smirk at the way Fishlegs is pleading with the gods.

"Now Fishlegs! Now!" hiccup shouts.

"Thank Odin, thank Odin, thank Odin." Fishlegs cries with happiness. He reaches to the side and unknots the Dragonroot. "Root away!"

When the root plops into the water, the Screaming Death seems to divert its attention to the center of the arena; its mother hovers and waits.

Dagur shakes his head and pushes to his feet. "Ah, I see. It wants its mommy."

Dagur, along with several Berserker men, launch ropes to the Whispering Death, and haul it down. The dragon roars and hisses. The Screaming Death snarls in anger.

"Dagur no!" Hiccup screams. "You don't know what you're doing!"

Hadrian approaches him. "Let that Whispering Death go before you destroy us all!"

"Why would I do that?" Dagur purposely tugs at the rope. "Hello! I'm Berserk!"

"Well, can't argue with logic like that." Tuffnut chimes. Hadrian knocks him upside the head.

The Screaming Death roars in fury and dives into the arena. It barrels through the floor and takes out at least four of each Outcast and Berserker. Hadrian barely misses the spines of the dragon's head as he leaps backwards, caught by Lightning. Lightning coos and Hadrian sees the saddle was strapped to his neck. Hadrian naturally settles and grabs the handlebars. Lightning ruffles his head and a wave of scales ripple along his body; as if to adjust.

"You'd better back up Hiccup!" Dagur shouts. "You know is I destroy her, that thing will take us all out!"

"He's right. Everyone, back off." Hiccup orders.

Toothless snarls as he takes steps back, Lightning hisses, but stays rooted in place and Hadrian doesn't usher him back. Hadrian can't help but like the way he wants to be defiant against Dagur in any small form he can.

Dagur deviously smiles. "Good. Wise choice. Now, I might be interested on a trade." Hiccup gives him a confused look. "Oh come on! You didn't see this coming?!'

Hadrian glances around at the Berserkers. He slowly reaches his hand back to his back pocket, and his fingers coil around a throwing dagger. The cape of his armor keeps from arising suspicion of anyone behind. Though by now nearly all the forces are down. His fingers grip the hilt and he glances to Lightning. The Skrill seems to understand the covert plan and nods.

Hadrian spins the dagger and chucks it towards Dagur's arm that holds the rope. End over end it twirls, and it sticks into his shoulder. Dagur wails and release the dragon instantly. Within in that moment, Lightning bucks Hadrian off, and he flips midair rolling with the momentum.

When his feet land on the ground, he launches into a round-off.

Back flipping twice, when he lands, Hadrian punches one Berserker in the chin snapping his head back, instantly out. As one comes up behind, Hadrian pushes off his feet, flipping in midair. He lands with his feet on the shoulders of the second Berserker, and following his momentum, dives forward and ducks through his legs, flipping him over and into the third. Hadrian reaches into his cloak and hurdles two daggers at the two remaining men. One sticks into the Berserker's thigh and he swears. The other blocked it. Hadrian sprints towards him and kicks one of the man's legs out. Down on one knee clutching his sword, he had only time enough to look up and curse before Hadrian stabs a dagger in his eye. Hadrian yanks it out as he passes wincing at the eyeball lodged halfway up the slender blade. Using the rest of his daggers, Hadrian sends them blurring through air releasing the ropes.

Lightning lurches forward and chomps an Outcast in his mouth, whips his head from side to side and flings the man aside. Then he lashes out his tail, crashing the last one underneath him.

Hiccup dismounts Toothless as the Whispering Death roars and shakes out its head. Hadrian and Lightning walk up behind him, Hadrian scratching under Lightning's chin. The Whispering Death mother looks to Hiccup and Hadrian. Hadrian rests his hands on his hips while Hiccup smiles and pets the mother's snout. The Screaming Death calls above. The three other siblings hover above the arena and the mother floats up to join them.

The riders follow them out of the arena and land on the remaining cliff line. The Screaming Death and Whispering Death mother both roar to one another, before nuzzling close and almost, purring.

Hadrian crosses his arms and nudges Hiccup with his hip. Hiccup chuckles and bumps back.

Suddenly the Screaming Death roars and lunges forward, coming to s dead stop in front of Hiccup and Hadrian. Hadrian and Hiccup look to it, their hearts skipping a beat. The dragon opens wide and roars, and Hiccup and Hadrian close their eyes as the breath of the dragon gales their hair back.

When it stops, it looks them dead in the eyes, then turns and flies off.

"Uhh," Hadrian starts.

"You're welcome?" Hiccup finishes.

Toothless coos as Hiccup scratches the top of his head, Lightning nuzzles into Hadrian's cheek and Hadrian strokes his nose.

"Hey, look." Hadrian points and Hiccup looks to see Alvin and Stoick standing side by side at the ridge.

Hiccup and Hadrian approach to overhear the conversation.

"Who would've thought it'd come to this, eh Stoick?" Alvin says.

"There's more than enough blame to go around, Alvin," Stoick folds his hands behind his back. He takes a breath. "But that's in the past. What you did today for me, for my son."

Stoick extends out a hand, and Alvin eyes it wearily, sensing a trap. But he takes it, smiles, and the two men shake.

Hiccup hip-bumps Hadrian and the two chuckle. Hiccup glances back and grows weary. He looks around at the wreckage of Outcast Island. A bud of guilt burrows in his chest. But as he scans more of the arena, he spots Dagur just climbing over the edge, a crossbow in hand.

He instantly aims it at Hadrian's turned back.

"Hadrian look out!"

The crossbow goes off. Hiccup lunges in front of Hadrian. The arrow hits him in the lumbar of his spine.

"Hiccup!" Hadrian screams.

With quaking hands, Hiccup grips Hadrian's chest. Pain cracks through Hiccup's back; like fissures are prickling along his shoulders, working their way to his collarbone. There's pain and black edges on his vision, but he feels Hadrian's strong arms lower him safely to the ground. So much pain.

But how, when his body feels, numb?

There's a harsh dip and a spin, and a crossbow goes off again, following with shouts of fear and anger and rage.

Hiccup feels something warm on his neck, and under his cheek. Red. Blood it a strange color. Dark.

There's a slapping on Hiccup's cheek, but he barely feels it. He looks up to Hadrian with gleaming eyes, patting Hiccup's face and ordering him to keep his eyes open. To stay with him. Hiccup reaches up his hand, though his arm feels like it's full of lead and it's been reduced to feeling like a club.

Hadrian grips it tight and keeps talking to Hiccup. Hiccup tries to focus on his voice, tries to picture him through the blackness that creeps from the peripherals of his vision.

Hiccup thinks he closes his eyes. He begins to think about how Vikings bury their dead.

Vikings usually choose to either get buried with their valuables, or cremated. Those who want to be buried get to pick their treasures ahead of time. Hiccup never really gave it much thought in the past, but now it seems to be important.

He always wanted to be buried in satin. Laid on a bed of roses. Sunk in the river, and sent away with the words of a love song.

But then he remembers Grandmamma telling him he's a Valkyrie. If he dies, what happens to him? Does he meet the gods then spend eternity gathering the souls of the fallen? For some this is a paradise. But it doesn't seem right with Hiccup; but does he not have a say with fate? Is it possible to change it?

Hiccup!

Hiccup!

Hiccup's body feels like someone has replaced his blood with molasses, bones made of stone. A silver thread wriggling from his chest like the tail of a rat tugs him toward sleep, but he wants to be awake. He needs to stay awake.

"Hiccup!"

Hiccup tries to focus on the voice that calls him. He uses it as his motivation; his wanting, his desire. The thread tugs harder.

"Hiccup! Come on, stay with me!"

Hiccup tries to place a name to the voice. He knows it, but he forgot about it.

Toothless? But dragons can't talk.

Won't you come out? Kill a little time. You can sleep when you're dead. A voice in Hiccup's head says.

It isn't over yet. Hiccup answers.

Follow me; to your mother. Follow me home. The voice says. I'm waiting on you.

This isn't my home, Hiccup denies.

"Hiccup!"

He . . . he's my home.

"Hiccup!"

Hadrian.

Roam with me. Come down where all of the others fell. Get lost in the dark to find yourself.

The drive.

The want.

Toothless.

Stoick.

Hadrian.

A fire blooms at Hiccup's core and it rages within. It burns through the weight on Hiccup's shoulder and it races through his limbs. There is nothing that can hold him down now' he is powerful and strong and invincible.

It begins quietly, the pounding of Hiccup's heart. He's unsure if it's his own. It seems too loud, but it is his heart. And it beats faster and faster. A numbing sensation prickles through him; like pins and needles.

Sweat collets on his forehead and he begins to gasp as if air is trying to force its way into his halted lungs.

It's like he's in the In-Between. Dead, but not allowed to die. Alive, but might as well be dead.

Hiccup!

"Hadrian."

I can't think.

"Hadrian!"

I don't know what to do.

HADRIAN! HADRIAN! HADRIAN!