Author's Note:

Hello everyone and I apologise for the long gap between this update and the last. This time we're back with Snotlout and Hiccup and I hope you enjoy the chapter.

I own nothing.


The Empty Cavern

Snotlout shuffled about a bit in a vain attempt to get more comfortable.

He'd seen different Outcasts and Berserkers walk past his cell and he assumed that they were guards, Savage had briefly come and looked in but he hadn't entered the cell or spoken to him and soon left, he'd even seen Mildew as the old man had shuffled past without sparing him a glance. The only people who'd actually entered the cell were the same two men from the ship who came with food and water, this had only happened three times and it worked the same way as it did on the ship with one loosening his bonds so he could eat while the other stood guard by the entrance.

Unfortunately that meant that escaping really wasn't an option for him. When they came to feed him they were careful when they loosened the bonds on his upper body, when they left they made sure that his bonds were too tight and secure for him to escape and they'd actually run some of the ropes through one of the iron rings at the back of the cell effectively tying him to the wall. All in all Snotlout couldn't do anything about his current position and he hated it.

Even when he'd been captured before there was always something he could try and do about it. The time he'd been taken by the pirates had been similar to this in the way they kept him subdued but with some help from the Terrible Terrors he had escaped. Other times he'd been rescued and when he'd been turned into a baby Monstrous Nightmare he'd actually been the one who'd enabled their escape the first time. Throughout his adventures with the other Academy Riders there'd never been a time where he'd been as helpless as this, he'd always been at least able to talk the other times but now he couldn't even do that. He kept trying to somehow loosen his bonds but every attempt was unsuccessful and several ended up with him bleeding as he rubbed his skin raw trying to escape. When he wasn't doing that he either slept (with difficulty) or just sat and let his mind wander.

His thoughts had largely been of Berk and he wondered what was happening back in the village. Had Hiccup and Hookfang made it back okay or were they searching for him somewhere? Had his uncle received Dagur's message yet and if he had what was he going to do? Was Toothless alright? These and several other questions floated around his mind but eventually his thoughts turned into memories.

He remembered when he was ten and he and Hiccup had gone on one of their night time adventures to the Cove. It had been a clear night when they left and they had made it to the Cove easily but suddenly the sky clouded over taking away the moonlight they'd been using to see causing the forest to become almost pitch black. They'd tried to find their way back but they lost their way in the darkness and they'd wandered around the dark forest hoping they would stumble on something that would point them in the direction of home. The more they wandered the more Snotlout's fear grew and he began to feel like the darkness was pressing in on him, he'd put a brave and confident face on but it was taking a lot of effort for him to keep it there. His façade was destroyed when something suddenly flew into the air right next to him cawing harshly, he'd let out a huge scream and had instinctively hugged Hiccup in fright. It was a while before he realised what he'd done and that he'd just shown how scared he was, he was expecting Hiccup to laugh or mock him in some way and quickly let go of him and looked away. His cousin then surprised him by taking the younger cousin by the hand and gently leading Snotlout on without making any comment on his un-Viking behaviour. They walked on in this way and Hiccup never complained or said a word when something would spook Snotlout causing him to tighten his grip on the slightly older cousin's hand. He didn't know how long they'd wandered through the woods but eventually when Snotlout actually felt like they would never find their way back a frantic Stoick crashed through the forest bearing a torch and searching for them. He soon caught sight of the two of them and hurried to them before managing to somehow pick them both up in a hug.

Snotlout never knew why that memory seemed to stick in his mind but he guessed that it was because it was one of the few times when Hiccup had seemed more like an older brother than a friend or cousin and his uncle had felt more like a father than a chief or guardian. He looked down sadly wishing that Hiccup was with him, his older cousin probably would've thought of a way to escape by now and though it was never said out loud Snotlout always felt a lot more reassured when Hiccup was around. He'd even have been happy with any of the other riders, Astrid likely would've also come up with a plan by now and Fishlegs might've done as well. The twins wouldn't have done but they would've certainly been good company and probably could've slipped the ropes and at least untied him.

He rested his head against the wall, his uncle would've come up with a plan of rescue the moment he received Dagur's letter and if there was one thing he knew it was that Stoick would do anything to keep him safe and get him home. It may look desperate and he may be entirely helpless but his uncle would come through, he always did.

The sound of someone opening his cell pulled him from his thoughts and he looked to see Dagur enter backed by Savage and three others. It was the first time he'd seen Dagur since he'd been brought to him when he arrived, by his reckoning, three days ago. The Berserker chief nodded to two of his men who then moved forward and undid the ropes holding Snotlout to the iron ring in the wall. One of them then hauled the boy's bound body over his shoulder and carried him out of the cell. The group marched out towards the docks unaware of a shadow following them.


Hiccup and the others were rapidly approaching the island that Fishlegs had told them about.

The knowledgeable teen had successfully navigated them to it and Hiccup had to admit that he found it hard to believe that the smooth sided lump of rock held anything of interest. It appeared to be nothing more than a mound rising out of the ocean with nothing growing on it or anywhere to land a boat but Fishlegs showed them a small cave right on sea level that would grant access. From their perch on some nearby rocks Astrid eyed the small opening doubtfully, "Are you sure that it leads to a cavern Fishlegs?"

The boy nodded, "Yes my dad has been in it and he says that it's massive."

"If the current runs into the only entrance how did he escape?"

He'd been on a lone fishing trip," Fishlegs explained, "and he'd been caught in the current which carried him in there, seriously damaging his boat as it did so. He thought he was stuck forever but luckily a passing ship had seen him go in and they came to help. What they did was attach a plank to a long rope which they then let the current carry into the cave after him while they attached the other end of the rope to the ship. They then got as many of the crew as possible to man the oars and rowed with all the might against the current thus pulling my dad out clinging to the plank."

"Oh I see."

Hiccup had been looking at the entrance thoughtfully when an idea suddenly came to mind, "Fishlegs, how well can Meatlug swim?"

"Really well, most Gronkles can't but I've been training her to do so and she's really gotten good at it." The older boy answered proudly.

"Well then I have an idea on how to get into that cavern." He pointed to the twins, "Ruff, Tuff, go back to that forested island we flew over last and see if you can find anything that might serve as a rope."

"Sure we can do that," Tuffnut answered, "but wouldn't it be easier to use the rope we already have?"

Hiccup frowned, "What rope?"

Ruffnut spoke, "The long coil that's in the saddle bags on Barf and Belch."

Astrid broke into the conversation the disbelief evident in her voice, "You guys actually thought to bring rope with you?"

"Yeah," Tuffnut replied, "we were planning to tie it round our waists then tie it to Barf and Belch and then jump off his back."

Ruffnut continued excitedly, "We'll then sky dive until the rope stopped us mid fall and swing us around beneath our dragon, it's gonna be amazing!"

"We call it 'The Sky Dive Dragon Swing of Awesomeness!" Tuffnut proclaimed, "It's gonna give us some serious rope burns!"

There was a moment where the other three teens just stared at the two twins before Hiccup shook his head, "Just get that rope out and we'll see if it'll work."

He then watched in amazement as the siblings pulled out a seemingly never-ending length of rope from the relatively small saddle bag and heaved it over to him between them. He gave it a brief look over before taking one end and walking over to Hookfang with it as he spoke to them, "This is what we're going to do."


Hiccup clung tightly to Meatlug as the sea current dragged them into the tiny cave mouth with very little room to spare and he shivered at the icy cold water. The light rapidly diminished as they were pulled further in and Hiccup began to wonder if there really was a cavern when he saw a dim glow ahead. The tiny tunnel suddenly widened dramatically and the water current seemed to simply vanish allowing Meatlug to swim easily over to a rocky shelf and clamber up. Hiccup gazed in awe at his surroundings temporarily distracted from his reason for being there.

The cavern was huge and Hiccup was certain that the Great Hall on Berk would only fill a part of the enormous space. The sea coming in made a sort of huge pool which was surrounded by a broad, flat rocky shelf with only the cavern entrance breaking the circling stone. A strange sort of glowing plant grew out of the walls and floor giving a dim, green light to the place allowing Hiccup to see.

Hiccup then remembered what he was here for and he began scanning the area calling as he did so, "Snotlout! Toothless!"

There was no answer and he got Meatlug to try and find Toothless' scent, she quickly began snuffling around the cavern and Hiccup hoped she'd find something. His hope diminished as more and more time passed without her finding something and eventually she had sniffed around every inch of the cavern and then looked to Hiccup and made a growling sound to indicate she'd found nothing. Hiccup's heart sank as he knew that if there was no scent then Toothless and Snotlout had never been here and all they'd done was waste time.

Knowing that speed was now crucial Hiccup quickly tugged the rope that connected him and Meatlug to the other dragons outside three times and soon he felt them being pulled back towards the tunnel. The journey back was almost twice as long as the journey in and he could feel the current trying to tug them back down the tunnel but with Meatlug's swim aided by the dragons pulling outside they continued on against it. As soon as they broke back out into daylight Meatlug got out of the current as quickly as she could and crawled wearily up onto the nearest rock to rest. Hookfang landed close by and soon curled around the soaked dragon and teen slightly warming his skin to help them dry. The other dragons also landed and they to lay down exhausted as their riders dismounted and ran over to Hiccup. Astrid hurried beside him and handed him a cloth to dry with asking as she did so, "Was there any sign of them?" Hiccup just shook his head and she briefly closed her eyes in disappointment before asking another question, "So what do we do now?"

Hiccup answered her determinedly, "As soon as the dragons are recovered we'll head straight for Outcast Island."


PS-So there we go and I hope you liked that. Apologies again for the long gap but I'll try and put up the next chapter quicker.