I LOVE YOU GUYS.
A LOT.
OKAY?
OKAY!
Unfortunately, no shout-outs this chapter...I'm so sorry...:(...BUT YOU GUYS ARE BEAUTIFUL! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT! :D ENJOY CHAPTER 2!
OH, AND YOU GUYS JUST POINTED OUT A SMALL TYPO ON MY PART IN CHAPTER 1, HOW FISHLEGS SAID "FEBRUARY NINTH" INSTEAD OF FEBRUARY TWENTY NINTH. I AM SO SORRY ABOUT THAT. I AM GOING TO GO FIX IT RIGHT NOW! THANK YOU ALL WHO POINTED IT OUT! :D I take a lot of time in editing my stories, but it always seems like I only miss the biggest things...gggrrrr...XD
Oh, and as a side note: "The Beat of Your Heart" will be updated soon, as will "Ouch!" So don't worry about those two. I WILL FINISH THEM. XD Love you guys! :D
Stormfly and Astrid flew over the forest of Raven Point, Ruffnut and Tuffnut mounted on Barf and Belch flying behind in her wake. They soared low to the ground, up into the air again, and the circled back around towards the clearing.
…
Snotlout, Fishlegs, Hookfang, and Meatlug checked the forest from the ground, searching behind bushes and trees, every now and then having their dragons fire a blast into the forest to supply them with light. But when they didn't find anything of use, they turned their dragons, soared into the sky, and headed for the clearing.
…
Hiccup and Toothless soared over the open ocean; the tumultuous waves crashed against each other due to the strong winds. Toothless let loose a plasma blast across the water's surface, but as the purple rings scanned their surroundings, their search proved futile, and Toothless soared towards their assigned meeting place: the clearing.
…
Toothless, Meatlug, Hookfang, Stormfly, and Barf and Belch landed in the clearing at the same time, and their riders dismounted. "Anything?" Hiccup asked instantly, rushing forward.
"Nothing!" said Astrid. "We checked the skies, the forests, the treetops...all the likely hiding places, but there's nothing."
"Whoever it was isn't in this forest anymore, that's for sure," said Snotlout. "We did a full check of the terrain. There ain't nothing to see here, Dragon Boy."
"Toothless and I checked the ocean," Hiccup said. "No ships, no rafts, no means of transportation whatsoever. Astrid, did you see anyone in the air?"
"No one," said Astrid, "but it's too dark right now to be sure. They would need a dragon in order to get in the air, Hiccup, and they didn't have a dragon with them."
"Not that we saw," said Hiccup, "but the insignia on the wax seal…" He pulled the scroll given to him by the stranger from Toothless' saddlebag and examined its front for the utmost time. "This is definitely the crest of the dragon hunters. Viggo's up to something. But what…?"
"We can look for whoever it was again in the morning," said Astrid.
"No, by then they'll be long gone," said Hiccup. "The only thing left to do now is...see why they gave me this scroll in the first place." He looked down at the parchment briefly, and then looked back up. "To the Academy," he said. "I need some good reading light."
"Sweet! Fire! I'll get a torch from the Great Hall," said Tuffnut.
"No, we don't need it," said Fishlegs.
"What? Why not?" said Ruffnut.
"Um, we have fire breathing dragons?" said Snotlout.
"Oh, right," said Tuffnut, smiling sheepishly. "Sorry. I forgot again."
...
One of the dragons lit an oil lantern kept in the Academy's store room, and Fishlegs now held the lantern. Hiccup had set the scroll down on top of their round table, and the other riders gathered around it.
Hiccup slowly reached forward.
"Ugh, just open it already!" Snotlout moaned, making Hiccup and all else present jump. "Sheesh! It's not like it's going to bite!"
Hiccup broke the wax seal and unrolled the paper. Fishlegs held the lantern closer so he could read.
"It's a warning," he said, "and...an invitation."
"Oh, awesome!" said Tuffnut. "To a party? I love parties! Wait, are parties where you set up a bunch of firewood and have the dragons torch it?"
"No, that's called our birthday," said Ruffnut.
"Oh, right!" said Tuffnut, grinning. "So, what's a party? And how come Hiccup gets invited and not us? I want my own invitation!"
"Would you guys shut up, please?" Hiccup said. "It's not that kind of invitation!"
"Well, read it out loud, would you?" Snotlout said angrily, crossing his arms. "Come on, you're leaving me in suspense here!"
Hiccup squinted. Even with the light, the runes were a bit hard to read.
"'Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third,'" he read, "'you have crossed the dragon hunters for the last time. Be warned, you are now treading on dangerous ground. Fail, and it will mean death to you and your dragon riders. Succeed, and your death will be postponed for a time.'"
"Huh," said Tuffnut. "Not very inviting if you ask me-"
"I'm not finished," Hiccup snapped, and then, he kept reading. "'If you accept our challenge, follow the instructions in the following riddle. If you decline our challenge, we will lay siege on Berk.'"
"Oh…" said Tuffnut. "So I guess that's not what we want, is it-"
"SHHH!" Fishlegs, Snotlout, Astrid, Ruffnut, and Hiccup hissed, and Tuffnut went silent once again.
Hiccup looked down. "Here's the riddle," he said. "The boastful wiseman is an ignorant fool; the unskilled soldier is a teacher's duel. In the forest at midnight the pawns will be set; at the Edge of destruction, a goal must be met. It must be sought by intelligence and skill, but only won through a battle of will. If you succeed, Hiccup Haddock, your task will go on; but fail, and you will be slain as the pawn. Come alone, or don't come at all. Hasten, fair opponent; do not stall."
Hiccup frowned.
"Oooookay," said Snotlout, backing up, "I am officially done with today. Yep, I am definitely done with today..."
"What does that mean?" Astrid pondered to herself, looking away. "The 'Edge of destruction'...does that mean Dragon's Edge?"
"It must," Hiccup said. "That's where the Dragon Eye is, and Viggo knows that. He must be planning some kind of attack."
"But that only answers one of the many things that riddle could mean," said Snotlout furiously. "I knew I shouldn't have gotten out of bed today…"
"No, I think it's obvious what the riddle means," said Hiccup.
"Oh, well, if you would be so kind," said Snotlout, "AND TELL US, HOW IN THOR'S NAME ANYTHING IN THAT STUPID RIDDLE IS OBVIOUS!?"
"'In the forest at midnight the pawns will be set; at the Edge of destruction a goal to be met,'" Hiccup recited. "In the forest back at Dragon's Edge, I have to face this...this...whoever he is."
"But the next part says, 'It must be sought by intelligence and skill, but only won through a battle of will,'" read Fishlegs. "That means…"
"It's Maces and Talons all over again," Hiccup said. "Viggo is forcing my hand, just like he did the last time. If I don't accept the challenge...the hunters will attack Berk, with the Berserkers on their side. It'll be a slaughter."
"But if you do accept the challenge," said Astrid, "who knows what's going to happen. 'You will be slain as the pawn'...I for one do not like the way that sounds."
"But that's only if I fail," Hiccup said. "It says, IF I fail...it just means I can't fail."
"Truer words have never been spoken," said Tuffnut, nodding. "But I still want to know why Hiccup got an invitation and we didn't-"
"But Hiccup, this entire thing could be a trap," said Fishlegs.
"And anyways," said Snotlout, "what happens if you do fail?"
Hiccup looked down at the dragon hunter insignia signed at the bottom corner of the scroll. "Then, it's like Astrid said," said Hiccup slowly, eyes still locked on the crest of the dragon hunters. "Who knows what'll happen."
…
The riders arrived at Dragon's Edge at nightfall the next day, just as the sun dipped behind the horizon. The dragons landed, one by one, on the platform outside the Clubhouse, and the riders dismounted, heading for the Clubhouse's door, scroll clutched in Hiccup's hand.
They headed inside the Clubhouse and looked around. Everything was in order. The tension in the air released, and the riders sighed collectively in relief.
"Well, the hunters definitely didn't attack while we were gone," said Fishlegs. "They would've ransacked this place looking for the Dragon Eye."
"Viggo must know we've hidden it," said Hiccup. "I'd bet you anything he's waiting for us to bring it out into the open before he attacks."
"In which case," said Snotlout, "let's never bring it out into the open. If we don't, maybe Viggo will never attack."
"Look, guys, as long as the Dragon Eye is safe, we don't have to worry about that," said Hiccup. "Right now...I need to get ready. Midnight...I'm sure the message meant tonight. I have to meet whoever gave me the message in the first place in just a few hours from now."
"Hiccup, are you sure you don't want us to follow you and back you up?" Astrid asked uncertainly. "I mean, who knows who this guy actually is...it could be Viggo himself! Ryker, Dagur...who knows, Hiccup. You might need the backup."
"The letter made it clear," Hiccup said. "I have to go alone. I know, I want to be backed up as much as you want to back me up, but we can't. Breaking the rules could be fatal."
"You're right, you're right," said Astrid, rubbing her arm nervously. "Just...be careful, alright? Please."
"I will be," Hiccup promised. "And...just...hope I don't fail, alright? If I do…"
"Don't say it," said Astrid, shaking her head. "Just don't say it. You'll win, Hiccup. I have faith in you."
"And so do I, H.!" said Tuffnut, grinning. "We'll be waiting here when you get back, too! We can tell scary stories that make you wish night would never come, and then we'll-"
"Eh, you'll be fine!" said Snotlout, waving his hand dismissively. "You're Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the flipping Third, for Thor's sake. But anyways...be careful, even though it's totally unnecessary."
"Just remember, Hiccup," said Fishlegs warningly, "they are dragon hunters. You don't know what they're capable of. And this entire thing...it's a trap, more than likely."
"I'll keep that in mind, don't worry," said Hiccup. He glanced outside; the sun had set, and the island was dark. "I should probably start heading that way," Hiccup said, jerking his head towards the door. "No matter what happens, don't leave the Clubhouse. Keep your dragons inside and be as quiet as possible."
The riders looked at each other uncertainly, but nodded in the end. Astrid stepped forward and embraced Hiccup tightly. After no hesitation, Hiccup embraced her back equally tight.
Then, all too soon, they broke their embrace. Hiccup turned away, opened the hatch, and stepped outside; instantly, Toothless raced up to him, looking concerned.
"No, bud," Hiccup said, "you have to stay here with the others. I have to go alone."
Toothless growled sadly and nudged Hiccup's hand. Hiccup sighed heavily and rubbed Toothless' head.
"I'm sorry, Toothless," he said. "Stay here and look after the rest of the riders. Make sure they don't try and follow me. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to one of them."
Toothless nodded solemnly, licked Hiccup's face, and Hiccup turned and headed the long way towards the forest as the moon rose higher into the sky, taking the once place of the sun.
Toothless growled at Hiccup's retreating back, wishing more than ever that he could follow his rider and protect him, but he knew that right now, the best way to protect Hiccup was by staying behind.
So, Toothless turned, and headed inside the Clubhouse. Hookfang, Barf, Belch, Meatlug, and Stormfly went in after him.