Awww, you guys are lucky! THREE UPDATES TODAY! :D
AND BECAUSE I AM NICE, I HAVE ANOTHER SNEAK PREVIEW FOR YOU GUYS! I CAN DO THIS EVERY CHAPTER IF YOU WANT ME TO:
"This...this isn't possible…" Viggo stammered, for the first time looking utterly terrified. "This is impossible…"
"There is no such thing as impossible, Viggo," said Hiccup casually. "Only improbable. The only thing that limits us are the limits to our imagination."
END OF SNEAK PREVIEW! :D Shout-outs:
ShadowSpirit020: Haha, yeah, sorry, scary preview! :D Sorry about that. XD YES! Go Hiccup and Heather Dragon Army! KICK VIGGO TO VALHALLA! XD I don't think I'll be killing Hiccup...but thanks for the idea! Heh heh heh...*rubs hands together* HAHAHA, I'M JUST JOKING! Or am I...? XD Sorry! XD
wikelia: Haha, YES! Sassy dragon ways! :D
Galaxy-Mitsuko-Pegasus: Go Ember! Go team! Go Arrow Furies, Changewings, and Hiccup and Heather! Kick butt! XD Yes, we authors really ARE crazy. Ain't nothing else to it. XD
Animals Rule: Hahahaha, thank you so much! :D
HufflePufforlife: SUSPENSE! :D
Dimensional Girl: Yeah, sorry. Sneak peak kinda gave everyone some worries now. XD Thanks for the review! AVENGERS ASSEMBLE! XD
Carly Marley: Yep! I loved Ember too much to leave him out! :D
ilovedogs100: I see them the same way! They're one big family! :D
midnightsky0612: Hiccup is the kindest battle commander in the history of forever! HE WILL LEAD THEM TO VICTORY! :D
HappyPup1: WHAT TEAM? DRAGONS! :D
Charr2003: No problem! Like I always say, if you can find time to review, great, but if you can't, that's totally fine. Life is crazy. ;) Thanks! I'm glad you like it! Heather's fun to write about. :D
Dimentional Phaser: Haha, yeah, that'd be a good idea. Unfortunately, the hunters would probably realize it was a hoax. But seriously. Why doesn't Hiccup just destroy the Dragon Eye? Oh well...XD
MoonTheNightWing: VIGGO MUST DIE! DIE VIGGO DIE! :D And awesome! Moonwatcher is an EPIC nickname! :D
LunarCatNinja: Same! :D
someone 24: Thanks a bunch! I'm glad you like the stories! :D
SnivyDragon: Ember is a little ball of adorableness. :D And haha, you're definitely right! Hiccup's "precautions" are usually the things that end up saving his life, or anyone else's life for that matter, in the end. XD Haha, I love suspense. :) And I'm definitely going to do some more sneak peaks. :D Thanks for the review! :D
bella: Thanks! Yes, very interesting. :D
Astrid was in the middle of pacing aimlessly when Viggo, Dagur and Ryker entered the below decks of the ship to see her. She instantly stopped pacing and turned to glare as menacingly as possible. Viggo smiled at them coolly, and not for the first time, Astrid wanted nothing more than to see him dead at her feet.
"Hello, Astrid," said Viggo calmly. "I trust you are comfortable?"
Around her, Fishlegs, Snotlout, and the twins stood, each looking at Viggo with hideous contempt. Viggo smiled at each of them, as if he were having fun (which he might of been, the more Astrid thought about it), and took a large keyring from his belt.
"We would like to speak with you," said Viggo, "each individually, if you do not mind. We have a lot to discuss."
"Interrogating us won't work, Viggo," snarled Astrid, crossing her arms over her chest. Beside her, Snotlout and Fishlegs did the same. The twins looked at each other, confused.
"Wait, it won't?" said Tuffnut.
"Ah, thank you for volunteering to go first," said Viggo, smiling, slipping the key into the lock. Ryker and Dagur raised their crossbows, aiming at the riders. "Now, do not try to escape, or we will have to shoot."
"You won't kill us," said Astrid. "We're your bargaining chips, the only reason Hiccup is on his way here at all."
"My dear Astrid," said Viggo, "one can be shot without being killed, and I am certain you do not want to go through that pain, especially when it is oh so unnecessary."
He turned the key and unlocked the cell. Tuffnut shrugged and stepped out of it carelessly. The instant he was out, Viggo slammed the door shut and locked it. Ryker seized Tuffnut's arms and tied them behind his back while Dagur never lowered his guard with his crossbow.
"Don't break, Tuffnut!" Ruffnut called, as Ryker grabbed his arm and dragged him away. "Destroy them if you have the chance!"
"You know I will, sister!" said Tuffnut, winking back at her, and then, he was dragged away with Viggo, Dagur, and Ryker.
"I don't know if I feel more sorry for Tuffnut," said Snotlout, "or those guys interrogating him."
…
"You are all whacky fools!" proclaimed Tuffnut, and Ryker's grip on his arm tightened. Tuffnut, undaunted, sang at the top of his voice, "Fools, fools, arrogant fools! And I would know better than anyone, because I am one! Wait, what?"
"Can't we just gag him, Viggo?" asked Ryker, giving Tuffnut an unnecessary yank as they journeyed towards the back room on the deck of the ship. "It'd be easier than letting him run his mouth."
"We have been through this before, Ryker," said Viggo coolly. "We do not gag out guests."
Dagur laughed mirthlessly. "Guests!?" he demanded. "You call your prisoners your guests? You know, with that attitude, it's no wonder Hiccup and his dragon riders keep escaping your clutches! You treat them like royalty!"
"Patience, Dagur," said Viggo. "Good things come to those who exercise patience. Soon, we will have the Dragon Eye, and soon, Hiccup will be dead."
"Okay…" said Dagur, "but this time, I want to kill him! No more of your half-hearted stuff. The only good dragon rider is a dead dragon rider."
Tuffnut cackled, choked on a fly, and kept laughing while coughing. "Hahahahahahahahaha!" he said, hacking. "Good dragon rider is a dead dragon rider! That's hilarious! You know, you really should stop underestimating us!"
"Quite, you!" barked Dagur.
"We will have our revenge soon enough, Dagur," said Viggo.
"And I will have the honor of killing Hiccup, won't I?' said Dagur. "He's my brother! I should be the one to kill him!"
Tuffnut barked that hilarious, hysterical laugh again. "Oh, please!" he said, "Kill Hiccup! As if! Haven't you guys tried doing that before? And not even once! Twice, three times, four times...oh my THOR, you guys need to step up your game! It must be really embarrassing, you know. Not for Hiccup, of course. For you."
"Can I gag him now, Viggo?" growled Ryker.
"Hmm, unnecessary, brother," said Viggo with a dismissive wave of his hand as if swatting away a particularly irritating fly. "Soon enough, Dagur, your dear brother will be dead, by means yet unknown. However, if you ever find yourself with an opportunity to end him, by all means, do not hesitate."
Tuffnut laughed hysterically again. "You're kidding me, right?" he said. "And I always thought I was the dumbest, most clueless Viking to ever walk the earth! You don't kill Hiccup! You try, and he escapes, just to humiliate you!"
They stepped into the room at the back of the ship; faint light by dim oil lamps brightened the room, and in the center of the room stood a wooden table with two stools encamped on either side of it.
Along the walls stood bookshelf after bookshelf, and the shelves were stocked with clay jars filled with quill pens and maps rolled into scrolls and sealed shut with red ribbons or wax. Old books with yellowed pages stood on the bookshelf, and two dripping candles sat on the table. The room smelled like paper and smoke.
On the far wall, the skull of a Monstrous Nightmare was hung, and beside it, two axes crossed over each other on a shield to create a stunningly deadly tapestry. Tuffnut surveyed the room skeptically, and when he reached his verdict, shrugged carelessly.
"Huh," said Tuffnut, "I guess it's a nice place. You guys don't live in here though, do you? I imagine it gets pretty crowded pretty fast, you know…"
Ryker pushed him across the room and forced him into the far left chair; Viggo occupied the other chair across from Tuffnut, folding his hands across the table.
"Tuffnut," said Viggo, smiling. "Is that your name?"
"Nope!" said Tuffnut. "My name is Olaf! Sven! Bjorn! Anything but Tuffnut!"
"I told you, his name is Tuffnut," said Dagur impatiently. "Hmm, wait a minute...or is it the other twin named Tuffnut…?"
"No, she's Ruffnut," said Tuffnut. "I'm definitely Olaf."
"Well, Tuffnut," said Viggo, "I do hope you and I can see eye to eye, don't you? We could be great friends."
"Definitely!" said Tuffnut, nodding excitedly. "Now, as your official friend, I ask you to release me, my other friends, and my dragons!"
"Unfortunately, I cannot do that, Tuffnut," said Viggo. "However, I hope you and I can talk, as though we were friends, and not adversaries. So, in which case, tell me, Tuffnut…" He leaned forward closer. "What do you know about the Dragon Eye?"
Tuffnut looked at Ryker, and then at Dagur. Then, he leaned forward. "I know…" Tuffnut whispered, and he paused dramatically. "NOTHING!" Tuffnut shouted, right in Viggo's ear, and while Viggo reeled back, Tuffnut cackled hysterically again.
"Bwahahahahaha!" laughed Tuffnut. "You'll never take me alive, hunters!"
"You already have been taken alive," snarled Dagur, swinging out his sword; Viggo caught his wrist and disarmed him instantly.
"Careful, Dagur," said Viggo. "Maybe there is something he knows and is simply refusing to tell us."
Dagur frowned, obviously against the idea of letting Tuffnut live, and then, shrugging, he stepped back, scowl still owning his face.
"Now, Tuffnut," said Viggo; Tuffnut was picking earwax from his ear, and turned his head to look at Viggo curiously. "Are you sure you don't know anything about the Dragon Eye? Nothing of the locations of the remaining lenses? None of the true secrets the Dragon Eye holds?"
"Um, I'm pretty sure," said Tuffnut. "What, is that a rhe-toprical-question?"
"Rhetorical," corrected Viggo, "and no, it is not. I would like an honest answer from you, Tuffnut."
"Eh, I don't know," said Tuffnut, shrugging. "I mean, I'm sure one of us does, but Hiccup didn't even trust us with the location of the Dragon Eye, much less anything else. So, nope, I don't think so. I'm completely useless to you."
Viggo nodded. "Very well," he said. "In which case, I will let you return to your cell."
Tuffnut looked up in start, almost as if disappointed. "Wait, you mean you're going to let me live?" he said, shocked. "You're not going to kill me or anything?"
"Why would I do that?" said Viggo as though if surprised, and then, he waved a hand at Ryker. "Bring in the other twin," said Viggo, and Ryker turned and left instantly, leaving Viggo, Dagur, and Tuffnut alone.
"You don't have any information that could overthrow me in the future, Tuffnut," said Viggo, smiling coldly. "I have no reason to kill you."
"Eh, okay," said Tuffnut, shrugging, "but if you ever change your mind, you know where to find me. I'll be right where you left me...in your prison cell...probably moping and thinking about life, and how I could make better choices sometimes that wouldn't lead me to being kidnapped by a bunch of psychopaths."
"Ah," said Viggo, "yes. I apologize for any harsh treatment my brother might have given you. Is there anything I could do to make that treatment better?"
"Well," said Tuffnut, "another cell would be nice. You know, one that isn't covered in dirt or grime or what not. It's annoying. Sometimes I like mud as much as the next person, but the rest of the time...well, yeah."
Viggo nodded, smiling. "I am sure we can work something out," he said. "I will have it arranged for you and your friends to be moved to another cell."
"Great!" said Tuffnut, grinning. "Oh, and I was kind of wondering how our dragons were doing, and, y'know, maybe where you were keeping them, or something…?"
"If you wish to see your dragon," said Viggo, getting to his feet, "I would be elated to let you visit for a few minutes."
"Great!" said Tuffnut again, also getting to his feet. "That's what I wanted to hear!" Viggo nodded to Tuffnut and pushed him towards the door. As soon as the twin was out of earshot, but not eyeshot, Dagur turned to Viggo.
"What are you doing?" Dagur asked, whispering harshly.
"I have seen the naive side of Hiccup's dragon riders enough to know that with a bit of persuasion," said Viggo, "they often let a thing or two slip."
"What could you possibly need to learn from them?" asked Dagur coldly, pointing in Tuffnut's direction.
"Oh, a few minor things," said Viggo, "like how strong their home island of Berk is, and what one would have to do in order to take it. If we are going to kill Hiccup, we are going to have to be prepared to face the wrath of the Berkians."
Dagur grinned. "Kill Hiccup," he said, testing the words on his tongue. "I like the way that sounds."
Viggo and Dagur shared one last smile with each other, and then, they set down the tunnel, quickly catching up with Tuffnut. Dagur seized one of Tuffnut's arms and led him on, Viggo in the lead.
On their way, they passed Ryker dragging Ruffnut, and Tuffnut nodded his head in acknowledgement at his sister. "Hey, sis," said Tuffnut. "Whatcha up to?"
"Oh, you know, getting dragged away," said Ruffnut, "what else? What about you?"
"I'm sorta getting dragged away too," said Tuffnut. "Hey, who knew, right?"
"I will return to the interrogation chambers shortly, Ryker," said Viggo, nodding to his brother. Ryker didn't question Viggo; he knew better not to at this point, and he dragged Ruffnut off, and Dagur and Viggo dragged Tuffnut on.
They came to another room in the gigantic house-like below deck of the ship, and Viggo opened the door, allowing Dagur and Tuffnut to walk through. Inside the room, locked each in separate cages, were Stormfly, Hookfang, Meatlug, and Barf and Belch. Dragon proof bars surrounded them, making escape impossible, and guards standing at attention with sedating darts fastened in their crossbows added to the already established impossibility.
"At the time," said Viggo, "your dragons are getting poor treatment, I fear. Zippleback gas is highly explosive, and Ryker seeks to bottle the gas and use it for his own intentions. I could dissuade my brother, but first, I would like a bit of information."
"Eh, I told you, I'm completely oblivious. I don't actually know anything," said Tuffnut, shrugging.
"Indeed you don't," said Viggo. "Well, I am glad we were able to talk eye to eye, Tuffnut. Dagur, please escort him to his cell."
Dagur nodded, seized Tuffnut by the arm, and dragged him away.