Only two more chapters to go after this one guys.

Guys.

Two more chapters after this one.

It's almost over.

o_o

I'm not quite sure how I feel about that yet...

Shout-outs:

wikelia: Yeah, just about. :) I do watch Gravity Falls, but I haven't met Bill yet. When I do, I'll see what you mean. :)

Liza Mondragon: Yeah, uh oh.

ShadowSpirit020: That he is. That he is. :)

Crystallion12: I'm sure Hiccup has a pretty good idea of what Viggo is going to try and do. :) Let's hope so! :D

HappyPup1: Haha, yeah, we all hate Viggo. :)

AquaticDragon: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! WOW! XD Seriously though! XD Thanks! :D

Animals Rule: I'd never abandon you guys. ;)

SilverGhostWolf: Yep. We all wish to see Viggo dead. :) Let's see what that cylinder contraption is! :D

Guest (#1): Hahahahaha, yeah! :D

bella: Yes, yes, LET'S KILL VIGGO! :D And we'll find out what that cylinder contraption is soon enough. :D

Jo: Thanks! :D

midnightsky0612: Yeah, Viggo. XD

Galaxy-Mitsuko-Pegasus: It's definitely going to get more crazy. I promise you that. :) And I know, right? I'm too evil to let them escape THAT easily. :( XD

Dimensional Girl: Yeah. Whoa. :D

MoonTheNightWing: I know, I too want to see Viggo dead. :( DIE ALREADY, VIGGO! DIE! :D

When they reached the shores of Dark Deep, Astrid, Fishlegs, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, Snotlout, and their dragons were shoved onto the rocky island, dragon hunter crossbows aiming at them from all directions. Astrid whirled around, staring at Viggo with so much contempt and hatred in her eyes it was almost unnatural.

Viggo only smiled back at her. "Astrid," he said, "I am truly sorry it must end this way, but you have to understand where I come from. The Dragon Eye belongs to the hunters. You and your dragon riders stole it from us. We need vengeance. Surely you of all people understand how important it is, to uphold your honor?"

"My family honor was taken from me when the Flightmare froze my uncle," snapped Astrid furiously, struggling against her bonds, "but I didn't go on a murderous rampage the rest of my life, killing innocent people to get it back."

"Perhaps you are right, Astrid," said Viggo, striding forward. "But on the other hand, there is always the possibility that you are wrong. The greatest leaders are those who can admit to defeat, and the greatest followers are those who know when to fight, and when to surrender. The time has come, Astrid Hofferson, for you to learn that same principle."

Astrid didn't have the chance to retaliate before she and the other riders were forced up the steep mountain's face, towards the highest point of Dark Deep. The moon still hung in the sky above them, indicating midnight, and all around them, hunters and Berserkers with crossbows were stationed.

"This sucks," moaned Snotlout, kicking a rock. "I hope Hiccup has a plan, or else we're all doomed."

Sharp rocks like giant arrowheads protruded from the ground, and the hunters maneuvered the riders around the larger ones and over the smaller ones. Dagur and Ryker flanked Viggo in front of them, weapons drawn. Every now and then, Dagur or Ryker would look over their shoulder and fix Astrid with a loathing glare. Astrid would parry with one of her own.

"What do you think Hiccup is going to do, Viggo?" Astrid finally snapped. Viggo didn't even hesitate in his strides; he continued upwards, to the top of the mountain. "He's not going to let you kill him. He knows you want him dead. What do you think he's going to do? Stand and let you use him as your personal target practice? He knows better. He won't let you kill him."

"Hiccup Haddock is easily manipulated," said Viggo calmly; nothing Astrid said seemed to bother him much. "If I wanted him to give up his shield, I'll throw a knife at one of you. If I want him to jump in front of an arrow and take the blow himself, I'll fire an arrow at another. He cares too much about his friends. It will always be his downfall; in the end, his selflessness will always be his fatal flaw."

Astrid didn't say anything for a long while after that. She didn't know what to say after that.

"And that's what makes you and Hiccup so different," said Astrid finally. "Hiccup cares. You don't. Hiccup knows people aren't expendable. You think the opposite. You'd use your men, your family, anyone close to you as a human shield. Hiccup would shield someone else with himself. That's what makes you so different, Viggo. That's what makes Hiccup human. I don't even know what to call you anymore."

This time, Viggo turned around, and he looked at Astrid with an expression she couldn't put her finger on. It looked something along the lines of fury, but it was masked fairly well.

"The victors are those who are strong in the heat of battle," said Viggo. "A good Chief would never throw himself into danger just to save one of his subjects."

"You're right," said Astrid. "A good Chief wouldn't. But a great Chief would."

Viggo spun back around on his heel and continued up the mountainside. Astrid, Snotlout, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, Fishlegs, and the dragons were forced to follow.

When they reached the top of the mountain, it was bigger than Astrid had originally thought it would be. Gigantic boulders stood up around them, and the moon's light against them cast unearthly shadows against the ground. Fishlegs swallowed hard. The Gronckles of Dark Deep must have realized there were hunters about, because since setting foot on the island, there hadn't been a Gronckle in sight.

"Interesting," said Viggo, scratching his chin. "It seems Hiccup has yet to arrive. Men, fan out. Tell me if you see any sign of movement."

Viggo's hunters and Dagur's Berserkers nodded and instantly spread out, surrounding the entire mountaintop. A few of them kept their crossbows aimed at Astrid and the other riders, while the rest took aim up at the sky.

"And what if Hiccup doesn't come, Viggo?" asked Ryker.

"He'll come," said Viggo coolly. "He'll come."

…

Hiccup, Heather, and the company of dragons behind them hid behind large, towering boulders at the top of the largest mountain on Dark Deep. The Changewings instantly camouflaged themselves against the boulders; the Arrow Furies, Toothless, and Windshear scanned their surroundings with their keen eyes.

"This is definitely the place," said Hiccup, whispering, because he didn't know where the hunters were, or how close they were to arrival. Hiccup pulled the Dragon Eye out of Toothless' saddlebag, staring at it intently. Heather watched him.

"Look," Hiccup said, "I want you, Windshear, and the Arrow Furies to hide behind the camouflaged Changewings until I give the signal."

Heather looked at him for a moment, and then nodded. "Alright," she said. "And what's the signal?"

"It'll be pretty obvious, I promise," Hiccup said. "But don't come out until I tell you, alright? If we want the element of surprise to work, we're really going to have to surprise Viggo and his hunters."

Heather nodded again. "Are you sure you don't need backup?" she said.

"I'm taking Toothless with me," said Hiccup, drawing his shield to hold in front of him, his sword sheathed at his belt and his cylinder-like Monstrous Nightmare gel contraption strapped to his shin. "If I don't, the hunters will wonder how I got here and prepare for an ambush ahead of time."

"Okay…" said Heather, though she still sounded uncertain. "As long as you're sure you know what you're doing."

"I do," said Hiccup. "Or, at least, I hope I do…"

He stopped suddenly; he had heard footsteps. "Heather, take Windshear and the Arrow Furies and hide," Hiccup demanded, and Heather instantly got up and raced towards her Razorwhip. The Changewings wrapped their camouflaged wings around Ember, Windshear, Heather, and the remaining Arrow Furies; if Hiccup hadn't known they were there, he would have thought they weren't.

"Okay, bud," said Hiccup, turning to Toothless. "Remember, this is Viggo's end game. We don't know what he's planned, but it's gotta be something big."

Toothless nodded in acknowledgement, and he and Hiccup waited, hiding behind a boulder with bated breath.

"...And what if Hiccup doesn't come, Viggo?" said the voice of Ryker, and Hiccup paused. This was it. If his plan didn't work, nothing would.

"He'll come," said Viggo, and he sounded so sure of it it was almost unsettling. "He'll come…"

Hiccup decided that now was as good a time as any to reveal himself, and he stood up, Toothless standing beside him, and walked forward, Dragon Eye in one hand, Gronckle Iron shield in the other.

"I came," Hiccup said simply, and all eyes instantly fell on him.

Astrid, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, Snotlout, Fishlegs, and their dragons were standing, tied up with hands behind their backs, the dragons muzzled, wings pinned to their sides with dragon-proof chains. Behind them stood dragon hunters with crossbows, and in front of them stood Ryker, Dagur, and Viggo.

Hiccup heard the faint sound of a crossbow being loaded, and he turned his head; around him, circling the entire mountaintop, were dragon hunter soldiers with crossbows, all of which were aiming directly at Hiccup and Toothless.

A single dragon hunter raced forward, straight up to Viggo. "We circled the perimeter, Viggo," the soldier reported. "There are no signs to indicate he brought anyone else with him."

"Ah, good," said Viggo, smiling at Hiccup, "good. Came alone, I see, Hiccup? Well, it makes sense. You wouldn't want to put anyone else's life at risk, would you? Especially when you already have nine lives resting in your hands." With one hand, he gestured to the riders and their dragons.

"Hiccup, go," said Astrid. "Seriously, leave-"

"Shut up, girl," snapped Dagur.

Hiccup's rage threatened to explode, but he kept his composure. "Of course," he said. "And I see you brought dozens of your men. Probably something I should have thought of. But anyways, here." He thrust his hand forward. "The Dragon Eye. It's what you wanted."

Viggo took a step forward, but at the last second, Hiccup withdrew his hand.

"Only if you promise me," said Hiccup threateningly, "on your life, you will release the riders, and their dragons, and let them go."

"Consider it done, Hiccup," said Viggo. "I promise on my life, and on the lives of my fellow crew members."

"That doesn't mean anything to me," said Hiccup. "People are expendable to you, Viggo. Why should making your promise on the life of your crew persuade me?"

"I see you have learned my ways," said Viggo. "Well done, Hiccup. Now, the Dragon Eye." He held his hand forward expectantly. "Give it here, Hiccup, and the game will end. You played your hand well, and for that, I congratulate you."

It happened so quickly that, if Hiccup hadn't had fast reflexes due to so much time spent in the wild around dragons, it would have ended horribly. Viggo nodded to his nearest archer, a movement so small it could hardly be considered a nod, but that archer instantly fired a single arrow, straight at Astrid.

Hiccup reacted without thinking. He threw his shield the instant the crossbow was fired, and, by some miracle, the arrow bounced harmlessly off the surface of the Gronckle Iron shield. The shield itself clattered to the ground, and the arrow bounced off a nearby boulder before doing the same.

"Very good!" said Viggo, clapping. "I can see your reflexes have improved since our last meeting, Hiccup."

"We've been through this before, Viggo," snarled Hiccup, drawing his sword; the Gronckle Iron blade gleamed in the moonlight. "I know what you're doing."

"Do you?" said Viggo, smiling coldly. "I'm sure you do, boy. Now hand over the Dragon Eye. You don't have a second shield to throw should my men decide your friends would make lovely targets."

Hiccup glanced over Viggo's shoulder; his friends were shaking their heads feverishly, mouthing "no" over and over again.

But Hiccup wasn't going to take them up on their advice.

He lowered his sword for a moment and stretched out his other hand; the hand closed around the Dragon Eye. Viggo quickly snatched it away from him, examining it to make sure it wasn't an imposter, and then handing it carefully to Ryker.

"Now let them go," Hiccup demanded, looking at his friends before turning back to Viggo.

"Ah, right," said Viggo. "Never let it be said I am not a man of my word." He paused momentarily. His men didn't move. Not one of them did. Viggo suddenly drew his sword.

"And barely two months ago," said Viggo, dangerously and lowly, sword gleaming in the moonlight. Toothless growled threateningly at the sight of the weapon. "I said that you would pay, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third," said Viggo. "And pay day has come."

He plunged the blade forward, straight into Hiccup's stomach.

The reactions were instant. "HICCUP!" Astrid screamed, making to race forward, but Ryker's strong hand caught her forearm and held her back. Toothless roared in fury and crouched low to the ground, ready to pounce, but the crossbows were the only thing holding him back.

Viggo looked on in victory, sword withdrawn now that it had done its job, and Hiccup stumbled backwards, doubled-over, sword clattering to the ground so his hands could wrap around his midsection.

For a beat or two, complete silence befell the mountaintop.

But then, Hiccup looked up, smiling.

Smiling.

"Do you really think that old trick is going to work on me, Viggo?" Hiccup said tauntingly, and he stood up, crossing his arms over his chest. There was no wound. No blood. No nothing. Just a small tear in the front of his shirt, where the weapon had struck.

Viggo seemed unable to grasp it. He stumbled backwards; the rest of his crew fell back likewise, horrified. "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."

Viggo, Dagur, Ryker, and even the rest of the dragon riders looked on in shock. Hiccup finally sighed heavily.

"Do you really think," he said, "that after being stabbed by you, I wouldn't learn my lesson? Well, I did, and I came prepared."

He lifted the very front of his shirt; beneath his red tunic was a chain-mail like shirt made entire out of black and purple Arrow Fury scales - the scales Hiccup had taken from Arrow's Crevice, shortly before coming to Dark Deep. Viggo looked from the scales, and then back to Hiccup. Hiccup put a hand on his hip. He didn't move to pick up his sword. He didn't move to retrieve his shield.

He stood there, staring Viggo down.

"The stab scarred, in case you want to know," said Hiccup. "I'll have that scar for the rest of my life. For as long as I live, I'll look back on the day you raided the Edge, back on the day I nearly died...and I really should thank you, Viggo, because in getting stabbed, you taught me a valuable lesson."

"And what," spat Viggo coldly, "is that?"

"That people aren't expendable," said Hiccup. "That nothing lasts forever, and that nothing ever will. Life ends, Viggo. Death happens. That's what makes every moment of every day so special. Do you realize that, Viggo? No! Because all you care about is making sure you get out in the end! You'll let thousands die if it means you get out without a scratch, without a scar!"

He didn't stop there; he was on a roll now.

"And I feel sorry for you!" he shouted. "I don't understand how you don't understand just how precious life is, Viggo! Every person you kill, everyone you use as a human shield is just one more person who won't see the light of tomorrow, one more person who will never see daylight again, one more person whose last thoughts will be filled with horror, with terror, without hope, without peace, without joy…"

Hiccup paused a moment to breathe.

"And sometimes," said Hiccup, "when I go against you, when I fight you, when I battle the Berserkers, I wonder if I'm like that. I wonder if I'm vengeful, if I would ever seek to kill someone, for revenge...and then I look down at the scar, Viggo, and I know that I wouldn't. Because I didn't kill you when I could. I didn't kill Ryker, when we were trapped in a cave together with no way out. I didn't kill Dagur last time we fought. I'm not like you, Viggo. I'll never be like you."

Viggo clenched his teeth.

"And you know how happy that makes me?" said Hiccup, and now, he smiled, somewhat hysterically. "It makes me elated, Viggo! I'd give my life for my friends without a second thought! Ryker thought I wouldn't give up the Dragon Eye for them...my friends are worth more than a thousand Dragon Eyes to me. The Dragon Eye will eventually wear out, eventually break, eventually be nothing more than a story told around a campfire...but friends are what last forever. Life may not, but friends do."

Hiccup swallowed thickly.

"You've had your first move, Viggo," said Hiccup darkly. Beat. "Now let me show you mine."

And all around the hunters, Heather and the other dragons attacked.