Hey guys! Sorry for being wicked late but I really caught up with the shows and summer schoolwork that I've been procrastinating on. I figured I'd wait until this Sunday so my whole posting schedule wouldn't be messed up. Sorry about this little blip! It shouldn't happen again I believe. Anyway, enjoy! :D

Chapter 3:

Ruffnut sat in the empty arena silently braiding her hair. She was alone except for the company of her dragon, Barf&Belch. Barf was her half and Belch was her twin brother, Tuffnut's, half. Ruff hardly ever got to spend quality time with just Barf, but when she did, it was time well spent. At first glance, Ruff would look like just any regular tomboy, which she was. But if you really got to know her, you'd know that she was sensitive and caring on the inside. When she was passionate about something, she didn't let anyone stop her. One time, she cut off most of her hair just to save a Scauldron that she'd befriended.

Ruffnut wasn't a girly girl but she did have her moments of feminism. She braided her hair, cared about her outfits, wanted only the best quality war makeup. She just didn't want anyone to know of her soft side, so she usually did these things in private. She knew she'd face eternal humiliation if she were ever caught doing anything slightly girly.

It was late in the morning and Astrid had called for a meeting of all the dragon riders. She didn't mention what it would be about, but it sounded urgent. They were to meet in the arena at precisely noon. Ruffnut, having nothing really better to do, decided to get there early so she could braid her hair and spend time with Barf. She had been there alone for over an hour. She really enjoyed the silence, though. She needed a break from being cased after by Fishlegs and Snotlout. She viewed them more as brothers, so having them romantically pursue her disgusted her.

One man didn't disgust Ruffnut though. It was Eret, Son of Eret. When they first met two years ago, Ruffnut had a huge crush on him. Now, her crush has died down, but she still enjoyed his company and started to view him as a brother as well. A very attractive brother that is.

Ruffnut's mind wondered to thinking about Eret, and almost as if on queue, he showed up.

"Ruff! What are you doing here? Astrid's meeting doesn't start until another half hour or so." She quickly hid the fact that she was braiding her hair by running her fingers though it. That was something most girls with long hair always subconsciously did.

"Eret! I'm surprised to see you, and Skullcrusher, here! I was just... Collecting my thoughts. Being a twin is hard and sometimes you just need some alone time."

"Ah, I see. Well, Skullcrusher and I were going to do a little bit of training before Astrid's meeting starts. Gods, I wonder what that spunky blonde has planed this time. Probably some sort of Outcast attack. I wonder why Hiccup didn't call for the meeting?"

"Oh, Eret," Ruffnut stood up and started the walk around the open space. "You don't know, do you? This has nothing to do with The Outcasts. It's Hiccup and Astrid's first wedding anniversary today. I just know she's gonna wanna put together something for him."

"Really? They've been married a year already? Seems like just yesterday they were voluntarily kidnapping themselves on my ship. I always knew those two would end up together." Both Eret and Ruff laughed at this. Two years ago, the dragon riders and Eret weren't really on good terms. But once Eret's mind was changed, he joined the riders and became friends with them. He even got to take care of his own dragon, Skullcrusher. He was once Stoick's dragon, but since he passed away, he needed a new caretaker. Eret and Skullcrusher had a special bond so it only seemed fit for him to be his new master. In two years, the two have grown inseparable. Eret would forever and always be glad he made the switch from trapper to rider. He never knew dragons could be so amazing until Hiccup opened his eyes.

"Yea. But that was two years ago. A lot can change in two years. Like feelings." Ruffnut joked, referring to her last crush on Eret.

"Ha-ha, yes those too. You had a raging crush on me back then! Not so much now, huh?"

"Nah. I was stupid back then. But now I know what I want in life and that's not to fall in love or be married, ever. It's so gross. I thought it was the best thing ever but really it's just annoying and not worth my time."

"I understand. There's so much to do in life! Why waste it being tied down? I respect Hiccup and Astrid's choice but that's one I'll never make. There's too much to do and see! I can't be worrying about a wife or kids, I've got my own life to live!"

"I'm glad you feel the same way as me! I thought I was the only one!"

"You're not alone, Ruff. Marriage isn't for everyone I guess. It's for people like Hiccup and Astrid who want to devote their lives to someone else's. It's not for people like us! We're free spirits who need to roam," At the climax of his speech, he mounted Skullcrusher and stood upright on his saddle. He pretended like he was giving a speech and used Skullcrusher as his pedestal. "We need to get out there and see the world because the world is never going to come see us! We must live like it's our last day on this Earth! We must make the best of today because we don't knew if we're going to have tomorrow. We have to be on the go all the time, chasing dreams and making new ones. We have to live like we're dying! Live like we're dying! We have to..." His impromptu speech was interrupted by the arrival of the others riders, Tuffnut, Fishlegs, and Snotlout. They all looked at Eret like he had three heads as he sheepishly climbed down. Ruffnut's face turned a light red as she stifled a laugh.

"What the Hell were you doing, Eret?" Asked Tuffnut, confused.

"Just little tomfoolery. Sorry. Is the meeting starting now? If I'm not mistaken it was supposed to be in about..."

"Circumstances changed it," Astrid replied from behind the crowd. Everyone had been so concerned with Eret's heroic display that they didn't notice the figure in the back. Astrid slowly walked toward the crowd as they separated themselves so she could pass through. "Like you so gracefully put, there isn't a ton of time in the world so we have to get things done now." Astrid looked like the human personification of death. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy, obviously due to tears. Her clothes were still torn from the morning's battle and she had bloodstains on them. Her photogenic blonde hair was messy and wild. Her normally perfect, battle-ready posture was anything but. She slumped over and dragged her feet, not even bothering to pick them up half the time. She was the polar opposite of the Astrid she was that morning. The riders took note of that and reflected her mood. They could obviously tell something was wrong and they were mature enough to know not to make jokes or fool around.

"I'm, sorry. I should have..." Eret started to say.

"It's okay. I don't care. Now, I bet you're all wondering why I called his meeting today. No, it's not about The Outcasts, or the anniversary, or the battle, or anything. It's about Hiccup. I... I thought since you were all his friends, you'd like to know before I tell the town. He... He's sick. Really sick. Halvard doesn't know what he has but he has something. However, Halvard does know that he has only a few more days left." A long silence filled the arena as everyone's heart broke into a million pieces. Astrid instinctively let tears fall from her eyes again and she didn't try to stop them.

"So, he's... Dying?" Tuffnut asked, breaking the silence. He used to joke about people dying all the time and how "cool" it would be, but he never thought it would actually happen. He was in an utter state of shock.

"Yes." Astrid practically whispered. The reality of the situation sunk in again for the second time today and she cried. She raised her hand to her month and let out sobs. She was normally a strong woman who would only cry in private. Even then, she'd try her hardest not to. But now, her whole entire life and world was crashing down around her. She didn't care if anyone saw her cry. She just couldn't help herself.

Everyone stood there absolutely bewildered. It couldn't possibly be true! But Astrid was sobbing so it had to be. Fishlegs, as caring as he was, ran right over to Astrid when she collapsed on the ground. He tried his hardest to comfort her but it his efforts were obviously in vain.

Snotlout let a few tears sneak out of his eyes. His cousin, his blood relative, was dying. His uncle had already died and now his cousin? The world was cruel. Sure, this means that he would become chief now, but he didn't want it. Not like this.

The twins stood there in disbelief. Ruffnut, who just mere seconds ago was enjoying herself, was crushed. Hiccup was her friend and so was Astrid. Seeing them in a state like this broke her heart. Tuffnut felt the same. He was deviated. He'd joked so many times but never actually meant it. Now that it's come true, he just felt awful inside.

Eret felt just plain awful as well. Astrid had heard every word he said in his rousing anthem and he felt terrible for saying it. He didn't know and if he could take it back he would. Tears welled up in his eyes as well as he thought about how Berk was losing another chief. Eret didn't know Stoick very well, but he did respect him and even attended his funeral. The very thought of attending Hiccup's funeral, and Hiccup was a man he knew well, made his stomach drop all over again. This just couldn't be happening. But unfortunately, it was.

Every single person in the room felt like they were in a terrible nightmare. Hiccup dying seemed way to farfetched to be true. They tried to pinch themselves but they weren't dreaming. Their friend, mentor, and chief was going to die. He was far too young and didn't deserve this. It all just happened so fast that no one knew how to really react accordingly. They were all so shocked.

"Valka knows. She and Toothless are with him now. I'm making the official announcement a little later on today," Astrid said, wiping her tears and getting up off the ground. "We... Don't know what he has. It's nothing I've ever seen before. One minute, he's okay, but the next, he's screaming in pain. The episodes just come and go, and apparently only get worse and worse according to Halvard. He's seen this case only one other time before and it was when he was in training. He's giving Hiccup just a few more days left to live. I'm sorry to bring down everyone's day, but I thought you'd like to know." With that, Astrid turned her back to the group of riders and trudged out of the arena.

"I can't believe it." Fishlegs said.

"I can't either. I don't believe it! He can't be dying! Not another chief!" Snotlout exclaimed.

"And there's nothing we can do." Added Tuffnut.

"I can't imagine what that poor girl is going though right now. How can she even bear it?" Ruffnut wondered. After some more deliberation, most of the riders decided to go on their separate ways. They went back to their homes to silently grieve and let the fact sink in. However, Eret and Ruffnut lingered behind.

"This is just plain awful. There must be something we can do! Not only is he chief, he's our friend! He can't just leave behind a wife, a mother, and a dragon like that!" Eret thought aloud.

"What can we do? Halvard said there was nothing so..."

"Wait, he didn't mention the spar did he?"

"The what?"

"Iceland Spar! The gemstone that... oh.. Oh! Never mind, it's nothing. I gotta go. Bye!"

"Wait, come back! Eret!" Eret proceeded to mount Skullcrusher and hightailed it out of the arena before Ruffnut caught up to him. She was left alone once again, but this time, she was left wondering what Iceland Spar was and why the Hell Eret was being so secretive about it. Ruffnut vowed that before the day was done, she would find both of the things out. She needed to know not out of curiosity but out necessity. If this was something that would save her friend's life she needed to know.

Again, I'm super sorry for the delay! I just got really caught up with things and desperately needed to rest. Everything should be back to normal next Sunday though! You guys are the best! :D