Chapter Nine

Even Toothless reacts to the sound of Outcast Island's name. As soon as the word leaves Hiccups' mouth, the Night Fury turns on a dime and growls at the island in the distance. Seeing this, Stormfly continues to squawk, angrily as well.

"But...wait." Astrid says, jumping to her feet. "If that way is Outcast Island then...Fishlegs..."

"Oh no..." Hiccup sits up a little. "Don't tell me he flew that direction."

She groans in anguish. "He might have..."

"We need to catch up to him, let him know that that isn't Berk!" Hiccup pushes himself to his shaky feet and stumbles over to Toothless. "If we don't, he could captured...or worse."

"Hey!" Astrid protests, running over to grab his arm. "You said it yourself: you're in no condition to be flying right now!"

"Astrid, if Fishlegs is caught by the Outcasts, they could-"

"I know what they might do." She interrupts him, not wanting to think about it. "But if you go out there and you crash...it'll get a hundred times worse."

He grimaces, hating the fact that she's completely right. There's no way he'd even get Toothless in the air, let alone steer him the whole way to Outcast Island. Heck, he wouldn't even still be standing right now if Astrid wasn't holding onto him. "You're right..." He admits, quietly. "But what are we going to do about Fishlegs?"

Astrid sighs and gently lowers him back to the ground. "Well...think about it, Hiccup. Fishlegs knows what Berk looks like. He wouldn't land there, knowing it isn't Berk. Eventually, he'll figure it out and turn around."

"But what if the Outcasts see him before he does? They'll shoot him down, Astrid." Hiccup is leaning against Toothless now, who's body is wrapped protectively around him. There's still a scowl on the dragon's face, his green eyes focused on Outcast Island.

She shakes her head and kneels across from him. "Hiccup, what do you always say was the key to getting Toothless to like you?"

"Huh?"

"Just answer me."

He frowns, already knowing where she's going with this. "Fish?" He jokes, half-heartedly.

She glares at him. "Trust." She corrects him. "You showed you trusted him and he came through for you in the end. Right now, that's all we can do for Fishlegs. Trust him and know he'll come through for us."

"Come on, Meatlug. We've gotta get back to Berk for help!" Fishlegs says, encouragingly to his Gronckle. "Hiccup and Astrid need us...! They're counting on us! We can't let them down!" Just then, his eyes catch something within the dense ocean mist. "Wow...we're back already?" But then, Meatlug stops dead in her tracks and growls at the island below them. "What is, girl?" He asks, patting her head. Meatlug hovers there for a moment, turning her head to look at her Rider. The Gronckle's pupils go wide with affection for her friend and she coos, slightly. "Wait a second..." Fishlegs leans forward, his eyes narrowing. "That's not Berk..." He gasps in horror. "That must be-"

With a hurried pat on Meatlug's side, Fishlegs ushers her to turn around. "Come on, girl. We've gotta go warn the others that we're close to Outcast Island." But before they can start flying again, something shiny catches Fishlegs' eyes.

The sun light glints, harshly off the metal points of spears and swords that are loaded onto the Outcast ship. Twenty men are standing on the deck, furiously following the orders of their commander.

Fishlegs' face goes white as a sheet. "Alvin...? Alvin is here? But why..." He flashes a look back to where his friends are stranded, right in the ship's path. "C-come on, Meatlug. We've got to hurry!"

Stormfly and Toothless have settled down for the most part, contenting themselves with sticking very close to their Riders. Hiccup has fallen asleep, his chest rising and falling steadily. His face is anything but peaceful, though, contorted in pain. Astrid is sitting on a tall boulder on the edge of the beach, sharpening her knife as she scans the waters.

Suddenly, a shadowed figure looms above them, their features blotted by the sun. "Astrid!" They shout, coming closer.

"Fishlegs?!" She gasps, staring in shock as he comes into the light. "What are you doing here? I told you to go get help!"

"I was going to, but then I saw-" Before he can finish, something flies around the side of the beach. It smacks into Meatlug, sending her tumbling into the sand. The chords of a bola are tied around her and Fishlegs.

"Oh no!" Astrid jumps to her feet. "Hiccup! Wake up!"

"Huhnn?" He cracks open one eye. "What's going on...?"

But before she can answer him, another bola flies from the woods and wraps itself around her and Stormfly. They're in the woods, too?! We're surrounded!

Hiccup's heart slams into his throat when he finally realizes what's happening. They're under attack and no surprises as to who's attacking them. Toothless growls, furiously and fires a plasma blast into the woods. A moment later, a huge Outcast ship floats around the side of their island.

"Alvin...!" Hiccup growls, struggling to his feet.

"Ah, looks who it is, men!" The Outcast leader says, cheerfully. "If it ain't our little 'iccup. And a bit worse-for-ware I see..." He says, eyeing the wound on Hiccup's head. "What do you say, boy? Up for a trip to Outcast Island?"

"Hiccup, RUN!" Astrid shouts. "You can't fight-" She flinches when a net falls from the trees above him, flattening him and Toothless to the ground.

Hiccup glares at his worst enemy as he steps off the ship and strolls over to him. "I told you once and I'll tell you again." Hiccup growls. "I won't train dragons for you."

Alvin smirks, clicking his tongue. " 'iccup, 'iccup, 'iccup..." He shakes his head. "I think you will train dragons for me." He turns and smiles at Astrid and Fishlegs, who are trapped as well. "Otherwise, your friends might get a little...uncomfortable."

As if to emphasize the threat, Savage jumps off the boat as well. He reaches down and grabs Astrid by her braid, yanking it back until she cries out. He pulls a large knife from his waistband and holds it to her exposed throat.

Hiccup swallows, nervously at the sight of it so close to her.

"Well...?" Alvin snickers, darkly.

If I train dragons for them, they'll destroy Berk...but if I don't... His eyes go back to Astrid. He'll kill Astrid and Fishlegs...probably the dragons too. He looks at Toothless and shudders at the thought of losing him. "I..." He begins, unsure of what to say. Then again, if I train their dragons, they'll kill us anyway.

"Hiccup, don't you dare agree to anything they say-" Astrid manages to yell before Savage clamps a hand over her mouth.

Don't worry, Astrid. Hiccup thinks. I refuse to train dragons for them...! But if I play along, they won't kill you. With a dramatic sigh, Hiccup lowers his head. "Fine. I'll do anything you say...just don't hurt my friends or their dragons."

"Hiccup!" Fishlegs gasps in shock.

"GAH!" Savage screams, yanking his hand off of Astrid's mouth. "She licked me!"

"Yuk...it wasn't too pleasant for me, either!" She grumbles under her breath. "Hiccup! What do you think you're-"

"It'll be okay, Astrid." He interrupts her. "Trust me."