Shout-outs next chapter, since at the moment, I am really drawn on a blank. This is my SECOND update today, and I hope you are all enjoying this so far! :D Enjoy!

The next time I woke up, I felt remarkably better than I had before. Sure, my head was still pounding like mad, and my hearing and vision were still trying to return fully, but hey, at least I had more energy. That was an improvement.

I stood up, finding Snotlout and Astrid no where to be seen. I spun in a complete circle; it wasn't only Astrid and Snotlout, but Toothless was gone, too.

"Hello?" I called out, but there was no response. "Toothless? Astrid? Snotlout?" Now, I was getting fairly worried. Where were they?

Wait a minute. Hookfang. Maybe they were outside trying to rouse Hookfang. It was a long shot, but I still tried it, rushing outside as fast as my shaking legs - that is to say leg and prosthetic - could take me.

I stopped as soon as I made it outside. Then, I gasped, my eyes widening. Hookfang was gone, but there were large prints in the snow, along with a few arrows sticking out of the ground, and some bolas.

They were attacked.

HICCUP HADDOCK YOU IDIOTIC FOOL! I mentally scolded myself.

One of the arrows, I saw, was pinning a piece of parchment to the ice. I quickly moved over to it, taking caution as I removed the arrow and picked up the note. I unfolded it, and then read what it said to myself.

Dragon conqueror;

I have your friends. Turn yourself into the Outcasts on Outcast island or they all die.

-Alvin the Treacherous

And so naturally, I did the one thing I knew what to do.

I lifted my head, looked into the sky, and screamed, "DAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRNN IIIIIIIIITTTTT!" at the top of my lungs.

I fell to my knees, crumpling the piece of paper in my hands and throwing it into the ocean. I slammed my fist on the ground and grunted from the pain it brought, but then ignored it a second later. My friends were hostages of the Outcasts.

I breathed heavily, my body still recovering from the Skrill's lightning. Once I finally managed to pull myself to my feet, I looked out into the sky, hearing a roar emanate from it. Squinting, I made out two figures; the figure of Stormfly, and then…

The Skrill.

I was doomed.

Lightning lit up the sky as the Skrill came towards the island, hot on Stormfly's tail. I could ride the Nadder; I trained her originally. I had no problem riding her. Now, the Skrill might have been a bit more of a problem…

"COME ON, STORMFLY!" I shouted. "You can make it, girl!" If she could make it here, I could get on her back, and leave. Of course, the Skrill could still follow, but then we could lose it easily, rescue Snotlout, Astrid, Hookfang and Toothless from Outcast Island, and then leave. We could chase the Skrill on a later date.

"STORMFLY!" I shouted. "COME ON, STORMFLY! YOU CAN DO IT!"

The Nadderhead roared, just barely dodging a lightning bolt. This was it. If Stormfly didn't make it, no one would. The Skrill would kill me after Stormfly, and then the Outcasts would kill the others.

I had to distract the Skrill, or else it would be too late.

I grabbed my dagger and threw it straight at the Lightning Dragon when it got close enough. Of course, it was an accurate shot; I wasn't intending to hit the dragon; just buy time for Stormfly. The Skrill roared and swerved out of the way, narrowly avoiding it.

I ran towards the Nadder as soon as she touched the ice; I jumped on her back with surprising ease, ignored the pounding in my head, and then told Stormfly to take off. She did so instantly, leaving the icy landscape.

The Skrill roared in our direction, and followed instantly.

Yes yes, Hiccup, an annoying voice said in my head. NOW THE SKRILL WILL BLAST YOU INTO OBLIVION!

I ignored my negative thoughts and focused on giving commands out to the dragon I was riding. Stormfly spun out of the way as a lightning streak headed straight for us. I gripped the saddlehorn, trying to keep from flying off.

I looked behind me; and there was the Skrill.

"Hey there, Mr. Bad Tempered," I said. "You've been asleep for a long time once more, now haven't you?"

The Skrill growled.

"So...I guess you're a little...cranky?" I asked.

In response, the Skrill blasted lightning straight at us. Stormfly avoided it, but just - just - barely.

"You know!" I called out to the Skrill. "That last blast was...a little close, to the one good leg…"

The Skrill fired at us again. Stormfly dodged, but the second time, I couldn't hold on. I still felt woozy and dizzy from the lightning strike the previous day, and the flying wasn't really helping at all.

So, I found myself falling towards the ocean. I heard Stormfly yelp, and watched as she came towards me, trying to catch me before I hit the ocean. The Skrill followed Stormfly as Stormfly followed me, down, towards the sea.

Stormfly grabbed my arm in one of her claws just before I hit the water. She pulled up a second later, spinning out of the way to avoid another lightning strike from the Skrill. After a roaring fest, Mr. Bad Tempered followed us.

I could almost feel my arm slipping out of socket. We needed to land, and soon.
I looked to the left, and saw a sea stack. If we could land, maybe, just maybe, I could train the Skrill. If I could train it, then...wow, that would be beneficial in so many different ways.

But then, of course, if I didn't train it...well...let's just not finish that thought.

"STORMFLY, LAND!" I shouted. The Nadder instantly knew what I was talking about, and turned to alight on the sea stack, the Skrill close by.

Stormfly dropped me on the small, island-like rock sticking out of the ocean. I landed on my bad arm and yelped in pain. I didn't have time to feel sorry for myself, though, as the Skrill was advancing quickly.

It landed in front of me and roared. I didn't even flinch. Stormfly moved to stand behind me protectively, ready to fight. I patted her nose gently. I was going to try and train this rogue dragon. I had trained the "unholy offspring of lightning and death itself." How hard could training a Skrill really be?

The moment came. I held out my hand slowly, and waited.