Meeeeeh. I'm a lazy bum. XD So, I've been busy (obviously or else you'd probably have five+ chapters to read, LOL! :D), but I did learn a five-minute piano song called "Memory" from the musical "Cats", so that's cool. I've been working on perfecting "Forbidden Friendship", "Romantic Flight", and "Flying with Mother", too, so that's cool...and of course...school...
ENOUGH SAID! :D Shout-outs:
Galaxy-Mitsuko-Pegasus: You make a good point, but it's hard to tell whether Viggo will figure out about Dagur or not. Dagur's so paranoid, and Viggo's known him for a while, whereas the first time he saw Heather, he'd never seen her before. Dagur's so deranged it's hard to tell what he's thinking. XD And yeah, Viggo deserves to die big time...:)
TheInkSplotches: Yeah, you're right, Drago and Viggo are actually threats to Hiccup, whereas Dagur and Alvin are just sorta...I don't know...like you said, stereotypical villains. There's nothing wrong with Dagur or Alvin, of course, they're just not as good as Viggo or Dagur. :D Viggo is CREEEEEEPY, and so is Drago. Dagur and Alvin were always kind of predictable. :D
ShadowSpirit020: DIE VIGGO! GO ASTRID! DON'T DIE HICCUP! :D
HappyPup1: I never thought I'd say this, but YAY DAGUR! :D
Jo: Yeah...and yeah, go Astrid, scaring the living CRAP out of those dragon hunters! She's amazing, Astrid is...:) And yeah, Dagur rebelling against Viggo, FINALLY! :D :D :D Poor Hiccup! :(
Iris Patton: Well, I didn't make two updates in the same day, but here's the next update. :)
1 Fan: Thanks! :D
AquaticDragon: Haha, thanks! :D I'm glad you're enjoying it (I need to think of a word to use other than "glad", glad's becoming tedious. XD). That's a thought! I'm still deciding who to kill...*descreetly hides chainsaw behind back*...but that's definitely a thought! :D
Charr2003: Let's see...who to kill...? XD And I LOVE Hiccstrid! I don't know, it could just be me, but I want Hiccup to get hurt for a change in Race to the Edge, just so we can SEE how the other riders actually react to him being seriously wounded. Maybe I'm just crazy...and yeah, angry Astrid, go tell those prisoners who's boss! :D
Artwing7: Thanks! :D
Dimentional Phaser: LOTS OF CRAZY STUFF GOING ON, YEAH. :D
midnightsky0612: Hence the name of the fic. :D
Guest (#1): Thanks! :D
StarFlight13: Ooooh, yes, HICCSTRID! :D On the social medias, a lot of people have been getting angry because "the Hiccstrid isn't good enough" but really, the Hiccstrid is growing BIG TIME. Like when Astrid asked Hiccup in "Maces and Talons part 1" if he was okay, and Hiccup at first said "yes", but then he told her everything, and like you said, just the fact that they're getting more and more comfortable around each other, worrying for each other, caring for each other, making sure the other is safe...it's perfect! :D And as for your Trilogy question: I'm going to act like it's a season to Race to the Edge, and go up to thirteen "episodes" (8-chapter fanfics). SITC was episode 1, TWP1 was episode 2, and TWP2 is episode 3. I'm going to try and go up to thirteen! :D :D :D
Carly Marley: Haha, yeah! I think the word "HICCSTRID" will make any fan who loves Hiccup and Astrid snap to attention. XD
MissPitchPerfect25: I have updated! :D
SnivyDragon: OOOH, yes! That's one of the reasons I want to see Hiccup hurt so badly in the series, because I think ALL the riders would go a little "you-hurt-my-friend-now-you-must-die" kind of thing, because I don't think they actually see each other as "friends". They're more of a big family. Soooo, yeah. RAGE. FEEL THE RAGE! :D That's a good idea, too, by the way, what you suggested! A lot of people have been wanting me to do that, the sort of "Hiccup and the enemy must work together ro survive" type of thing, so I think I'll do it. :D
Sofia: THE FEEEEELLLLSSSIIIEESSSS ARE RRREEAAALLLSSSIIIEEESSSS! :D Thanks a bunch! :D I always smile like an idiot whenever I get reviews, and I don't even know how to thank anyone for their reviews properly. XD So thank you! :D And yeah, I don't think Hiccup will ever actually be STABBED in RttE, but I'm still hoping for some sort of Hiccup injury, if just to see the way the other riders react! :D And I know, right? I'm in highschool, and yet, my mind is always short-circuiting, like, "Dragons, dragons, dragons..." XD NO SHAME in loving the HTTYD franchise! NO SHAME AT ALL! :D :D :D :D :D
LunarCatNinja: We ALL want Dagur to live NOW, because he's going against Viggo! :D :D :D Yeah, but Viggo...*sharpens axe*
Guest (#2): Not a bad idea! I'll think about it! :D
Draposs: Thanks! :D And yeah, poor Hiccup...seriously though, EVERYONE wants to kill Hiccup. I just imagine at this point, whenever Hiccup meets another villain who wants to kill him, he just signs to himself and thinks, "Okay, get in line behind Dagur, Ryker, Viggo, Drago, and everyone else..." XD And yeah, TRAITOR! :D GO DAGUR! (Never thought I'd actually say that...)
OechsnerC: Good idea! :D
"You mean Viggo had it planned the entire time?" gasped Fishlegs in horror; he and the other riders were camped at the Clubhouse, and Astrid had recounted everything the guards had told her when she interrogated him.
Astrid nodded. "Yes," she said. "The entire Changewing attack, Eyelicker getting wounded...it was all a trick, all a distraction to keep us preoccupied, to keep us from trying to figure out why Viggo was attacking in the first place."
Eyelicker and the other seven Changewings of the pack were snoring, laid in a heap, in the corner of the Clubhouse, right beside the map nailed to the wall.
"You mean...Viggo hurt Eyelicker for no reason?" said Fishlegs, looking down. "And he...he knew the Changewings would attack us...but for no reason?"
"There was a reason," said Astrid, "and the reason was...keeping Hiccup and us busy so we wouldn't try and think it through. So we'd be worried about the Changewings more than the bigger picture."
At the mention of Hiccup, all heads went down to the floor, including Astrid's, and her voice dropped an octave. Astrid had been trying to keep her mind off what had happened, but it wasn't working. Hiccup...her mind kept going back to him…
"Viggo's men were prepared for the Changewings," said Fishlegs suddenly, obviously trying to get the subject as far away from Hiccup as possible. "I found the sedation darts in their legs when Meatlug and I looked for them in the forest."
"You mean...everything...everything...was a distraction?" said Snotlout. "Everything we went through to keep the Changewings out, to make the Edge look like it'd been attacked...it didn't mean anything?"
"Viggo came here to murder Hiccup," said Astrid. "That was his plan. But…"
"But obviously, the plan didn't work," said Fishlegs, "because Hiccup isn't dead."
"But how could we have missed that!?" shouted Snotlout angrily, leaping to his feet in fury. "It was so obvious! Hiccup beat Viggo the last time they fought, it only makes sense Viggo would want to kill him! How did we miss it? How did Hiccup miss it!? He would never miss something that obvious!"
"I don't think he missed it, Snotlout," said Astrid quietly.
All eyes instantly turned to her, all full of confusion.
"What do you mean?" said Ruffnut quietly; ever since the attack, the twins had become surprisingly quiet, as if all motivation for talking had been sucked out of their systems.
"I think Hiccup knew Viggo wanted to kill him," said Astrid, "or, at least, he thought about it once. You're right, it is obvious...Hiccup wouldn't have missed something like that-"
"But why didn't he tell us?" said Tuffnut. "We could have helped protect him...Ruffnut and I would've rigged the entire Edge to keep Viggo away…"
"I think that's why he didn't say anything," said Astrid. "I...I don't think he wanted us to protect him. Because...because…"
"Because he didn't want us to put ourselves between him," said Fishlegs quietly, as though smacked upside the head with sudden realization, "and Viggo. He knew that if Viggo was really coming to kill him, Viggo wouldn't hesitate to kill anyone who stood in his way…"
"Oh Thor…" whispered Snotlout. "He knew…Hiccup knew it all along..."
Tuffnut sniffled and wiped his nose with the back of his hand. "That's just the stupid noble thing Hiccup would do," he said. "Almost as stupid as something we would do, only noble…"
Astrid rose to her feet and headed towards the door. Before she left, Fishlegs called out, "Where are you going now, Astrid?"
"I'm going to see Hiccup," said Astrid quickly.
"I tried earlier," said Fishlegs, "but Gobber said I shouldn't...that Hiccup needed to rest-"
"I'm not going to wake him," said Astrid. "But I need to see him. I...I...I need to."
The riders looked at each other; they, clearly, also wanted to see Hiccup, but were afraid of exactly what they would see.
"Look," said Astrid, "you didn't see the wound. You weren't the ones who screamed for help and tried to stop the bleeding. You didn't see what I saw. You didn't watch him pass out. I thought he was dead, and I haven't seen him since. I have to see-"
"We get it, Astrid, we get it," said Snotlout, and for the first time, he sounded compassionate, caring, kind… "Just...go see him. It'll...it'll probably make him feel better, anyways, having you with him...or whatever…"
Astrid nodded wordlessly, turned, and headed off, for the first time in a while leaving Stormfly behind. She turned the corner and stopped right in front of Hiccup's hut, fearing what awaited her inside.
Just before she could lift the hatch to step inside, the hatch was opened, and Astrid pulled back her hand as Stoick stepped out of the hut, looking as grave as Gobber, though his eyes were red.
"Oh, Astrid…" said Stoick shortly. "I thought you might show up."
"Where are you going, Stoick?" asked Astrid, trying desperately not to peer through the open door...she didn't think she was ready to see what was inside just yet.
"To ready the men," said Stoick, and he straightened, his voice suddenly gruff. "Viggo proclaimed war on us when he did this, and if it's war he wants, it's war he'll get."
Astrid swallowed. "I agree, sir," she said. "C-could I...could I…" She gestured helplessly at the open hatch.
"Yes," said Stoick. "Gothi's still in there, but let her know I cleared you...she's really not letting anyone else in right now. The only reason she hasn't kicked Toothless out is because that dragon would have her head…"
"I will, Stoick," said Astrid heavily, and, without hesitating a moment longer, she headed inside and pulled the hatch shut behind her silently.
The first thing she heard was a low growl, and when she looked towards the source of the sound, she saw Toothless, teeth bared, eyes narrowed in her direction. He was standing in front of the bed, almost protectively, as if he were expecting Viggo to walk through the door…
"It's just me, Toothless," said Astrid calmly, holding out her hands as she stepped into the light cast by sunlight streaming through the window. "Just me. It's alright."
Toothless sheathed his teeth and stepped back to let her pass, and what she saw made her feel even worse.
"Oh Hiccup," she whispered quickly, and she hurried over to the bedside, crashed to her knees, and brushed back his bangs to press her hand firmly against his forehead. He was either warm because of the numerous blankets piled on top of him, or he had a fever.
Gobber was right - now that Astrid saw him, she felt worse than she had ever felt before. He was so pale he was almost white, and his eyes were shut, his chest rising and falling deeply...if Astrid hadn't known better, and if he hadn't been so pale, she would've said he was just sleeping, and not unconscious.
But of course, she knew better.
There was a sudden tap, tap, against the ground, and Astrid peeled her eyes away from Hiccup long enough to look at Gothi, who had tapped her staff against the ground to get Astrid's attention. The village elder looked both worried and annoyed; no doubt worried for Hiccup and annoyed that Astrid had barged in.
"Stoick said I could," said Astrid instantly. "I couldn't leave him alone...you have to understand that."
Gothi's eyes softened, and she sighed. She turned towards the entrance of the hut and headed out; she had obviously decided to give Hiccup and Astrid some time alone.
Toothless bumped Astrid's arm and cooed sadly, staring at Hiccup with eyes like that of a hurt, lost puppy. Astrid leaned her forehead against Toothless' head and sighed heavily; Toothless needed as much comfort as she did.
"I know, Toothless," she said, and her voice was choked, as though she had been strangled. "I know...it's...it's hard to see him like this, isn't it?"
Toothless growled sadly.
"I know...I know...but he'll be okay. They're bringing a healer from the mainlands...he'll be fine, Toothless, I know he will...he has to be…" She looked back down at Hiccup, feeling as though she'd been stabbed in the gut.
"I should never have left him, Toothless," Astrid whispered, wiping furiously at her eyes with the backs of her hands. "I n-never should have let him alone. I should have known Viggo would come for him...I should've...I should've prevented it...it's all my fault…it's all my fault, Toothless..."
And she started crying. She couldn't help it anymore. She buried her face in her hands and cried harder than she had cried in a long time, harder than she would ever cry in front of Stoick, or the other dragon riders.
Toothless cooed at her worriedly and nudged her as if trying to figure out what had happened, or what was wrong, but Astrid couldn't stop no matter how hard she tried. Maybe it really was her fault. Maybe, if she could've only been smarter, quicker, she could have stopped Viggo…
"Please, H-Hiccup," she stammered between her sobs. "P-Please wake up, please...I-I don't k-know what I'd do without you...p-please…"
She brought her knees to her chest, hugged them, and tried to get ahold of herself. But then, just before she stopped crying, a voice broke the silence - a voice she recognized, despite how weak and cracked it was.
"Ast...Ast-trid?"
Astrid jerked her head up instantly. "Hiccup?"
OKAY, ALL! LISTEN UP! :D :D :D
I did some research on stab-wounds (okay, not some - like, I spent an hour and a half researching them on thirty different websites), and have reached a verdict! But I'm not going to tell you what that verdict is, of course, because, well...*River Song's voice* Sppoooiiilllerrrrrsss! :D
But please, LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU WANT. I don't think I'm going to spend a whole lot of time with Hiccup, since this fic is a bit more about the war against Viggo and such, but in the sequel to this (it won't be called Total War Part 3; I'll let you know what it'll be called when the time comes), there will be more Hiccstrid and Father/Son feels and what not.
SO DON'T BE DISAPPOINTED IF THOSE FEELSIE ELEMENTS ARE LACKING IN THIS FIC, ALRIGHT? :D And let me know what you want more of: Hiccstrid, father/son, or Toothless/Hiccup bonding.
Go on ahead! Don't be shy! :D