Okay guys, so here is the next chapter! Glad I was able to get it up today...

This one is kinda short tho, the next one will be much longer.

Read, relax, review!

~o0o~

10.

The two Guardians stood gasping for breath in the tiny cave they'd run into to escape the falling pillar. But now they were sealed in. Toothless pawed frantically at the rocks blocking the entrance, but it was no use. Water from outside was now pouring into the cave at a rapid pace, and all three scrambled backwards further in the cave hoping desperately for another way out.

The cave wasn't very deep, however, and within seconds the three found themselves pressed up against the back wall of the cave. Rapunzel climbed on top of a larger rock, staring in horror at how the water was filling in so quickly. Hiccup watched the rising water, thinking furiously to come up with a solution- if they didn't get out soon, all three of them would drown.

"Toothless- blow us out of here!" He called over the echoing sound of water.

The dragon reared back, opening his mouth to emit the purple blast- but nothing happened. He looked over at Hiccup with apologetic and fearful eyes.

"Why, oh why, do dragons have shot limits," Hiccup ranted to himself, pressing a hand to his forehead and thinking. The water had risen to his knees now. He looked around- the cave walls weren't solid rocks, but rather walls built from many boulders and stones packed together. Rapunzel had clearly noticed this too, and was banging the walls with the handle of her frying pan, trying to dislodge some of the stones, but rather unsuccessfully. Hiccup looked down at the rising water, noticing how the current seemed to flow in all the same direction, the way water might drain from a bathtub. Hiccup closed his eyes, picturing it. The water was draining, just not as fast as it was filling the cave. But draining where?

Hiccup could bet that on the other side of the cave was the main body of the Corona River.

The water was to his waist now. Hiccup dropped to the ground, under water, clawing with his hands at the floor stones, trying to find any that were loose, trying to find an escape. But the cave was dark, and the water was darker. He was able to accomplish little more than aimlessly grope. Toothless, being shorter than both of them in height, was now treading water, which had risen to Rapunzel's chest.

Hiccup's hand went to his flame sword intending to provide light, but he stopped when he realized that it wouldn't work- the sword was soaking wet! Becoming desperate, Hiccup dove again, and Rapunzel continued to bang against the stones.

"It's no good!" He said, coming up and gasping for air. "I can't see anything!"

Rapunzel's eyes darted around before she seemed to steady her resolve, take a deep breath, and dive under herself.

"No!" Hiccup cried out, pulling her back up. "Hey- it's too dark down there," he said holding tightly to her shoulders. "You'll just get yourself hurt! We have to find another way," he finished, looking above and around him, as if hoping the answer would simply appear to him... and yet he knew their best chance was the rocks beneath their feet, the ones impossible to see. They had to find the spot where the water drained...

"What way, Hiccup?" Rapunzel cried in terror. "There is no other way!"

The water was up to their necks now, and still rising. Rapunzel could feel the heavy weight of her hair, pulling her down, and she struggled to keep her head above the water. She could feel the tears forming in her eyes, and was just glad the rest of her face was soaking wet from her dive that Hiccup wouldn't notice.

She didn't want him to know just how scared she was- she wanted to be strong and smart and brave- she wanted to get them out of this. But all she could think was We're doomed.

"S-send a message," she stammered out to him. "Send a message with your mind to M-Merida or North or someone- to get help, or to blast us out, or-"

"Already thought about it," Hiccup said, shaking his head. "But any explosion from the outside might kill us, especially since I couldn't even tell them where exactly to blow- but besides," he said, gesturing with his eyes to the water that they were just barely keeping their heads above, "There isn't enough time."

He brought his hands up out of the water and splashed angrily, as if doing so would make it go back down. "If only it wasn't so dark! If I just had one light- just one-"

Then it hit Rapunzel. Oh, it was so obvious she started laughing. Hiccup stopped speaking and turned his head to her incredulously. "What?"

"I have magic hair that glows when I sing!" she laughed, preparing to dive again.

"Rapunzel what on ear- oh." Hiccup's eyes widened.

The water was threatening to overtake them now. Toothless took one last deep breath and disappeared under the water's surface.

"Do it!" Hiccup ordered, a slight edge of panic in his voice. Then he too took a final breath.

"Flower, gleam and glow, let your power shi-"

Rapunzel took her breath and plunged herself into the icy water.

For a minute, nothing happened. Then radiant light spilled over her shoulders as her hair lit up. Not wasting any time, Hiccup swam downwards to the rocks, Toothless following close behind. He grasped at stones for the most painful few seconds all three had ever had to endure before finally, or luckily, he found one that shifted. Toothless barreled through, using his, albeit weakened, strength to complete the job.

Water rushed through the newly made hole, and the two Guardians and dragon tumbled through, landing in a heap in the freezing waters of the Corona River, the water clear and pink in the setting sunlight.

Rapunzel could swear she heard voices, but then everything blacked out.

Many of you should recognize this scene... And I'm sorry- I know the chapter was really short.

Keep your eyes open for the next one!

Iceprincess

Guest Reviews:

Orange Cat: Wow thank you so much for that incredible review! Your compliments are so touching! I am SO glad that none of my characters come off as ooc! So glad! I hope this chapter somewhat lessened your suspense?! haha...Thank you of being such an amazing reader! And you should totally get an account! But I'm glad you're following my story without one... :) Don't thank me- its my pleasure to write- it is YOU who should be thanked, for your wonderful words and encouragement that make me smile and make me feel like I'm not completely crazy with these stories! Hope to hear from you soon...