Chapter 49

Hiccups POV:

A few seconds after we hit the water Babajide let go of me and the rushing water separated us as I was pulled underneath the water. I'm not sure what happened after but as I was dragged down I saw skeletons of who I assume were past sacrifices stuck to the wall. It was as I feared I was going to be joining them and hoping the gods would help me prevent that I saw a glimmer of gold and felt something wrap around my torso. I felt myself being into a small opening in the side of the wall. This opening lead to a long tunnel that lead that had currant that threw me against the walls like a rag doll and made it difficult for me to keep my mouth shut to prevent water from getting in. I'm not sure how long I was thrown around in that tunnel before I reached the end of the tunnel and was able to break the surface of a small lake I had passed by on my way to El Dorado. When I did break the surface, I took deep breaths of air as I crawled to shore and collapsed onto my belly before turning onto my back. I looked up at the sky and began to laugh as I said.

"After all that I'm still alive." I kept laughing. "The gods must either enjoy watching me suffer or just have a soft spot for me but then again I've survived worse." I laughed but then began to wince in pain but I kept smiling. "I might have some broken ribs and other bones but I'm still kicking."

I don't know how long I lay there laughing but by the time I stood up I'd say it was early afternoon. I took a large tree branch to use as a crutch muttering to myself about how I needed to see a healer when I got back to El Dorado if Toothless didn't crush my already damaged ribs when he no doubt pounces on me in excitement. Fortunately, I had seen this lake since the rock formations formed a face with waterfalls coming out of the eyes making it look like the face was crying. This rock formation was known as the tearful stone and was one of the landmarks to El Dorado. I figured it would take a few hours to get back there. I knew I wasn't going to get back to El Dorado and my dragons by just standing here so I began my long walk back to the city.

5 hours later

I finally made it back to the secret entrance to El Dorado and I have to say I was happy to be back since it has not been an easy trip to get back here. I had to stop to rest since I may have cracked a few bones in my legs and rest to catch my breath since my ribs didn't exactly help. I also had to use the stick I was using as a crutch to pick up some snakes and throw them away along with knocking a few fruits from trees to get something to eat and drink. I walked through the waterfall and saw the spare boat waiting for me so I put the stick in since I figured I'd carve it into a proper walking stick as a souvenir since it really helped me out in the jungle. I rowed down the river past the stone pillars that held the roof up and down the dark tunnel that would lead to El Dorado. When I came out of the cave and into El Dorado I looked around and much to my surprise was the city was pretty much deserted. It wasn't till I docked that I saw a few people all looking up at something. I got off the ship after grabbing my stick and making my way towards them only to find that the people were part of a large crowd who were all looking up at Chief Eadrich holding my Mayan armors headdress which came off when I was tackled. At his sides were both Toothless and Nimla and all three of them were looking down and I could see the sadness in their eyes as I walked around the crowd and listened to Eadrich as he said.

"It is on this day that we shall celebrate the life of a great man sent to us by the gods to show us the error of our ways when it comes to our way of worship." He rubbed his eyes to wipe away the tears. "Hiccup Haddock was a great man who I was truly blessed to meet and my only wish is that I could've gotten to know him a bit more." He looked up at the sky. "You were a great man Hiccup Haddock!" He sniffed back some tears. "A man I am hoping to meet once more in the afterlife enjoying paradise as you so richly deserve and if you were here I would hug you and thank the gods for returning you to us." I smiled and walked to the front but he didn't see me so I said.

"Well I'm glad to hear that but do you think we can skip the hug since I think I broke a few ribs when I was being tossed around in the water."

Everyone gasped as Eadrich looked up at me with Toothless and Nimla. When they saw me Eadrich rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't imagining while Toothless and Nimla ran and slithered up to me. I smiled as Toothless jumped around me in excitement and began nuzzling my chest as I winced in pain from the pressure on my ribs so I pushed his head away and said.

"Easy there bud I'm pretty sure my ribs are at the very least bruised so take it easy." He just crooned as Nimla rested her head on my shoulder from behind as I rubbed her head. It was then Eadrich came up and asked.

"Hiccup is it really you?" I chuckled.

"Yeah it's me but I don't blame you for having a hard time believing it since I'm having a hard time believing it myself."

"But how did you survive?"

"To be honest with you all I remember was seeing a shimmer of gold, something gripping my torso before I was swept up in the current of an underwater tunnel which lead to the lake in front of the tearful stone."

"And then you just mad your way back here?"

"Exactly but I did have to knock a few snakes away but luckily beside that there was no trouble." He chuckled.

"You are not an easy person to kill Hiccup."

"Oh please if I was easy to kill I would've been dead years ago but right now I could use some medical attention." He nodded before clapping and summoning three people forward.

"These are my finest healers and they will tend to your wounds." I nodded before they lead my dragons away and me.

6 hours later

I lay down on one of the couches in the room I was given when I first arrived with Toothless' head in my lap as I gently rubbed it. I had multiple bandages wrapped around where torso along with my right ankle. The healers recommended I take it easy for a few days since I had bruised the majority of my ribs and broken three of them while also twisting my ankle. I looked up at the ceiling wondering what that golden thing I saw when I was underwater was and it had something to do with me being pulled into that underwater cave. I looked at the table next to me and saw a bowl of fruit, the stick I used to walk back and the macuahuitl that Babajide tried to use to sacrifice that guy and then kill me. I had asked Eadrich if I could have it as a souvenir from my little underwater escapade, which he was happy to allow. Long story short I intended to just spend the remainder of my day here since nearly being drowned and hiking through the jungle really takes it out of a guy and besides there was plenty of time to see the city tomorrow.

7 days later

I was once again in my Mayan armor on the top of the temple that had the room I've been staying in but this time I was outside enjoying the view of the city and I have to say it was beautiful. I spent three days in my room resting due to the healers orders and in the past four days I had been exploring the city with the help of both my dragons and my walking stick which now looked more like a decorated staff since I had to do something to keep myself busy while I was stuck resting. Still though I had this feeling that something big was coming and it wasn't good. I shook my head knowing I was probably just being paranoid since Babajide went down the whirlpool and I doubt he was as lucky as I was. Still though I can't help but feel sorry for the guy since he may have gained pleasure from killing people but I doubt he deserved such a grisly fate.

Anyway in my times exploring the city I was absolutely amazed by the beauty, culture, people, craftsmanship and above all the amount of gold they had. Seriously they had so much that they actually used it as building material to construct their houses and temples. I had also taken part in one of the games the people played which they called pok-ta-pok in which you had to hit a ball through a ring using your hips and I admit at first it was tough but I got used to it and was definitely building a court on my island when I get home so I could practice playing there. As for the locals, they were all quite eager to sell their products to me and I admit I was tempted to buy some but I couldn't since I didn't bring anything to pay with but next time I came I was definitely bringing some things to trade and not because I needed more gold with all I have in my vault but because I admired their craftsmanship. I often enjoyed spending time enjoying the peace this place had to offer by sitting down on a public bench to watch the people go by, feeding the birds, riding on boats with fisherman, flying on Toothless as I looked down upon the city, watching Toothless and Nimla play with the children who absolutely adored them and just sitting down to talk with Eadrich. I still had to deal with more than a few people mostly thanking me for putting an end to the sacrificing of their loved ones and a few girls giving me looks with half lidded eyes and flirtatious finger waves but it was nowhere near as bad in the other city.

I was brought out of my thoughts by the sight of the sun setting over the horizon, which meant I had to head down soon since there was going to be a big party to celebrate the gods and a new temple being built in their honor. I whistled to Toothless and Nimla to come from their positions on the couch and by the water. They made their ways to my side before we walked down the steps where I could tell the celebration had already begun. I walked through the crowd of smiling people who were still thanking me for stopping the sacrifices as I made my way to my regular seat on a throne next to Eadrich. I was served a drink and toasted to the gods with Eadrich before we enjoyed the show people were performing to celebrate.

It was when some children were performing a play of when I stopped Babajide's sacrifice that there was a large roar that resembled that of a jaguar followed by a large crashing noise. I turned to where the noise came from to see a giant stone jaguar around half the size of the Red Death come rising out of the top of the temple Babajide called home surrounded by green smoke. I stood up as it jumped down from the top of the temple where people were fleeing in fear while some guards threw spears in an attempt to fight back but failed miserably. I stood up from the throne I was sitting on and told Nimla to get Eadrich and everyone out of here while me and Toothless kept the thing distracted. I felt the weight of my star sword in my hand and smiled since it would make fighting the jaguar a whole lot easier if it my blade is able to cut through the stone. I looked at Toothless before I mounted him before I looked into the beasts glowing eyes as it charged towards us. Toothless hit it in the right eye with a plasma blast but that only seemed to annoy it. It let out a large roar before continuing its charge towards which gave us the opportunity to lead it away from the city so it couldn't hurt anyone so I looked down at Toothless and said.

"Let's see how fast this jaguar can run bud." He gave a growl before we took off through the city.

The jaguar not surprisingly gave chase to us but had trouble keeping up as we ducked under bridges, which it only smashed through. It was as we flew above some stairs I saw a girl trip as she was running from the jaguar so I steered Toothless towards her and we grabbed her just as she was about to be crushed. I knew I couldn't let her be near that thing when I fought it incase she got hurt so I had Toothless land and dismounted as I said.

"Get her out of here." He crooned. "I'll be fine bud."

He nodded and took off which is when the jaguar caught up as I ran through a gap in the mountain. When I was through the jaguar began digging its way through the stone as I made my way across a path of lava rock. I was halfway across when the jaguar broke through the rock and stood up on two legs before roaring. It slammed its front paws down onto the rock which unfortunately broke through to the lava beneath. This in turn caused the ground I was standing on to begin to break apart making getting across both more difficult and dangerous for me. Fortunately it also made things more difficult for the jaguar with its heavy weight. I jumped onto one of the long rocks floating on the lava and ran to the end and as I planned the jaguar followed me. I stopped when I reached the end as the jaguar stepped onto the other end lifting the side I was on up. The jaguar lifted its left paw to strike but as it did the ground behind it cracked open and pulled the jaguar into the lava. I used this chance to hop onto the head and run over the body to the end of the tail allowing me to reach solid ground away from the newly opened lava pit.

When I reached solid ground I turned back to watch the jaguar struggle to get out of the lava only to sink into it. When it was fully engulfed I let out a sigh of relief but my moment of peace didn't last long as a few seconds later the jaguar climbed out of the lava with lava dripping off it as it roared. This was the only message I needed to start running again with the jaguar pursuing me as it let out another roar. I didn't stop running until I reached the bottom of a cliff, which left me nowhere, to go but up so I began climbing. I was thirty feet up when the Jaguar came crashing through the jungle and this was all the incentive I needed to climb faster. It didn't take me long to reach the top only to find out I was looking at another dead end but before I could even begin climbing the jaguar had reached the top and was looking down at me. It stood on its back legs once more and let out a roar as I prepared my star sword to fight back but when it was in mid roar it stopped and completely froze as the green glow in its eyes faded into nothing. It was then I heard someone laughing before I saw someone walk out from behind the jaguars leg but I couldn't tell who it was since they were standing in the shadow of the jaguar. It was then he walked out of the shadows and what I saw made my eyes widen as standing right there was Babajide smiling at me wearing the mask he wore when he was going to make a sacrifice. He gave me the same feral smile he had when he raised his macuahuitl as he said.

"Hello Hiccup Haddock."

"Babajide?" He grinned.

"Indeed!"

"We all thought you died when you went down the whirlpool."

"No I got sucked into an underwater tunnel which lead to the surface so I survived the same way you did."

"But how did you get back into the city when the guards would never have allowed you to pass the gates?"

"The captain of the guard has always been loyal to me, my power and the gods." He chuckled. " With him I was able to sneak past the guards back into the city and awaken my stone jaguar."

"When this is all over I am going to kill that captain of the guard." I noticed Babajide's smiled grew a bit.

"Oh that won't be necessary since the potion I made allowing me to bring my jaguar to life needed him which at first it didn't until I kicked him into it." He laughed like a maniac at this while I was disgusted.

"You are a sick man Babajide."

"And you are an idiot if you think you're going to make it out of this alive."

"I've faced worse in my time." He glared at me.

"Oh have you now?"

"Try a dragon twice the size of your jaguar, a dragon who grew two heads every time I cut one head off, multiple six armed giants the size of your jaguar when it's on its back legs, another giant with three torso's, a lion with fur that was tough as armor, a beast with the face of a human, body of a lion and the tail of a scorpion which could fire off multiple venomous quills. And those are just the things I can think off the top of my head." I smiled at the dumbstruck look on his face before he chuckled.

"You really got around in your life didn't you?"

"Yeah the funny thing is most of those beasts were in Greece and I still plan to go back sometime." He chuckled once more.

"That's funny!" I shrugged.

"Yeah my old mentor Gobber said I must have hit my head if I even thought of going back there." He gave another feral smile.

"No what's funny is you think you're going to survive this encounter." His eyes then began to glow the same green as the jaguar's eyes that I noticed were glowing again. "Don't worry Hiccup for once you're gone I'll be sure to return the city to its proper way of worship starting by sacrificing that idiotic chief." Glared at him.

"The gods sent me here to stop the shedding of innocent blood and I will."

I charged at the jaguar with my sword at the ready while the jaguar brought its paws down towards me. I ducked out of the way of the paw and slashed at the side with my sword, which much to my joy cut through the stone like a hot knife through yak butter. As I cut through the stone I heard Babajide grunt in pain and saw a bleeding scratch appear on his arm. I figured that he and the jaguar were connected somehow but I couldn't get near him with the jaguar keeping me back. I dodged out of the way of the jaguar's jaws and used this opportunity to hop onto its head. It shook its head trying to shake me off but I held on tight before I raised my sword to stab it into its head but before I could it stood back up on its back legs making me slide down but I was able to give it a few cuts on the back before I reached the end of the jaguar. When I reached the end unfortunately I fell down over the edge of the cliff but as I fell I saw my Quetzalcoatl pendant was glowing and was shaking before it came to life and grew to a full sized Quetzalcoatl which caught me and flew me back up the cliff in front of the jaguar. Before I could do anything else the Quetzalcoatl attacked the jaguar and wrapped its body around its front legs making it fall forward. I took this opportunity to run up and stab the jaguar right in between the eyes and bury my sword into the head right to the hilt. The jaguar gave a loud roar before it began to crumble into ruble before I heard a scream that sounded almost inhuman. I turned towards the sound and saw Babajiide screaming, as his skin seemed to crack up with green lights shining through as he collapsed to his knees. After that he literally turned to dust in front of my very eyes as he screamed in what I assume was agony while I watched even though I wanted to turn away from it. By the end all that was left of Babajide was his mask and dust that lay on the ground shaped like a body. I walked up and picked up the mask before looking back at the Quetzalcoatl who I now saw was completely gold in color and said.

"Trophy from this fight." He just hissed at me before I walked up. "I take it you're the one who saved me from drowning and the gold I saw when I was being pulled down." It just hissed and nodded. "Thanks for the help there but was this the darkness the gods feared?"

It just stared at me for a moment before wrapping its body around me and covering my vision with its wings faster than I could blink. For a moment all I could see was darkness before multiple flames lit up the area around me and I found myself once again standing on the calendar that I stood on when I first met the Mayan gods who were looking down on me once again. I looked up at them and said.

"It's nice to see you all again and since I've been brought here I take it you have something to speak with me about." Itzamna answered.

"It is good to see you as well Hiccup Haddock and the reason we have brought you here is to inform you that you have completed the task we have given you."

"So the great darkness was Babajide, his human sacrifices and his giant stone jaguar?" Ix Chel answered.

"Indeed but he took it a step forward by bringing that jaguar to life and surrendering himself to dark magic which no mortal should ever even consider going near." I nodded.

"So what exactly happened to him?" Itzamna replied.

"When he surrendered himself to this dark power he and the jaguar became one being so when you killed the beast you killed him to and his soul shall now remain in the underworld for all eternity as punishment for his foolishness." I just nodded understanding the price one pays for dealing with dark magic.

"What happens now if you don't mind me asking?" Hunab ku answered.

"Now we bestow upon you gifts of thanks before you return to the mortal plain where you shall receive our blessing." He then opened his mouth allowing a green glowing item to come out and land in my hands to reveal what looked like a green crystal with a small piece sticking out. "An expansion for your jungle with a little construct for you to enjoy." Before I had the chance to thank him the jug that Ix Chel held began to pour water into a small bowl that then floated to me as she simply said.

"Drink!" I didn't hesitate as I picked up the bowel and drank the liquid inside which was completely tasteless and once I finished the bowel vanished. "I have gifted you with an immunity to all poisons of the jungle from its most poisonous plants to its most venomous snakes."

I nodded in thanks knowing my new immunity would come in handy since I'd nearly been bitten a few times on my way back to the city. I had to admit I was curious to know if I'd be gifted with anything else or be told anything since I was still here with them. It was then that I heard the cry of a harpy eagle from above. I looked up and saw a harpy eagle that looked to be made of light flying towards me. When it got to me I held out my arm for it to rest on but when it landed it looked away from me and spread out its wings and tail feathers. It then fell back against my arm in a way that it should not have been able to and flattened its body and turned solid becoming a shield which looked exactly like a harpy eagle at the front. It was then Itzamna spoke and said.

"That shield was forged from our combined power and will go nicely with your star sword as the sword is used to attack and the shield shall be used to defend but as for the powers it posses' you will have to discover them yourself." I nodded in thanks before Kukulkan spoke up for the first time in this meeting.

"The golden Quetzalcoatl is a creation of mine and was made to act as a guardian to you while you fought the coming darkness and now that the darkness has come to pass he will act as a guardian in your islands jungle."

"Okay but what about Nimla since she can get pretty territorial with other dragons."

"You need not worry about that Hiccup Haddock for this Quetzalcoatl is similar to the automatons which the greek god Hephaestus built so it will only move when you wish it to."

"Alright thanks but might I ask you all for one thing." Ix Chel replied.

"We can't do anything about the fan girls Hiccup!" They all laughed as I snapped my fingers as I let out my own little laugh.

"Well you can't blame a guy for trying." Itzamna replied.

"No we cannot but we can give you our blessing but with it comes even more girls."

"If it means I'll be able to open up portal doors then I'm more than willing to take the good with the bad."

"Understandable and we now give you our blessing."

There was a bright flash from each of their eyes blinding me and feeling a burn on my arm underneath my other blessings but as quickly as it came it just as quickly vanished. This left me sporting a marking that resembled a Quetzalcoatl wrapping around my arm with its head facing up and it's wings splayed back when it reached the end of its tail. I looked up at the gods and said.

"Thank you!" Itzmamna replied.

"You're welcome Hiccup Haddock and now it's back to the mortal realm we send you."

There was a flash of light and I was back at the cliff where I fought the stone jaguar and sighed knowing I had a lot of explaining to do when I got back to the city. To be honest I knew this would get me a lot more attention from the girls of the city but I could handle it just not enjoy the lack of privacy it brought. I looked at the shield that was being held to my arm by the talons of the eagle. I admit it looked beautiful shining in the moonlight but I did wish it folded up like my regular shields to make it easier to walk around with. It was as these thoughts went through my head that the wings and tail of the shield closed up and folded around my arm as the body shrunk down. When it was done it looked like an eagle shaped metal wrist guard that went up to my elbow. I then thought of it as a shield and it the eagle let out a screech and spread its wings and tail feathers once more. I smiled knowing that tomorrow I was going to need to put this thing through some tests but for now I had to return to El Dorado and explain to everyone what happened. I looked up at the golden Quetzalcoatl and said.

"Go back to the room I'm using in El Dorado and wait for me there." It then uncurled itself from around me and flew off while I thought to myself. "These next few days are going to be interesting." I then began my trek back to the city.

AN: Hey all I hope you all enjoyed the chapter but don't expect chapters to be posted so fast since I had this one planned out and I need to plan out the next one okay. By the way I've been having some trouble with my dragon list constantly deleting random dragons and I don't know why but I'm doing my best to repair the damage so just deal with it for now. Also, please be nice with the reviews since I'm still getting back into the groove of Hiccup travelling.