Hey everyone! I'm back with a new chapter for this story. I hope you all enjoy!

Brothers

Chapter 7: Something Crazy

Hiccup couldn't believe what just happened! Everything came crashing down on him…despite his, and Astrid's, best attempts to win over the tribe, their actions only turned them against the boy and the girl! He and Toothless landed in the cove to rest momentarily, letting everything sink in…

"Why…why couldn't things just NOT mess up for once!?" The Viking boy kicks the sand around him repeatedly in utter frustration. The dragon across from the human can't help but feel like this was all HIS fault…and he lowered his head in shame as a result. How were they going to get out of this mess exactly, he wondered?

"All I wanted to do was help everybody…make them see…make my dad proud of me!"

Suddenly, the boy feels the dragon against him, nudging him with his muzzle. He looks back at the creature…the beast that had changed his whole outlook on everything. With his tribe and his own father after him he only had Toothless left now.

Something within Hiccup made him think that this reptile was the only creature who truly cared about him…heck…not even his own father cared to listen to what he had to say most of the time, yet this dragon…this…scaly beast, listened to him. Yet, another side of him wanted things to be normal again: to be able to see Gobber…and work in his forge and just…daydream like he usually did…forget the problems he was causing now like always. Even with all the torment and bantering from his fellow Vikings…at least he belonged. But now…he didn't belong…he's a fugitive.

Hiccup couldn't help but look away and sit down on a rock, removing his brown furry vest…setting it on the ground below. Maybe they should leave…grab WildWing from the Queen and go someplace far away…

Then, however, there was Astrid…she started understanding everything Hiccup saw from his time with Toothless. Her thoughts on everything changed and it showed at the arena. That made the boy think…if she can be changed…maybe so too can his father? He would just need to show him another way. Haddock shook his head, unsure what exactly to do next. The Night Fury next to him is still anxious about Flint, but he knew now THEY themselves were in dire straits.

"What should we do, Toothless?" Hiccup asked the dragon…as if he would actually answer me to begin with…it would help to say the least, he thought miserably.

The creature shook his head, giving a light shrug back…at least he understood what Hiccup had said.

"Maybe we should just…go save your twin and go from there." The idea was ridiculous as it was suggested almost a day prior, they knew there would be no way they'd survive! As he and the Fury came up with their next plan, the dragon's ears rise as his emerald eyes shot up from the ground. Both his senses hone in on a particular location before his eyes turn slit in response. Toothless quickly gets his rider's attention with a tap on the shoulder, "what is it, bud?"

Soon enough, he too starts hearing them…voices…and not very happy ones!

Quickly jolting up, he rushes to the dragon and mounts him, unknowingly leaving his vest behind. They take off and land right outside the cove to hide behind cover. The teen Viking spots the group of Viking warriors searching the forest with lit torches and weapons drawn…slowly advancing on their position! They all had descended from Berk…it's obvious that their lives are in immediate danger!

Darn it, Hiccup cursed to himself. Why did they even return to the COVE!? Astrid obviously knew about it, she stumbled right into it when she first came across Toothless. She must have told them…

Soon enough, his theory is proven correct when he spots the girl alongside his father: Stoick.

The man is clearly unhappy, looking all around for any sign of his son and the dragon, all the while pushing Astrid forward to proceed. She's reluctantly leading them to the pit and Hiccup knew this. He disembarked, hiding behind the same tall tree as the Night Fury beside him lays low.

Unbeknownst to the boy, Astrid explained everything to the chieftain on the way, but Stoick wanted to make sure she wasn't bluffing…to hear these explanations from his son himself.

"Hiccup!" His father boomed, his powerful voice echoed throughout the forest, "come out."

They reached the edge of the cliff overlooking the cove but saw no sign of the fugitives. To this, Stoick grabbed Astrid, which frightened her greatly. He could snap her neck at any given time if warranted and she KNEW this.

"You told us they were here!"

"I'm sorry, that's where I first found Hiccup with the Night Fury!" She cried out in response. The Leader of Berk almost smacks her in response, but instead pushes her away hard to which she falls on the ground on her back. Hiccup, witnessing all of this, couldn't take any more of it, but he was unwilling to give up his best friend either. He didn't want anyone to die…he wanted all this violence to stop…ONCE and for ALL!

He paced back and forth behind the tree, thinking what to do.

"Hiccup! Son!"

The teen just shut out the world, letting his inner thoughts take over. Something within him made the boy believe that somehow if he JUST went up to his dad with Toothless in a peaceful manner the Chieftain would just end the hunt and accept them. However, old feuds never end quite easily, and he almost didn't have time to react when he heard a lone Viking gasp loudly in front of them!

"H-Haddock!?"

Soon enough the others are alerted as they see Hiccup on the other side of the cove not far away, and the band of Vikings, including Stoick, start making their way there.

As soon as the man opened his mouth, Toothless stood up from his prone position: grabbing the Viking Man's attention. Suddenly, the latter started rushing toward the two, weapon drawn! It turned out; however, the man wasn't going for Hiccup at all…

The boy could hear his dragon growling fiercely before Hiccup decided to move in the way…arms out in a vain attempt to diffuse the opening fight, "wait, stop!"

Tooth's frills and ears pulled back as his eyes turn slit: if Hiccup didn't move out of the way…he's a goner!

When the Viking came within fatal striking distance, Toothless jumped above the boy and slammed into the approaching warrior, hard! The combatant was barely damaged by the attack and tried to counter with a swipe, but the dragon easily disarmed him with a spin of his tail. Would that stop a Viking and force them to sue for peace? No…Vikings were a stubborn lot…

Instead, the man went in to tackle the Night Fury and the latter sidestepped easily, the dragon's agility far outmatched any human that could face him so far. In response, he uses a powerful paw to bring the man down toward the ground.

"Toothless!" Hiccup tried to stop the dragon as the other men arrived just a few short paces away across from the three.

The dragon's eyes narrowed in anger and fury, frills holding tightly against the sides of his head. Tooth's teeth sheathed and gas began filling his mouth. He reared up on his hind legs like a stallion, giving off the trademark screech of a Night Fury. The man was about to know what many others before him witnessed before their untimely deaths…the wrath of the dreaded Night Fury.

Stoick and the others tried to intervene but were too shocked: witnessing the most awesome sight: Hiccup gets in front of the soon-to-die man with a hand stretched out toward the unholy beast, blocking the dragon's target, "no!"

Toothless stops his attack just short of ignition and he falls back down on all fours, listening to Hiccup's command. Confused but nevertheless vigilant, the dragon steps off before the boy ends up beside the former again.

Unfortunately, the other Vikings used this time to gather themselves for a charge and despite his attempts to de-escalate the situation, Hiccup was forced to flee once again.

He and Toothless began running, running as fast as they could as the foes gained speed behind them.

Some warriors threw their axes to try and strike the dragon and NOT Hiccup, but the reflexes of a Fury are not to be underestimated and the overgrown lizard easily dodged them.

Despite this, the Night Fury slowed down and motioned Hiccup to get on him…it made sense…Haddock had no choice or else this would all end very badly for one or both. Toothless could outrun them, but Hiccup was falling behind already. And so, he quickly got on his dragon, and they flew away from the forest into open skies.

The man Hiccup spared was none other than Spitelout Jorgenson, who looks on with confusion as to what happened, but he survived to fight another day. Stoick returned to him and helped his fellow warrior up.

The proof is there now…and the Chief could not deny it any longer: his son, Hiccup, is aiding the dragon. Two things happened: first was outrage and the second…sorrow…

Astrid watched as she breathed a sigh of relief at what had just occurred. Before she can dwell on it for too long, she saw Stoick and the others approaching her again, "Where else could those two have gone!? Speak!"

"T-they" Astrid thought about what to say…then she remembered when they left WildWing behind with the Queen…that's the ONLY other place…but…she couldn't tell them, otherwise Stoick might do something STUPID and take everyone to the Island! Astrid knew that it seemed likely that only dragons could find their way to the Queen, maybe the Chief going back could give Hiccup and Toothless more time to gather themselves…they would get lost in the fog…but their lives would be put at risk!

Why was she THINKING that!? She's a Viking, she put her whole LIFE into following the codes laid down by her ancestors…and to be thinking to deceive her village in such a vile way…no way!

"Hofferson…" one of the Viking men said, coming closer in a threatening way.

"You must know something…and you will TELL us!" Spitelout muttered, coming in as close as Stoick had before to her.

"There's no other place I know of!"

"Child, stop this, right now…Haddock is in danger, now speak!"

"He's NOT in danger, you ALL are putting HIM…in DANGER!" The Viking girl suddenly clapped back, "all he's trying to do is show you how WRONG we all were...to show you all what's REALLY going on!"

"Such nonsense!"

"The dragons aren't raiding because they're hungry! There's something bigger going on out there!"

Stoick couldn't help but look at Astrid at that very moment. His eyes scanned her lips, his ears replayed what she had said.

"Stop lying, child!"

"If you all keep this up, it's going to get Hiccup killed!" Astrid clapped back, her ferocity showing again, "he's only trying to help rescue the baby dragon-" she stopped herself, eyes widening.

"Astrid…" the Chieftain is about to hold out his heavy hands at the girl as if to strangle her or at least try to scare her.

She realized what she just muttered and stepped back…Stoick had her.

"Rescue…what…what is it you are saying, girl!?" Spitelout demanded.

Astrid couldn't keep quiet anymore, she shook her head at her own mistake: her short temper costed her greatly.

Okay then…I messed up bad…I might as well try and help them understand, Astrid thought. Another part of her said, stop, you'll only make it worse for Hiccup!

With the others closing in slowly upon her, she chose the former…unfortunately.

"Chief…there is something out there…something far stronger than any of us…"

"Oh?" Stoick narrowed his eyes at this, but Astrid tried to use her strength of reason as her weapon of choice now.

"A Queen…she…controls the dragons. They listen to her…if they don't…they'll die! This creature is enormous, larger than any Viking ship I've ever seen! She's too powerful!"

Stoick stopped her. In his mind he figured the rescue nonsense, whatever that was, would soon fall apart and the truth would come out. Queen…so both children have been to the island…

"How did you get there…to the Island?"

Astrid shook her head…Vikings ARE indeed stubborn…unwilling to listen!

"You can't go back…listen to me Chief, it's not WORTH it!"

His mind is already made up, however…even with the disaster he and his fellow warriors faced at Helheim's Gate, Stoick the Vast is determined to get his son back from the devil and end this war once and for all. To him, it all fell into place…like it was fate: Hiccup would lead him straight to the nest if need be. With whatever available forces they had left the Vikings will KILL the Queen and the other dragons as testament of their strength and will. He and the others will return to the fog in short time.

"Take her back to the village, and make sure she's kept under watchful eye. The rest, with me!"

"Stoick! Stop, don't! You're making a terrible mistake! That Queen has ANOTHER Night Fury with her now! D-don't do it! Darn it!"

He began walking away with the others as Astrid's eyes widened, what has she done…she figured it would be inevitable the moment she said too much…but now she realized just how BAD things might get now! What else could she have done: keep her mouth shut and have her head chopped off? No…there must be a way to help solve this problem…somehow…

But, for now…she's a prisoner: much like the Night Fury fledgling ended up becoming…

Odin, help us all, she whimpered softly in her head.

So, there Hiccup was…riding Toothless across the vast ocean toward the same isolated island where they ran into the Terrible Terrors not too long ago. Once they landed near the basalt columns, he took the silence and peace of the vicinity to rest up a bit…and formulate a new plan.

It was a dumb idea, but maybe with a little distraction: they could draw out WildWing from the chamber to the outside? If not, then Hiccup and his dragon will go inside and take the hatchling by force. Whatever could happen in the future that's what they're ultimately going to try. Toothless and his speed should prove more than a match for the behemoth. They could also try a stealthier approach, but how would that work if the Queen could SENSE their presence, even from afar?

Being on the island made Hiccup realize one IMPORTANT element he was missing…dragons aren't fireproof on the INSIDE! The encounter between the Night Fury next to him and the Terror had proven that! So, what's not to say the gargantuan is any different from any other dragon? What's not to say…one calculated blast…is enough!?

That became part of Hiccup's plan…to lure the beast, and if need be…use what he's learned against her and end all this senseless violence once and for all!

"Alright bud…I think there's a way we can save WildWing and end all of this…"

All Toothless did is leave his curled position to look at the human boy, giving a big gum smile in response. Hiccup mounts his dragon as they prepare to take off…ready to take on the dreaded Queen of Dragons. It seemed poetic from a moment's glance: a Viking and a Dragon…both working together to unify their two races by bringing down a single common enemy…

The question is…would they be able to pull it off?

Meanwhile, back at Berk: all available Viking warriors gathered resources and weapons for the upcoming battle at Helheim's Gate. Artillery and other weapons of war are stored away within longships by the docks. Stoick oversees everything, making sure that every single ship and men/women on them are accounted for. Once everything is ready, Stoick signals the fleet, and the armada leaves the vicinity of Berk toward open waters…on route to their destination. Astrid, from the window of her temporary jailcell, witnesses everything happening.

She must do something…but what? She's in this wet, damp cell…it's not like she can just leave! Across from her, past the metal bars, there is a small opening between her and the keys that the guard had drunkenly left on the seat of the chair! Unfortunately for her…she can't reach them! The man had fallen asleep, and it seems so perfect for an escape, but she can't get to the darn keys!

"Darn it…I should have just kept my mouth shut" Astrid curses herself, reflecting on the earlier incident outside the cove.

Hiccup, I'm sorry…I hope you are alright…

Suddenly, she can hear a whisper coming from the window!

"Psst-Astrid!" The voice she recognized belonged to none other than Snotlout Jorgenson, the young son of Spitelout Jorgenson.

"Your hero has arrived!" he said smugly.

She raised an eyebrow to his sudden and somewhat unwelcomed appearance. Of all the things happening, they had to have Snotlout come annoy her…

One of the twins, Ruffnut, shows up: burying her hands on top of Snot, making him sink below from view as she smiled at Astrid, "that was awesome what you two did at the arena."

"They held their ground against a WHOLE army of Vikings!" Tuffnut announced, coming into view beside his twin.

"With a Night Fury by their side!" The other twin added.

"N-not saying I could have done better, but if I was there, I would have-" they all heard Snotlout say from beneath the two outside. Ruff simply gave an exaggerated eyeroll and punched the top of Jorgenson's helmet before he could finish. Snot sinks back down as Tuff walks to him and laughs, "smooth one."

"Uh, guys" they all hear the fifth member of their unofficial group mutter as they too come into view by the window: it's Fishlegs, "shouldn't we be trying to save her?"

"Oh, so you four aren't here to annoy me and make my day worse than it already is, got it" Astrid couldn't help but blurt that out loud to them quite amusingly, but they took it nicer than anyone else in the tribe would. She kind of was their 'unofficial leader' after all.

Once they got her out of the jailcell and outside, she nodded to them, "I guess I should thank you all."

The group surround her, bathing her in brief praise before she stops them, "so, I have to ask…are all of you willing to help me save Hiccup and his dragon?"

"Of course!" Fishlegs started.

"Yea!" Tuff exclaimed.

"Duh!" Ruff added.

"Anything for you, Astrid!" Snotlout chirped like a songbird to her as she looks away, quite disgustingly again.

"Okay," Astrid composed herself, "because the more I think about it, the more I think this plan might actually work."

Today, the first thing she did was something stupid, now she's about to do something crazy!

No one was guarding the arena, and Gobber was gone: having gone with Stoick and the others. The point is…it wasn't hard for the teens to enter and get the door to the dragon cell opened.

The first creature Astrid came across…was a Monstrous Nightmare. Though, unlike all the other times before where they and other Vikings battled one another in combat, the creature seemed docile…possibly from how the girl approached him.

"Shh-it's okay" she held her hand out, remembering what Hiccup showed her with the Fury twins. The Nightmare is immediately drawn to her presence, following her out…surprising the other Viking teens as they watched.

"Now-before anyone does anything stupid, remember we need them on our side" Astrid commanded softly as the others nodded, looking in awe.

"Astrid, how much more awesome can you get!?" Ruffnut complimented.

Snotlout is about to pick up a weapon, but Astrid manages to catch him in the act, "no, don't…" she said calmly, "come here, Snot" the girl requested but the teen stood still.

Ruff noticed how deathly still Jorgenson was and felt amused by it, "come on, what are you…chicken?"

Snotlout, seemingly taken aback by this, and trying to fuel his ego, moves forward, yet he does so cautiously. The presence of the Monstrous Nightmare is making him extremely uneasy, especially when Astrid grabs his hand. He tries fighting back out of fear that something bad would happen, but the girl remained resolute, "just trust me…"

The fear he had seem to die down once he noticed her giving a soft, barely noticeable, smile back at him, which seem to help ease his tension. Though she only did it to get him to do what she said. Snotlout, meanwhile, didn't want to embarrass himself in front of her or offend her either. Jorgenson, with the help of the Viking girl, placed his hand on the dragon…momentarily feeling the bond between them. Snot smiled a bit, quite excited. Astrid, still by his side, looks over to the others, "you three, you mind getting some rope from over there."

"W-why?" One of them asked.

"Because we're going to need something to hold us, so we don't fall…" Astrid smirked, looking over to the other dragons, which had walked out of the cell out of curiosity.

Phew! What a chapter! I hope you all agree. I hope you all enjoyed reading this next chapter. I'm kind of nervous to be honest, I'm really not sure where I'm going to take the finale yet.

Should the Queen die or be spared, maybe have a future role later in the story?

Should Hiccup still lose his leg, or not at all or maybe lose it later?

Or should everything resolve just as it does in the movie?

I would REALLY LOVE some input from you all about this to help write the next chapter! If you don't mind leaving your suggestions in the form of a review, it would help a lot! Thanks, have a great day!