A/N: I was down with a cold and experiencing COVID like symptoms so I've been off work this week and I got my test done last night so I should know my results by tomorrow. So story wise, there will be a main character death, just a heads up.

(Normal pov)

"Did I not tell you that you should run?"

Thora, Atali, and their group of warriors looked back to Harald Forkbeard who was still in a battle stance and simply waited for the gate behind him to come crashing down. A large portion of the gate was battered down, and out from the breach came Mongrel warriors who unleashed battle cries as they rushed past Harald and engaged the small group of Vikings and Wingmaidens protecting the entrance to the Scandinavian capital.

Releasing a barbaric cry, Thora used her war hammer to break a Mongrel's jaw clean off their face and then grabbed that Mongrel by the throat and hurled them into more that was charging her. Atali whirled a spear in her hand as she blocked several attacks thrown in her direction, she thrust her spear through a Mongrel's stomach and then drove her weapon through another enemy's mouth. "Thora! We must hold that gate!" Atali barked out over the mayhem, the large Viking woman looked to the gate and saw another large chunk of it being battered down; allowing more foreign warriors to pour in and join their companions in killing them. Despite their best efforts to hold the line, the Mongrel's numbers were too great, and they were quickly overwhelming Thora and Atali's group. To make matters worse, the gate had now fallen and hordes of Mongrels charged through the now open gate.

"There are too many!!" One of Atali's Wingmaidens cried out in urgency.

"Fall back!" Thora boomed out, the small group didn't need to be told twice as they ran for their lives while Mongrel warriors pursued them and charged into the city.

Harald turned around was greeted by Nikora, Eir, and the high ranking Mongrel's and their bodyguards. Gesturing to the city around them, Harald smirked and spoke. "Welcome to Denmark," he then inquired, "shall we reduce this city into ash?" Nikora and Eir nodded and they led the charge into the city the heart of the Viking capital to rip out its heart.

Today the Mongrel Tribe would deliver a crippling blow to the Scandinavian Empire.

(Hiccup's pov)

Mongrel warriors were everywhere and they were slaughtering everyone and anything in their path— Viking or dragon.

And the sight of this butchery made my blood burn hotter than the sun. Large numbers of Mongrels laid eyes on me and recognized me and soon drew their weapons and advanced, I let out an enraged roar and transformed into my draconic form and slaughtered them all without compassion or mercy; ripping limbs off their bodies with ease, tearing out their throats, or reducing them to ash with my plasma. The aftermath of such slaughter left me bathed in blood and gore, I returned to my human state and panted heavily as I looked around at the sight of my city being destroyed-- flames consuming buildings, armored dragons that were enslaved by the enemy raining fire from above, and...

Oh gods, no!

Blood-curdling screams filled my ears as I saw hordes of rats that carried the very same plague that killed Heather and my unborn child so many years ago, these rats overpowered anyone in their line of sight and devoured them until there was nothing left but blood and bone. As these vermin charged me, my eyes turned into slits, my veins burned with crimson fire, and I unleashed a primal roar as I unleashed a repulse of plasma that incinerated the horde of rats that leaped at me; turning them into dust.

"Hiccup!"

Turning around, I laid eyes on Thora, Atali, Mala and her Defenders with blood-stained weapons in hand. "These... These rats are everywhere and killing everything in sight," Mala said in a shaken tone, "not only that, but the main gate has fallen, and our enemy is quickly boxing us in. We're trapped."

"Not yet we're not," I said firmly, "we need to head to the tower and round up any of our people to join us there while I have the army protect our rears and hold the enemy off for as long as they are able." Turning to Astrid, I approach her and grasp her shoulders. "Find Halfdan, Hava, and Valka and ensure they leave this place for its completely overrun," I say in an urgent tone, "I will get as many of our people out of here." Nodding in understanding, Astrid grabbed the back of my neck and kissed me, I returned her kiss and when we broke, she murmured out. "Don't die, we need you to lead us now more than ever!" I nodded firmly and promised her that I will not die this night. Astrid then took her shield maidens with her and they sprinted to our tower to retrieve my siblings and mother, I just pray to the gods that I don't lose any of my family this night.

"My king, we await your command," Alvin said, "what would you have us do?"

Turning to the former chief of the Outcasts, I give him instructions. "Mobilize the army and have them rally at the tower so that they can protect the people as they move into the catacombs beneath the city. There's a tunnel beneath our feet that leads into the forest and where a large portion of our fleet is hidden to ensure the enemy doesn't trap us here. Once we reach our ships, we'll sail to our Iceland and Greenland settlements and gather more men stationed there."

"Viggo and Ryker?" Dagur inquired.

"Yes," I said, "their men have served as an auxiliary force in the past, and have aided us in immobilizing hostile dragons without harming them, now that they now know the truth about dragons. Their men are a peacekeeping force in Greenland which holds a significant portion of our farming settlers and crops." I then continue. "And Iceland holds many more of our warriors and war machines to prevent overcrowding here in the capital, we'll need all the manpower and resources to launch our counterattack once we flee the city—"

"It's a start," Mala said, "but I suggest we discuss this further once we're safe!"

I hum in agreement and I urge those around me to stay at my side as we sprint to the tower and begin the exodus of our home.

(Normal pov— Within Haddock Tower)

Valka moaned in agony as her joints prevented her even lifting herself, she was filled with fear upon hearing the death, destruction, and cries outside. Cloudjumper growled and stayed closer to the weakened Valka, the Blood Guards within her chambers were on high alert as well as Halfdan and Hava. The two siblings approached their mother and shared a worried look at each other before looking down at her. "Mother, we need to go and see you to safety before the enemy brings this tower down," Hava said urgently, "can you sit up?" Valka tried lifting herself from her bed, but she cried out in pain and bit down on her lower lip while shaking her head violently.

"I will carry you," Halfdan said while scooping Valka into his arms, "Cloudjumper, stay close and protect her with your life."

::You know that I will::

Nodding at Cloudjumper, Halfdan turned to the door to Valka's chambers upon hearing it opening, Astrid and a clutch of her shield maidens entered and the Blood Queen spoke to her family. "We must go! Come!" Hava gathered what belongings they could carry and as the group made their way out of Valka's chambers, she caught up to Astrid and inquired. "Where do we go?"

"To the catacombs beneath the city," she then continued, "they'll lead us outside the city and into the forest and into the grotto where a large portion of our ships are hidden, we take those ships and we sail away from this place and regroup with more of our forces outside of Denmark."

"I pray that the traitors haven't informed their new masters about Hiccup's secret fleet of ships," Halfdan said, "or else this night will be our last here in Midgard."

"Then we best move quickly!" Astrid said as they soon entered the lift that allowed occupants within the tower to reach certain levels within the tower. The Blood Guards began lowering the levers within the lift and it began to descend. Looking to her husband's mother, Astrid placed a hand on Valka's sweaty forehead and inquired in a worried tone. "Valka, how are you feeling?" The elder Haddock looked to Astrid and smiled weakly at her. "I... I yet live," she said softly, "w-where... where do we go?"

"Away from this place," Astrid said softly, "stay strong Valka, we need you." The Blood Queen placed a kiss on Valka's forehead and then turned to one of her shield maidens, Gyda. "Have you laid eyes on Nuffink and Katerina?"

"Apologizes my queen, I have not," she said, "wherever they are, I'm sure they are safe."

Nodding, Astrid prayed that Gyda was correct and that her son and wife were in the process of fleeing the city.

(Within the city's merchant district)

Gobber and Leif the Commoner were busy arming hundreds of Red Maw warriors, not only that but the section of the city they were in was been overrun by plague-bearing rats that were killing everything— man, livestock, even dragons. For Leif, this was as close to the action he's ever been in, he's never been a fighter and has always valued peace because he was born when the empire was enjoying a decade of peace. But now that war has finally entered the city, Leif was... frightened, to say the least.

"Oi, Leif! Grab hold of your cock and be a man!" Gobber barked out, seeing his petrified blacksmith apprentice. "I know you've never seen war and death, but you need to be strong! Can you do that!" The young man looked to Gobber and nodded at him furiously. "Good, now get ready to—"

The ground suddenly erupted outside of Gobber's smithy and out poured hundreds of plague-bearing rats and they attacked the Vikings arming themselves. Leif's face blanched at the sight of his countrymen being devoured from the inside out— he saw several rats crawl up a shield maidens legs and began eating through her stomach and crawl up her throat and burst out of her mouth with pieces of her tongue in their mouths. The gruesome sight caused Leif to throw up and pant heavily, Gobber meanwhile called for his dragon. "Oi! Grump! Wake up and get over here!!" The lazy Hotburple dragon awoke from slumber and once he laid eyes on the rats nearby, he let out a terrified cry and soon began blasting incoming rats away.

"Leif, we need to go lad! NOW!!" Gobber barked out while removing once his prosthetic hands and replacing them with an ax head. Leif, steeling his nerve joined Gobber, but not before grabbing a flamethrower and a sword to defend himself against the invading Mongrels and ravenous rats. Once he climbed on top of Grump, Gobber offered Leif a hand and hoisted the young man up behind him. "Up Grump! UP!!" The old blacksmith cried out as hordes of rats were charging them with murderous intent. The Hotburple was in the air just as the rats pounced at them, thankfully none of them latched onto Grump or had bitten him, they were fortunate to evade such a gruesome fate.

"Oh gods, we... we almost died!" Leif said.

"But we're not," Gobber said, "for the moment anyway." The royal blacksmith let out a cry as hostile armored dragons tried shooting them down, Gobber took hold of the reigns around Grump's maw and helped steer the lazy dragon away from being shot down. Grump then began dozing off while flying, causing Gobber to cry out in disbelief. "GRUMP! We're trying to not get ourselves killed and you're trying to take a nap?!!" The Hotburple was then hit from below by a blast of fire, causing Grump to roar out in pain and began plummeting back down to the city streets.

"G-Gobber?"

"Hold on tight lad!! We're going down!"

Grump then crashed into a nearby building, knocking Gobber and Leif off the Hotburple and causing them to plummet on the unforgiving ground. Ignoring the pain that flowed through his body, Gobber raced over to his wounded dragon. "Grump! Oh, are you alright you overgrown sausage?" The Hotburple's belly was seared, and he could barely walk, causing Gobber to curse under his breath. "Not good, we're too exposed out in the open," the blacksmith turned to his apprentice and spoke firmly, "find Hiccup and tell him to get out of here."

"B-But Gobber—"

"NOW!" He barked out. "Save yourself, Leif the Commoner, and may you live a common life," brandishing his signature mad grin, Gobber cried out, "tonight I shall dine with Odin and the gods in Valhalla!" The blacksmith then let out a battle cry as he engaged several Mongrel warriors that were closing in. Holding back tears, Leif ran for his life and looked back to see Gobber and Grump both putting a fight against the foreigners and holding them off for the time being.

Leif cursed himself for easily running away right now, he was Viking, and yet he was a coward and abandoned his mentor to die alone, he wouldn't be sent to Valhalla properly, instead, his corpse would become a feast for the rats.

Leif the Commoner? More like Leif the Coward.

"I'm a coward," he sobbed out while running, the tears he tried to hold spilled from his eyes and soaked his cheeks, "I-I'm a coward!" He knew Gobber was one of Hiccup's oldest friends and one of the only people the Blood King trusted, how would Hiccup react when he learns that he left Gobber and Grump to die? He'd either disgrace him or worse.

He needed to find Zephyr and seek her out for help.

(Within the city's cultural district)

Nikora and Eir had killed many enemies in their lives as Mongrels, but this... this was something else entirely. In the past, they killed either to protect themselves, protect their people, or to prove themselves worthy of being the heirs to the Mongrel Tribe.

As they slaughtered Viking aggressors left and right, chills of pleasure crawled down their spines, because after years of patience, finally, they were unleashing all their pain, loss, and anger upon Hiccup's people. They didn't see human beings, instead, the Stormheart's saw nothing but animals that needed to be slaughtered.

And slaughtered them they did.

Wielding a sword with deadly purpose, Eir drove her blade straight through the belly of a shield maiden and then activated the blade in her prosthetic arm and drove it through her opponent's head. Another Viking warrior armed with a war hammer rushed Eir while she was still dealing with her opponent, but the Viking who was rushing her was cut down by Mongrel Shadows— the elite of the Mongrel warriors and they served as the Stormheart's personal bodyguards. They were Egyptian Mejay and wore the garb of Amun and they were armed with double-sided palm axes as well as khopesh swords, along with a variety of Egyptian weaponry they knew how to wield with deadly purpose.

Driving her blades out of the shield maiden she killed, Eir turned to Nikora and saw her whirling her Kwan Dao expertly and used it to remove a Viking Berserker's head clean off his shoulders and then proceeded to drive her weapon straight through another Viking's chest. Whilst Nikora was dealing with opponents rushing her, her Shadows were protecting her back and sides, the Vikings bold enough to press the Shadows didn't stand a chance against them. Whirling her weapon in hand, Nikora was able to slit any Viking's throat open before they even came close to touching her, but for those who evaded the deadly weapon and engaged the Mongrel queen in combat lasted about a minute or less.

A towering Red Maw champion who was a mountain of muscle actually managed to kill one of Nikora's Shadows and proceeded to lash out at the Mongrel queen. Armed with two tomahawks, the Viking champion swings his weapons at Nikora, and she rolls away from her opponent. The Viking swings again, but Nikora is behind them now and out of the Viking's line of sight; like a creature searching for the flea on its back, the champion struggles to find her. Nikora jams the head of her Kwan Dao into a notch in her opponents' armor and uses the leverage to vault herself onto his shoulder.

The Viking champion rages like a rhino that's mad with fever— all fury, and stupidity, and nearly throws Nikora from his broad shoulders. The Mongrel queen tries to pull her weapon free, but her opponent's giant hand knocks her senseless for the briefest of moments. The Kwan Dao releases at the last minute; she grabs the top. Polished, yet firm steel bites her palm as she jams the tip of the blade under the edge of the champion's helmet and into his neck.

He screams.

Before the Viking champions now lifeless corpse hits the ground, Nikora leaps off and lands on her feet with grace.

After slaying the last warrior to press them, the Mongrel leaders turned to Harald and saw him removing his sword out of a Viking warrior's chest. The Scandinavian Mongrel approached his masters and spoke up. "We should press our attack to the tower, it's where Haddock and his family live," he then continued, "if we were to tear it down, it would send a powerful message throughout Scandinavia." Before Nikora could reply to Harald's suggestion, handfuls of Mongrel warriors approached their rulers and lieutenants.

"My queen, Hiccup Haddock assembles his armies while he also leads his people away from the threat of our warriors and the rats scattered throughout the city," the warrior then continued, "we haven't the numbers to press an attack against Hiccup Haddock directly and cut off his escape—"

"You shall have it," Eir said, cutting the warrior off and turning to Eir, "now is our chance to take Haddock and make him suffer before we kill him."

"Agreed," Nikora said, she then turned to her lieutenants, "ready every last man and woman under our command. We advance to the tower in the center of the city." With that said, Nikora and Eir walked side by side and led the charge towards the tower.

(Hiccup's pov)

Citizens and their dragons were moving into the secret entrance to the catacombs I had created so many years ago, as precautions in the event of an attack against our beloved capital. Despite the chaos, my people all worked together and stayed calm in order to get out of this ordeal alive.

"Move quickly! And do not pause!"

My armies had formed a massive shield wall around the tower and several dragon riders were behind them to provide covering fire from enemy infantry or against the hordes of rats that have now infested this place.

Gods, how can I be so stupid to trust a sniveling foreigner like Magnus?!

I should've sent my own men to procure those rats, if I had done that then we would be down on the beach and watching those vermin tear through our enemies.

Instead, we find ourselves here, abandoning our own city and forced to flee.

"Father!"

Nuffink and Katerina came into view and I placed a hand on each of their shoulders. "Thank the gods you're both alive," I said with relief, "quickly, get into the catacombs and join the others."

"We're not coming with you," Nuffink said, "we will find you, we just can't come—"

"Wait, what?" I said in confusion. "Where do you think you two are going?"

"To Kiev," Katerina said, "I need to go there and establish myself as the rightful ruler of the Kievan Empire and ensure those you dealt with will honor their word. If all goes according to plan, we should be able to build an army to support you in defeating our enemies."

Scoffing lightly, I shake my head and speak my thoughts. "It's too dangerous, the enemy is going to stop at nothing to prevent us from escaping! We need to stay together now more than ever—"

"The enemy has driven a knife into our ribs and we're left gasping, praying that the enemy doesn't plunge that knife just a little deeper into us and delivering the killing blow," Nuffink said firmly, "the only reason they're within these walls is because of the traitors who betrayed the gods, you, and our people to the wolves that are circling us. We need more men if we are to utterly obliterate this enemy, and the Rus' can very well provide us aid." Nuffink could see the worry in my face and patted my cheek. "I need to do this, and there's no way I'm leaving Katerina alone. We will establish her claim to the Kievan throne and build an army to come to your aid, I need you to believe in me." Before I could reply to Nuffink, the ground began rumbling and soon collapsed in on itself, and rats soon poured onto the streets.

"Keep the shield wall tight!!"

One of my men barked out and the wall tightened; no gaps were open for the rats the get through. While my warriors held them off, the dragon riders urged their dragons to incinerate them.

Turning back to Nuffink, I cup both his cheeks and kiss his forehead. "Go! And don't you dare get killed out there!" My son smiled and nodded at me, he then called out for Pouncer and the Night Light was by his side in seconds. Climbing on top of his dragon, Nuffink extends a hand for his wife and once the two are together, Nuffink nods at me and speaks. "We will be in touch via Terror Mail," he offers me a smile and continues, "I will prove myself a man and prove to you and our people that I am worthy of being your son." With that said, Nuffink urged Pouncer to take to the sky and the trio soon disappeared in the darkness.

Astrid was by my side and grabbed my arm. "Come, we must go!" I looked beyond the shield wall my armies had created around the tower and could see hordes of Mongrels advancing, they were going to break through our shield wall sooner or later and butcher my people. Turning to Astrid, I grasp her shoulders and gestured to the secret entrance to the catacombs. "Get yourself out of here, I will join you soon enough," looking to Halvor and his family, I barked out, "Halvor! You, Ingrid, and Astrid lead the way to the ships were have at the grotto! I'm going to ensure our shield wall holds a little longer." Nodding in understanding, my children lead the way for our people.

"Hiccup!" Astrid says in a pleading tone just as I'm about to join my armies. "Please, be careful. I can't lose you!" She says, I cup both her cheeks and press our foreheads together. "Have faith Milady," I said, "we will meet again soon enough, I promise. Now go, join the others." Nodding in understanding, we share one last kiss for the time being and Astrid soon joins the others down into the catacombs.

Descending down the steps to join my brothers and sisters in the shield wall, I can see the Mongrel hordes crashing against our shields and doing everything in their power to breach the wall and pursue my people and prevent them from escaping. Placing two fingers in my mouth, I whistle, and within seconds, Toothless is by my side and we quickly press our foreheads together in greetings and we both command our respective species to hold the enemy off for as long as possible.

Unfortunately, that wasn't going to happen.

Flaming catapults were fired and soon came crashing down around us and even hitting the tower I created. Large pieces of debris fell from the tower and threatened to crush anyone to death, but I was able to shoot pieces of debris that nearly fell on my head. Toothless too blasted away pieces of debris that nearly fell on top of him as well, he then looked to me and barked out over the chaos.

::I ordered every dragon under my command to pull back into the forest and wait for your people, they will escort them to the ships in the grotto!::

Nodding in understanding, I was about to reply but noticed one of the flaming stones our enemy's fired broke the shield wall in front of me; dozens of men and women flew in all directions and were burned to an unrecognizable crisp. With the shield wall shattered, Mongrels poured through the breach and attacked, the Blood Guards who stayed behind came to my side and fought off the aggressors. Torunn, the head of my bodyguards was among those who stayed behind and barked out to those whose duty in Midgard was to protect me and my family. "Fight for your Blood King! And fight in the name of our gods!!" My bodyguards' morale increased as they struck down our enemies without compassion or mercy, proving themselves worthy of being my protectors.

While the chaos ensued, I looked to see two familiar faces among the hordes of Mongrels. The last time I saw their faces, they were twisted with sorrow and pain after witnessing me kill their father, but now their faces were etched with bloodlust that threatened to devour all of Scandinavia.

Nikora and Eir Stormheart were here.

And I knew that if I wanted to end this war, I needed to kill them both. But now was not the time, they have the advantage sorely because of the traitors who once stood as my allies. The traitor's time to die will come, as will the Stormheart's.

But not today.

"Fall back! Into the catacombs!!" I boomed out to my armies, they knew better to question my command and soon broke the shield wall and ran into the catacombs while my dragon riders were holding them off. Turning to Torunn, I inquired. "Get yourself out of here! Go!" She nodded and ran with the rest of my armies, I then climbed on top of Toothless and was about to take flight, but an arrow struck my closest friend in the neck, causing his eyes to widen and a roar of agony to escape his maw.

"TOOTHLESS!!"

His eyes burned with a fire that threatened to consume the world, Toothless turned to the enemy archer who shot him and pounced on top of them and then proceeded to sink his teeth into their neck, thrashing violently until the foreigners head was ripped off their shoulders. Toothless then unleashed a thunderous roar and summon thunder from the heavens, the thunderbolts crashed down on top of Toothless and he used the power of Thor to merge with his own powers to fire a beam of crimson power that destroyed any Mongrel advancing.

::Get out of here Hiccup!::

"T-Toothless—"

::GO!! Leave this place... return to your family, a-and... av-avenge us!::

Another arrow struck Toothless, only this one struck him right between the eyes. Time seemed to have stopped as I witnessed my best friend being killed. I remembered when Toothless nearly died by the Feather People all those years ago, but now... h-he's really gone.

Unleashing an inhuman scream, I transformed into my draconic form and began slaughtering Mongrels left and right. I wasn't thinking, I was driven only by rage and my blood burned so hotly that I wished I could vaporize every foreigner in this city. Seeing me slaughter their warriors like they were nothing, Nikora and Eir summoned their champions to deal with me, they were as tall as giants, and yet despite their superior skills as warriors, they were no match for me as I tore to pieces and even killed them with their own body parts. A war hammer made contact with my face, causing blood to fly out of my mouth and to fall face-first on the gore-slicked ground with a hard thud.

My head was throbbing, my ears were ringing, and my eyes burned with hot tears as I replayed Toothless's death over and over again in my mind's eye. A bone-crushing blow made contact with my side, causing me to cry out in pain and gasp desperately for the air that was knocked out of my lungs. Looking up, I can see an intimidating war hammer in my face and a large foreigner wielding the weapon. Before this foreigner could strike me again, I notice blasts of blue mist surrounding us and I quickly move away just as this mist makes contact with the foreigner beating me into submission.

Looking up, I see Camicazi riding her Flightmare, Misty, along with Fishlegs on top of Meatlug who was providing covering fire. Holding her hand out, Cami barked out. "Hop on!" Quickly taking her hand, she hoists me up and urges Misty to fly to the grotto where we're regrouping with the others. I see Fishlegs urging Meatlug to collapse the entrance to the catacombs, preventing the enemy from pursuing my family and people, they then take flight and flew beside us.

"Oh gods, Hiccup," Fishlegs said with genuine sympathy, "I'm so sorry, a-about Toothless—"

I then sobbed violently and pressed my face into the back of Camicazi's neck as I let that fact sink in. My closest friend in Midgard is dead.

The King of Dragons is no more.

Not only has a king fallen, but the capital of my empire.

"I'm so sorry Hiccup," Cami said, "but now is not the time for tears, we need to regroup with the others and retreat to our Iceland and Greenland colonies."

"This attack will not go on without repercussion," Fishlegs promised me, "we will return when we are strengthened and we will show the enemy that the Viking people are not so easily beaten."

They were right, if Toothless were still here, he would want me to stay strong and lead both our respective species to glory and avenge those we lost this night.

And that's exactly what I'm going to do.

Nikora and Eir may have won this battle, but the war is not over yet.

(Normal pov)

"ARGH!! We had him!!" Eir screeched out in outrage. "We had Hiccup Haddock! And you let him escape!!" She barked out at the surrounding Mongrel warriors.

"Hiccup Haddock will fall in time, dear sister," Nikora said through gritted teeth, "in the meantime, I want men to purge this city of any of Haddock's followers that yet draw breath, and destroy any of the plague bearing rats that still roam this place. We will discuss our next course of action with our allies." The warriors under the Stormheart's command dispersed and scattered throughout the city.

"We may have delivered a fatal blow to Haddock and his empire, but this war has only just begun," Harald said, "you do know that, yes?"

"I do," Nikora said firmly, "luckily we'll know where Haddock and his people will go while we marshall our forces and prepare for our next move." Turning around, Nikora snapped her fingers and two Mongrels approached while dragging a severely beaten Gobber the Belch and Grump. Crouching down to look Gobber in the eyes, Nikora raised a questioning eyebrow. "I hear you're Haddock's royal blacksmith," she then drew out a knife and pressed the blade against the blacksmith's throat, "you are going to help me find where Haddock and his people are going." Gobber spat in Nikora's face, causing her to groan in disgust and wipe the saliva off her face before giving the old Viking a sinister smile. "Defiant, that's good," she then continued, "it'll make breaking you all the more fun." She then ordered the men who captured Gobber and Grump to take them away for the time being. Looking up to the heavens, Nikora watched as the two Viking dragon riders who rescued Hiccup disappear in the evening darkness.

"Run for your life Haddock," Nikora growled out to herself, "and live knowing that your inevitable fall is close at hand."

A/N: RIP Toothless, I didn't want to do it, but his death is going to be the spark that sets Hiccup ablaze with the determination to rid himself of his enemies once and for all.