The next morning, Astrid had walked around the plaza to check Rider's whereabouts. She was trying to visit him for the past few days but Gobber always lured her away. She thought today would be different because she planned to pass above and around Gothi's house. By the time she finally entered the window she saw the bed was empty, looking around to find Rider but there was absolutely no trace of him. Astrid felt annoyed and started to search that Dragon Conquerer but first things first she needed to ask Gothi what happpened. As if she could understand the elder completely, her small hands gestured out the door, she did get the part that Rider had left with Gobber.

"Where did they headed to?" she asked

The elder just shrugged her shoulder stating that she had no idea where they have gone. Astrid then thanked the elder them started to run off down the stairs. Calming her nerves she couldn't believe that Rider would instantly leave without promising her last favor.

And that favor is to take her to Hiccup.

First of all she dropped off at the smithy's house where she surprisingly saw it was half open. Astrid brought out her axe for sudden attacks but all she saw was Gobber sleeping and had another mug of mead in his hand. She also heard him speak weird phrases like 'so happy' or 'he's alright' or 'he'll be chief soon' or 'truly a heart of a dragon'

She double check the place for any clues but it seems like she couldn't see any. Finally she gave up and asked for the gang's help to find Rider. She called them at Raven's Point so that they could talk sense without the other vikings butting in.

"Ok listen up, I don't know what that Conquerer's mind is up to but I need answers from him"

"Did you check the forge? I think Gobber knows" Fishlegs suggested

"I've checked it, Gobber's knocked out"

They all gasped getting the wrong thought from Astrid "No no no no it's not what you think, I meant knocked out with mead"

"Well why didn't you say so"

"Sorry"

Astrid laid a map of Berk on boulder, she encircled a few places where dragons mostly stay and places where Rider could possibly hide. Since he left last night there's no way he could get out this island without a boat and if ever he walked his way out it would be dark and he could possibly camped during the night.

"Those are our best chances, we split up. Once he's spotted, capture him" Astrid ordered.

"Hold up.....what are we gonna do again?" Tuff butted in.

"We're gonna hunt down that Dragon Conquerer" Snotlout answered him.

Tuffnut made a doubting look before facing Snotlout again. "Why are we gonna hunt him down? He's not even a yak or food or something"

Everyone sighed with his stupidity.

"I think my brother has a point-" Ruffnut also butted in, all eyes went on her thinking that they were both idiots

"-well of course except for the last part that he said. I mean, why would we hunt him down if he did finish his job already. All that's left are the dragons wandering around the woods. No one died nor got stolen from, unless......."

All their ears were with her, Ruff gave out a sly smile towards Astrid which she reacted at once.

"You have got to be kidding me!" Astrid blurted out crossing her arms.

Since Astrid reacted Fishleg had sort of got Ruff's point while the two remaining boys were totally clueless. Ruffnut walked towards Astrid with a sly smile still plastered on her face making Astrid feel horrible.

"You like him don't you?"

"Excuse me?!"

"Face it Astrid, you've never been this soft and aggressive for something since the day that Rider came"

Astrid glared at Ruffnut "That's totally insane Ruff, really"

"Come on just admit it"

"There is nothing to admit. I don't like him, I'm not getting soft with him!!"

"You know the more you deny, the more you say something is already half true-" Fishlegs injected which Astrid slowly got her axe from her back.

"-Ok I'm shutting up again"

"Seriously Astrid, I can't take your threats anymore" Ruff blurted out

Astrid was turning red and she has no idea what made her feel that way, was it because she was getting frustrated with Ruff....

Or was it what Fishlegs said. Is she really getting soft?

"Wa-wa-wa-wait, so let me get this straight? We're looking for Rider because you like him?" Snotlout said as he was trying to sink in and join the conversation.

"Oh get over it lover boy"

"Ok ok I think we need to take a break with this 'love conversation'-" said Ruff doing the 'v' thing with her fingers in each hand "-maybe we should get back to our main mission"

Relief was all Astrid could think after Ruffnut had finally made sense. Again, they faced the boulder with the map of Berk on top. She hoped that there wouldn't be any nonsense when there's a mission to complete. But what bugged her......was this even necessary.

"So like I said, Rider can't possibly get out of here on foot it would take him hours to get to the next tribe. No boats were taken, I asked the docks. We'll split into teams. Ruff and I will take the northern side. Snot, Tuff take the eastern coast and Fishlegs....."

The four of them looked at Fishlegs, since the rest has a partner with them that would lead to only one to go alone. It has always been this way, Fishlegs would sometimes go alone.

"Oh all right I'm on my own again"

"awesome!" Tuff yelled

"All right then, let's better move before-"

Suddenly there were movements around the bush. The gang noticed but none of them were as aware as Astrid. Astrid heard the sound of bush behind her, she looked back and so as the gang followed. She brought her axe out slowly going towards the bush. Pointing her axe at the bush something or someone came out of the shrub. It was Rider.

It merely registered in Astrid's mind when she fully commanded the gang "Rider! Get him!"

The rest of the gang had their heads hanging first before they even realized what they had in front of them. Snolout intended to attack first with his sword, along with the twins, but every thrust and swing that they did nearly ended hitting themsleves. Tuffnut and Ruffnut came along swinging their maces but Rider managed to avoid them without any difficulty. Fishlegs attacked too with his dagger letting out a viking scream but ended being hit by Tuff's mace.

"Oh, sorry didn't see ya there"

Once Rider had had enough avoiding, he countered his attack with less effort. He got a hold on Snotlout's neck before making a cracking sound with his wrist and Snotlout's neck. The beefy viking fainted in mere seconds then hit the ground with a thud. The twins attacked in sync towards him but Rider got a hold on their viking helmets and clanked their heads in unison. Fishlegs tried to get up but the sight of Rider eyeing him made him faint once again.

Then that's left with Astrid and Rider again. Astrid did not hesitate to attack, so she came running towards Rider with her axe ready to slice him. Then again it was exactly like a few days ago, except with Inferno or any weaponry on hand, he dodged her then got behind her at was ready to do the same thing as he did to Snotlout.

"Really, Is this how you treat your guest?"

Rider sarcastically asked as he wrapped his right arm around her body and his left on her neck, ready to press that pressure point to make her sleep. Astrid didn't move nor speak, sure she was trapped and got caught by him but that wasn't the reason why she couldn't react. It was the way they were positioned and how their bodies were this close to one another. She was trying to hide the blush but she couldn't with Rider noticing it. She could feel his chest breathing up and down like the calm waves of the sea. It was rocking her calmly like washing away the sudden guilt of attacking him.

When things got awkward from Rider, he slowly let go not showing that he, too, felt the same as her. He had no idea how close he was to her until he realized she wasn't flinching. Astrid looked down to the ground and and rubbed her left arm slowly and, without Rider noticing, she touched the part of her neck where he rested his hand a minute ago.

He was about to wake the rest of the gang but he decided to let them sleep for just a sec so he could talk to Astrid privatley.

"Sorry" Astrid muttered right away. Finally something to start up a conversation.

He turned to face her, keeping his fake tone intact then responded.

"I don't know why people in here use violence as a way of communication" again he said with sarcasm that left Astrid feel more guilt. He didn't stop there.

"I heard your little meeting" Astrid's head finally bobbed up shock and with embarrassment. He heard their little awkward topic about him. How long has he stayed there, what was at least he had heard?

"Heard everything?" she asked, her toughness shrinking into shame.

He smirked inside his helmet and giving the obvious tone. "You tell me"

His cockiness ignited her anger. Honestly he could be a jerk at some point of a conversation.

"Ok-" he continued "-what do you want from me?"

"What do I want? You promised something to me!" She fumed.

"That's absurd M'lady , I did not promise you anything"

She nearly froze at the endearment she had just heard from him, from that moment she wanted to blush again but she wasn't even sure if that was really his way of flattery or a way of hitting her. Back to the main topic before things gets awkward again

"You did at the forge"

"I promised that nothing would go wrong!"

"No, there was something else"

They were both screaming like as if they were already an old couple fighting for their pride.

"You said you'd take me to Hiccup! You said you will after you get out alive!"

"So what if I didn't get out alive, would it matter?" He bashed her with questions, good and gut-guilty questions "Does that all matter, would you risk betting my life just to get to the chief's missing son?"

And it hurt her again, so hard that she had to admit he was right again. Was she that naive and desperate from her guilt? Would Hiccup look at her in the eyes that she didn't mean everything she'd done for him. However it wasn't only her who wanted to apologize, Stoick had once said to her that if he'd turned back time to the day he disowned his son, he'll listen to him, he'll never turn his back alone because he has already felt how to be alone with his family gone. Now he's desperate to find his son.

How could she tell this to Rider without being too aggressive and demanding? True half she wants is a demand but this is Hiccup and a stranger she's talking to. Then, if Rider can't take her to Hiccup then he could at least tell her his whereabouts.

"I just wanna know if he's alright. I mean it's not just me but his father would want to hear it from you" she mumbled lowly.

"Why do you care for that boy all of sudden?"

When he meant 'boy' he actually meant himself.

"Like I said to you at the forge, I wanted to apologize to him. Even though I know that it would take me a thousand sorry for him to forgive but at least I gave it a try."

Rider sighed, he knew something like this would come up eventually and that eventually is today, right now with the toughest viking lass on earth. True, it would take more that just one sorry to forgive her for completely banishing him on Berk. He could feel her aura that she was sorry but her damn pride wouldn't let her feelings out, because she's friggin 'Fearless Astris Hofferson' for god sakes.

As Astrid heard him sigh, she knew that Rider wouldn't buy her reason. Apologizing is one of her goals to start binding up with Hiccup but she knew Hiccup would take his time forgiving her. Apologizing wasn't the only thing she wanted to tell him, there's more than just saying sorry to his face

Without even thinking, she raised her right hand then reached for her burnt mark on her left arm. The second degree burn she had a few years ago marking her full fledged shield maiden after killing a dragon that she didn't mean to do.She rubbed it slowly reminiscing back to that day where she almost died but was saved. Then again was saved a few days back at the cliff by only person she knew very clearly.

The man with the mask on noticed her movement and for sure she noticed he was starring. Before he could ask for more Astrid beat him to it.

"I wanna thank him-" she said lowly "-I wanna thank him for saving my life twice. I wanna tell him personally.-"

"-I was attacked, by a Monstrous Nightmare-" she spoke, revealing another side of her to him "-The dragon was in flames, my axe was not with me and it caught my left arm nearly on fire."

He was silent, truing not to interrupt her revelation

"I thought it was gonna eat me, till I heard a screeching sound from the sky. There were blasts coming from above that the Nightmare un fumed it's flames, it gave me time to hit the dragon thanks for his help"

She smiled a little remembering Hiccup again but faded because that was the day she first killed a dragon "After the incident I looked up in the sky searching for him because I knew that screech came from a Night Fury. I looked far and wide but there was nothing"

Hiccup was silent finally remember that day. He was home sick and needed to roam around Berk before he left for another adventure. Truth be told he wasn't just home sick, he was looking over Berk year per year after his biggest adventures.

As she turned her head away from him, Hiccup recollected his thoughts. He knew clearly he saved her getting roast from the Monstrous Nightmare a few years ago but she did mention he saved her twice. Like when and where did that happen? He saved the Berk, saved the people of Berk, maybe it came from there.

"The other day-" she continued now looking at him "-when I was trapped by the cliff with Dagur and his men surrounding me, I heard the same screech again. The blast hit the cliff side that made me fall along with Dagur. I knew I couldn't survive crashing to the sea but I was caught by the leg. I knew a dragon caught me and he I saw it has rider with him."

Hiccup froze, he does remember now. He knew he saw Dagur cornering a helpless viking so he knew she needed rescue. He had no whatsoever idea that she was actually Astrid. He was highly aware she heard him talk to Toothless that's why she recognized his voice. Hiccup had saved Astrid Hofferson twice in a troubled situation.

Although he pretended he didn't care, pretended it doesn't matter because that was Hiccup. But of all viking he could actually save, why does it have to be the least person he wanted to be with. If that fact is actually true then he wouldn't mind thinking about her over and over again. He sighed as he got some herbs from his small bag.

"I did promise Hiccup that I won't take you guys to him but......I could at least tell you about him."

The blond viking shot up at Rider.

"Gather Stoick the Vast and the rest of the councils to the Great Hall and leave the rest to me" he commanded

Stiffened with joy but completely masking her stances from the stranger she secretly smiled to herself. Rider is gonna tell where Hiccup could be.

"Here" Rider tossed the small pouch he was holding "make sure they inhale that thing, you might want to close your nose before you put that right into their faces"

Curious with the one she's holding she didn't mind to disobey his instructions for she might fall into sleep too before waking her friends. When she finally she shot up again to look at Rider but he suddenly disappeared.

But as a for Hiccup, it's gonna be a long day for him

Meanwhile at sea

"He's late" Alvin said to Savage a little bit deadly. From Savage's point of view the young Deranged might have been fashionably late with their meeting. Alvin wouldn't want to be kept waiting after he had successfully captured one of the wildest and most untamable dragons on the Archepelogo.

Alvin didn't know why he needed to make allies with the Berserkers, his only intentions was to become one of the most powerful vikings. Although he cannot be one just yet with the growing forces of Dagur's armada, the Romans and of course Drago Bloodvist.

One of his men shouted out that a ship was coming by, it was Dagur's but only it was one ship.

"Bring that bloody boy to me"

Dagur's men, who was a few already, connected their bridge with Alvin's. Dagur presented himself still as one of the most hard headed and crazy viking showing no weaknesses even though he was covered with bruises

"Well what happened to your lot? Your late, better explain yourself"

Dagur was crossed, wasn't it obvious that he had lost almost all of his men and got beat up by someone he knew perfectly. Hiccup wasn't the brute to defeat him but if ever he fumed on Alvin then the deal with the Outcast would be off then a war between them would come up before they could even get on with Rome and Berk.

"I need more time and more army. Our little friend has finally double crossed me more."

"Oh, is that so, then what do you want me to do?"

"Don't you dare mock me Alvin or I'll-"

"Patience boy I knew you wouldn't stand a chance with him with his Night Fury by his side. Besides I've got a pretty good deal with someone that could only solve your problem"

Alvin showed a parchment with a seal of the Romans. Dagur snatched the parchment then started to read. He smiled wickedly before cackling out loud.

"This is one good aliance with our original enemies Alvin"

"Yes and I am very sure Hiccup won't stand a chance with a full force of Romans and Vikings"