Forty One: Protects his own

Toothless roared, the sound echoing up and down the Plaza and the advancing Outcasts paused as the furious Night Fury shrugged off the remaining bola ropes and whipped round to face the approaching enemies, his back arched and mouth filled with purple plasma. Hiccup stared at his father, concern in his eyes.

"Where are the Tribe?" he asked, a sick feeling filling his gut. Stoick's bushy brows creased as he hefted the war hammer in one hand, idly twirling an axe in the other.

"They'll be hostages," he growled. "They haven't had the time to ferry them back to Outcast Island-and they wanted Berk anyway. And why not have it with slaves?" Toothless was growling more loudly, fidgeting his back half and tensing for battle as the Outcasts closed in. Hiccup hefted his sword in his hand and took a deep breath.

"Call 'em, bud!" he said more firmly and the Night Fury roared. Roars answered from overhead as the Outcasts slowed, hearing dragons approach. They didn't know that the Red Death had been defeated and suspected it was another raid...but Hiccup knew better. "Fire, bud!" he yelled as a phalanx of dragons swooped over, led by Astrid on Stormfly. A surge of pride swelled in Hiccup's chest as he saw his wife direct the Riders and lead the attack. Nadder spines seared down and drove the men back, impaling a couple who got too close to the forge. Nightmare fire scorched down and threw the Outcasts back-but Hiccup could see men heading for the catapults to try to shoot down the dragons. Yet a familiar Zippleback whizzed past and Ruff and Tuff chased away the Outcasts, joyfully blowing up the catapult.

"Hilde-left flank!" Astrid shouted and the serious girl circled round, Hookfang raking the left side of the Plaza with flames and driving the Outcasts back. Gustav swooped round and blasted a ten yards wide gap between the forge and the Outcasts, whooping all the way around. But Hiccup, who was looking up the village, saw a handful of lightly smoking shapes lumbering towards them. Alvin's hair and beard was definitely singed and any trace of whimsy had vanished from his scarred face.

"STOICK!" he roared as the Chief reddened with fury.

"ALVIN!" he bellowed back. The Outcast Chief descended the long stair to the upper Plaza and walked through the Outcast throng, his men parting as he headed directly for the small group of defenders.

"I bet yer wonderin' where yer people are," Alvin said in a more calm voice, scratching his singed beard.

"Great Hall," Stoick realised. "It's the only space big enough to hold them and you don't have enough men to hold them in multiple locations." Dark eyes widened in surprise.

"Well, it is only basic tactics," Alvin admitted grudgingly. "Though me men will kill 'em if yer don't surrender right now..." Stoick's face creased in rage.

"NEVER!" he yelled, knowing the man wasn't called 'the Treacherous' for nothing.

"Okay-Savage..." Alvin began snidely but Hiccup stared into his face and took a very limping step forward.

"He's bluffing," he said very clearly. "Dad-he wants to defeat the Hooligans and have them as slaves. He isn't going to slaughter them all." Alvin stared at him-and started laughing.

"I see yer ain't learned any sense," he scoffed. "Yer outnumbered, boy! The best yer can do is surrender so yer save yer people..." Hiccup made a small show of considering, watching the Outcasts hanging back from the growing Toothless.

"How many people are dragons worth?" has asked directly. "Because my Riders can cut down a dozen...a hundred of your men...each. So maybe you are outnumbered, Al. Had you thought about that?" Lars, Dogsbreath and Snotlout swaggered up to stand by Alvin and all looked menacingly at the skinny one-legged Viking.

"Wow. I didn't think he could get any more disappointing-really-but this is completely..." Snotlout began but Hiccup forced himself to smile.

"I suggest a ceasefire," he called, his emerald gaze locked on Alvin and completely ignoring his cousin. "Your men draw back-and the dragons won't cremate them. How does that sound?"

"Yer talk a good game, boy-but I need a hostage-or I will spend every man I have in killing you and then every one of your wretched villagers!" Alvin snarled, his massive fists bunched. There was a pause.

"Someone needs to check the Tribe are safe and being well-treated anyway," Hiccup murmured and cast a small glance at his father. "Dad..."

"Absolutely not. I forbid it," Stoick growled but Hiccup stared into his father's eyes and smiled.

"Yeah-and I know Astrid will kill me as well," he murmured. "But while I'm with them, you can take the twins through whichever tunnels gets them into the Great Hall and free the tribe. I know Snotlout won't know-because they didn't tell anyone. There will only be a few guards. So you need to take Gobber and the others-and Toothless-and free them."

"Absolutely not," Stoick repeated, though there was an edge to his voice, a faint desperation that had his son stretching his hand carefully out to rest on his father's.

"Dad-he wants to make me a slave, not kill me," he murmured. "We have time. A Chief protects his own-and you can free the Tribe. The entrance to the tunnel is in Gobber's outhouse-so you better get moving..." There was a croon and suddenly Toothless was at his side. Hiccup gave a small smile and stroked the Night Fury. "Bud-I need you to help Dad get the Tribe free. And please make sure Astrid stays away. I don't want her hurt. Protect her, please—then come for me, okay?"

The dragon gave a tiny whine but met the calm emerald eyes of his Rider and nodded, then arched his back, his teeth snapping down and growling at an Outcast who had inched a few feet closer. Then Hiccup shrugged and handed his sword to his father.

"Guess you got me, Al," he announced cheerfully. "I need to check on the Tribe though first-you understand that? I mean, you call yourself the Treacherous so you really can't be surprised that people don't take your at your word. You may want to change that, in fact..." Alvin growled at him, casting a menacing glare at the sarcastic tone. "Though I will need the crutches to come with you. Not the most agile on my foot..." There was a burst of scornful laughter from the Outcasts but Alvin raised and large hand, his eyes narrowing.

"SHUT UP!" he bellowed. "That will be acceptable."

"The others and my dragon will stay here," Hiccup told him firmly. "Your men can stake out the front of the forge if you want-though I would stay away from Gobber's outhouse. Bleurgh!" Alvin nodded and Hiccup leaned forward and grabbed his crutches, then began to slowly but determinedly make his way towards the Outcasts. Swooping around, Astrid watched in horror as he willingly handed himself over and she furiously flipped Stormfly round to try to grab him before the Outcasts could capture him...but Toothless roared and Stormfly peeled away, soaring up with the girl screaming in frustration.

"NO!" she yelled. "HICCUP! NO!"

Down below, Hiccup slowly came to stand in front of Alvin and Snotlout, his heart aching at the scream. He knew he should have warned her but it was his duty-and it was him or his father. There was no way on Midgard he was allowing his father to become prisoner of Alvin...and someone had to make sure the Tribe was safe and bought them some time.

I know, Milady. Not too keen on this myself...just, Thor, please let Snot and Al gloat like I know they can and grant us the time we need...

He checked over his shoulder and saw Gobber, the released warriors and finally his father vanish into the forge. There was a pause and Toothless whipped in after them. Then he turned to look back at the Outcast.

"Well, you got me," he said with forced cheerfulness. "Now show me the Tribe."

oOo

The Riders were waiting at the agreed rendezvous point, where the tunnels emerged in the forest by what used to be Mulch's barn and everyone was silent, all eyes on Astrid as if she was a canister of Zippleback gas, about to explode. Her axe was twirling in her hands, spinning a full rotation clockwise then back again. Azure eyes were locked on the emergence point of the tunnel, her delicate brows furrowed with anger. The moment a head emerged, Astrid was off Stormfly like a flash, advancing on the emerging Chief with fury, her axe swinging in her hand. The enormous Viking had barely emerged from the tunnel when she reached him, a hand swinging round in a resounding slap.

"HOW COULD YOU!" she raged, her eyes glittering with fury and unshed tears. "I trusted you of all people to make sure he was safe..." Stoick grabbed her hand as Phlegma, Hoark and Ack had to haul Gobber out of the tunnel and they all stared at the raging blonde.

"Astrid, lass-you know that Hiccup is stubborn and brave," he told her calmly, feeling her pull to get her hand free. "The Outcasts have the Tribe in the Great Hall as hostages and one of us needed to come as hostage so that the other could lead a rescue."

"But why Hiccup?" she asked him, her voice rough with despair. "He's injured and can barely walk and..."

"Daughter-it is because of his injuries that he volunteered," Stoick told her quietly. "He knew that Alvin wants to enslave him to humiliate me and Snotlout will want him to suffer. So they won't kill him. And that buys us time." She pulled her hand free and stared at him with hollow eyes, her knuckles white on the haft of her axe.

"If any harm befalls him, Chief, I will never forgive you," she said coldly and Stoick nodded.

"I wouldn't forgive myself," he murmured and then turned his eyes on the twins. "Now which of you knows a secret way into the Great Hall?"

There was a pause and then four hands shot up.

"Me! Me! Me!" Tuffnut said urgently, straining to pushing his hand higher than anyone else. Growling in the back of this throat, the Chief turned to the male twin.

"I presume this is how you achieved all those asinine pranks," he said with forced patience and Tuff grinned.

"Oh, definitely!" he confirmed and Ruff facepalmed.

"There's a tunnel that runs from behind the top mead store all the way to the cellars under the Great Hall," she added. "It's quite narrow but not even Snot and min-Snot know about it."

"Mini..." Stoick frowned.

"Me!" Gustav added proudly and then blushed. "Um, sorry Chief," he added self-consciously.

"So I presume we're going down to take out the guards," Astrid said calmly and the Chief nodded.

"Except you're needed to lead the Riders," the Chief told her bluntly. "I know you are one of our finest warriors, Astrid-but you are the senior Rider and I need you ready if they move. I may need a diversion..." The look she gave him would freeze lava and she turned away.

"I need to do something because I cannot just sit and brood what may be happening to Hiccup," she said tonelessly. Stoick walked forward and gently rested a hand on her armoured shoulder.

"Then do something," he said with a small smile. "There are Outcasts stationed over Berk, at strategic points. Hiccup was planning to deal with them: I have no doubt you and your Riders can clear them." She nodded curtly and then swung her gaze across the group.

"Ruff, Tuff-lead the warriors into the Great Hall and help them finish the guards," she commanded. "Toothless-you're with us..." The Night Fury crooned and rubbed against her hand, his expression worried. "Britt, Odd-Knut-back to the Cove! If I find you anywhere near the village without my permission, I will make you run around the entire damned ISLAND! Is that clear?"

"Yes, Mrs Astrid," the twins said in dismal voices and huddled against their Zippleback. Gobber cocked an eyebrow-to his knowledge, no one else could control the tiny twins. Stoick hefted his weapons and nodded to the older twins.

"Lead on," he commanded and they eyed him and the rest of the solid squad of warriors with a jaundiced eye.

"You know that crack Hiccup made, years ago about the village needing less feeding?" Ruff asked her brother under her breath. He nodded.

"Yeah-Sasscup for the win," he grinned.

"They've not got any smaller-and the passage really is narrow in places," she reminded him. He grinned.

"I'll bring the yak grease, sis," he smirked. "We managed to get an entire angry bull yak through the tunnel once-I'm sure the Chief can't be that much bigger..." They turned their eyes on the huge, flaming-haired, scowling Viking and they both frowned, sizing up the problem. "Maybe we should both bring extra yak grease," he murmured.

oOo

Hiccup had been given by Alvin to Snotlout for safe-keeping, which really filled him with no confidence whatsoever. Horrific, fractured images of that last time on the cliffs, of pain and fear and utter hopelessness flooded his brain and for a moment, he was that broken outcast once more, lying dying on the cliffs. But just as swiftly, the twin images of Astrid, her eyes filled with her love and Toothless with his most playful expression, replaced the darkness and he consciously pulled his shoulders back and faced his tormentor.

"So how are things back on Berk?" he asked deliberately. "Bet you were touched by the overwhelming welcome from your loving friends and family."

Snotlout's face twisted into a sneer of hatred.

"You really have no clue what it's like to have everything wrongfully taken from you!" he accused the one-legged Viking and Hiccup gaped at him, almost speechless. He shook his head at his cousin's amazing self-absorption and hypocrisy.

"Wh-what? You're really going there, Snot?" Hiccup gasped before his sarcasm kicked back in. "I mean, of course, I wouldn't have the slightest clue what it would be like to have my birthright stolen from me, be thrown out of my family, evicted from my home and treated like crap by every member of my family...oh, wait...I do! Because you did that to me!" Snotlout growled and lunged forward, grabbing Hiccup's pale throat and squeezing.

"Shut up, Useless!" he spat. "I should probably thank you because I ended up somewhere where I actually truly fitted in. All Stoick wanted was a buffer and less useless version of you! He didn't want Snotlout at all-do you know how demeaning that it?"

"Shocked...you even...know the word...demeaning..." Hiccup choked, his face growing puce with impending asphyxia.

"Outcasts don't play by the rules," Snotlout sneered. "They reject anyone else's authority and take what they want. They crush all opposition and rule!"

"That why...the Tribe is...breaking free?" Hiccup gasped, his hands desperately clawing at the ferocious grip around his throat. "Not lookin'...ver' crushed..." Snotlout's brows dipped further.

"Won't be your problem, will it, Useless?" he growled and threw the choking Hiccup to the floor. "It was up to me, I would squeeze the life out of you. But Al wants you alive because he is determined to have Stoick's son as his slave...while I want Astrid as my wife."

"Already...taken..." Hiccup groaned, earning himself a kick.

"I don't care!" Snotlout yelled at him. His face was red with fury. "That bitch won't get away with rejecting me again. I am going to have her and she will submit or I will make it my job to present her with piece after piece of her precious Hiccup until there is nothing left!"

"Should take about five minutes," Hiccup grunted. "And you still won't defeat her." Snotlout kicked him hard again.

"You know, a Viking doesn't have friends," he hissed. "They are a weakness."

"How 'bout family?" Hiccup asked him, still grimacing.

"You? You're not family..." the stocky Viking began but Hiccup's head snapped up and his eyes blazed.

"Your father. Spitelout," he accused the traitor coldly. "Wasn't he family? He taught you, supported you, made sure you took my place...what about him?" Snotlout's eyes flicked for a moment before he shook his head.

"He made his choice," he said grimly. "He chose poorly."

"He was your Dad! He loved you and supported you, no matter what you did. And you feel nothing that he was murdered in front of you by your supposed ally while protecting your sister?" Hiccup snapped and Snotlout grabbed the taller Viking's arm and hauled him to his feet. Hissing in pain, Hiccup tried to put all his weight through his right foot, sharp pains jabbing through his partly-healed stump.

"A Viking doesn't have friends," Snotlout hissed in his face. "He only has live enemies and dead enemies." He shoved the auburn-haired Viking who staggered shakily back-into the arms of two Outcast guards. "Take him to the Plaza. We'll end it here..."

oOo

The Hooligans were huddled in the Great Hall, guarded by some very mean-looking Outcasts who had been chosen for their nasty disposition and propensity for violence. Alvin had already executed a couple of troublemakers in the Plaza and anyone who caused trouble was mercilessly targeted. But regardless, Hooligans were still back-sassing and hurling the worst insults they could think of while obeying their captors with incredible reluctance and slowness.

Little families were huddled together far from the fire burning in the large pit, guards patrolling back and forth as Tuff peered through the hatch at the back of Great Hall, counting the guards.

"About seventeen," the male twin reported. Behind him, Stoick scowled.

"What do you mean about seventeen?" he demanded, his voice impatient. His sides were smeared with yak grease from when he got embarrassingly wedged just before the tunnel levelled out. Tuff shrugged.

"There's a pillar blocking half of the far end from view so there could be more..." he admitted. Stoick peered through the gap and sighed.

"We'll have to be fast and determined," he said, looking across at his team. Phlegma, Ack, Hoark, Gobber, Not-So-Silent Sven, Ruff, Tuff and Magnus the Bold were all ready to go. "And I guess the hostages will help...when they see us."

"I know Dad and Mom will," Ruff murmured, for the twins' parents had been captured when they had returned with the warriors who had gone to fight at the Nest. "Though maybe you want a diversion?" Tuff suddenly looked alert and leaned close.

"An old classic?" he suggested and she nodded, before they slid through the hatch and headed unerringly towards the storage area. Stoick and the others crawled out as well, hiding behind the wood pile as suddenly, rancid food began to fly unerringly at the nearest guards. The squelch and splat of rotten vegetables and mouldy meat had the Outcasts gagging and recoiling, their guard down. Before they could react, the Chief and his team erupted from their hiding place and attacked the guards, taking out half a dozen in the first rush. The others began to rally-until the rest of the villagers charged, carrying pieces of wood, stools and spits...anything they could get their hands on. Tuff and Ruff both amused themselves by knocking men out with the ceremonial Berk mace that was meant to hang in its honoured place by the Chief's chair while Stoick and the others fought with absolute ferocity, taking no prisoners. These people had invaded his island, slain his brother and threatened his people. There was no way Stoick the Vast was allowing them any mercy.

Suddenly, the last Outcast was surrendering, pleading pathetically for his life and Gobber took pity on him and cracked him over the head with his prosthetic hammer attachment. Stoick cocked an eyebrow at him.

"What?" the blacksmith asked defensively. "Ah let him his keep his head. He may not recall who it belongs tae but ne'ertheless..." Stoick looked around.

"Is everyone safe?" he asked and there was a surge of people towards him, relief plain on their faces.

"We are now you're here, Chief," Jussi Dagmar said gratefully. "Those Outcast scum have taken our homes and locked us up here as hostages."

"And that Snotlout..." Roar Arvidson protested, infuriated that the young man he had championed had cast him aside like he was nobody.

"Aye-ye should careful what yer wish fer," Gobber replied not at all smugly. The Chief scanned the room.

"Is Knut the Disappointing with the Outcasts?" he checked there were various nods and scowls. "Okay-Ulf, Ulric-you bar the door and make sure the women and children are protected." Ulf the Lucky, a man who was a very good fisherman and Ulric the Wide-still with his magnificent helmet intact-nodded and took station at the main doors of the Great Hall, barring them tightly and starting to barricade them with tables and chairs as the Chief looked at his people.

"My son is distracting them while we get you out...and then we take back the village. I want twenty groups to sneak into individual houses and take out the Outcasts living in our homes and stealing our possessions! Every one you kill lessens those we have to face when we fight for the village. Are you with me?"

There were cheers and an almost-stampede as almost all the villagers sped towards the hatch and the very narrow tunnel to freedom. Ruff and Tuff stared at the rotund shapes squeezing through the hatch and sighed.

"We should definitely have brought more grease," Ruff said.

oOo

"Yer know, I'm disappointed that yer father sent yer ter do 'is penance and pay fer 'is mistakes," Alvin leered at Hiccup as he was manhandled into the centre of the Plaza. There were a number of Outcasts there-including Savage, Alvin's second-in-command-as well as Snotlout, Dogsbreath, Lars, Sven the Stupid, Knut the Disappointing...and Mildew. Hiccup groaned inwardly.

"Well, I volunteered because he's my Dad and I wouldn't want to think of you getting your hands on him," he shot back. "And I mean-what penance has he got anyway? You betrayed his orders, people died and you were exiled from Berk. You have tried to invade us and have stolen from our island. What exactly does Dad owe you, Al?"

"E were me friend!" Alvin roared. "E should 'ave cut me some slack!"

"You should have done your duty and been loyal," Hiccup shot back. "Hey-I thought you believed that Vikings didn't have friends. Why should it matter now?" Alvin lunged forward and grabbed his leather tunic, his hands fumbling at the straps and wrenching the leather over his head and casting it aside before ripping the red tunic open. "And again with the tunic..." the auburn haired viking sighed as Alvin grabbed his hair.

"You know, I am going to enjoy having you as my slave," the Outcast hissed. "You are going to have to learn to obey without question and not answer back..."

"Oh, you're kidding yourself if you think that will ever happen," Hiccup told him without hesitation. "I mean, my mouth is always getting me into trouble and every other word is sass so..." A brazier was slammed down by the Outcast Chief, the heat coiling steam in the icy air and Hiccup's emerald eyes widened at the handle of the brand, sticking out from amid the bright red coals. Snotlout burst out laughing, his scornful voice loud in the Plaza.

"What's that, 'cuz'?" he sneered. "Just realised the price? That you're gonna be branded like the animal you are!" Hiccup struggled, feeling hands dig into his arms and another drag his head back by the hair. But his eyes flicked over the star-strewn horizon and a small smile lifted his lips at the moving shadow.

"You never worked out what an Heir's duty was," he taunted his cousin. "Well, apart from saying it so often you would think your name had been changed to 'I'mtheHeirtoBerk'..." Snotlout lifted the red-hot brand and inexorably brought it closer to Hiccup's exposed chest and neck.

"It's to rule them," he sneered.

"Wrong-it's to serve them," Hiccup said breathlessly. "A chief serves his own, no matter the cost. You never got that...and so you never got the other part of the bargain..." He tried to cringe back, feeling the heat from the brand literally scorching his pale lightly freckled skin and he took a couple of very panicked breaths.

"GET THE HEL AWAY FROM MY HUSBAND!" a voice yelled and the snikt of Nadder spines sounded at the same time as the roar and whistle of a plasma blast. The men holding Hiccup were slammed back and the young Viking spun back as well, sprawling on the floor as a furious shape on a blue Nadder accelerated towards them, accompanied by a black Night Fury. Snotlout ducked away, staring in shock as Astrid screamed and angled at him, a spread of spines impaling another couple of Outcasts but narrowly missing the traitor. Alvin was already up, sprinting across the Plaza and rallying his troops, his yells echoing up and down the village.

"Get out 'ere yer lazy maggots! Kill these 'Ooligan scum! And finish the 'ostages!"

Breathing hard, Hiccup looked up-to realise he had been abandoned...just as the Night Fury hit him at full speed, sticky tongue swiping his face eagerly.

"Toothless!" he gasped in relief, his arms wrapping around the scaly head as Stormfly landed and Astrid glared across the Plaza, daring anyone to come near. Slowly, he sat up, gazing up into the angry eyes of his wife and he offered the smallest smile. "Um...thanks for the save, Milady. I..um...seriously mean it."

"You are mine," she said flatly. "But if you try another stunt like this, I'm cutting off your other leg." He gulped.

"Yes, dear," he mumbled and grimaced as the thump of her booted feet landing sounded. Then she was on her knees by him, wrapped around him in a ferocious hug. His arms wound around her and for a long second, they held on tight, each grateful the other was safe and alive and just there. "'msorry," he mumbled. "But you know I couldn't let Dad give himself up. There were hostages..."

"I know," she murmured into his neck. "But I love you and I can't see you hurt any more, Hiccup." He lifted his head.

"You don't need to," he said softly, his hand ghosting her cheek. "We have our dragons and it's time to end this." She easily scrambled up and then hauled him to his feet. Giving her the slightest smile, he limped a couple of very painful steps and grabbed his leather tunic, hauling it on and tightening the buckles. Then he found her handing him a sword from her extensive collection of weapons as Toothless bounded alongside and he gratefully swung into the saddle. Astrid leapt up-and then a mace launched and planted firmly in the face of the Outcast who thought he could sneak up on them. As the man fell, the warrior gave a small smile.

"Now that feels better,"she admitted. "GUSTAV! GIVE THE SIGNAL!"

Instantly, the Monstrous Nightmares flamed up and swooped low over the Outcasts, sending them ducking for cover. Toothless roared and the doors to half the houses burst open and Hooligans boiled out to meet the Outcasts who had emerged from the other houses. Instantly, battles began all over the Plaza, a hundred curses echoing through the night air. Toothless and Stormfly launched and their riders peered down. Astrid was far more hands-on, directing her dragon to fire at Outcasts who were beating Hooligans but that wasn't Hiccup. His keen emerald gaze swept over the Plaza, seeking the stocky shape that was heading towards the Arena.

"Astrid!" he called and gestured and she nodded, flipping Stormfly round to grasp an Outcast and toss him hard against one of the huge torch poles. Gobber was fighting furiously and so were the twins, their dragon galloping down to trample on the man facing their Riders. The other Riders were all circling, joining in. Hilde drove a trio of Outcasts back from her parents, Tiril patrolled the periphery and drove any escapees back with the help of Yaklegs and Fishlegs and Hilde gradually drove the Outcasts up the Plaza. Gustav caught up with Hiccup as the Night Fury swooped after Snotlout.

"Hicc!" the younger boy called. "You okay?"

"Where's Snotlout?" Hiccup called. Gustav looked worried.

"He went towards the Arena...but...Alvin's fighting the Chief..." Hiccup's head snapped round and his eyes widened...before he nodded.

"Go and help him," he ordered. "Snot is mine!"

Stoick had been seeking the huge, scar-faced shape of Alvin, his axe and warhammer making short work of any Outcast stupid enough to try to impede his progress, and when he finally came face to face, his vision was almost blinded with hatred.

"Ah-Stoick," Alvin sneered. "Come ter apologise?"

"Surrender and we can send you back," Stoick forced himself to say. "There doesn't need to be such bloodshed..." Alvin's mouth twisted in a snarl.

"Lost yer stomach fer battle?" he taunted the Hooligan. "Well, it's ter be expected at yer age with only a skinny cripple as yer Heir..." Shaking with rage, Stoick attacked, his axe clanging off the mace Alvin had. Alvin's axe glanced off the hammer and the two men growled, locked eyes and traded blows, each bearing two weapons. Both men were matched for huge size, ferocity and scorching mutual dislike. Alvin got the first push in, thrusting Stoick back and as the Chief was unbalanced, he slammed his mace down, catching Stoick's left arm. Numbed, his warhammer dropped away, leaving him only with an axe-but he rolled to his feet and rebalanced on the balls of his feet, instantly leaping forward and catching Alvin's arm with the blade. Blood sprayed and the mace landed on the icy ground with a thud.

"You know you're never going to leave here alive?" Stoick told him. "This doesn't need to happen..."

"You try living on Outcast Island for any length of time," Alvin told him brutally. "It does."

All around, battles were ending as Hooligans defeated their foes or the Outcasts, seeing they were over matched, began to surrender. A small number of deaths or serious casualties were inflicted on the defenders but as each person fell, three neighbours took their place and drove the invaders back. This time, no one was stealing their homes. Astrid fought amongst them, flying through on Stormfly and either attacking with the spines or with her own axe, perfecting her skills at airborne battle. Hilde and Tiril both watched her in envy. The twins fought as a double team, finishing foes between them or having each other's backs. The other riders found more Outcasts trying to flee or surrendering as they were corralled by the dragons.

"You're defeated," Stoick told Alvin, seeing the battles draw to an end. In the corner of his eye, he could see Savage surrender to Gobber and his old friend knock the man senseless. "Alvin..." But there was a wild gleam in the Outcast's eyes and he lunged at the Chief, all his energy put into a final flurry of blows, marking Stoick's arm and leg. Instincts kicked in and though the men were evenly matched, Stoick read the man's wild moves and as a blow aimed at his head, Alvin finally exposed his side. There was the briefest pang of regret before Stoick's axe buried into the man's chest. Then he pulled the blade out and stumbled back.

There was a small smile on his face as Alvin staggered back.

"Yer still ain't finished me!" he swore and lifted his axe up, charging at the Chief and this time, there was no hesitation as the second lethal blow carved deep into his chest. Alvin stared as the blade pulled back and nodded, his expression almost...grateful...before he collapsed back, dead. Staring down on a man who had once been his friend, Stoick felt the sadness once more, the lingering images of what had been and what might have been. And then, shaking his head, he turned away, his eyes sweeping over the Plaza. The last few Outcasts were surrendering and Knut the Disappointing and Mildew were protesting vigorously that they had been duped and were innocent.

"I'm a Hooligan and I got me rights!" Mildew argued, his hand snaking to smuggle a knife from the sheath at the small of his back. "And I demand to see me Chief and plead me case ter him..." Hoark and Ack reluctantly led the old man towards Stoick, still standing motionless over the body of the Outcast Chief. Cool eyes flicked up to inspect the treacherous old man. "Stoick..." Mildew began as his hand began to move...

And then he jerked, his arms flinging wide and the knife falling from nerveless fingers as he pitched forward on his face. Astrid landed Stormfly, her eyes glittering, her axe buried firmly in the old man's back. Stoick looked up into her face and nodded, eyes trailing over the knife.

"Goodbye, Mildew," he said. Good riddance.

Hiccup saw the stocky shape of Snotlout sprinting past the Arena, to the cliffs and the little steep path that wound down to the bay closest to the harbour. There were usually small boats pulled up or moored there and Hiccup knew instinctively that his cousin was running. But Snotlout had to answer for his crimes. He leaned into a bank and Toothless swooped round, a brace of plasma blasts stopping Snotlout and causing him to turn, his mace in his hand.

"So you have to get your pet lizard to do your dirty work," he sneered.

"It's over, Snot," Hiccup said wearily.

"You're not fit to be the Heir!" Snotlout spat.

"Nor are you," Hiccup told him bluntly. "But someone has to be and if my father asks me, I will do my duty."

"You're a disgrace to all Vikings!" Snotlout sneered. "Look at...this..." He gestured to Toothless but Hiccup smiled.

"I made my choice," he said softly. "I took a chance. It ended up saving us from the Chief Dragon and ending the raids for good. Come back, Snot. I know the Chief will be merciful..." Fists tightening, Snotlout suddenly launched himself at the dragon and his mace slammed a glancing blow off Toothless's head. But the dragon head-butted the Viking back and Hiccup's sword swung round, slamming the mace away. Shaking his head, Toothless, growled and advanced on the unarmed Snotlout before the young man edged back and back-until he was at the very edge of the cliff. Hiccup stopped.

"Snotlout..." he said in a warning voice but the stocky young Viking gave him a hateful look.

"I'm not coming back," he hissed. "I'm not watching you gloat over me every day. I'm not pretending I'm no one when I am the real Heir!"

"Please, Snotlout," Hiccup said quietly. "Your Mom and sister have already lost Spitelout. Please don't do this to them..." Snotlout gave a twisted smile.

"This is all your fault," he said cruelly. "If you had just accepted your place, none of this would have happened. And now, my death is on your conscience-because you caused this. And you can remember that, every time you look at them." He held his arms out from the side of his body and looked directly into Hiccup's shocked eyes. "This is your fault, Useless. Remember that!"

And he stepped backwards.

"SNOTLOUT! NO!" Hiccup screamed as he vanished backwards over the cliff edge. Toothless bounded forward and Viking and dragon peered down into the gloom, seeing the white-capped waves crashing on the rocks below. They stared for a long moment before Hiccup reluctantly pulled on the saddle and they turned away.

They landed in the Plaza, barely noticing the cheering Hooligans and the twins high-fiving everyone they could.

"HICCUP!" His eyes snapped up as Astrid flung herself into his arms, her hands roaming his body to check he hadn't got any more wounds-and he managed a smile.

"Can't keep your hands off me, Milady?" he murmured and she swatted his shoulder playfully.

"Just checking you haven't misplaced any more bits of you since I saw you last," she told him tartly, then grinned at him in relief. Then she saw the sadness in his eyes and leaned close, her lips brushing his cheek. "Babe? You okay?" He nodded, the expression in his emerald eyes saying otherwise. "Hiccup?" He shook his head.

"Snot's gone," he murmured. "He jumped. He blames me..."

"And that's his problem, not yours," she told him firmly, knowing his horrible propensity to brood. Her hands cupped his cheeks and she kissed him sweetly on the lips. "Hiccup, he made his own choices-including the last one." He rested his head against hers.

"Thank you," he murmured. "Not sure what I would do without you." She smiled and leaned into his side feeling his arm wrap around her.

"It's over, son!" Stoick bellowed eagerly, racing forward to wrap the couple in a monster hug that squashed them both. "They've surrendered! We've won!" Hand waving in desperation for air, Hiccup finally took a gasp when released and his eyes swept over the Plaza, seeing his friends, his Riders all safe. Tiril and Yaklegs were awkwardly holding hands, Fishlegs was petting Meatlug, Hilde and Gustav were nudging each other and joking and the twins were head-butting each other...and then collapsing, stunned. Gobber, Stoick, Phlegma...all the warriors were safe. He nodded, a hand instinctively patting Toothless as the dragon crooned smugly.

"Hooray for the Dragon Riders! Hooray for Chief Stoick! Hooray for Hiccup!"

The cheers rang round the Plaza and Astrid's hand threaded with his as she leaned close.

"Not bad for a mere blacksmith's apprentice," she teased him and he gave a genuine smile, still saddened by Snotlout's choice.

"I guess not," he murmured and then he grinned at her. "But I bet Gobber will make me clear up this mess." Astrid shook her head.

"Oh no," she said firmly. "Tonight, you're mine, dragon boy!"