Just found out I've been writing Hiccup's hair color WRONG and it's actually fucking AUBURN-HAIRED holy shit.

Anyways.

Ever since the incident with the submaripper, Ace had never left Hiccup's side. Gold rush happened, and it was up to Thatch, Dagur, Heather and Fishlegs to save the rest of the dragon riders.

-

Hiccup hadn't been the same since Ace's confession that he was in love with the teenager. The auburn-haired had plenty of time to think as the raven-haired gave him time so. Though every time Hiccup interacted with Ace, it wasn't the same, it was rather awkward but the teenager was so thankful the young adult was patient enough to put up with Hiccup's awkward moments whenever he mounted the dragon or hesitantly scratch him and hear him groan in pleasure. Safe to say the teenager was slowly trying to get accustomed to the newest fact his dragon-human is in love with him but never exactly made any sudden move towards the auburn-haired, which Hiccup was grateful for but at the same time which was somewhere deep down he wanted Ace to do something. The raven-haired in his dragon form just acted normally as if they are still best friends and not the 'in love' act and would be protective of his human during times people would attack the teenager.

But at the same time the auburn-haired wanted the raven-haired to approach him, to do something just so to stop this awkwardness. Hiccup wanted to hold Ace again without the awkward thoughts lingering. To sit in between the dragon's arms and legs again and cuddle with him without thinking and suspecting this might encourage the dragon-human to make a move (that urges him to return into his human form) and that involved the term 'romantically'.

But months passed he's no longer thought of those things. Ace proved he wasn't doing anything that Hiccup suspected. The man was respecting his boundaries and held him close like they usually do with each other when the auburn-haired approached him for some hugs and cuddles. Eventually, they were back to being normal and best buds even with the fact known to just the two of them that Ace is in love with Hiccup.

As weeks pass, the submaripper incident happened, and that caused Ace to become a little more clingier to Hiccup. Which the auburn-haired teenager doesn't mind much.

In fact, Hiccup was waiting for a moment like this if he was going to be honest.

Because Hiccup only then realized maybe he also returns his feelings for him.

He overthought it, hard. With some advice from Gobber that day, the blonde elder barely minded if the auburn-haired mentioned about vikings falling in love with the same gender as theirs. Assuming the guy is not Tuffnut or Fishlegs, Gobber spoke to the auburn-haired, giving him hints and advice and it was up to Hiccup to realize hos true feelings if the male is just his friend or more than that. Looking over everything they'd gone through together for the past three years and a half and examining his feelings, he wasn't so sure, though Hiccup and Ace may have shared quite a ridiculously amazing and unbreakable bond between human and dragon-human.

Maybe he too, is in love with Ace.

Setting those things aside, one day Hiccup and Ace decided on training vigorously and have been pushing themselves too far. Although, Ace has trained all his childhood and life as a fighter, he's not used to aerial combat as a fire-breathing dragon and thus he trains to be better. The rider and dragon duo needed to try out new skills either way, and some of those are to enhance the dragon's speed when flying underwater as Hiccup commanded 'dive' and shooting plasma blasts underwater before resurfacing and fly back up the sky.

"Nice one bud!" Hiccup praised his best friend followed by giving him a few pats and the dragon aggressively waved his head to shake off the remaining water stuck to his scales. "Yeah, I- I don't love the water either. But we have to try new moves! This'll definitely give us an added element of surprise." he reasoned with his dragon, but Ace's response wasn't what the teen was expecting. "Are you kidding? It's nice being underwater for a while!" the dragon-human exclaimed enthusiastically and the auburn-haired could only chuckle in nervousness, before they flew back to the island and tried another few tricks more before heading back to the main hall for breakfast.

Although Hiccup never really liked riding his dragon while they were underwater, Ace does. While being a human means he is unable to swim because of his devil fruit, his dragon form seemed that the sea sensed it as normal and lets him move underwater.

Back at the main hall, four of the riders are inside and two of the four are playing maces and talons. By a few humphs and grunts of confidence at one another, Heather triumphantly won the game for the third time. Snotlout argued it was unfair, that Heather was manipulating Fishlegs in the middle of the game but somehow got her eye color in his sentences incorrect. Hiccup and Ace tiredly dragged themselves back inside the hall, and Astrid crossed her arms and watched their slow arrival. "Well well, look what the night fury dragged in." and Ace growled wearily, tired enough to curse at the girl then laid himself on the ground and closing his eyes for a brief nap.

The auburn-haired teen rolled his eyes and laughed sarcastically at Astrid, but Heather eventually approached them.

"Very funny." the leader remarked sassily and Heather frowned, a hand on her hip as her mouth began to open. "Seriously Hiccup, you've been pushing it pretty hard lately. Everyone needs a rest." she spoke, trying to reason with Hiccup. Except his stubbornness barely listened to her pleas. "Right." he spat. "I'll rest when Viggo's gone for good." he then added, his eyebrows almost furrowing before another voice spoke up at the other entrance, startling them.

"You wanna hurt Viggo? Talk to me." he exclaimed and everyone glanced at the source of the sound. With a relieved gasp, Heather smiled at her brother. "Dagur!" she piped up and the said male grinned at his sister. "Told ya I'd be back." he reassured.

Thatch eventually came out of his kitchen with his usual way of serving people. "Alright alright, move out the table, breakfast's ready!" he hollered for everyone and his gaze landed on Dagur and his dragon. "Dagur! You're in time for a morning feast." the cook invited the berserker and they all were found sitting and being served their plates of meals and extra portions.

Nobody really paid attention to Dagur's moans of delight with every bite of his food, because most of them are enjoying their meals of their own. But Dagur was the loudest out of all of them. "Oh, mm! This is amazing!" he commented, pulling up the mutton leg while Snotlout ducked his head from getting hit from the berserker's arm. "Unbelievably juicy, along with flavors bursting out from each bite unlike berk's bland meals! And this, cooked to perfection! Just the way I like it!" he explained, enjoying the food. Even as a deranged, twisted, ex-evil man sailing out the sea, he had table manners at least. Though at first he accused his sister for cooking the food amazingly, but even Heather herself admitted it was Thatch who made the food and his cooking alone is too scrumptious to be even compared to hers. They spoke during breakfast and Thatch would give Ace a few raw salmon and cod every five minutes after the raven-haired would chew and swallow them. After all, a dragon's favorite food is raw fish, their tastebuds were just that different and dragon-like.

Tired of being ignored, Hiccup rammed his fists down the table to catch everyone's attentions. "Dagur! What about Viggo!?" Hiccup finally piped up impatiently, almost done with his food as he watched Dagur gulp down water from his cup. "Ah yes, of course. The strangest thing happened while I was out travelling the world in search of Oswald the Agreeable." but Heather managed to interrupt his speech. "Wait- Wait a minute, you're searching for our father?" she questioned her brother. He nodded to confirm, and that if neither of them didn't kill their father, then he had to be out there somewhere. "So there I was, searching for dear old dad, when I captured the wimpiest, dragon hunter!" the berserker began to chuckle, his gaze momentarily looking up at Hiccup and the auburn-haired caught on to what Dagur's expressions meant. The teen with freckled cheeks managed to scowl as the other continued to describe how the 'wimpiest dragon hunter' is his height and build. "No offense." he grinned nervously at the leader of the dragon hunters as soon as he heard Hiccup grunt in response.

"Anyway, all I had to do was sneer at him and he gave up everything! I mean I actually had to do the berserker chokehold just to shut him up!" Dagur continued with a few chuckles escaping his mouth as he gestured the chokehold. The twins were about to choke each other, when Thatch bonked their heads as a result of them almost knocking out the plates and food before it created another more mess.

"So, what did the hunter say about viggo?" Hiccup began, hinting that the berserker should get to the point, obviously not patient enough for anymore of Dagur's storytelling. However, that backfired when the said man asked for a condition. "I'll tell you when you call me 'brother'. Please? Just once, one time? Please?" he clasped his hands in a prayer gesture and smiled, puppy-eyeing his favorite dragonrider. He knew the auburn-haired is softhearted, the redhead would give the other time before he either gives in or glare at the berserker even more before spilling out the big news.

Hiccup sighed, while two dragon-humans bicker from behind him. "Bet Hiccup gives in and calls him brother." Thatch spoke up, his words directing at the night fury and Ace perked up, his gaze deadpanned right at the older man's smirk. "Hiccup doesn't give in that easily, the hell do you mean?" he questioned rhetorically and nonchalantly, which was only translated into a dragon growl for the rest of the dragon riders listening. "Fine brother! Now tell us what the hunter told you about Viggo." Hiccup almost snarled and Dagur sniffed happily. But he managed to recollect himself and told them about where their opponent hides their gold.

Before Hiccup can rush towards his dragon, Ace and Thatch were found snarling at each other but eventually the cook managed to stop all dragon riders from heading off, forcing all of them to finish their food and work together to clean the dishes if they wanted to find their gold fast.

With Hiccup and Dagur included.

Thatch wasn't going to play favorites because auburn-haired is his leader/captain and the redhead having spoken to him and entertained him for the first time they met.

While they worked together to clean the dishes, Dagur blurted out he was going to take a few bags of gold for himself and that he and Heather should venture out on seas to find their father. Upon this sudden unload of information, Heather was overwhelmed and when she thought Dagur was joking, he wasn't.

She was slightly frowning, a pang in her heart as she realized.

Heather doesn't wanna leave the dragonriders so unexpectedly, especially Astrid when they were just realizing their feelings for each other.

-

After a few remarks from the others and reassurances that the raven-haired female isn't leaving, Hiccup commanded everyone to be in their diamond formation, giving out a warning they were entering Viggo's domain and to expect the unexpected.

But reaching way up the surface of the island there was nobody, no dragon hunters crawling around to gather the gold, storing them and protecting them. Hiccup glanced at Dagur, "Are you absolutely sure this is the right island?" the auburn-haired questioned the man that led them to the island, Dagur looked uncertain, but he insisted this is the right island that the wimpy hunter gave up of. Convinced, (for now), Hiccup wandered around along with Ace and Thatch, while Fishlegs smacked Snotlout's hand off the ruins to prevent the shorter teen from ruining the ancient buildings that are still intact. "Did you find anything?" Astrid questioned everyone specifically Hiccup but the auburn-haired teen along with his dragon were both nowhere to be found, even Thatch.

But nonetheless the three of them were found checking out a track of a cart that led to the dragon proof storehouse. During their suspicion with the storehouse, Hiccup thought the storehouse had been filled with booby traps, which was proved wrong by the thorston Twins as they inspected the area in their own unique way of sniffing them out.

As Hiccup asked his dragon to do the honors and shoot a plasma blast right the door, it barely had done nothing. As Dagur stepped in, revealing the berserker style isn't just doing crazy but go all speed all out and total commitment to his fellow berserker brother and sisters, encouraging his dragon shattermaster with his berserker battle cry as the gronckle used his tail to destroy the dragon-proof door.

Unfortunately, the storage is empty. The auburn-haired was utterly confused ro what was going on and how Viggo managed to transport the gold without a trace. Ace sniffed the tracks, catching Hiccup's attention and returned back to the tracks. Followed by Fishlegs, the two of them observed it closely and conclude that the tracks mislead them and that the gold was unloaded and carried by hand at somewhere else in the island. Hiccup placed a hand under his chin, entering thinking mode as everyone glanced at each other for ideas. Dagur quickly perked up, "In that case, I say we split up! Cover more ground." he suggested, but quickly he crossed his arms. "Viggo and his men could come at anytime." he continued, but however he wasn't done with his talking. "The Berserkers will search the north, the Dragon Riders will search the south." he finished, and Fishlegs quickly raised his hand, volunteering to come along the Berserkers instead.

Thatch facepalmed, and insisted on coming along to keep an eye out on the three of them as he was the oldest and experienced. Hiccup agreed with the idea, and Dagur barely opposed the volunteers to come along with them. "Stay on ground and send up a signal if you find anything." the leader of the dragon riders ordered and everyone from the Berserkers team nodded.

"We will." Dagur reassured before uncrossing his arms and place a hand on his sister's shoulder. "Come on Heather sis, while we search for the gold, we'll discuss our future!" the redhead exclaimed happily, and Fishlegs glared at Heather's brother with slight jealousy while Thatch placed both hands on his pockets and started following them.

With Hiccup and Ace temporarily separated from the group however, the dragon sniffed his path for gold, for that ore's scent but they have found nothing. "Nothing bud..?" the auburn-haired questioned his best friend and the raven-haired in his dragon form shook his head. "We've been going in circles, Hiccup." he piped up and the teenager sighed as he sat on the saddle. "I know, I know. But the gold, it has to be here somewhere." Hiccup reasoned with hope in his tone, and Ace took that as a sign he should keep looking in case they missed anything. Walking back to the storehouse to regroup with the rest of the dragon riders, Astrid called out to the auburn-haired. "Don't say it." he begged the girl, already knowing the answer as he glanced around his friends finding no absolute luck with the gold.

"It's here, I'm sure of it!" the teenager reasoned with the second in command of the dragon riders. "You know Viggo, every- everything with him is a trick." he continued, his eyebrows furrowing with every word. "I.. I just need to out-think him!" Hiccup stammered and grit his teeth, almost hesitating to underestimate his opponent.

Not long they've heard of the dragon hunters chattering from the distance and walking away. "Hunters." the auburn-haired snarled, the night fury growled lowly, both Ace and Hiccup glaring at the men. The teenager pressed his index finger on his lips as Astrid popped up a question in a whispering tone. On cue, Hiccup glanced at his team and gestured to follow the men quietly.

While with the berserkers team, they wandered until reaching a small cave. Thatch and Dagur decided to enter the cave themselves while Heather and Fishlegs stayed behind. The two outside of the cave chuckled heartily at each before it died down followed by a sigh. "Look Heather, I.. I know that Dagur is your brother and blood.. But we're your family now, right?" Fishlegs questioned with a plea in his voice, hoping the female wouldn't leave the dragon riders for her brother, but he wasn't done with his words. "I mean, you're a Dragon Rider, we're a team, we need you." The chubby dragon rider reasoned while Heather glanced away from him with a red tinting her cheeks, flustered that they consider her their family, their teammate. "But more than that.. I need you.." Fishlegs mumbled and Heather just smiled. She backed away however as the male tried leaning in for a kiss. Before Heather could say anything, hollering came from the cave, followed by a flock of terrible terrors swarming out from the dark space before Thatch and Dagur were found running out of the cave. That was Fishleg's cue to back off.

"No gold, no gold!!" Dagur screamed, hopes with finding gold, crushed. "Blasphemous!" Thatch hollered next, swatting away the wild and angry little dragons flying over their heads. "And terrible terrors make terrible meditation partners!" the redhead exclaimed angrily but glanced at the two and raised an eyebrow. "What- What did I miss?"

"Damn young love, even I can't get ladies to like me during my youth." Thatch hummed, but Heather shook her head calmly, chuckling at the cook's storytelling

"Damn brother, how old are you?"

"Fourty-one." Thatch simply answered.

"Oh, you're very old." Dagur remarked, grinning and the man in front of the redhead rolled his eyes. "Come on, let's continue searching."

-

As the rest of the dragon riders popped their heads from the bushes, they watched the hunters as they unload a few tools used for building things which ticked Hiccup off. It didn't seem right to him let alone the hunters are doing something to make sure the gold isn't anywhere on sight. "Any thoughts?" Astrid questioned again in her whispering tone and Hiccup could only hum.

Snotlout and Ruffnut almost sneezed from sniffing the flowers from the bush they are hiding behind. But Tuffnut, who happened to have been the one to prevent the two from sneezing, was the one that sneezed instead, followed by the other two, catching the dragon hunters' attentions. They obviously ran, and Hiccup ordered his team to go after the men. Unbeknownst to them, as the dragon hunters hid behind the trees, they rather smiled and chuckled darkly as they awaited for the dragon riders and their dragons' arrivals to capture them on sight, and as if on cue, the net launched right towards them, capturing each dragons and their riders. Ryker approached the one with the one legged boy and his night fury in their net, vulnerable to even moving around and Ace couldn't shoot a plasma blast, afraid his human might get caught in it.

Hiccup groaned in frustration and the brother of their opponent chuckled. "Look what we have here." Ryker stepped on Ace and Hiccup grit his teeth, scowling at Ryker angrily. "The catch of the day." the man sneered and laughed, placing his hands on his hip as he smirked at the leader of the dragon riders irritatedly wriggle in the net.

As they are transported to the ships in the dragon proof cages, the berserker team all watched from the cliff hiding behind the bushes. They gawked and frowned at their fellow dragon riders especially Hiccup, to be all captured and caged. Dagur remarked that Hiccup was never easy to be captured when he chased him, before he suggested they should save their friends berserker style. But Fishlegs insisted on saving their friends specifically Hiccup, his way, earning a sniff and tear from the redhead as he watched Fishlegs had a speech about his best friend Hiccup. "That was, that was beautiful man." Dagur wiped a tear. "Just beautiful." While Thatch smiled at Fishleg's determination, showing how loyal he is to their leader.

Hiccup was summoned to Viggo's chambers, much to everyone's surprise Ace had broken free from the other dragon hunters keeping him in one position and wrapped his wings around his human, angrily growling at Ryker from taking Hiccup from him. Ryker pulled out his sword, about to attack the night fury when Hiccup frantically hollered to stop, hugging his dragon glumly, trying to reassure the raven-haired in his dragon form that the auburn-haired will be fine. He willingly went along with Ryker, in exchange to sure the man doesn't hurt his dragon. The man kept his word and ordered his men to lock the night fury up along with the dragons and dragon riders. Not long they walked inside his opponent's chambers and Hiccup glared at the man who invited him to sit in his usual but irritating kind tone. "I'll stand." Hiccup snarled, but Ryker grabbed his shoulder and forced him to sit either way, a sword threatening to cut his neck. "Forgive my brother, he doesn't understand the concept of savoring victory." Viggo exclaimed, sitting on his chair and Ryker grunted angrily, shoving Hiccup's shoulder and sheathe his sword back in.

"You and your dragons riders could have spent months searching that island and you'd never find my gold." Viggo attempted to provoke Hiccup, as watched his favorite opponent roll his eyes while the older man smirk at the auburn-haired's reactions.

Seemed Hiccup had realized something before he spoke up to his opponent. "Well. You'll never know, we might surprise you when you least expect it." the teenager almost smirked before Viggo interjected. "Ah, you're referring to your impending rescue?" he questioned, but Hiccup was sure that wasn't the case. He was sure the rescue for him and the others will be successful as usual. "Don't count on it." The opponent places his hands under his chin followed by a sinister chuckle. Viggo glanced up at Ryker and ordered his older brother to leave them alone. "Look, what do you want from me, Viggo?" Hiccup snarled and the way the auburn-haired called the man by his name couldn't make him even more happier.

"Simple, sweet dear Hiccup. I want to spend time with you." Viggo answered and Hiccup sighed frustrated. "Look, I'd rather be thrown in a cage with my friends long than spend time with you." but his response was rather been laughed off and the man stood up, walking over to the cuffed teenager sitting and leaned in with his usual sinister smile. "Fiesty." Viggo remarked and Hiccup had to lean backwards from how close the male is. "Love your attitude, sweet Hiccup. But I preferred the submissive types. You know, it just fires you up the way they look up at you with such pleading eyes hoping to be freed and faces with horrified expressions."

"Then your tastes in men is just as horrible. Shame, I expected better from you." Hiccup sneered but his words however ticked Viggo. The man was close to grabbing the auburn-haired's face but he kept his cool. "Don't worry sweet Hiccup. Once I give you your front row seat and watch as your dragon riders and their dragons get killed, I don't know how long you'll last." and that at least got a silent reaction from the teenager who now shut his mouth up from spatting out anymore sassy remarks. As if on cue, the ship was moving quite a little and Viggo smirked, then glanced back down to his prey. "Look, your friends have come to save you. Such loyalty. I could hardly keep my own brother focused and on task." he chuckled as Hiccup jerked back from how even more close the man is, slightly paranoid than Viggo might force himself to his face, kissing him and he didn't want that.

Becyase yes, he realized the man is too, in love with him, or he thinks. Thanks to Ace giving this information to him while they had to discuss about Viggo.

And of all people, Hiccup would rather have his first kiss with somebody he's spent an awful time together all day everyday for years.

Ace.

Seeing Hiccup getting lost in his thoughts, Viggo used this opportunity to grab the auburn-haired's face from underneath with just a hand, and that startled the teenager greatly, attempting to yank and squirm himself out of the man's grasp, while Viggo watched him struggle and chuckled darkly. "What are you getting at?!" Hiccup questioned, his tone becoming a little more frantic and Viggo was surprised it took him a few taunts and tease to crack the teenager's brave facade. But thankfully the man hadn't done anything, yet.

"Do you really think after all we've been through, I'd expose myself without some added protection?" he exclaimed, his grip on Hiccup's face a little more tighter and as much as the teenager hates to admit it, it's becoming more painful, Viggo's nail piercing his skin.

It hurts.

"Like I said, sweet dear Hiccup. You're going to have a front row seat, an exclusive seating where you can watch your friends and dragons.. Die." the man simply explained with a sinister tone.

It hurts.

His head swarmed all the possibilities. He knows they're strong but he couldn't help but to think maybe they can be defeated too. Fishlegs, Heather, Dagur, Thatch, failing to save the rest of the dragon riders. Thatch is insanely strong, but what if he was forced not to fight? That scared the auburn-haired, the hunters were probably going to think of ways, like torture him to keep him from fighting. Unlike Ace he doesn't have a devil fruit, no cool ability for him whatsoever to help him to his advantage. Then Hiccup, being forced to watch and helplessly as his friends and their dragons all die in front of him.

Then Ace.

Hiccup sucked in a shaky breath, his face turning into a mortified expression as he glanced up at Viggo smirking at him. The auburn-haired has just to hope. He has hope, his friends will not fail, they will not fail. They're not going to fail-

"Not so feisty now dear? Where's your sassy remarks, your sarcasm in those nasally voice of yours?" Viggo mocked and forced Hiccup to look at him, his grip on the teenager's face even more painful that Hiccup had let out a shrieked cry from the pain Viggo is inflicting to him. Few tears prickled his eyes. His cheeks must have probably been pierced with his opponent's nail, bruised and blood slowly flowing out of the cut. Hiccup didn't bother trying to yank himself from the man's grasp.

It just hurts.

Before Viggo could continue, grunts and battle cries from Ryker outside were heard. It seems the person going up against the oldest grimborn brother was far stronger than the grimborn to hear his struggles from keeping the person from nearing the chambers. In just a few minutes, the door was kicked open, and smokes of fires followed, hovering the whole room.

Ace.

Just the sight of Ace had him smiling brightly. Before he could call out to his dragon-human, it seemed the raven-haired beat him to it. "Hiccup! You- What are you doing with him?!" Ace snarled, sharp eyes glaring angrily at the man holding his human. Viggo had eventually let go of his grip on Hiccup, and the sooner he does the faster the auburn-haired yanked his cuffed hands to his face, his cheeks bruised and bloodied, and it stings the moment he tried to touch the wound.

"Sir, 'Gunhild'. What a pleasant surprise. I never really see you around or only times you literally show up to save Hiccup and the dragon riders. What are you really? Impressive that you've gotten word your friends have been captured." Viggo smirked at the man and Ace grit his teeth. "What the hell did you do to Hiccup?" the freckled man simply ignored the other's words, and rather he earned a chuckle from Viggo. "Simple. I just had to hold his face."

He used his hand to push Hiccup's face, showing the bruised cheek on the right towards the man that came to rescue the teenager. As he inspected the freckled male boiling in anger, it seems he and Hiccup had a bond. Perhaps his older cousin or his older brother.

"I will fry you up." the man hissed, his voice darkening and Viggo raised an eyebrow. The freckled man simply came without a weapon, or anything on hand. Surprising he was able to take down Ryker who had two weapons on him. But as he glanced over behind the unknown man, he could see the halls of the lower deck were bright and had been lit up on fire, as if he had set an explosion to make this possible.

If only it was easy, because while he was spending his time with Hiccup the whole ordeal was silent and peaceful, minus the battle cries of Hiccup's friends and dragon roaring from above. There hadn't been any explosions to be set off, and only when the man came the fires are out and roaring. "Get us out of here!" Hiccup hollered and Ace wasted no time talking to their opponent. The man rushed over and kicked Viggo off from interfering. The raven-haired took off his tunic and wrapped it around Hiccup, scooping the teenager in his arms and running off towards the flaming hallways of the lower deck, shirtless.

And as Viggo crawled and sat up, he watched as the unknown man was running through fire unscathed.

He certainly is a peculiar man.

-

During his time in a cell along with the other dragon riders and the dragons all caged up in their own cells, Ace banged his head on the cell door angrily, he was the angriest dragon of all dragons caged up and didn't help when he couldn't do anything to escape. "Viggo! I'll kill you! " he hollered, although they've been translated into a bloodcurdling roaring and growling from his dragon mouth. The freckled male swore to himself he wouldn't let Hiccup be held by Viggo once more, and where is Ace now? In a cage, helpless. "Guys.. It's-.. Ace, what's wrong with Ace?" Snotlout questioned, although the Twins already knew the answer. "Can't you see? He's angry. Hiccup isn't with him." Ruffnut spat, her gaze focused on her nails.

"Guys, look.." Astrid mumbled and they all gathered to see what Astrid was pointing at. Ace was emitting fire from around his body, as if burning the dragon-proof cage to molten with his immense fire alone. Blasting the cage out, Ace was let free. But the dragon hunter as a guard didn't let him get any further from leaving the lower deck. He pounced on the hunter, too angry to even think straight that he scratched the man's face to his chest. He glanced back at the dragon riders watching him and used his claw to pick off the keys and throw it to Astrid who was the closest to catching it.

"Ace.." Astrid muttered out and smiled at Hiccup's dragon before the dragon ran up the lower deck and returned into his human form before he can climb up the upper deck. "Thank you.." the blonde in her blue outfit mumbled, but that was enough for Ace to hear.

She observed the dragon for years now. At first she noticed how smart the night fury is, a much more intelligent dragon than any other species. Only to find out years later during the outcasts incident that Ace is no ordinary intelligent dragon. He was more than intelligent. He was a genius, it's like a dragon with a soul of a human. And seeing Hiccup and Ace attached to each other often, she could tell the two have the greatest bond between dragon and human. But to see Ace let out fire around himself and burn the dragon proof cage to molten was something else. As if he had more power hidden in himself.

Ace was not happy whatsoever to see the sight in front of him. Viggo holding his human up with his hand and it boils him to see the auburn-haired had been bruised and tears on his eyes proved Hiccup should be out of there, away from Viggo's wrath. If he had come any later, who knows what happened to Hiccup.

Before he was blinded by anger after growling out the words by frying the man up, Hiccup hollered for him, and that snapped Ace from burning Viggo to crisp. But at least he was able to kick the man and that felt awesome. Due to setting the hallway on fire, he had to take off his tunic and wrap it around the auburn-haired to keep him from being burnt. Then scooped him up in his arms and ran past the angry waves of fire burning and melting the half wooden half dragon-proof ship. Ace had no problem, but Hiccup was coughing nonetheless and that urged the raven-haired to speed up his pace and return into a dragon without being seen other than his human.

Coughing for the last time, Hiccup clung to the tunic, wearing it and wrapped his arms around his dragon. "Thank you bud.. I don't know what I'd do without you." he mumbled with a small smile and kissed the dragon by his head, unaware. "Let's go, they're all irritating me."

-

Flying up in the skies with his friends, Hiccup glanced at every single one of them with a relieved smile that had everyone confused. "I'm glad you all made it out alive.." was all he could say before focusing on coordinating the tailfin and steer. Everyone was silent. And Thatch nudged Snotlout to fly a little closer to inspect Hiccup being silent which is unusual. "Oye, dragon. Care to tell me what's wrong with captain?" Thatch questioned the night fury, and after a few grumbles and low growls from his brother, Thatch furrowed his eyebrows and held a hand to Hiccup's auburn hair, ruffling it glumly. "You can talk to dragons..?" Snotlout asked and the man nodded.

"What did Ace say?" Astrid perked up, now intrigued to know what the dragon had told the cook to have the man to react and ruffle the boy's hair warmly. She had no time to be amazed at Thatch's hidden abilities to be able to talk to dragons. "Ace said he found Hiccup and Viggo in the the chambers. The man was stabbing his nail through the boy's cheek. Fortunately it wasn't deep, but there will be a small scar."

"However, the pain inflicted on him didn't seem to be the reason for him to act like this. As if he's relieved to know we're all safe and sound. Was all Ace had told me." Thatch finished and everyone awed at Hiccup's kindness and concern for his friends. Dagur felt tears streaming down his face again and sniffled knowing Hiccup worried even about the redhead. "Oh brother!" he yelled with sobs and sniffs.

"Let's get you patched up as soon as we get to the Edge, alright?" Thatch reassured the teenager but Hiccup shook his head. "No, the gold. I figured out where Viggo hid the gold, let's go back to the island gang." he informed everyone and they all followed his order nonetheless.

Astrid followed Hiccup from behind, "So, how did you figure out where the gold is?" she questioned and Hiccup smiled at her. "A few things tipped me off. First, the tracks leading to the store house didn't make sense." he began to explain with his hand gestures. "Then the hunters had shovels and pickaxes, like they were building something." the auburn-haired grinned, getting to the last part of his explaination. "But ultimately, Viggo gave it away himself when he pointed to the map of the island over his desk."

Hiccup faced all of his friends, his hand gestures up and around as he spoke. "There weren't any viking ruins on Viggo's map!" he finished, then glanced at Ace who was listening the whole time. "If you don't mind bud?" he asked and Ace rolled his eyes along with a smirk as he shot a few plasma blasts at the ruins and there revealed gold behind the ruins. "Genius!" Fishlegs and Astrid gasped, amazed by Hiccup's intelligence. "It was hiding in plain sight all along!" Astrid exclaimed with a smile and Heather nodded. Hiccup scratched his dragon's snout and chin as a thanks for his help. Not long they all worked together to gather the gold.

Astrid and Heather stood beside each other watching the sunset. "I have to go.." Heather spoke softly, turning her gaze to her lover. "I know." Astrid responded dejectedly. "He can't do it without me." Heather added and Astrid glanced back at her beloved. "And you need to find out about your family Heather, your heritage." and they smiled at one another, holding hands as they looked up at each other. "Just know babe, we will always, well, I will always be here for you." Astrid finished with loving eyes gazing right at the other and Heather quickly leaned in, kissing her on the cheek. "Thank you." the raven-haired female whispered affectionately. "Send me a terror mail all the time." Astrid requested and Heather chuckled. Dagur approached the two and glanced at Astrid with determined eyes. "She'll be safe with me." the redhead exclaimed, holding out a hand at Astrid, and the blonde held out her hand as well, both of them gesturing a handshake. "She better be, or I'll come for your throat." she added with a threat and Dagur smiled nervously.

Mounting windshear, Astrid and Hiccup approached her for the last time. "Be safe out there babe." Astrid begged and Heather smiled and nodded. "Let us know if you find Oswald." Hiccup interrupted and Heather glanced at the auburn-haired with a smile as well. "I will. And thanks Hiccup, for everything." and with a powerful flap, the metallic dragon launched up the sky, catching up with Dagur. "Until we meet again, dragon riders!" the redhead exclaimed in a louder tone and the siblings with their dragons flew and they hollered a berserker style battlecry.

Astrid was approached by Fishlegs and Hiccup. "Hey, she'll be back." Fishlegs reassured. "Never knew you and Heather would be dating." Hiccup blurted out and Astrid playfully nudged a shoulder at his stomach and they laughed.

After making sure they have gathered all the gold, the dragon riders began mounting their dragons. Hiccup glanced at everyone with a smile. "Alright gang. Let's take all of these gold back to berk and keep an ore for one of us. Let's go!"

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holy shit this is by far the longest chapter I've written. 6669 words!