About time!

''Where have you been? ' Hiccup asked as Astrid landed after checking out her surrounding, making sure no men were too close.

''Oh, you know... Right, left... Searching for you pretty much everywhere.'' she answered reaching down a hand to help him hop on.

While Ryker's crew took hold of their weapons, bows and arrows, Stormfly was already up in the air, out of their range.

''How did you find me?'' Hiccup asked behind her, his arms wrapped around her waist for Stormfly wasn't known for flying very steadily.

''I didn't.'' Astrid said, ''Stormfly did. She never forgot your smell from last time.''

''That's... horrifying.'' Hiccup stated.

They soared low, Stormfly's massive feet almost touching the tip of the trees as they flew their way back to the base to regroup.

''Where are the others?'' Hiccup asked.

''Their preparing a defensive barrier around the base, just in case any of the Hunters might make it there.'' she explained. ''Why do you think only Ryker's here?''

''If I had to take a guess, I'd say he was sent by Viggo for me.''

''Why doesn't Viggo simply come here himself?''

''Because Viggo never puts himself in danger.''

''Oh, yeah... Almost forgot that. How far do you think Ryker is gonna go to get what he wants?''

''I'd say as far as it takes...''

''How's that?''

''He almost killed Dagur.''

''Dagur's here?!''

But before Hiccup could answer, one of three fired nets caught around Stormfly's wing, and went crashing down towards the ground, knocking Hiccup and Astrid out of the saddle as she spun uncontrollably. Both riders hadn't time to scream because before they could, they were already hitting branches, gasping the pain more than the fear.

Hiccup landed a couple feet away from Astrid and Stormfly, after hitting sharp twigs and being cut on the cheek in the process.

''Alright... That could've hurt more, I suppose...'' he said to himself as he got to his feet and checked out his surroundings, searching for Astrid and Stormfly. ''Astrid?'' ''It didn't take long and he spotted her with Stormfly, unwrapping the net around her wing. ''Is she okay?''

''She'll be fine. But she won't be able to fly right now... Which is great...'' she said, ''Where do you think those nets came from? Ryker's men were all at the beach, right..?''

''I'm not so sure about that...'' he answered as he got sight of men surrounding them, Hunters, to be exact. They were all armed to the teeth, approaching them dangerously from every side, Hiccup and Astrid in the middle of the circle with a downed Stormfly.

''Where do they come from?'' Astrid whispered as her and Hiccup placed themselves back against back, sword and axe out.

''I have no idea... '' he whispered back.

Hiccup took hold of his sword's handle with both hands and held it tight as one ran for him, a giant spiky mace in hand. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and yelled ''DUCK!'', and he and Astrid ducked the instant the Hunter's mace swung. A second too late and neither of them would have a head about now. As the man's weapon flew out of control, Hiccup took the chance to strike, and gave him a painful kick in the guts with his metal leg. Both riders took back their position as others took out a second weapon just in case after watching their pal collapse. Stormfly shot spines when she saw some approaching her friends too quickly, and ran around, wings opened wide, making herself look bigger. Hiccup and Astrid stayed together, fighting off anyone that dared come close. Until a soldier charged at them, causing them to separate themselves and let the man hit a tree as he continued running. And by then, he and she had their own Hunters to fight, which wasn't easy anymore for they had each at least five. But it was going surprisingly good. And with all the techniques Astrid had shown Hiccup, the lad was defending himself fine.

Hiccup swung his sword at his adversary, creating nasty gashes when they didn't get the chance to block his blows. But while he was busy focusing on one, two others came from behind him and knocked his weapon out of his hands and one placed a hand to cover his mouth so he didn't called for backup from his friend.

Being too busy with hers, Astrid didn't noticed the fact that Hiccup was in trouble, being tied up a gagged, and taken back towards the beach.

It was only moments later when she finished off the last one with Stormfly, turning around to go help Hiccup, that she noticed.

''Hiccup?'' she called, ''Hiccup!''

She ran to the spot she had last seen him, taking his Gronckle Iron sword that was left lying on the bloody ground. ''No...''

If he wasn't here, and not a body lay on the ground, that meant they took him... And she knew exactly where they were taking him...

...

''No! Come on! Let me go! Let go of me!'' Hiccup yelled through the gag as he was carried on a shoulder with his arms tied to his back.

He was thrown at the ground by the man, right back in front of Ryker. Hiccup stood on his knees, bending forward, his forehead almost touching down the sand before him. The same soldier that had carried him took hold of his hair and forced him to look upwards. Hiccup cried out the pain, shutting his eyes tight.

''A runt... They say they're smart. But running isn't a smart move...'' Ryker spoke, placing the end of his sword under Hiccup's jaw. ''Take him to the ship.''

''Aye, sir,'' the man said and Hiccup was forced up to his feet.

A sudden war cry came from the distance, and a furious Astrid came running out of the woods with her axe in hands, ready to kill anything and anyone that stood in her path.

Ryker gave a heavy sigh, and waited for the girl to get closer.

''AARGH!'' went Astrid as she charged for Ryker, and the instant she knew she was close enough, she swung her axe at the man, only for her blade to sink in the armor protecting his arms. And before she had time to take it out, Ryker gave her a violent punch in the guts, sending her flying backwards, crashing in the sand.

''My, my... I am going to enjoy watching you die in front of your friend,'' Ryker laughed as he raised his sword above his head.

''NOOO!'' Hiccup cried out, as he watched Ryker raising his blade. ''ASTRID!''

It was clear that Ryker never got in a proper fight against Astrid, for when the blade came down, she rolled on the side, and got to her feet incredibly quickly and gave the man a couple of good deserved punches in the face.

Ryker growled furiously as he took his sword out of the sand and swung it to the lass, Astrid's axe still stuck in his arm. But the fight didn't go that far for Dagur came out of nowhere and rushed for Ryker, pinning him to the ground giving Astrid time to go get Hiccup. Not quite understanding what he was doing, Astrid took her axe and ran for Hiccup, killing any man in her way.

Hiccup stayed low for the time Astrid knocked the guards out, just in case she was carried away, and might kill him too. But at the end, he found himself untied with her by his side, a hand placed on his shoulder, smiling.

''Let's get these guys back in the water,'' Hiccup said as Astrid handed him over his sword.

While Dagur fought Ryker barehanded, Hiccup and Astrid battled what was left from the crew, swimming them back to their ships.

''You...'' Ryker growled as rocked his sword at Dagur, ''I'm gonna kill you!''

''You'll try...'' Dagur spat, escaping death one more time.

Ryker grew tired and kicked the young chief in the leg, sending him to the ground as he cried out the pain, bringing Hiccup and Astrid's attention to them.

Astrid looked at Hiccup, knocking what he was thinking.

''Hiccup, no!'' she cried, reaching out a hand to grab him before he went off, but it was too late. Hiccup wasn't known to let people die in an unfair fight...

Running through Ryker Hiccup went, but luck wasn't with him at that present moment, for he forgot about Ryker's size and the man pushed the other side of bade of his sword against the boy's throat as soon as he was on top. He barred his teeth and pressed harder, choking Hiccup, forgetting he had to deliver the youth alive to his brother waiting back on the ship.

Hiccup tried gasping for air, but no air seemed to want to come in or out. He tried kicking the mean above him, but he had grown too weak, even with the adrenaline rush kicking in, he wasn't able to get him off to breathe. Knowing he wasn't able to do anything now, he shut his eyes tight and waited patiently for death to find him.

''You people never learn...'' Ryker growled, smiling as he watched Hiccup accepting death.

One thing Ryker never learned was make sure your enemy is dead before turning your back against him.

Dagur took hold of a random weapon lying on the ground once he got to his feet, grabbed the handle tightly, and swung the deadly end at Ryker's head.

Without a sound, the man collapsed beside Hiccup, out clean. Hiccup held his throat and sat up as soon as he was free and gasped desperately for air, his eyes red as blood. He didn't register what exactly happened but he was glad to be alive at the moment.

Dagur dropped the weapon in the sand, and looked down at his unconscious enemy.

''I could say the same for you...'' he breathed.

It took time for Hiccup to pull through, but he finally made it and looked up at Dagur who stood in front of him, without wearing any murderous or blood thirsty look, just a simple look of relief.

The Berserker reached out a hand for Hiccup to take it and help him to his feet. Without any hesitation, Hiccup took his hand and was helped up to his feet.

Astrid came running to them, quiet shocked to see Dagur helping Hiccup.

''You okay?'' she asked, covered of sweat from battling the rest of the Hunters alone.

''Yeah,'' Hiccup answered, ''I think.''

''Great. Now, what do you want...'' she asked, addressing herself to Dagur.

Dagur looked at her quiet confused, but then smiled, ''What do I want..?'' he said thoughtfully, thinking about everything he actually wanted. ''Mmh... This comes with no prize,'' he finally said, placing a hand on Hiccup's small shoulder.

''Stop playing games...'' Astrid warned, ''everything comes with a prize with you... You wouldn't risk your life for us, that I know...''

''Wrong!'' Dagur almost yelled, ''Hiccup, is my brother. And brothers always look after each other.''

Astrid narrowed her eyes at him. ''Alright...'' she said flatly, her eyes never leaving him. ''But you're leaving either way...''

Dagur smiled as an answer. ''You have my word...''

Astrid glared at him one last time; for she didn't trust him more than before even after saving Hiccup's life.

''Tough one...'' Dagur whispered to Hiccup.

''I know...''

...

No more than a couple days, Dagur and Savage were off the island and back on their ships, were they belonged as for the Dragon Riders set more watchtowers around the island, and mostly around the north beach, for it was now well known to welcome the enemy.

Ryker was carried back between claws on his ship, dropped on the same he came from, for Hiccup had given the order. Killing wasn't his thing, and Ryker wasn't the head of the Dragon Hunters.

Hiccup and Astrid were healed from every cut created during the fighting and had recovered completely and were carrying on with the swordfight lessons. And she had so say... He had improved a lot after all what happened.

Something Hiccup kept thinking about was why Dagur had helped him... He did save him from losing his head, but... It's not like knew he needed to save him back... Maybe Dagur did change a bit like Heather told them, when she explained how she managed to escape... But he would still watch his back. One thing for sure was that he would always pick crazy over berserk, anytime of the week.

...

Ryker walked inside Viggo's cabin under deck as they sailed their way back to their island, for there wasn't anything left to do around Dragon's Edge. They were outnumbered and Ryker was injured from the blow he received from Dagur.

''What happened?'' Viggo asked, noticing his brother's gash.

''Dagur...'' Ryker growled.

''Dagur? What about him?''

''He was on the island, stood in the way of your plans... helped the Dragon Riders.''

Viggo lowered his gaze and turned around to face the wall behind him.

''Dagur followed the same path as his sister...'' he said, calm outside, but raging inside, for that Berserker ruined his plans like Ryker said. ''He's now standing in the grey zone...''

''The grey zone..?'' Ryker thought out loud, asking his brother what he was saying.

''The line between good and evil...''