So... It's been a while, hasn't it? Yes. This story hasn't been updated in two years and I can't say with any level of certainty what my excuse is.

Other than saying a lot has changed in 2 years. Like my engagement, meeting my roommate, discovering more about what's socially right... Accepting the demons of my past and getting past it.

Most importantly, I learned a bit about accepting myself. I wouldn't say I'm perfect yet but... I'm trying. And I also think I've improved as a writer. I suppose we will see, won't we?

While I don't expect many to return... I'm holding out hope.

Legalities are a bitch.

Because DreamWorks and Disney own these properties. But I own my head! And they can't have my imagination! Wankers...

And remember: M rated scenes will be present in the story. Be warned now.

Check asterisks for authors notes in explaining my inspirations and references.

And so, without any more delay,

Checkmate. Chapter 8.

The weeks had proved almost unbearable as the seemingly endless tundra formed around our feet in every direction. No end in sight, save the end of our ropes.

Yet Hiccup was sure Arindel couldn't be far from here. It matched the landscape we were warned of facing. Cold and dry for miles.

"Why do we need to travel through this frozen hell hole again? Can soldiers really be worth this?" Merida complained from under her thick cloak.

Hiccup nodded from his place at the front, using his sword for a torch... And some heat. "They aren't just soldiers: The Sorcerer's Academy is here and they have some of the finest mages known to man in this place. If we even want to think about taking this dragon down a few pegs, magic is essential to the process. Even if they aren't useful against it, which I doubt they would be, they can rain fire on hoards of enemies or stop them in their tracks with lightning. The most important thing they offer is knowledge. They have minds trained to the art of studying ancient magics."

"Well, it doesn't get any more ancient and magical than a giant dragon, I suppose." Rapunzel said from her position.

I sighed and Pat Hiccup on the shoulder, "We need heavier coats. This won't do alone. I may be okay, but you three will freeze. If not by the time we arrive, then we will certainly when we leave."

I knew Hiccup was heavily contemplating my point... And I knew he was cold. They all were... Not many could handle it like I could. Not even other mages.

"I know. Look, it's getting late. We can crash in a cave if we don't spot the city within the next half mile." He said, noting possible resting spots in the area... There weren't many of them... I hoped none had hibernating bears laying in wait.

Jack and I took first watch, as usual. Ladies first, and all that. It was at this time Jack and I set about enjoying each other's company. Over the past few weeks, we had grown so immensely close. Close enough for me to sit, back to his chest, in between his legs as his arms circled my torso... And yet despite our physical closeness, I realized nothing between us was... Well, given purpose or even a name.

"Jack... What are we?" I asked as I watched the snow flurry past us and I felt the white haired mage shift.

"Good question. I don't know really." He States, chin resting on my head.

It wasn't friendship. No friends did the things we did and yet... We hadn't named ourselves anything more than exactly that. So I decided to finally push the subject. I couldn't wait on this forever.

"Jack... This is the first time in my life I've ever felt so... Close to another. No woman has made me feel as warm as you do."

"That's a bit of an paradox..." He joked in a deep voice. I laughed, "Be serious. The point is that... For the first time in my life, I feel like... Like I have the choice to be with whoever I want... And Jack, that person is-"

I suddenly, but gently, felt my head tugged back and my lips claimed by his icy dominance... And I gave in so heavily, moaning into his lips almost encouragingly. his hand began fiddling with one of my armor straps and I didn't stop him, letting my hand slip into his hair as his free hand slid up and down my chest, slipping under my breastplate and messing with a nipple in my shirt.

I would never tell a soul of the very unking-like sound I made when he did this... Unless I gave up royalty and adventuring to be a prostitute.

But just as my body was warming to the attention, he stopped. He pulled away and left me a whimpering mess of desire. I looked up at his face, asking why he would do something so torturous to me and he answered after pecking my nose with a much more chaste kiss.

"Hiccup, you've never been with anyone... And I can't ask you to be with me unless you've given the prospect some real thought... I don't want to rush you into something you may not be ready for."

"Then why did you kiss me like that?" I asked, still a bit high on my own desires... Nothing be was saying was satisfying me as much as our previous actions had been. He rubbed my cheek gently.

"Well, now you have an idea of what being intimate with a man is like. A small scratch on the surface of all it entails... But it's there. Now... Now you have to think on it." He said... And the two of us fell into a respectable silence.

Arindel was even more impressive than I had previously imagined... But then again, this place seemed to defy the limits of imagination.

We certainly weren't expecting a giant dome in the middle of the frozen wastes, all a beautiful crystal in design. Yet inside, there was sunshine, and life and it was practically an oasis in the middle of hell. I could not say I minded the change in scenery... And I'm certain the others were thankful for more forgiving clothing. Both Merida and 'Punzie were sporting thicker tunics, one green and one pink, fur coats and thick leather pants, complete with fur boots.

Hiccup had decided on merely thickening his clothes under his armor. And adding a cloak. It was effective enough.

We had been greeted by a young lady who claimed to be the headmistress' sister. I wasn't inclined to disbelieve her... But plenty of nice looking people wouldn't think twice about stabbing you in the back.

"My Liege, this is quite unexpected... No messages were delivered and we are quite busy with our own predicaments at the moment... Which is tying up Lady Elsa's time." She said as Hiccup nodded, "Regardless, we need to speak to her immediately. It's a matter of safety in our nation." Hiccup said as he kept pace with her through the marketplace they had purchased their goods from.

'Punzie sped up to match their steps. "I have an idea: maybe we can help you with your issue and... In return you can help us." She offered... Which seemed agreeable. Even in a monarchy, you still have to grease some palms... And you do attract more flies with honey then bull shit.

Anna, the Headmistress' sister, seemed to falter in her step, as if stress was finally breaking her. "It's been horrible! I can't even speak of it here." She states before casting her weary eyes around to see if there are any spies.

She spoke to the lot of us. "Listen, it's a delicate situation... But come to the Royal chambers on the Morrow. Before noon, I CANNOT express that enough." She states before standing up, "I've already had your fees waved for the tavern this evening. You have two rooms to enjoy, and two meals. I bid you fair rest." She said before she rushed off from the square.

Merida took the moment to speak up, "How much you wanna bet Draco is behind this shite?"

That's a bet only a fool would lose.

I was surprised by the amount of people who frequented the tavern at night. When you imagine a college of mages, you don't picture ale and dancing... But here I am, standing in the midst of it all and nursing a glass of wine. It was so wonderful to actually get some rest after the weeks of literal torture on my body.

Yet I wouldn't dare trade it away for a second. My mind fell on my father again... And how I wouldn't even be here without my father's sacrifice. Well, even surviving Draco's attack, I doubt this would've been allowed... I only hoped that his sacrifice wouldn't be in vain. No amount of adventuring was worth it if I failed.

I took a swig of wine when suddenly a hand was on my shoulder. I was expecting Jack... But it was Rapunzel. She looked quite relaxed. She had likely just finished with her bath (A luxury in this city I would have to take in once more before departing)

"I heard about what happened last night... Well, I forced it out of Jack. You two weren't acting close today and I found it odd." She said as I sighed and took another sip at the prospect, not sure if I wanted to indulge her inquiries.

"And?" I asked as she looked around. "Are you okay? I can kick his ass if you want..." But I shook my head in disagreement.

"It's not necessary Punzie I'm just... Trying to think on it, like Jack wanted me to."

She shook her head as if that were the worst idea she had ever heard. "Forget that crap. Look, I've never seen Jack that happy, and I've known him for several years now. You two are close. There's no waiting with love. Especially for us. We could die tomorrow by a bandits sword... And he thinks waiting is a good idea?"

She shook her head but I filled her in on Jack's stance on the matter. She still wasn't convinced. "Maybe thinking about it isn't necessary. Maybe you both need to throw caution to the wind and let what you both want to happen... Happen. He's outside... Don't keep him waiting or I'll throw you out of here myself." She states and I was struck both dumb and happily surprised. She didn't fear my title enough to hold back her emotions. Sure, they treated me normally enough but... Enough to give me a direct order? That was impressive. I finished my wine and set the glass down, determined to follow through with her advice.

I stepped from the tavern and desperately looked around for the white haired mage... And I finally spotted him, sitting on a small ice column he likely conjured and starring at the moonlit crystal walls of the dome.

I couldn't wait anymore. I began walking over to him but stopped short of him once he stood up... I was dumbstruck when he turned to face me. The moonlight caught his hair and made it almost glow in the pale light, framing his face and darkening his features.

I took a deep breath. "Jack... I need you." I said. Not in utility or combat... I needed him. I couldn't bear the thought of being apart for even a day... And my heart was pounding in my chest as he took a step forward.

Call me eager, but I rushed him. I jumped, wrapping my arms around his neck as I was spun and caught in a breathtakingly cool kiss.

It was so cliche and romantic, like those novels my mother enjoyed reading but... I couldn't help but think of how perfect it was. The kiss, the romantic ambiance of the Moon and the atmosphere... Not many can say their second or even their first kiss was so perfect.

I moaned as he deepened the kiss for only a few moments before turning away and we settled into a hug. "Jack... I can't imagine a worse future than thinking tomorrow we may not get the chance we have right now... I need you. I... I love you." I told him... Silently praying that he could begin to reciprocate my feelings.

Moments seemed like eternity as my heart pounded as Jack tightened his hug.

Yet all my stress left when he muttered, "I love you too." Into my ear and we resumed our kiss. For once, everything was perfect.

For once, exactly. Because the next moment, the air was filled with the sounds of screaming and magic. Jack shoved me away as a fireball came cascading past me and I landed on my rump.

"What the hell is going on?" I said, drawing my sword as I saw several mages, attempting to defend themselves from...

"Banekin!*" Jack called out as he flung a bolt of magic at one, in attempts to aid the struggling mages.

"I knew something wasn't right here." Jack said as the bar patrons flooded the streets, including Merida and Rapunzel.

"What the bloody hell is going on here?" Merida said before she loosed an arrow at the demonkin.

"Blood magic." Punzie said as she and Merida joined us.

"Okay... I don't know much about demon fighting... So I say we just fight until we discover-"

"My King!" Came the familiar cry of Anna as she ran from the crowds in order to find us. Her dress was singed and her hair was a mess.

"What the hell is going on!" Jack demanded. She looked ashamed, "Hell itself! I was trying to keep it contained until..."

"Run and talk," Merida said as she notched an arrow, "Because at this rate, we're gonna be demon food."

Anna suddenly turned on her heels and stomped on the ground, a light yellow-green rune flowing around her as she suddenly yelled out and suddenly... The demons were petrified in place. She closed her open palm and the creatures shattered into rubble.

"Impressive." I said. Anna nodded, "That was my most powerful attack... And it won't turn the forces back for long. So come with me and I'll explain on the way."

"A week ago, a woman by the name of Mother Gothel appeared outside the city, claiming to be here on business for the King... Or you. And that you had ordered extensive research in demon summoning and how it worked."

"Which I didn't... And was likely Draco Bludfist."

"And she claimed to be the preeminent scholar on the topic... So my sister, Elsa, had been working with her up until yesterday when they finally... Managed to to open a portal. Gothel insisted the best way to study was on live specimens... But when the two went through, the control set in place just... Shattered! It's impossible to close the portal if I ever want to see Elsa again. And it's been taking nearly all my power to keep it open."

"Why can't we shut it and reopen it?" Hiccup asked.

"One, I don't know how to re open it. And most importantly, the demon plain only opens up to the area it lets out of once. Even if we managed to reopen it, it's as good a guess as any as to where it will let out. This is our only chance." She said. We approached the Royal chamber when I finally asked the most important question, after flash freezing a newly escaped banekin and shattering it.

"What's the plan?"

Anna took a deep breath. "You're going in and I'm going to close the portal behind you."

Merida's eyes widened, "Are you fucking mad?" She asked before Anna held up a hand.

"Elsa is still alive." She states, holding up a glowing necklace. "If the light in this pendant goes out, I'll know she's gone. She made this in case something went wrong in the Demon Realm. But she can reopen the portal and opening a portal back from the demon realm doesn't work the same as coming into it. So finding your way out will be possible... As long as she lives." She stated, worried about the prospect of that not remaining true.

Hiccup pat her shoulder. "If you felt anyone could do it, you would have sent someone else in. We're here to do these things for a reason... But next time? Simply tell us. It's okay."

She nodded and leaned into his hand, sparking a twinge of protectiveness in my head. "You're kind my king... Stay safe." She said as the four of us faced the hole... A giant fiery looking portal that practically screamed evil.

I took Hiccup's hand, and the four of us walked through the hell hole and into the Plain of Demons.

And there you go. Chapter 8.

After so long, I can happily say this has been updated to my satisfaction... And likely will continue to be. Keep an eye out on previous chapters. My next goal is to edit them for mistakes and inconsistencies... And also, moving it to AO3 for others viewing pleasure.

Be sure to review and favorite if you liked this story.

Until next time.