WELL, HERE WE ARE. PART ONE OF THE NEW ONESHOT SERIES THAT ARE INTENDED FOR THE MORE MATURE TARGET AGEGROUP. FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T READ THE NOTICE, I INTEND TO SHOW HOW THE HUNTERS TRULY ARE - SWIFT, DECISIVE, INSTINCTIVE AND EXPERIENCED HUNTERS.

LETS START WITH THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTERS DUALOGY. I WON'T BE CRUEL ENOUGH TO KILL ASTRID AT SEA, AS THAT WILL LEAVE THE ENTIRE STORY TO BE WORTHLESS. IT MIGHT EVEN MAKE SENSE THAT THE DRAGON HUNTERS WILL TRY TO BREAK HER FOR INFORMATION ANYWAY. SO, I WILL KEEP THE VERY CONVENIENT AND JUST-IN-TIME SAVE BY HICCUP IN THE STORY.

SO, LET'S GO FORWARD TO WHEN THE GANG ACTUALLY TRACKED THE HUNTER SHIPS AND ARE ATTEMPTING A RESCUE. REMEMBER, THESE ARE NOT 'NAMBY-PAMBY' HUNTERS, AS GOBBER PUT SO DELICATELY. NO, THESE ARE COLD, CALCULATIVE, ACCURATE AND SEASONED HUNTERS WHO ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THEIR HEFTY PAY CUT THEY WILL RECEIVE AFTER THE SALE OF THE NIGHT FURY - MONEY DOES WONDERS TO ONE'S DEDICATION, I GUESS.

STILL, THAT LEAVES ME WITH TWO ALTERNATE VERSIONS.

ONWARDS:

FIRST VERSION :

The five ship fleet was moving quickly. No matter how many problems Ryker had with his little brother, he had to admit that Viggo gave his everything for the business. Having these next generation ships helped a great deal in their business, after all. Viggo had caught hold of some experienced ship builders in the past, who had come up with these state-of-the-art ships, which where not only fast but also relatively massive compared to other ships in the archipelago and beyond. Those builders were handsomely rewarded, and had been a part of the Hunters ever since, but that's different.

Everything about the Hunters was symbolic in a sense. Their massive ships and that Hunter logo managed to instill fear in everyone. The Hunters were respected above everything else everywhere they went, and it was a godly sight. It was the height of power, he guessed. So, as the fleet expeditiously made way for the Hunter Port, Ryker felt at peace in his element - leader of the Hunter group. They had yet another good catch to present to Viggo, and so, the Hunters were extremely elated at the thought of hefty money bags. If everything went well, that is.

Ryker was at the bow of the ship, enjoying the view of the expansive ocean before him, when he heard it. A fine whistling sound that was the source of fear AND excitement for every Dragon Hunter. That was the sound of a Fury cutting through air at unbelievable speeds - be it a Light Fury or a Night Fury. Dragons which were EXTREMELY valueable, and which haven't been caught before. Simply because of their reclusive nature. Very few of the Hunters had actually heard it in person, let alone see them. So, when Ryker whipped around to see a pitch black dragon hurtling towards them, he felt his heart rate rise.

That was, of course, before he saw two people RIDING the dragon. He didn't have time to think about it for long, as the Night Fury quickly let lose a Plasma Blast at the right side of his lead ship. It didn't do much damage, but it managed to rock the ship from side to side a bit.

"I AM HERE FOR MY DRAGON!!!"

Aaaahhh, so that's the icing of the cake. The girl whose Nadder he had managed to capture the day before was here for her dragon. A revenge mission, obviously, which meant only one thing - she was part of a group, and was an enemy to the Hunters. But if that group had a Night Fury, then...

Do-gooder dragon riders were one thing, but THE Dragon Riders with a Night Fury in their group was another. The Grimborns had heard about it - A batch of five dragons and six Riders wreaking havoc all over the Viking Archipelago. And now, the Hunters finally came face-to-face with the legendary Dragon Riders.

Only time will tell if these hormonal teenagers and their overprotective beasts will live up to that legend.

That didn't matter to Ryker at the moment, because all sense of propreity was lost to him the moment he laid his eyes on the black dragon.

"A NIGHT FURY!!!"

That was what Ryker yelled out, and by the revered murmers and bewildered shouts of the Hunters behind him, it was obvious that the others had heard him. He laughed to himself.

Just when he thought that the week couldn't get any better.

He was right - only a moment later, a Monstrous Nightmare and a Hideous Zippleback fired on his ship, but managed to do nothing other than leave behind some smoke. These were that famed group of dragon lovers.

Ryker was NOT impressed. While he had to admit that these teenagers knew what they were doing, they didn't know who they were attacking. They should have known better than to fire on his ships with Dragons like those - these ships were made to withstand fire from all dragons, except maybe the Furies. Not a good first impression.

No matter.

"FIRE!!! And LEAVE NO QUARTERS!!! I need all four dragons ALIVE!!!"

And the Hunters did just that. A volley of arrows, somewhere in the twenties or thirties, rose in the air. It was too easy - the Nightmare was right in front of them.

"Hookfang? HOOKFANG!!!"

No less than five Dragonroot arrows hit their mark - one on each wing, two on the underbelly and one on the tail. Hookfang didn't just lose control, he just outright fainted, resulting in five thousand pounds of mass to rush towards the water.

"Snotlout!"

"NO!!!"

Way too late for that. Hiccup and Fishlegs yelling in dismay did nothing to slow the duo. They hit the water, and vanished from sight. A net was cast out quickly.

This was bad news for the Riders, but the Hunters were just getting started. The sudden fall of their comrade made everyone of the gang stop in their tracks and see the scene unfold. That was a mistake.

Atleast forty arrows rose from the two ships in the second row, aimed towards the remaining three dragons. Taking advantage of the stationary targets, they hit true, except for one dragon. The Night Fury narrowly escaped by swerving out of the way, saved only by its agility and superior speed. That didn't bode well for one of the humans on his back, though. While Hiccup had a harness making sure he stayed in the saddle, Astrid didn't. The sudden lurches meant that she lost hold, and fell towards the sea.

"Astrid! NO!!!"

Toothless was too busy narrowly avoiding the arrows to heed to Hiccup's cries or his pleads to turn back for her. It was too late anyway, as a chain quickly grabbed hold of her as she made contact with the water surface.

"ASTRID!!!"

Hiccup looked around for help, and what he saw didn't help matters at all.

While Meatlug was immune to Dragonroot, she took in eight arrows. They pierced her wings, arms and body, and they STUNG. Her pain made her fall out of the sky, when she was immediately grabbed by a chain from one of the ships. Fishlegs screaming wasn't helping matters.

Barf and Belch were hit by six arrows. Two in the right wing, three in the body and one on its right neck. The two headed dragon, too, fell to the ocean loke a sack of bricks, completely knocked out. The twins were out of the saddle, and we're hurtling downwards too.

"Comin in hot, and BLOWING OUT SNOT!!!"

That was the last thing Tuff yelled out before he disappeared beneath the waves. Another net was cast out over the impact area.

And just like that, Hiccup was completely alone.

He glanced to the ships to see that Hookfang was being hauled up by the ship crew that cast their net. The dragon was non responsive, while Snotlout was clearly fighting to get free. Meatlug and Fishlegs were being subdued by the Hunters on yet another ship, while the others hauled in Astrid and the twins.

That didn't mean that the Hunters were occupied - no. That just meant that every archer was pointing their projectiles directly at the Night Fury now. Hiccup felt his heart come up to his throat. He used his last Trump card - trying to reason with the Hunters.

"Ryker! Don't do this! You don't know what you are doing! You have no ide-"

Hiccup was really number one when it came to being adamant and stubborn. He always thought that his plans will win. What he should have realised, though, that some people won't listen to HIS reasonings. Thay were here to do a jon, and they will get it done. Ryker just laughed out with malicious derision.

"On the contrary, DRAGON RIDER, I know exactly what I am doing. FIRE!!!"

No less that seventy arrows were let loose this time, from every singe ship from the five ship fleet. Even Toothless couldn't avoid all of them.

"TOOTHLESS!!!"

Even with the Fury brand of agility and speed, they were hit. Four arrows made contact - two on the right wing, and two on the torso. The Fury, too, fell like a sack of potatoes - spinning all the way and dragging Hiccup with him as the water surface got closer and closer, until they hit it with Hiccup below Toothless, meaning that he suffered the most contact. It felt like hitting a rock wall at vertiginous speeds, and all went black.

"Hiccup! Oh, thank goodness..."

The boy in question groaned a bit, before realising that he was lying on a hard wood floor, with five shadows looming over him. He blinked rapidly, and let out a sigh of relief when he saw that those five shadows were just his friends.

The gang quickly receded back when Hiccup sat up, clutching his head. He quickly looked around, and became confused.

"Wh-where am I?"

Complete silence was the answer to his question. He turned around stare at his friends, whom were ashen faced.

"Guys? Where am I? Astrid?"

On being asked directly, she couldn't stay silent.

"Hiccup, we are in a cell. A cell in Ryker's ship."

And just like that, everything returned to Hiccup. All his memories hit him like a yak-stampede. He was quickly overcome with panic.

"We-we have to get out! We need to get to our Dragons! We-we..."

Words failed him as he saw the downcast look of his comrades. A stab of fear entered his heart.

"What's wrong? The dragons are safe, right? RIGHT???"

"We don't know, Hiccup. We haven't seen them." - Fishlegs.

"Well, they are okay. I know they are. We have to get ou-"

Snotlout lost it.

"Save it, Hiccup. It's done. The Hunters have won."

Hiccup took a step back.

"Won? What do you mea-"

"We are on a boat, aren't we? Feel around a bit. What do you feel?"

Now that Hiccup had got back most of his bearings, he felt around. It was way to stable and quiet for a ship moving on the high seas.

"We are ... docked? Where?"

The rest of the Riders looked among themselves. Astrid took the initiative and stepped forward.

"If we are not wrong, we are here at the Edge."

Hiccup took an involuntary step back, his eyes wide with fear.

"What? No! That cannot be possible! These Hunters don't even know where the edge is!"

Snotlout let out a very cruel bark of laughter.

"Like they needed to! Hiccup, Dagur is here, with Heather. They have teamed up with the Hunters."

It was finally too much news for Hiccup. His knees gave way as he landed on his butt, and looked around at the sad faces of his friends. Finally:

"No. Not Heather. We took her in! She won't do thi-"

"Yet, here we are."

It was Astrid who spoke this time, her face completely expressionless.

Hiccup just looked around, and shook his head.

"No..."

He gulped before asking.

"How long have I been out?"

"A day, give or take a couple of hours." - Ruff.

"Nothing much happened, Hiccup. Dagur and Heather reintroduced themselves to us and told us that this fleet was going to the Edge. To reclaim what was the Hunters' property in the first place." - Tuff.

Everyone knew that the 'property' was nothing other than the Dragoneye. Hiccup figured it out, too, and began to hyperventilate at how easily the plan to rescue Stormfly had screwed up. They had messed up, big time. He could only whimper:

"No. This cannot be happening..."

It was Snotlout who snapped yet again.

"Well, guess what, Hiccup? It IS happening. Heather is working for the Hunters. She is right here, and she is helping them. So much for you keeping your trust in her and inviting her back to the Edge."

Hiccup flinched, and Astrid scowled at Snotlout. She quickly looked back to Hiccup.

"Doesn't matter, Dagur knew the location of the Edge anyway. The main problem is that if they find the Dragoneye, we will be completely worthless to them. Just loose ends, nothing else-"

"And you are completely correct! You know, I always thought you were the more logical one in the group."

It was Dagur, his sinister and crazed voice sounding as malicious as ever. He was single handedly juggling the Dragoneye, flaunting it to the Dragon Riders in the cell. Every one of the inmates stiffened - the Hunters had found the Dragoneye in Hiccup's hut. They were expendable now.

Dagur, on the other hand, seemed to be having fun looking at their faces. He was looking for their response, and he seemed satisfied with it. He cackled.

"I have to thank you for these gifts, Hiccup. This, and all of your dragons. They are worth a lot. Especially your dragon. Your Night Fury well make us a lot of money. That, and I can finally have it's skull as my helmet! What a glorious day..."

The final statement made Hiccup snap out of it. He lunged at Dagur, but you could only go so far when there was a a dragon proof cell door in the way. Dagur clicked his tongue when Hiccup's hand flailed only a few inches away from his chest. Ryker and Heather joined him now, with six guards armed with crossbows. Ryker was the sporting an evil smirk, while Heather was wearing a completely unfathomable expression on her face. The presence of so many people made the Riders back up and press against the rear wall of the cell. The end was near.

Ryker spoke up now.

"Well? What are ya fools waiting for? Take yer positions! Finish 'em off!"

Heather flinched when she saw how the six guards aimed their crossbows at their individual Riders' hearts. She was never on the side of the Hunters, but she couldn't do anything in this position. Ryker had forced her to come down and see her friends die. The only reason she did it was do not lose the trust of the Hunters. She was seeing firsthand how ruthless they were, and if she went on their wrong side now, she and Windshear would be killed. She had no other choice than to helplessly see the guards smirking at the now cowering Riders, as their fingers inched towards their triggers.

"I can't do this. I can't see."

Heather couldn't do it, and quickly left. She couldn't see her friends getting slaughtered. That was too much for her. Much more than she bargained for. She ignored Dagur's whiny protests and Ryker's unamused huff, and quickly went up.

That didn't stop her from hearing a skinkt, as the crossbows let loose and the shrieks that sounded as six good people were wiped out of the world. She stood rooted to the spot, tears forming in her eyes, and wishing she could do something. But she couldn't.

She quickly went up to the deck and took a fresh breath of air. She shuddered and quickly wiped her tears. For the first time since she joined the Hunters, she was having second thoughts - did she do the right thing?

No. She couldn't afford to think like that. She was on a mission, and she had to finish it now. She had to do it for the sake of all the fallen Riders. She had to do it so the dragons could stay safe. If she failed, not only will she and her dragon be killed, but it will result in the mass massacre of Dragons. She simply HAD to succeed.

She pulled her hood over her head, and whistled for Windshear. She was up in the air soon. She closed her eyes and prayed to the gods to accept her friends to the Halls of Valhalla.

The Hunters made a LOT of money from the sales of the six Dragons. Yes, you read it right - Six Dragons. Why, you ask? Simple.

Dagur, Heather and Ryker went to visit Viggo soon. He, of course, recognised how Heather was not a a Dragon Hunter. On being given the news that the Dragon Riders were dead, he smiled on the inside. On the pretext of congratulating her, he invited her on a walk and promptly pushed her off a cliff. Her yells were heard by Windshear, but the Dragon was muzzled and restrained in a dragon proof cage. Given that the Dragoneye already had the Snow Wraith key, there was no need for a Flightmare. Dagur was ambushed and assasinated on that night. Brother and sister had played their part and had managed to procure the the Dragoneye for the Hunters. Viggo had laughed when the Hunters had tossed the mangled body of Dager into the ocean for the sharks. Everything was where it was supposed to be - The loose ends were cut, the Dragoneye was home, and business was booming.

The bodies of the Riders were, of course, dumped in the domed arena off the Edge. It was done to send a clear message - If you mess with the Hunters, they will retalite. And they will kill you. Everyone : BEWARE.

It wouldn't be until a fortnight later that Stoick and Gobber would find the dead bodies - dead, smelly, decomposed, and deserted

He would proceed to burn the corpses with the other parents, and would swear revenge against whoever did it. Seeing that they didnt have a lead, however, they couldnt do anything. Nobody had seen the Riders' dragons either. The murderers had evaded everything, and were free, And Stoick could do nothing but seethe in anger, scour the seas for revenge, and mourn for his son.

He had failed. He had failed his son, and his tribe.

The Hunters had won. Again.

WELL, THAT HAPPENED.

WINGS OF DRAGONS WOULD BE CONTAINING BLOOD VESSELS AND CAPILLARIES. ARROWS TO THE WINGS WOULD BE AN EFFECTIVE SHOT TOO.

THESE ONESHOTS WILL BE THIS DARK AND ANGSTY.

THE NEXT WILL BE AN ALTERNATE VERSION TO THIS STORY, AS TO WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF HICCUP HAD NOT BEEN STUBBORN AND HAD ESCAPED AFTER HIS FIRST CLOSE SHAVE. HE WILL WEAR THE SCREAMING DEATH ARMOR, BUT WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

PLEASE DON'T HATE ME. AND REMEMBER TO REVIEW - THAT'S IMPORTANT, I NEED TO KNOW IF YOU LIKE THEM.

UNTIL LATER, THEN.

ABHASCLASH.