Darkness was all he saw. Pain struck his whole body, like a thousand knives had been pierced through.

A stiff groan came out of his chapped lips.

Slowly, Hiccup opened his green eyes, trying to identify his surroundings.

His mind had no traces of memories. Instead, his mind was just a blank space full of nothingness.

Once his vision became clear, Hiccup could finally make out his surroundings.

He appeared to be curled up on a hard, cold floor, enclosed in a dark lit room.

There were hardly any windows, except a small hole above him that shed a tiny shed of light.

A closed iron door stood opposite of him; his only escape.

Voices- strange, distinct voices were heard on the other side.

Hiccup hardly recognised these voices. But hearing these voices did bring shivers down his spine.

The confused Viking slowly sat up, wincing at every pain that stabbed his body.

He placed a hand over his head, feeling his head throbbed as a headache took over.

Just as Hiccup stood up, he felt a heavy weight against his leg.

The brunet let out a yelp as his whole weight crashed against the concrete floor.

Hiccup glared at his leg, only to find it was bound by a chain attached against the wall.

Restricted from any movements, he knew he was grounded with no way of escape.

Luckily, he still had his prosthetic leg.

Grunting, Hiccup tried to yank free from the chains.

No matter what, it was no use. The chains were impossible to break free.

As the voices outside grew louder, Hiccup clasped his hands over his ears. He groaned at his throbbing headache.

His heart pounded heavily against his chest as these voices intensified.

A sickening feeling hurled inside his stomach, like a storm. Sweat trailed down his space the louder these voices got closer and closer.

Heavy footsteps thundered against the floorboards, making the boy's nerves to intensify.

The loud rattling of the door made the boy jolt up in alarm.

He stared at the door, eyes widened in fear.

Rummaging around his waistband, Hiccup searched for his sword, only to find it was no longer with him.

Left defenceless, the boy edged his back against the wall.

He sighed, burying his face against his knees to avoid his captor.

Captured. That's the only explanation for why he was here.

If he was captured, then his dragon must have met the same fate too.

Sensing something had happened to the poor Night Fury, Hiccup knew he had little time to lose.

He needed to find his dragon before it was too late.

Without his rider, Toothless was completely grounded, and that meant he was vulnerable to any danger that lingered around.

Without his dragon, Hiccup too was grounded, and defenceless. He wasn't a natural fighter, so it was sometimes a struggle whenever he faced dangerous threats.

"Ah, the little bastard's awake," an unfamiliar, gruff voice broke through the room, "Finally. Master Horas would be pleased to see you, boy,"

Slowly, Hiccup raised his head to meet the stranger's cold glare.

Judging from the Zippleback armour, Hiccup suspected the man was one of Horas' henchmen.

Oh no, Horas captured both Toothless and me, Hiccup thought to himself, I just hope he hasn't harmed Toothless. I have to find him.

Flashbacks of Toothless being manhandled by Horas' men came rushing back to him.

Then flashbacks of Hiccup treading on water; screaming; struggling to keep his head up came crashing back.

He vaguely remembered what happened after that.

All he remembered was drowning in the middle of the ocean before he blacked out.

Death dawn so close to him. Fortunately, he was still alive, despite being in the hands of a diabolical dragon hunter and his men.

To Hiccup, death seems more pleasing than being trapped in this hellhole.

As the man crept closer, Hiccup scowled at the ground.

He had the urge to fight back. But he was dead tired that he couldn't muster every bit of strength to fight.

His whole screamed fatigue. All he wanted was some decent rest.

With his dragon in danger, Hiccup was walking on thin ice. He couldn't think about sleep when his dragon's life hung on the line.

"Where's my dragon?" he murmured, his voice weak and frail.

The man glanced back at his fellow henchmen.

A disgusting smirk fell over his face.

"That unholy offspring of lightning and death belongs to Horas now,"

Hiccup's eyes grew wide with disbelief. He let out a yelp as pain struck to his side.

"Get up you foolish boy!" the man kicked the boy in the gut, "Horas is waiting for you, and you better go now. He is not a patient man, believe me,"

Ignoring the throbbing pain on his side, Hiccup weakly stood up. He stumbled forward, almost collapsing on the ground.

Blood rushed through his head as his head throbbed in pain.

He heard his stomach rumbled like thunder, and realised he hadn't eaten for a while.

Yet, food wasn't on his mind right now. He had more serious things to worry about.

One of the other henchmen came over to unbuckle the chains from his leg.

Just before Hiccup had the opportunity to escape, two other men grabbed him by the shoulders.

They steered him out of his cell, their grasp strong enough to prevent Hiccup from escaping.

Right now, Hiccup felt his spirits sunk. Like there was no hope of escaping the situation he somehow got himself in.

Whenever he got himself into any mess, Hiccup would have Toothless or his friends to bail him out.

He knew how to get through any situation, despite his ideas not going exactly to plan.

But not this time because he barely had a clue how to overcome this mess.

Isolated from his mother, his friends and his dragon, Hiccup never felt so alone before.

He felt as though his life had been suck right out of him.

"What has Horas done to Tooth-''

Hiccup stumbled forward as the henchmen shoved him to another room. He collapsed on the ground, face hitting the hard concrete surface.

Strong hands gripped from behind, almost crushing his wrists.

Biting back his tongue, Hiccup held back his urge to scream in pain.

A familiar croon suddenly made the boy look up.

Emerald green eyes attached to a reptilian body coated in black midnight scales stared into him. Black bat-like wings furled on either side of its body. Scars decorated the billions of scales scattered over its body.

Trapped in a makeshift cage was Toothless, looking more miserable than ever.

Chains bounded over the dragon's body, restricting him from his freedom.

Toothless hung his head low in misery. As if all hope has been stripped away from him.

Hiccup's face faltered seeing the Night Fury's current state.

Guilt bit him inside for getting his companion in this mess.

At least Horas hasn't harmed Toothless. Not yet anyway.

"T-Toothless..." Hiccup murmured his voice barely a whisper.

He let out a wheezy cough, and then fixed his gaze on his dragon forlornly.

"No...this is all my fault. I'm so sorry...bud,"

Cackling broke the boy out of his trance. He looked up, glaring at a smug-looking Horas sitting on his wooden makeshift throne.

The dragon hunter sneered at Hiccup like he were small bug he'd find a delight to crush.

"Finally, just the man I wanted to see," Horas hopped off his throne, pacing around the teen, "So, had a nice rest? Did my henchmen's hospitality warm you enough?"

Hiccup glared angrily at the cackling henchmen. He turned back to Horas, disgusted by his proud smirk.

The boy exhaled deeply about to speak, but Horas interjected.

"Your Night Fury friend is no longer yours,"

Horas went over to the Night Fury, stroking his head.

Toothless' eyes suddenly turned to slits. He let out a low growl, but the sad look in Hiccup's eyes calmed down the Night Fury.

"He is at my mercy. He is my property now," Horas chuckled darkly, "And you will be the one to help me train him. So, what's your secret, hmm? How did you train the unholy offspring of lightning and death?"

In that instant, Hiccup felt his blood boil. He clenched his fists, holding back the rage burning inside him.

"No, Horas. I won't help you," Hiccup shook his head, glaring at him coldly.

"I know your plan is to misuse dragons to control people. I know your goal is vengeance for all those years being mistreated, rejected,"

When Horas heard that, his glass-green eyes widen in shock.

"Wha-How do you know tha-''

"A wild guess, Horas," Hiccup declared with a glare, "But I won't let you touch my dragon. In fact, I won't let you harm any dragons, so you can get what you want. What you plan to do is messed up, Horas,"

Horas snarled at the boy. He crept towards him, his green eyes glaring at him coldly.

"If you don't do as I say, then I'll..." Horas paused, inhaling sharply, "I'll make you wish you were never even born. They call me Horas the Merciless for a reason,"

The henchmen murmured in agreement.

Although Horas was intimidating, Hiccup wasn't afraid of him. He knew deep beneath his horrible, intimidating exterior was a broken-hearted outcast, who hungered for revenge against those who had mistreated him, those who had trampled over him like a rug.

Growing up as an outcast, Hiccup knew exactly what it felt like to be different; to be shunned by his own tribe.

Hiccup recalled his mother telling him about Horas' past a few nights ago. He grew curious about her relations with Horas.

Were they foes? Or were they strangers who crossed past and grew a strong burning hatred? He had to know.

"So, what's it gonna be, boy?" Horas leaned forward, his foul breath fanning Hiccup's face, "Your dragon or your life? I need a trainer otherwise your dragon is no use to me,"

Hiccup scrunched his nose in disgust, backing away. He narrowed his forest-green eyes at the dragon hunter.

"I know why you're doing this, Horas. I know why you want to control humans and dragons," he declared, making Horas froze in his place.

The dragon hunter glared coldly at the boy. He was about to speak, but Hiccup interjected.

"You obviously have a troubled past," Hiccup limped forward, "You were an outcast. You were treated differently than your people," he let out a stifled laugh, "I know how that feels, believe me. But taking your anger out on every innocent dragon and human won't solve anything. You won't fill the deep hole in your heart, Horas,"

Horas' henchmen exchanged strange, clueless looks.

Toothless tilt his head to the side, letting out a soft croon. He had no idea what his human was on about but was indeed intrigued.

"Vengeance is not the answer, Horas," Hiccup went on, his tone grown grave, "Not when you can fight your demons. Is controlling the dragons to destroy people who had mistreated you really what you want to do, Horas?"

Horas averted his gaze, fists clenched. He's had enough of the boy's chit-chat. Yet, deep down, he knew the boy was right but that didn't mean he should listen.

Unsheathing his sword, Horas raised the blade against Hiccup's neck. He snarled at the young Viking.

"I've had enough of you, boy!" he sneered, "Another word from you and you're dead,"

Hiccup was about to respond, but one of Horas' henchmen came forward to interrupt.

Slowly, Hiccup turned his neck to get a close look at the henchmen. His eyes widened, realising the henchmen was Megadon.

Megadon? He works for Horas? Hiccup thought to himself, I knew there was something fishy about that guy.

"Sir, do you think it's a good idea to kill the boy?" he glanced over at Toothless, "If you kill the boy, then the Night Fury's useless. Remember the deal; you kill the boy after we use the Night Fury to attack Edon,"

Horas begrudgingly lowered his sword, grumbling. He gave one last look at Hiccup before walking away.

"Throw him back in his cage," Horas declared, and went over to the Night Fury, "Maybe he will eventually learn his lesson not to mess with Horas the Merciless after a long, hard punishment,"

Hiccup swallowed a nervous lump in his throat.

"P-punishment?"

Two men, including Megadon bound chains around Hiccup's hands.

When Horas dismissed them, the two men steered Hiccup back to his cell with evil smirks on their faces.

The brunet gave one last look at his dragon. He sighed, lowering his head in despair.

I will get us out of here, bud. I promise, Hiccup thought, I hope.

"Lad, you will regret the day you were born," Megadon's whisper ran shivers down Hiccup's spine. "Wake up; you're not in Edon, anymore. You have no friends, no family, and especially nobody to help you now. Surprise to know I work for Horas, right? Well, at least I feel welcomed here than that pathetic tribe. Once Horas controls those stupid Edonians with the dragons, there will be a new chief; me,"

Hiccup glared at the Edonian traitor.

"You won't get away with this, Megadon," he let out a dry laugh, "Siding with a maniac dragon hunter against your own tribe? Come on, that's really low,"

Megadon let out a snarl, "Horas is right about you. You are irritating and need a punishment. Can't keep your mouth shut, can you?"

When they reached the cell, Hiccup felt his weight hit the hard concrete floor.

He watched in horror as the two men came inside, drawing out whips. Let the punishment begin.

XXX

"Ingrid, you barely touched your meal. Is something the matter, lass?"

Nightfall had fallen on Edon, and Ingrid was in her home having dinner with her father.

After a long day helping her father at the forge, Ingrid felt her body ache from the hard labour. It was a lot easier with Hiccup around to help out while she did some training and some chores around the house.

Speaking of Hiccup, Ingrid hasn't seen the boy for three days. Anxious of his long absence, Ingrid hoped he was out there safe and sound.

Because Edon was temporarily off-limits for him, Ingrid figured he must have gone to Berk to be with his father.

It wasn't that long ago that she met the Berkian inhabitants. They seem like an interesting bunch, especially that Astrid girl, who seems to match her fighting capabilities. There was that Snotlout boy, who flirted with her way too much and was rather egotistical about himself.

To Ingrid, he wasn't too bad; just completely full of himself.

Though, he did remind her of Gunner, except the flirting part.

"Ingrid?" the concern in Bjorn's voice snapped Ingrid out of her thoughts.

Startled, Ingrid faced his father, and then let out a crestfallen breath.

"I'm just worried about Hiccup," she said, playing with her bowl of soup, "He's been missing for days, dad. He should be here by now. I thought he only went for a flight or something,"

Concern masked Bjorn's voice. Frankly, he too had been worried about his apprentice's disappearance.

Although Hiccup did run off with his dragon, he had never gone for this long. There must be a reasonable explanation for his absence.

"I'm sure the boy got stranded in a storm," Bjorn paused when he heard the rumbling of thunder from above. "The weather's been horrible these past few days. But I'm sure he will be back soon,"

Sighing, Ingrid stirred the spoon around her mutton soup.

With Hiccup constantly on her mind, she had suddenly lost her appetite.

"Why don't you rest up, Ingrid?" Bjorn suggested, getting up to put his bowl in the sink.

"You've had a long day, and you need rest, especially for tomorrow. Need I remind you it's your birthday tomorrow?"

Ingrid mentally face-palmed. Of course! Tomorrow was her birthday, and she had been so caught up about Hiccup's absence that she almost forgot about her own special day.

Yet, her birthday celebration can wait. She wanted Hiccup and Toothless back before she could celebrate anything.

An anxious feeling gnawed inside her. What if they were in trouble? What if Horas had captured them?

Ingrid shook that thought away. There was no need to be delusional here.

Yet, a lingering feeling they were captured about to be executed did creep inside her.

"You know what, dad? I'm going to head to bed," Ingrid pushed out of her seat, "I've had a long day, so good night,"

Ingrid gave one last look at Bjorn before she quickly clambered up the stairs.

With the possibility of Hiccup and Toothless being in danger, Ingrid needed to find them no matter how long it takes.

When she reached her bedroom, she grabbed her leather duffel bag and began stuffing it with spare clothes, ointments, bandages, a flask for drinking water, and a blanket.

She grabbed her sword from behind her bed, tying it behind her back.

Quietly, she crept downstairs towards the kitchen. The journey would be a long one, and she and Arrow would need food along the way.

After Bjorn went to his room to rest for the night, Ingrid quickly went to the kitchen, grabbing two salmons and pieces of bread from the food pantry.

Silently, Ingrid tiptoed to the back door to greet her dragon in the backyard.

"Hey girl," Ingrid whispered to the sleeping Timberjack, "We're going on a journey to find our friends, Hiccup and Toothless. I brought fresh salmon for you,"

Fishing through her duffel bag, Ingrid dangled the fresh fish in the air, which grabbed Arrow's attention.

Arrow swallowed the fish in one whole, satisfied by the meal.

"There'll be plenty more fish along the way,"

Ingrid set herself on Arrow's back. She stared up at the starry night, inhaling the fresh spring air.

"Tomorrow I turn seventeen, but I couldn't care less about my birthday," Ingrid said, petting her dragon, "Right now I need to find our friends. Something tells me they're in trouble. I have a feeling they are,"

Arrow groaned in concern as if to say 'what about the others? Are they coming?'

"Runa and Gunner can come if they want to," Ingrid said, answering her dragon's query, "Just in case we find Horas and his men, we need all of us to fight. It's not the first time we encountered him. Hopefully this time we're more prepared,"

Ingrid gave one last look at her home then she ordered Arrow to visit the others homes in the village.

Fortunately, Runa and Gunner were more than excited to go on a rescue mission to find their missing companions. Where there is danger and adventure, Gunner wanted to be part of the action.

Runa knew the others needed her as back-up, so this was an offer she cannot refuse.