Snotlout was perched on the roof-top of a hut, holding a net launcher that was four feet long, and a foot in diameter. It was no easy task getting up there, but it was the only house high enough to get a good view of the stadium. He peered through the spy glass attached to the side.

Originally this mechanism had been used to shoot down toothless, before it was modified into a smaller, movable size. He had a clear vision of Victoria, standing above the prisoners. His fingers wound around the lever, itching to pull it. But he only had one shot at this. She raised her blade above her head.

Oh no you don't. He thought. Not this time.

He jerked back the handle, and a metal net exploded from the cannon. For a moment it was airborne, whirring through the air, before it hit its target.

He watched the net wrap around herm, carrying her away, flying off the stage. He could hear the thump , as her body his the ground. He bust a fist in the air. "Yeah!" He screamed. For about twenty seconds, the crowd was completely hushed. No one seemed to move a muscle. The shock of what happened had stunned them.

That is until the dragons landed in the arena.

. . .

He could hear the rush of the wind braid through his clothes. He could feel the beat of his heart, pounding in his chest. He could taste the anticipation rising in his throat. As toothless neared the stadium, he prepared himself for what might happen, he was ready for a fight. Hiccup gently touched his newly remodeled sword, which was strapped to his back.

Behind him he could hear the buzz of dragons following. Most of them weren't being ridden, but had been saddled before hand. He had gotten them to follow the other riders, due to a certain dragon trick, his mother had taught him.

They were the first ones to land right in the center of the arena. Their audience stared in astonishment, as one by one, their flock of dragons landed around the prisoners.

Thats when all hell broke loose.

The multitude began dispersing as fast as they could. Screams and sheiks filled the air as the unridden dragons began chasing them, spitting fire out occasionally. Gobber's team on the ground began fighting with the guards who were already making their way to Hiccup. Astrid and her team were battling against hunters who were now targeting them, with dragon proof chains and arrows.

Hiccups only focus were the imprisoned riders, who were laying face down on the stage, chained.

The first man he recognized from Berks armada. He had a lengthy red beard and, braids running around his head. He knelt down and stabbed a knife in the chain keyhole, messing with it until the shackles split open. The Viking groaned and stood up. His eyes were sunken in, but filled with fire. He placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Thank-you, for coming for us."

"Get on that one, GO!" Hiccup pointed to an empty, saddled dragon who was entertained by a screaming guard.

He bent over and began working on the next set of restraints.

. . .

Gobber was the only one who cheered, when Victoria was thrown off stage like a bat. He raised his sharp hook in the air and screamed with joy. "That'll teach ya, ya small-fish-blot!"

Shadows passed like arrows over his head, he looked to see the dragon riders landing in a circle around the stage, protecting the prisoners. Guards wearing silver horned helmets, and black cloaks began picking their way through the panicked swarms of people, towards them.

"Alright you mangey vikings!" He called to his comrades. "Lets show these gargans what we Berkians can do!" With a war cry his people began unsheathing their hidden weapons and began battling their enemy.

Gobber held in his hand a thick hammer, waving it around like a mad man, knocking a couple of people out. One of the guards tried to knock him off of his feet by swinging a sword in his peg-leg. It didn't work, the blade only got stuck. Goober chuckled then head butted the poor man in the face.

Only a few minutes later, the scene had been cleared out. Only hunters, guards and dragons remained. The prisoners that had been released were mounting the flying beasts and taking off. Gobber's men were fiercely combating their adversary preventing them from getting any closer to the stage. That was what Hiccup had asked them to do. Gobber ducked as deadly Nadder spikes shot over his head, then punched a guard in the stomach with his hammer.

They were doing it. They were winning.

When Hiccup had told them they were going into the heart of an island that hated dragons, and dragon riders; he nearly told him that he was crazy, insane, but Gobber also realized something. Hicccup was just as genius and crazy as his father. He had always looked after the little bugger, he loved him like family, and he would listen to his chief. Turned out, his deranged plot was actually going to work.

. . .

Astrid deflected a dragon chain with her axe and kicked a man in the head with her boot. Stormfly flicked her tail sending spine shots, knocking off helmets and pinning a few people to the ground.

They were down to three prisoners. Three more to go, and they could leave this awful place. She raised her weapon in the sky and screamed as loud as she could. Stormfly rose in the air, spitting fire at her target. More guards were beginning to flood the arena.

At the mouth of the stadium she saw a man who seemed to be directing all of them. He was wearing a black cloak and helmet. His face was pale. Their eyes met. A wicked smile crossed his face. He unsheathed his sword and charged at her. She couldn't say no to a challenge.

She dismounted her dragon and met him on the battle field their weapons clashing.

"You should've stayed on Berk, dragon rider." He hissed into her face. They were inches from each other.

"You shouldn't have attacked us." She grunted, releasing from his grip and took a swing at his head. He blocked. He stabbed, she evaded. Hot duel lasted for several minutes.He came at her, swinging his blade several times at once. She rolled on the ground going behind him, attempting to strike. But he was surprisingly agile, he blocked and kicked her in the side, sending her sprawling.

Standing above her, he had the advantage. He raised the sword over his head, ready to spear. She kicked him in the stomach and then tackled him, the sword flying out of his hand. He rolled on top of her wrapping his hands around her throat. His beady eyes barred into hers, as he continued to put pressure on her neck. No remorse showed, only a cold resolve. She started seeing spots.

There was no way, she would die by the hands of this man.

She punched him in the nose, hard. His grip loosened, just enough to break free by bringing her elbow into the crook of his arm. Slamming her head into his nose again, rolled away, kicked him in the stomach, then picked up her axe. Before he could stand up, she drove the butt of her weapon into the side of his head. Breathing hard and coughing, he finally collapsed on the ground, blood dripping down his nose.

She braced her axe against his throat, glaring at him.

"Do it." He choked. "Do it, I dare you." Stormfly trotted up behind her and nudged her back. Looking around she saw that most of the dragons had disappeared, flying high above the stadium. The riders were all quickly escaping. She needed to leave.

"No." She released him from her grasp and turned away, casually mounting her dragon.

. . .

Leif's cradled his nose in his hands. Fury ran hot through his veins. She had the audacity to deny him the honor of at least killing him. She had disgraced him, how could he show his face to Victoria again?

No. He thought. If she won't kill me, I'll kill her.

In one last attempt, he pulled out a blade and flipped it between his fingers. Her wretched dragon turned its body around, preparing to take flight. Before she got away he chucked it at her as hard as he could.

The blade slipped right through her cloak, lodging itself at the bottom left side of her back. She hadn't seemed to notice, but soon she would. He fell back on the ground and let out a small chuckle. How ironic, she's spared his life, and now he would claim hers.

. . .

Victoria awoke her whole body sore. She blinked several times and moved her body. Luckily nothing had been broken. Sitting up, she wiped off the metal net from her body. That's when she saw the dragons in the sky, flying away.

"No." she said quietly. "NO! NO! NO!" She screamed.

Her men were wandering around the empty stadium, their eyes raised to the sky. She had no prisoners, and no victory. Then one by one, they came back, in a line bringing a hailstorm of fireballs, gas, explosions, and lava spit.

The entire stadium had been set on fire, the flames licking the wooden seats. There was no stopping it at this point.

"Retreat!" Her guards called. "Retreat! Retreat!" Lief ran to her, blood running down his face.

"Mistress please." He pulled on her arm. "We must escape." Her head snapped up.

"I. Will. Not. But you will. That's an order."Her words were final. He hung his head. Sinking away he fled with the rest of the crew.

All alone now, she wandered to the center climbing on the stage. She watched the flames and smoke encircle her, daring it to come after her. A lonely sword lay on the floor. Picking it up she raised it to the sky glinting in the fiery light.

"FIGHT ME!" She screamed. "FIGHT ME!"

. . .

Hiccup watched the smoke rise from the stadium. The rest of the riders were already retreating, no doubtably ready to celebrate. He saw Astrid's blonde head in the lead and sighed with relief . He nearly followed yet something compelled him to stay. A small glint in the center of the burning arena caught his attention. Inside him he knew she was down there waiting for a fight. He could've left, let it go, but he couldn't do that and he knew it. This was and opportunity, and he refused to miss it.

"Come on bud." He urged. Toothless groaned as he sharply bolted into the smoke.

He was right. There she was in the middle of the arena . She jumped down from the stage, her clothing black as night, her face twisted in a permanent scowl.

When Hiccup had first met her, she was cool, calm, and composed. There was none of that now. She was slipping. She was breaking. He could beat her this time. He was sure of that. A sharp sword hung by her side. As she neared him, the flames behind her roared, the structure was groaning, becoming unstable.

He jumped to the ground and rubbed Toothless's chin. "I'll be right back bud."

"Victoria." He called. "We don't have to do this. You can end this, now."

She slightly tilted her head as if thinking about it. "You're right." Her grip tightened on the handle. "I can end this now." She launched herself at him full speed her blade aimed for his heart. A terrible scream rippled out of her mouth.

He was expecting this. He knew what her answer would be. He reached for the sword hilt and removed it from it's sheath. It was long, and wickedly sharp. He had just remodeled it. He clicked a button and in one swift motion, two other blades shot out of the side. Another click, and the entire thing was engulfed in flames.

She brought down her sword, he raised his. Their blades engaged, grinding against each other. Two forces so strong willed, only one would walk away victorious.