Outcast Island had changed quite a bit ever since Berk's peace treaty with the Outcasts. Wild dragons still lived on the far side of the land, avoiding crossing path with the Viking habitants of their territory. Berk might be at peace with dragons, but Outcasts weren't quite yet. Still, they didn't hunt for them, only chassed them if they ever got too close to the village. So killing over here was still up.

One thing had changed around here. Outcasts Island didn't only accept outcasts anymore, but also any tribe that should want a drink. Yep, Alvin the Treacherous and his men had raised a bar for other tribes around. It was surprisingly popular, and mess was there all the time. Nothing was quite in order around here, and nobody really minded... It's just, the way it is..! Oh, one other thing - Dragon Hunters were also part of the visiting tribes. Actually, most of Viggo's soldiers appeared here often.

The only one rule the chief of the island had put up, was no fighting in his caves. At least, no violent fights near death... Of course, people drank and things sometimes turned out wrong, but those were bearable.

...

Things had been pretty stormy for Hiccup ever since his defeat against Viggo Grimborn. Some part of him had changed and he didn't know why, but he often felt angered by anything. His mind was a thick cloud – nothing seemed clear anymore. The only thing he had thought about for the past months was Viggo. Viggo, the Dragon Eye, the defeat... It's like it wouldn't leave him. He thought going out there and find the man would help him get it of his chest, but Astrid always seemed to be there, watching him – making sure he didn't run away after Viggo. Doing that, it was a suicide mission, but obviously Hiccup didn't know that.

''What are you up to?'' asked Astrid as she entered the stables where she found Hiccup saddling up Toothless. He had to be kidding if he was trying again.

Hiccup looked up at her in confusion, rolling his eyes as he saw her hands-on-hips posture. ''I'm patrolling tonight, Astrid.'' he said, returning his focus on setting the gears at Toothless' tail ready.

''Oh, right.'' she said, watching him as he did his stuff. ''So you're not running away?''

Hiccup sighed heavily. Alright, so he did try to go after Viggo once or twice... So what? And by once or twice he meant maybe a couple of hundred times. Did this mean he would try tonight again? Maybe... ''Astrid, we've been over this. I'm over Viggo. I'll be fine.'' he tried reassuring her, without succeeding much.

''Right, right... Because last time you said that, I ended up saving your butt from that one and only ship of Hunters.'' said Astrid angrily. ''You're not over Viggo, yet, Hiccup. Going out there to find this guy who doesn't want to be found won't do you any good, and you know it. Use your brain, Hiccup.''

''Yes, I do know that.'' said Hiccup as he lifted himself up from the floor and hopped on the saddle. ''And I am using my brain. And you know what, right now, it's telling me to go on patrol.'' He gently kicked the Night Fury's side and Toothless went trotting to the gates for the exit.

Astrid's gaze followed them until they both disappeared behind those two doors and vanished against the night-sky, black as a Night Fury's scale. To her, this was going down. As much as the Dragon Riders had been a smart group, fast and fearless, right now it seemed like they were the opposite of all that. Viggo made them appear below, and Hiccup didn't quite like that. And now he was changing with the obsession to find Viggo – often bursting with anger and listening to no one but his troubled mind.

Things had to change soon, or they might go down for real.

...

High above the cloud, Toothless soared through the chilling air, his wings brushing the cool wind as they circled Dragon's Edge. It had been a while since his rider hadn't thought about simply playing around, building up a new tail or whatever. Even to him, Hiccup was beginning to be unbearable. He was so annoying and stubborn!

''Alright,'' said Hiccup as he scanned the water under his dragon's wings. ''Everything seems clear. No boats or uninvited guests, we're good.'' He pulled on the handles from his saddle to redirect Toothless towards the base, flying to the lighted section of the island, until the thought of meeting up with Astrid again suddenly occurred to him and he stopped his dragon instantly. Instead to returning home, he flew Toothless south from Dragon's Edge and towards an ally's island where he thought might be a good place for him at the moment. After all, he was eighteen now.

Toothless beat his wings towards an island he still didn't like, but to Hiccup, it was just a big piece of hardened lava with Vikings living on its surface.

The flight there didn't take so long and he finally arrived where he desired to be right now. If this was a place for madmen and people who needed a break, then he was at the right place.

Toothless landed on the rocky surface of Outcast Island, a distance away from the village just to make sure none of the unknown tribes saw them. He didn't know if the people here were blood-thirsty and wanted a dragon head on their wall back home or not. He might be mad and everything, but keeping Toothless safe hadn't changed.

A shallow cave lay not far from where they landed and Hiccup led Toothless in to keep him hidden from eyes. With his dark coloring, anyone who might suddenly pass by shouldn't spot him easily. Hiccup dismounted and patted his buddy's head to reassure him.

''I'll be okay, Toothless.'' said Hiccup, his hand resting on the dragon's scaly snout. ''I'll be back before you know it. You just have to stay put and make sure nobody sees you.''

Toothless whined worriedly at his rider, wondering why he was doing this. This was so not him. But Hiccup ignored and left the cave yawning the opposite direction from the concentration of Vikings. Hiccup walked in, ignoring the looks shot at him. He couldn't care less about them.

There were underground tunnels with caves here. And inside was a saloon – the place Hiccup thought he needed to be. Most of the people here were large and beefy, intimidating and ruthless. And then there was him – a skinny one-legged boy with no much more than sarcasm to defend himself with. He walked across the room and took a seat at the counter where he met his once feared enemy, Alvin the Treacherous. It wasn't surprising to see the boy here.

The Vikings around that had held their talking had carried on as they noticed the great leader of the Outcasts hadn't laughed seeing this kid here. They knew better than disrespect a subject Alvin himself respected.

''Aye,'' saluted Alvin to the boy. ''What may I get you?''

''Uh, give me whatever you like...'' Hiccup replied flatly, not at all well with beverage names. Anything that might do the trick to help him temporarily forget about this whole 'Viggo fiasco' would be okay with him.

Alvin nodded and poured a random liquid into a cup he then handed over to the teen. ''Here you go,'' he said. Hiccup immediately sank it and asked for another shot. ''So, mind telling me why you're out here on your own?''

''Not really...''said Hiccup, avoiding all eye contact – with everybody, actually. ''Let's just say, there are better days than others.''

''Aye.'' agreed the Outcasts' leader. ''Heard some words around that the Dragon Riders had lost the battle...'' This was the main reason it hadn't surprised him to see him here on his island. Hiccup turned around for his eyes to land on Dragon Hunters at a table behind him. Great. Just perfect... He knew better than to stick around here. This place was dangerous, crawling with the enemy all well armed to the teeth. It was surprising none had noticed him yet. Perhaps they were just too drunk to have recognized him, or they just didn't mind, seeing him like a worthless adversary. But then again, they would still be on him for his Night Fury.

A shot of fear suddenly went through him and he lifted himself up from seat. ''I should, probably go now...'' said Hiccup, gesturing to the corridor leading to the exit. ''It was nice seeing you though.'' Alvin waved just as Hiccup did and the boy walked towards the cave's mouth, passing fighting Outcasts and drunken Dragon Hunters.

It was incredible how blind Hiccup had been. He may not have noticed him, but the man and his brother deeper in the saloon did notice him. Their brown eyes followed the Dragon Riders' leader, a grim smile growing on their lips as they shared a nasty look and followed the one-legged boy.

I'm sorry for the 'drunk hunters' and stuff, but I had no better idea but have Hiccup go to that place. When I watched Last Auction Heroes, I saw that where Hiccup and Toothless picked up Trader Johann was actually Outcast Island. And from my dream, which this story is based off, things happened in a restaurant, so...

I'll probably tell it if you guys want, but next chapter, 'cause it might give away a punch. ;) By the way, I'll probably be updating at my usual pace, but just telling you that I haven't completely planned out this story yet.

(One other thing, my last story, A Man of his Word, I know many of you want a sequel, but I won't be pushing it. I sometimes like to leave it that way and let your own imagination create the rest of the story. Plus, in my head, things get pretty wild after that, and I don't wanna jump in there.)